ABSTRACT
Cervical incompetence is diagnosed in 0.1-1.0% of all pregnancies and in 8% of women with repeated midtrimester pregnancy loss. The treatment consists of placing a pursestring suture around the cervix. The indications for abdominal cerclage are an extremely short cervix or a deformed, scarred, or absent cervix preventing adequate application of vaginal cerclage. Women who have failed vaginal cerclage are also potential candidates.
