Pessaries

To evaluate the use of Arabin cerclage pessary in the management of cervical insufficiency. The pregnancy outcome of 20 women carrying singleton pregnancy referred for suspected cervical insufficiency and chose Arabin cerclage pessary for treatment from 2009-2011 were reviewed. Pregnancy outcome were analysed according to presence of risk factors, amniotic fluid sludge, cervical length and gestation at pessary insertion. At presentation, mean cervical length was 1.17 cm (range 0-2.33 cm), mean gestation at pessary insertion and delivery was 20.6 (12.9-26.1) weeks and 32.1 (14.7-40.1) weeks, respectively, and mean prolongation of pregnancy was 11.5 (0.5-25.2) weeks. Overall, 5 (25%) had fetal loss between 14.7-23.1 weeks, while 3 (15%) and 12 (60%) delivered before and after 34 weeks gestation, respectively with no perinatal mortality. Compared with women with cervical length <1.5 cm, all those with cervical length ≥1.5 cm had pregnancy prolonged for ≥49 days (100 vs. 54% p = 0.032) and 86% delivered beyond 34 weeks (86 vs. 46% p = 0.085). Arabin cerclage pessary appears to be optimal for treating women at high risk of cervical insufficiency with a cervical length of 1.5-2.5 cm, while it is an acceptable option for high risk women with cervical length <1.5 cm.

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a first-line conservative treatment for urinary incontinence in women. Other active treatments include: physical therapies (e.g. vaginal cones); behavioural therapies (e.g. bladder training); electrical or magnetic stimulation; mechanical devices (e.g. continence pessaries); drug therapies (e.g. anticholinergics (solifenacin, oxybutynin, etc.) and duloxetine); and surgical interventions including sling procedures and colposuspension. This systematic review evaluated the effects of adding PFMT to any other active treatment for urinary incontinence in women To compare the effects of pelvic floor muscle training combined with another active treatment versus the same active treatment alone in the management of women with urinary incontinence. We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Register, which contains trials identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, MEDLINE in process, and handsearch...

Mechanical methods were the first methods developed to ripen the cervix and induce labour. During recent decades they have been substituted by pharmacological methods. Potential advantages of mechanical methods, compared with pharmacological methods, may include simplicity of preservation, lower cost and reduction of the side effects. To determine the effects of mechanical methods for third trimester cervical ripening or induction of labour in comparison with placebo/no treatment, prostaglandins (vaginal and intracervical prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), misoprostol) and oxytocin. We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 April 2011) and bibliographies of relevant papers. We updated this search on 16 January 2012 and added the results to the awaiting classification section of the review. Clinical trials comparing mechanical methods used for third trimester cervical ripening or labour induction with methods listed above it on a predefined list of metho...