Antibiotics and indomethacin as perioperative management for cerclage: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Prematurity complications remain the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Although cerclage shows promise in preventing preterm birth, it remains unclear whether perioperative management, such as the use of antibiotics or indomethacin, offers any additional benefit.

Study desing: We conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis comparing the use of indomethacin, antibiotics, and their combination as perioperative management for cerclage versus cerclage alone. Our research protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on June 9, 2024 (ID CRD42024552516).

Results: Our systematic review encompassed ten studies, and 838 pregnant women submitted to cerclage for prevention of preterm birth. We found no association between perioperative management and preterm birth before 28 weeks (RR 1.03; 95 % CI 0.76-1.39; p = 0.86), or perinatal mortality (RR 0.81; 95 % CI 0.54-1.22; p = 0.32).

Conclusion: Antibiotics, indomethacin, and their combination may have no additional benefit to cerclage in risk reduction of preterm birth or perinatal mortality.