Objective To assess the impact of latency duration on survival, survival without severe morbidity, and early-onset sepsis in infants born after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at 24-32 ...weeks' gestation. Study design This study was based on the prospective national population-based Etude Épidémiologique sur les Petits Ȃges Gestationnels 2 cohort of preterm births and included 702 singletons delivered in France after PPROM at 24-32 weeks' gestation. Latency duration was defined as the time from spontaneous rupture of membranes to delivery, divided into 4 periods (12 hours to 2 days reference, 3-7 days, 8-14 days, and >14 days). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between latency duration and survival, survival without severe morbidity at discharge, or early-onset sepsis. Results Latency duration ranged from 12 hours to 2 days (18%), 3-7 days (38%), 8-14 days (24%), and >14 days (20%). Rates of survival, survival without severe morbidity, and early-onset sepsis were 93.5% (95% CI 91.8-94.8), 85.4% (82.4-87.9), and 3.4% (2.0-5.7), respectively. A crude association found between prolonged latency duration and improved survival disappeared on adjusting for gestational age at birth (aOR 1.0 reference, 1.6 95% CI 0.8-3.2, 1.2 0.5-2.9, and 1.0 0.3-3.2 for latency durations from 12 hours to 2 days, 3-7 days, 8-14 days, and >14 days, respectively). Prolonged latency duration was not associated with survival without severe morbidity or early-onset sepsis. Conclusion For a given gestational age at birth, prolonged latency duration after PPROM does not worsen neonatal prognosis.
Objective The objective of the study was to compare neonatal mortality and morbidity in very preterm twins with the first twin in cephalic presentation in hospitals with a policy of planned vaginal ...delivery (PVD) and those with a policy of planned cesarean delivery (PCD). Study Design Women with preterm cephalic first twins delivered after preterm labor and/or premature preterm rupture of membranes from 260/7 to 316/7 weeks of gestation were identified from the databases of 6 perinatal centers and classified as PVD or PCD according to the center’s management policy from 1999 to 2010. Severe neonatal morbidity was defined as any of the following: intraventricular hemorrhage grades 3-4, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and hospital death. The independent effect of the planned mode of delivery, defined by the center’s management policy, was tested and quantified with a 2-level multivariable logistic regression. Results The PVD group included 248 women, and the PCD group 63. Maternal characteristics did not differ between the 2 groups. The rate of vaginal delivery was 85.9% (213 of 248) vs 20.6% (13 of 63) ( P < .001), and the rate of cesarean delivery for the second twin was 1.6% (4 of 248) vs 4.8% (3 of 63) ( P = .13) for PVD and PCD. PVD had no independent effect on either newborn hospital mortality or severe neonatal composite morbidity. Conclusion A policy of planned vaginal delivery of very preterm twins with the first twin in cephalic presentation does not increase either severe neonatal morbidity or mortality.
Objective To compare components of the fibrinolytic cascade in newborns of gestational age ranging from extreme prematurity to full term, at birth and for the next 10 days, and in their mothers at ...delivery. Study design We studied 10 extremely preterm neonates, 10 very preterm neonates, 10 moderately preterm neonates, 10 full-term neonates, and their mothers (n = 40). We measured the antigen levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 (PAI-1) and 2 (PAI-2), and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, as well as PAI-1 activity, in neonates at birth and on postnatal days 3 and 10 and in mothers at delivery. Results On day 10, both PAI-1 antigen and activity were higher in extremely preterm neonates than in full-term neonates ( P = .004 and <.0006, respectively), and the t-PA/PAI-1 activity ratio was lower in the extremely preterm and very preterm neonates compared with the full-term neonates ( P = .002 and .017, respectively). No significant differences in the fibrinolytic system components were seen among the 4 groups of mothers. Conclusions The development of fibrinolysis suppression in extremely preterm infants within 10 days after birth may contribute to the increased risk of periventricular hemorrhagic infarction in these infants.
Abstract Background We describe the first reported case of uterine perforation by a cystoperitoneal shunt. The mechanism of this unusual complication is unclear. Case A 17-year-old patient had a ...cystoperitoneal shunt for a porencephalic cyst. She presented with recurrent watery vaginal discharge. A pelvic ultrasound examination showed that the uterus had been perforated by the distal tip of the shunt. The cystoperitoneal shunt was converted to a ventriculo-atrial shunt, and the vaginal discharge subsequently resolved. Conclusion The appearance of light and clear vaginal discharge in a patient with a cystoperitoneal shunt raises the possibility of uterine perforation. This can be confirmed by ultrasound and analysis of the discharge. Removal of the shunt leads to spontaneous closure of the uterine defect.