To assess if amnioreduction facilitates the placement of an emergency cerclage. Nine cases were studied between 2003 and 2007. Eligibility criteria: patients with a cervical dilation greater than 2 cm and effacement greater than 80% with a prolapse of the fetal membranes in the vagina, in pregnancies between 18 and 26 weeks, without any background history of cervical insufficiency. Amniodrainage was carried out until an amniotic fluid index (AFI) of 6 cm was achieved. After obtaining results of a negative Gram stain, all patients underwent a McDonald type of cervical cerclage. After the procedure all surgeons were asked, through an analog visual scale, to assess their perception of the severity of the prolapse of the membranes in the vagina. We assessed nine patients with an average gestational age of 22 weeks. The average cervical dilatation was 3.7 cm. The average prolongation of gestational age postprocedure was 12 weeks. The average fetal weight upon birth was 1824 g. In our study 100% of the amniotic liquid cultures were negative. 100% of the amniodrainage was successful and free from complications. The post-operative sonographic measurement of cervical length was 15 mm. The procedure was successful in 88.8% of the cases; there was an intraoperational rupture of the amniotic membranes in one case with a dilation of 7 cm. Assessment of the prolapse of the fetal membranes by the surgeons through the analog visual scale found a reduction of the severity of the prolapse of 80% on average. The results in our small group of patients show that routine amnioreduction prior to emergency cerclage does help, making the procedure easier and safer, by diminishing the severity of the prolapse of the membranes in the vagina. We speculate that this modification to the original technique may have a positive impact on the final materno-fetal outcome.