A novel aspiration technique to assess cervical remodelling in patients with or without cervical shortening: Sequence of first changes, definition of cut-off values and impact of cervical pessary, stratified for cervical length.

Background: The therapeutic significance of the cervical pessary has been confirmed by several studies. However, the underlying mechanism by which pessaries reduce the risk of a preterm birth remains elusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the hypothesis whether the application of a cervical pessary may stabilize the ectocervical stiffness in order to achieve a cervical arrest.

Aspiration technique-based device is more reliable in cervical stiffness assessment than digital palpation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability and reproducibility of the traditional qualitative method of assessing uterine cervical stiffness with those of a quantitative method using a novel device based on the aspiration technique.

Methods: Five silicone models of the uterine cervix were created and used to simulate different cervical stiffnesses throughout gestation. The stiffness of the five cervix models was assessed both by digital palpation (firm, medium and soft) and with the Pregnolia System.

Cervical length after cerclage: comparison between laparoscopic and vaginal approach.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate the sonographic changes of the cervical length during pregnancy after the placement of a transvaginal cervical cerclage (TVC) or a laparoscopic abdominal cerclage (LAC) in patients with cervical insufficiency (CI).

Methods: Between January 2008 and March 2015, a retrospective analysis of all women undergoing a prophylactic laparoscopic (LAC group) or transvaginal (TVC group) cerclage due to cervical insufficiency was conducted. Nonparametric variables were analysed with the Mann-Whitney (U) test, and categorical-type outcomes were analysed with the Fisher's exact test.

Fundus Thickness Assessment by 3D Transvaginal Ultrasound Allows Metrics-Based Diagnosis and Treatment of Congenital Uterine Anomalies.

 The development of a metric fundus assessment and definition of the uterine fundus thickness (FTH) for supporting objective diagnosis and treatment of congenital uterine anomalies (CUAs).  A) In a prospective cohort study, FTH was systematically assessed by 3 D transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) in patients, who presented a normal uterus. B) The mean normal FTH recorded was applied to uteri with fundal protrusions and septations, and compared to two CUA classification systems (ASF and ESHRE/ESGE).

Cervical softening occurs early in pregnancy: characterization of cervical stiffness in 100 healthy women using the aspiration technique.

Objective: To quantitatively describe the evolution of ectocervical stiffness in normal pregnancy.

Methods: The stiffness of ectocervical tissue was measured by using the aspiration method. This non-invasive technique allows to safely and objectively determine the pressure required to displace cervical tissue to a predefined deformation level (pcl ).

A novel procedure for the mechanical characterization of the uterine cervix during pregnancy.

An in-vivo measurement procedure is presented to characterize the mechanical behavior of human uterine cervix during pregnancy. Based on the aspiration method, a new instrument was developed to provide an inherently safe and easy-to-use mechanical testing technique. Initial measurements were performed on non-pregnant women to develop an appropriate measurement protocol.