A pragmatic evaluation of the implementation and acceptance of a universal second trimester cervical length screening program in an un-selected population

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate patients' acceptance of a universal transvaginal ultrasound cervical length (CL) screening program and the feasibility of initiating treatment with progesterone in a clinical setting in women found to have a short cervix. Methods An observational, pragmatic cohort study was conducted at one tertiary care facility from 2012–2015, involving eligible women with singleton pregnancies who accepted and underwent second-trimester CL screening. The primary outcomes were the percentage of women who were eligible and accepting of screening, compliance with progesterone treatment, and the screening value of TVCL in predicting SPTB. Secondary outcomes were the number of women who received progesterone treatment and the rates of SPTB. Results Overall cervical length screening acceptance rate was found to be 82.5%. Of the 797 women that underwent screening, 21 women (2.6%) had a TVCL < 25 mm, of whom nine had a TVCL < 20.0 mm. Nineteen of the 21 women with a TVCL < 25 mm were treated with progesterone, with a 94.7% compliance rate. Delivery outcomes were obtained for 767 women. Of those with a TVCL < 25 mm, there was a 35% rate of SPTB as opposed to a 6.3% SPTB rate in those with TVCL > 25 mm. The negative predictive value for SPTB with a TVCL 25 mm or greater was 94.0%. Conclusion Universal cervical length screening was successfully implemented in 82.5% of the patient population with a high compliance rate with progesterone treatment. Furthermore, there was a higher rate of SPTB in those with a shorter cervix. Based on our outcomes obtained in an observational and pragmatic manner, we showed that incorporating second trimester transvaginal cervical length screening into routine clinical practice is readily accepted and, with the addition of vaginal progesterone treatment, may reduce the rate of prematurity.