Liverpool Women’s launches procedure to help avoid late miscarriages and premature births
Liverpool Women’s University Hospital (LWH) has successfully introduced a specialist surgical procedure, designed to support women in reducing the risk of late miscarriage or premature birth in future pregnancies.
The procedure, called a laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage (LAP TAC), is a keyhole surgery where a stitch is placed high around the cervix, through the abdomen, to help keep the cervix closed during pregnancy. It is ideally performed before pregnancy or occasionally in early pregnancy.
The procedure, which is offered to women who are unable to have, or have not benefited from a vaginal cervical stitch, had previously only been available in Manchester and will now be offered locally to patients at LWH, including referrals from other hospitals in the region.
Under the expert guidance of Kenneth Ma, Consultant Gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Gynaecology team at LWH undertook their first list of three LAP TAC procedures, all of which were completed successfully.
Marwa Fakhreldin, Consultant in Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at Liverpool Women’s University Hospital, said: “This is an important milestone for women across our region as being able to offer this important additional option of LAP TAC at Liverpool Women’s means patients can now receive highly specialised care closer to home, supported by our clinical team.
“By placing the stitch higher around the cervix using keyhole surgery, we aim to provide additional support during pregnancy and improve the chances of carrying the baby safely for longer. We are extremely grateful to Mr Ma for his support and mentorship in helping us establish this service safely and successfully for our patients.”
Photo: Second from the left, Marwa Fakhreldin, Consultant in Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at Liverpool Women’s University Hospital, is joined by three of her colleagues from the LAP TAC team, all wearing surgical scrubs