- Women often have a stich in their cervix to keep unborn baby in for longer
- Doctors commonly use a thick, shoelace-like thread rather than a thin one
- Study: Thick thread is a breeding ground for bacteria, triggering infection
- Thousands of babies could have been saved if thinner thread was used
Fiona Macrae, Science Editor For The Daily Mail
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Thousands of babies have died because doctors unwittingly gave their mothers a second-rate treatment, research suggests.
A study has found that one of two ‘cervical stitch’ treatments used thousands of times a year to prevent premature birth is worse than the other.
Worryingly, the inferior treatment has been the most popular, with doctors wrongly believing it to be superior.
In fact, babies are three times as likely to be stillborn or miscarried with it and almost twice as likely to be born prematurely.
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Thousands of babies have died because doctors unwittingly gave their mothers an inferior type of cervical stitch to stop their babies being born prematurely, research shows (file photo)
The researchers, from Imperial College London, say it is important that women are aware of the risk – and are urging surgeons to change their practice.
If they all used the safer technique, 260 babies lives could be saved a year in the UK.
There would also be almost 300 fewer premature births.
Worldwide, more than 170,000 deaths could be prevented, the journal Science Translational Medicine reports.
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Cervical stitching, which is performed an estimated 3,250 times a year in the UK, involves sewing up the neck of the womb to keep the unborn baby inside for longer.
Surgeons can use a thin, fishing line-type thread, or a thicker, tape-like one that looks something like a shoelace.
In Britain, the thicker version is used 80 per cent of the time, because it is easier to work with and is thought to provide more support.
However, when the Imperial researchers analysed data on almost 700 women treated in five UK hospitals, they discovered those given the thicker thread were much more likely to lose their baby or give birth prematurely than those with the thinner thread.
Doctors mostly use a thick shoelace-like stitch (top, in white) to sew up the cervix to keep the unborn baby in there longer, and use a thin fishing line thread (bottom, in blue) less often
Further research suggested the mesh-like structure of the thick thread acts as a breeding ground for bacteria that can trigger dangerous infections in the womb.
A larger, more thorough study is now being carried out and could lead to national and international guidelines being issued.
In the meantime, the researchers advise doctors to use the thinner thread. They also say that women due to have a cervical stitch should request it.
Researcher Dr David MacIntyre said: ‘We found potentially dangerous bacteria grew more easily on the thicker thread.
‘This may be because bacteria can latch on to the woven structure of the thick thread more easily than the smooth, thin thread.’
The study found the thinner stitch is much more effective, as the thicker one becomes a breeding ground for bacteria which can trigger dangerous infections in the womb (file photo)
Lead author Professor Phillip Bennett said: ‘We strongly advise that the thicker thread – which is currently used in the majority of procedures – only be used in a research setting whilst we thoroughly investigate the risks this may hold.’
Dr Patrick O’Brien, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said that until now, doctors had no reason to suspect that one thread was worse than the other.
‘The gut feeling was that the tape-type material was probably better,’ he said. ‘I think this will change practice.’
Jane Brewin, chief executive of the baby charity Tommy’s, said: ‘It’s important that women who have this procedure ask their obstetrician about what stitch they will receive because clinical practice can take time to catch up with research findings.’
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