Objective The purpose of this study was to compare intraamniotic inflammation vs microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) as predictors of adverse outcome in preterm labor with intact ...membranes. Study Design Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured in prospectively collected amniotic fluid from 305 women with preterm labor. MIAC was defined by amniotic fluid culture and/or detection of microbial 16S ribosomal DNA. Cases were categorized into 5 groups: infection (MIAC; IL-6, ≥11.3 ng/mL); severe inflammation (no MIAC; IL-6, ≥11.3 ng/mL); mild inflammation (no MIAC; IL-6, 2.6-11.2 ng/mL); colonization (MIAC; IL-6, <2.6 ng/mL); negative (no MIAC; IL-6, <2.6 ng/mL). Results The infection (n = 27) and severe inflammation (n = 36) groups had similar latency (median, <1 day and 2 days, respectively) and similar rates of composite perinatal morbidity and mortality (81% and 72%, respectively). The colonization (n = 4) and negative (n = 195) groups had similar outcomes (median latency, 23.5 and 25 days; composite morbidity and mortality rates, 21% and 25%, respectively). The mild inflammation (n = 47) groups had outcomes that were intermediate to the severe inflammation and negative groups (median latency, 7 days; composite morbidity and mortality rates, 53%). In logistic regression adjusting for gestational age at enrollment, IL-6 ≥11.3 and 2.6-11.2 ng/mL, but not MIAC, were associated significantly with composite morbidity and mortality rates (odds ratio OR, 4.9; 95% confidence interval CI, 2.2–11.2, OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.5–6.4, and OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.6–5.5, respectively). Conclusion We confirmed previous reports that intraamniotic inflammation is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes whether or not intraamniotic microbes are detected. Colonization without inflammation appears relatively benign. Intraamniotic inflammation is not simply present or absent but also has degrees of severity that correlate with adverse outcomes. We propose the designation amniotic inflammatory response syndrome to denote the adverse outcomes that are associated with intraamniotic inflammation.
There is currently no standard national approach to the management of category II fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns, yet such patterns occur in the majority of fetuses in labor. Under such ...circumstances, it would be difficult to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of FHR monitoring even if this technique had immense intrinsic value, since there has never been a standard hypothesis to test dealing with interpretation and management of these abnormal patterns. We present an algorithm for the management of category II FHR patterns that reflects a synthesis of available evidence and current scientific thought. Use of this algorithm represents one way for the clinician to comply with the standard of care, and may enhance our overall ability to define the benefits of intrapartum FHR monitoring.
Objective Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) is common in early preterm labor and is associated with maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity. MIAC is usually occult and is reliably ...detected only with amniocentesis. We sought to develop a noninvasive test to predict MIAC based on protein biomarkers in cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) in a cohort of women with preterm labor (phase 1) and to validate the test in an independent cohort (phase 2). Study Design This was a prospective study of women with preterm labor who had amniocentesis to screen for MIAC. MIAC was defined by positive culture and/or 16S ribosomal DNA results. Nine candidate CVF proteins were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression was used to identify combinations of up to 3 proteins that could accurately classify the phase 1 cohort (N = 108) into those with or without MIAC. The best models, selected by area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve in phase 1, included various combinations of interleukin (IL)-6, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), alpha fetoprotein, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1. Model performance was then tested in the phase 2 cohort (N = 306). Results MIAC was present in 15% of cases in phase 1 and 9% in phase 2. A 3-marker CVF model using IL-6 plus CXCL1 plus insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 had AUC 0.87 in phase 1 and 0.78 in phase 2. Two-marker models using IL-6 plus CXCL1 or alpha fetoprotein plus CXCL1 performed similarly in phase 2 (AUC 0.78 and 0.75, respectively), but were not superior to CVF IL-6 alone (AUC 0.80). A cutoff value of CVF IL-6 ≥463 pg/mL (which had 81% sensitivity in phase 1) predicted MIAC in phase 2 with sensitivity 79%, specificity 78%, positive predictive value 38%, and negative predictive value 97%. Conclusion High levels of IL-6 in CVF are strongly associated with MIAC. If developed into a bedside test or rapid laboratory assay, cervicovaginal IL-6 might be useful in selecting patients in whom the probability of MIAC is high enough to warrant amniocentesis or transfer to a higher level of care. Such a test might also guide selection of potential subjects for treatment trials.
Objective The objective of the study was to compare outcomes of women with placenta accreta who underwent cesarean hysterectomy with and without prophylactic intravascular balloon catheters. Study ...Design Case-control study of women at risk for placenta accreta identified using hospital databases and billing records from January 1995 to January 2006. Subjects with preoperative intravascular balloon catheter (BC) placement plus hysterectomy were compared with those that had hysterectomy alone. Results Sixty-nine subjects had cesarean hysterectomy performed for placenta accreta; 19 subjects had balloon catheters plus hysterectomy and 50 subjects had hysterectomy alone. No significant differences were noted in estimated blood loss ( P = .79), transfused blood products ( P = .60), operative time ( P = .85), and postoperative hospital days ( P = .85). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes between groups. Three of the 19 BC subjects (15.8%) had complications from catheter placement; 2 required stent placement and/or arterial bypass. Conclusion Prophylactic intravascular balloon catheters did not benefit women with placenta accreta undergoing cesarean hysterectomy.
Objective Fetal growth is associated with long-term health yet no appropriate standards exist for the early identification of undergrown or overgrown fetuses. We sought to develop contemporary fetal ...growth standards for 4 self-identified US racial/ethnic groups. Study Design We recruited for prospective follow-up 2334 healthy women with low-risk, singleton pregnancies from 12 community and perinatal centers from July 2009 through January 2013. The cohort comprised: 614 (26%) non-Hispanic whites, 611 (26%) non-Hispanic blacks, 649 (28%) Hispanics, and 460 (20%) Asians. Women were screened at 8w0d to 13w6d for maternal health status associated with presumably normal fetal growth (aged 18-40 years; body mass index 19.0-29.9 kg/m2 ; healthy lifestyles and living conditions; low-risk medical and obstetrical history); 92% of recruited women completed the protocol. Women were randomized among 4 ultrasonography schedules for longitudinal fetal measurement using the Voluson E8 (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). In-person interviews and anthropometric assessments were conducted at each visit; medical records were abstracted. The fetuses of 1737 (74%) women continued to be low risk (uncomplicated pregnancy, absent anomalies) at birth, and their measurements were included in the standards. Racial/ethnic-specific fetal growth curves were estimated using linear mixed models with cubic splines. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) and biometric parameter percentiles (5th, 50th, 95th) were determined for each gestational week and comparisons made by race/ethnicity, with and without adjustment for maternal and sociodemographic factors. Results EFW differed significantly by race/ethnicity >20 weeks. Specifically at 39 weeks, the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles were 2790, 3505, and 4402 g for white; 2633, 3336, and 4226 g for Hispanic; 2621, 3270, and 4078 g for Asian; and 2622, 3260, and 4053 g for black women (adjusted global P < .001). For individual parameters, racial/ethnic differences by order of detection were: humerus and femur lengths (10 weeks), abdominal circumference (16 weeks), head circumference (21 weeks), and biparietal diameter (27 weeks). The study-derived standard based solely on the white group erroneously classifies as much as 15% of non-white fetuses as growth restricted (EFW <5th percentile). Conclusion Significant differences in fetal growth were found among the 4 groups. Racial/ethnic-specific standards improve the precision in evaluating fetal growth.
Vasa previa: diagnosis and management Swank, Morgan L., MD; Garite, Thomas J., MD; Maurel, Kimberly, MSN ...
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
08/2016, Volume:
215, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Background Vasa previa is a rare condition that is associated with a high rate of fetal or neonatal death when not diagnosed antenatally. The majority of available studies are either small, do not ...include antepartum data, limited to single institutions, or are biased by inclusion of patients from registries and online vasa previa support groups. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic and management strategies for this potentially catastrophic entity and to describe further maternal and placental risk factors that may aid in the establishment of a screening protocol for vasa previa. Study Design This was a retrospective multicenter descriptive study that included all pregnancies that were complicated by vasa previa that delivered between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012. Nine maternal fetal medicine practices and the hospitals in which they practice participated in data collection of diagnosis, treatment, and maternal-neonatal outcomes. Results Sixty-eight pregnancies were identified that included the diagnosis of vasa previa or “possible vasa previa” either in the ultrasound record or in the hospital record at the time of delivery. Four cases (5.8%) appeared to resolve on repeat ultrasound examination. Fifteen of the 64 cases that were suspected of having vasa previa could not be verified or were not documented at delivery. Of the remaining 49 cases, where vasa previa was documented, 47 cases (96%) were diagnosed by ultrasound scanning antenatally. Known risk factors for vasa previa were present in 41 of 47 cases (87%). Of the 49 cases, 41 were delivered by planned cesarean delivery at a mean gestational age of 34.7 weeks, and 8 cases required emergent cesarean delivery at a mean gestational age of 34.6 weeks (range, 32.4-36.0 weeks gestation). Seven of these emergent cesarean deliveries had been diagnosed previously; 1 case had not. All of the emergent cesarean deliveries were for vaginal bleeding; 1 case was also for a concerning fetal heart rate, but only 1 of the known cases had a documented ruptured fetal vessel. None of these cases were found to have cervical shortening before the onset of bleeding. One of the undiagnosed cases resulted in a ruptured fetal vessel and a baby with no heart beat at birth who survived but had periventricular leukomalacia at 1 month of age with mild white-matter atrophy. Of the remaining neonates in this group, there were no deaths and no major complications beyond mild respiratory distress syndrome in 9 cases. There were no other major neonatal complications, which included no cases of periventricular leukomalacia, neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, or any grade of intraventricular hemorrhage in the confirmed cases of vasa previa. Conclusion This study confirms most current recommendations that include risk-based ultrasound screening, early hospitalization at 30-34 weeks gestation, antenatal corticosteroids at 30-32 weeks gestation, and elective delivery at 33-34 weeks gestation. Thus, with these recommendations for current identification and management of vasa previa in this series of geographically diverse mostly private practice maternal fetal medicine practices, we have confirmed recent reports that show a dramatic improvement in neonatal survival and complications compared with earlier reports.
Objective The purpose of this study was to compare obstetric outcomes and maternal satisfaction in nulliparous women in spontaneous labor who used patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) vs ...continuous epidural infusion (CEI). Study Design We conducted a double-masked trial of 270 nulliparous women who were assigned randomly to 3 groups (with a concentration 0.1% bupivacaine and 2 μg/mL fentanyl): group I, CEI-only (10 mL/h); group II, CEI + PCEA (CEI 10 mL/h plus PCEA 10 mL, at 20 minutes); group III, PCEA-only (10 mL, at 20 minutes). A PCEA bolus button was given to each subject. The primary outcome was the dosage of local anesthetic that was used. Results The total milligrams of bupivacaine that were used was less in the PCEA-only group compared with CEI: group I. 74.8 ± 36 mg; group II, 97.3 ± 53 mg; group III, 52.4 ± 42 mg ( P < .001). Pain with pushing, however, was worse in the PCEA-only group. Median satisfaction scores were similar (scale, 0 best to 100 worst: group I, 0; group II, 0; group III, 0 ( P = .23). Conclusion PCEA results in less anesthetic used, and maternal satisfaction remains high without a continuous infusion. Pain with pushing, however, was worse with the PCEA alone.
Always be vigilant for placenta accreta Nageotte, Michael P., MD
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
08/2014, Volume:
211, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Objective The decision of whether to retain or remove a previously placed cervical cerclage in women who subsequently rupture fetal membranes in a premature gestation is controversial and all studies ...to date are retrospective. We performed a multicenter randomized controlled trial of removal vs retention of cerclage in these patients to determine whether leaving the cerclage in place prolonged gestation and/or increased the risk of maternal or fetal infection. Study Design A prospective randomized multicenter trial of 27 hospitals was performed. Patients included were those with cerclage placement at ≤23 weeks 6 days in singleton or twin pregnancies, with subsequent spontaneous rupture of membranes between 22 weeks 0 days and 32 weeks 6 days. Patients were randomized to retention or removal of cerclage. Patients were then expectantly managed and delivered only for evidence of labor, chorioamnionitis, fetal distress, or other medical or obstetrical indications. Management after 34 weeks was at the clinician's discretion. Results The initial sample size calculation determined that a total of 142 patients should be included but after a second interim analysis, futility calculations determined that the conditional power for showing statistical significance after randomizing 142 patients for the primary outcome of prolonging pregnancy was 22.8%. Thus the study was terminated after a total of 56 subjects were randomized with complete data available for analysis, 32 to removal and 24 to retention of cerclage. There was no statistical significance in primary outcome of prolonging pregnancy by 1 week comparing the 2 groups (removal 18/32, 56.3%; retention 11/24, 45.8%) P = .59; or chorioamnionitis (removal 8/32, 25.0%; retention 10/24, 41.7%) P = .25, respectively. There was no statistical difference in composite neonatal outcomes (removal 16/33, 50%; retention 17/30, 56%), fetal/neonatal death (removal 4/33, 12%; retention 5/30, 16%); or gestational age at delivery (removal mean 200 days; retention mean 198 days). Conclusion Statistically significant differences were not seen in prolongation of latency, infection, or composite neonatal outcomes. However, there was a numerical trend in the direction of less infectious morbidity, with immediate removal of cerclage. These findings may not have met statistical significance if the original sample size of 142 was obtained, however they provide valuable data suggesting that there may be no advantage to retaining a cerclage after preterm premature rupture of membranes and a possibility of increased infection with cerclage retention.
We challenge a provocative article entitled “Oxygen for intrauterine resuscitation: of unproved benefit and potentially harmful” by Hamel et al in the August issue of the Journal. The authors contend ...there is no good evidence that oxygen administration to the mother of a fetus with a concerning fetal heart rate pattern prevents acidosis and that in theory such oxygen administration may actually or potentially do harm to the fetus. It is clear that oxygen is administered quite often to women in labor, especially to those with category II fetal heart rate patterns and, because more than 80% of women in labor have these patterns and the majority of these patterns are unlikely to be associated with significant fetal hypoxia, that such oxygen administration is greatly overused. We describe in this article evidence that oxygen given to the mother actually does improve fetal oxygenation, especially in hypoxemic fetuses, and make arguments that there really is no substantial evidence that, except in theory, maternal oxygen administration causes any harm to the fetus.