Effect of single- versus double-layer uterine closure during caesarean section on postmenstrual spotting (2Close): multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled superiority trial

for the 2Close study group

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether double-layer uterine closure after a first caesarean section (CS) is superior compared with single-layer uterine closure in terms of postmenstrual spotting and niche development in the uterine caesarean scar. Design: Multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled superiority trial. Setting: Thirty-two hospitals in the Netherlands. Population: A total of 2292 women aged ≥18 years undergoing a first CS were randomly assigned to each procedure (1:1): 1144 women were assigned to single-layer uterine closure and 1148 women were assigned to double-layer uterine closure. Methods: Single-layer unlocked closure and double-layer unlocked closure, with the second layer imbricating the first. Main outcome measures: Number of days with postmenstrual spotting during one menstrual cycle 9 months after CS. Secondary outcomes: perioperative and menstrual characteristics; transvaginal ultrasound measurements. Results: A total of 774 (67.7%) women from the single-layer group and 770 (67.1%) women from the double-layer group were evaluable for the primary outcome, as a result of drop-out and amenorrhoea. The mean number of postmenstrual spotting days was 1.33 (bootstrapped 95% CI 1.12–1.54) after single-layer closure and 1.26 (bootstrapped 95% CI 1.07–1.45) after double-layer closure (adjusted mean difference −0.07, 95% CI −0.37 to 0.22, P = 0.810). The operative time was 3.9 minutes longer (95% CI 3.0–4.9 minutes, P < 0.001) and niche prevalence was 4.7% higher (95% CI 0.7–8.7%, P = 0.022) after double-layer closure. Conclusions: The superiority of double-layer closure compared with single-layer closure in terms of postmenstrual spotting after a first CS was not shown. Long-term obstetric follow-up of our trial is needed to assess whether uterine caesarean closure guidelines should be adapted. Tweetable abstract: Double-layer uterine closure is not superior for postmenstrual spotting after a first caesarean; single-layer closure performs slightly better on other outcomes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)866-878
Number of pages13
JournalBJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume128
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2021

Funding

This study was performed with funding from ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (project no. 843002605). Both the funder of the study and a patient involvement panel approved the study protocol. The funder had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing the article. The corresponding author had full access to all of the data in the study and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. We would like to thank all participants of the 2Close study. Additionally, we would like to thank the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of all participating hospitals, with special thanks to all research nurses and research midwives for their contribution in data collection. The 2Close study group would like to thank all collaborators from the participating hospitals for their effort.

FundersFunder number
ZonMw843002605

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