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PREMATURE CERVICAL CHANGE AND THE USE OF CERVICAL CERCLAGE

Part of: Bespoke shallow archive Weizmann

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2007

MANJU CHANDIRAMANI  and
ANDREW H SHENNAN
MANJU CHANDIRAMANI*
Affiliation:
King's College London, Division of Reproductive Health, Endocrinology and Development, Department of Women's Health, St Thomas’ Hospital, London
ANDREW H SHENNAN
Affiliation:
King's College London, Division of Reproductive Health, Endocrinology and Development, Department of Women's Health, St Thomas’ Hospital, London
*
Manju Chandiramani, Clinical Research Fellow, King's College London, Division of Reproductive Health, Endocrinology and Development, Department of Women's Health, 10th Floor North Wing, St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH
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Preterm birth and its subsequent consequences continue to be a major challenge worldwide. In the United States in 2004, 12.5% of infants were born preterm, making the annual societal economic burden associated with preterm birth in excess of $26.2 billion (and this is a modest estimate). Spontaneous preterm birth accounts for about 75% of all preterm births; however, at earlier gestations iatrogenic preterm birth accounts for a greater proportion of all preterm births; at 27–28 weeks 50% are iatrogenic. The proportion of babies transferred to the neonatal unit is more than 90% for those born before 33 completed weeks of gestation compared with 31% at 36 weeks; delivery between 33 completed weeks and 36 completed weeks has a relatively low morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, 1 in 3 children born preterm but beyond 32 weeks have educational and behavioural problems at the age of 7, with 1 in 4 children born between 32 and 35 weeks requiring support from non-teaching assistants at school. Although more than 40% of babies at 35 completed weeks show signs of maturity, some still need ventilation at 38 completed weeks. Almost one-fifth of all infants born at less than 32 weeks gestation do not survive the first year of life.

Type
Research Article
Information
Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , February 2007 , pp. 25 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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