At 16 weeks’ gestation, a pregnant client is admitted to the maternity unit to have a McDonald procedure (cerclage) done. She tells the RN who is admitting her to the unit that her physician had explained what this procedure was, but that she did not understand.

At 16 weeks’ gestation, a pregnant client is admitted to the maternity unit to have a McDonald procedure (cerclage) done. She tells the RN who is admitting her to the unit that her physician had explained what this procedure was, but that she did not understand.

The RN explains to the client that the purpose for this procedure is to:
A . Reinforce an incompetent cervix
B . Repair the amniotic sac
C . Evaluate cephalopelvic disproportion
D . Dilate the cervix

View Answer

Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) The treatment most commonly uses the Shirodkar-Barter procedure (McDonald procedure) or cerclage to enforce the weakened cervix by encircling it with a suture at the level of the internal os.

(B) There is no known procedure that is used to repair the amniotic sac.

(C) Cephalopelvic disproportion is evaluated later in pregnancy. It is not related to this procedure.

(D) No procedure is done to dilate the cervix at 16 weeks’ gestation unless the pregnancy is to be terminated.