Atopic dermatitis (AD) has a well-established association with skin colonization or infection by Staphylococcus aureus, which can exacerbate the disease. However, a causal relationship between ...specific changes in skin colonization during the first years of life and AD development still remains unclear. In this prospective birth cohort study, we aimed to characterize the association between skin colonization and AD development in 149 white infants with or without a family history of atopy. We assessed infants clinically and collected axillary and antecubital fossa skin swabs for culture-based analysis at birth and at seven time points over the first 2 years of life. We found that at age 3 months, S. aureus was more prevalent on the skin of infants who developed AD later on. S. aureus prevalence was increased on infants’ skin at the time of AD onset and also 2 months before it, when compared with age-matched, unaffected infants. Furthermore, at AD onset, infants testing positive for S. aureus were younger than uncolonized subjects. In conclusion, our results suggest that specific changes in early-life skin colonization may actively contribute to clinical AD onset in infancy.
Clinicians and patients have traditionally believed that elective cesarean section may protect against certain previously ineluctable consequences of labor, including a plethora of urinary, anorectal ...and sexual dysfunctions. We aimed to evaluate fecal, urinary and sexual symptoms 6 years postpartum, comparing uncomplicated vaginal delivery and elective cesarean delivery, and to assess their impact on quality of life. We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare perineal functional symptomatology between women having singleton elective cesarean deliveries (eCS) and singleton uncomplicated vaginal deliveries (uVD). Women who delivered 6 years before this study were chosen randomly from our hospital database. This database includes demographic, labor, and delivery information, as well as data regarding maternal and neonatal outcomes, all of which is collected at the time of delivery by the obstetrician. Four validated self-administrated questionnaires were sent by post to the participants: the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, Wexner fecal incontinence scale, and Female Sexual Function Index. Current socio-demographic details, physical characteristics, obstetrical history and mode of delivery at subsequent births were also registered using a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 309 women with uVD and 208 with eCS returned postal questionnaires. The response rate was 49%. Socio-demographic characteristics and fecal incontinence were similar between groups. After eCS, women reported significantly less urgency urinary incontinence (adjusted Relative Risk 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.88) and stress incontinence (adjusted Relative Risk 0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.80) than after uVD. No difference in total Incontinence Impact Questionnaire score was found between both modes of delivery. Lower abdominal or genital pain (adjusted Relative Risk 1.58; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.49) and pain related to sexual activity (adjusted Relative Risk 2.50; 95% confidence interval 1.19-5.26) were significantly more frequent after eCS than uVD. Six years postpartum, uVD is associated with urinary incontinence, while eCS is associated with sexual and urination pain.
In this case control study, long-term gynecological, reproductive and sexual outcomes after uterine artery embolization (UAE) for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) were evaluated. The study was performed ...in a single referral hospital for PPH in Lausanne from 2003 to 2013. Each woman whose delivery was complicated by PPH and treated by UAE was included, and compared to a control group of women whose delivery was uncomplicated. Cases were matched by maternal age, parity, ethnicity, year and mode of delivery, birth weight and gestational age in a 1-3 ratio. A total of 77 patients treated by UAE for PPH were identified in our obstetrical database. Among them, 63 were included and compared to 189 matched patients (no PPH). The mean interval time between UAE and this study was 8.1 years. Time to menstrual cycle recovery after delivery (3.9 vs 5.6 months, p = 0.66), spotting (7.9% vs 7.2%, p = 0.49), dysmenorrhea (25.4% vs 22.2%, p = 0.60) and amenorrhea (14.3% vs 12.2%, p = 0.66) were similar between the two groups. There was no difference in the FSFI score between the groups (23.2 ± 0.6 vs 23.8 ± 0.4; p = 0.41). However, the interval time to subsequent pregnancy was longer for patients after UAE than the control group (35 vs 18 months, p = 0.002). In case of pregnancy desire, the success rate was lower after UAE compared to controls (55% vs 93.5%, p < 0.001). The rate of PPH was higher in those with previous PPH (6.6% vs 36.4%, p = 0.010). Patients treated by UAE for PPH did not report higher rates of gynecological symptoms or sexual dysfunction compared to patients with uneventful deliveries. The inter-pregnancy interval was increased and the success rate was reduced. In subsequent pregnancies, a higher rate of PPH was observed in those that underwent UAE.
Background
Anorectal malformation is a spectrum of congenital defects of the distal bowel, mostly diagnosed at birth.
Objective
To describe the prenatal imaging findings of anorectal malformations, ...explore the causes of the low rates of prenatal diagnosis, compare the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonnance imaging MRI and evaluate the relevance of information obtained at MRI.
Materials and methods
Children treated for anorectal malformation at our hospital and with available prenatal studies were retrospectively identified and included in the study. We reviewed prenatal imaging exams, listed findings suggestive of the diagnosis, and compared results with the final classification.
Results
Fourteen fetuses and neonates — eight with intermediate–high type anorectal malformation and six with cloacae — fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All had associated congenital anomalies. Prenatal exams included 13 US and 8 MRI exams, with 7 children having both exams. Suggestive findings for anorectal malformation were detected in 50% of the cases prenatally and in 85% upon review. They were prospectively detected in 31% and 50% of the cases at US and MRI and retrospectively in 62% and 100% at US and MRI, respectively. MRI was superior to US because it improved the diagnosis, especially in cloacae, and provided relevant additional information that changed management in two cases.
Conclusion
The most important signs suggesting anorectal malformation are an absent target sign and anomalous distal bowel wall and rectal fluid. Complementary prenatal MRI improves the diagnosis of anorectal malformation.
Abstract
This study intend to compare the long-term psychological impact (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) on both partners between patients that underwent uterine artery embolization ...(UAE) for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and uneventful deliveries. Women who experienced severe PPH treated by UAE in our institution between 2003 and 2013 were identified in our obstetrical database. These cases were matched to controls with uneventful deliveries. Matching criteria were maternal age, parity, ethnicity, year of delivery, birthweight, gestational age and mode of delivery. Patients and their partners completed validated questionnaires measuring post-traumatic stress (TSQ), as well as depression symptoms (MINI). A total of 63 cases of PPH and 189 matched controls (1:3) participated in a study exploring gynecological and obstetrical outcomes. With a mean of 8 years post-index delivery, patients after PPH showed increased risk of depression (p = 0.015) and post-traumatic stress disorder (22.2% versus 4.8%, p < 0.005) compared to controls. PPH remains strongly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, even after adjustment for depression (adjusted odds ratio 5.1; 95% confidence intervals 1.5–17.5). Similarly, partners of patients with PPH showed a propensity to depression (p = 0.029) and post-traumatic stress disorder (11.5% versus 1.5%, p = 0.019). In conclusion, both women and their partners are at increased risk of long-term psychological adverse outcomes after PPH. Couples may benefit from psychological support.
Purpose
Patient blood management PBM has been acknowledged and successfully introduced in a wide range of medical specialities, where blood transfusions are an important issue, including ...anaesthesiology, orthopaedic surgery, cardiac surgery, or traumatology. Although pregnancy and obstetrics have been recognized as a major field of potential haemorrhage and necessity of blood transfusions, there is still little awareness among obstetricians regarding the importance of PBM in this area. This review, therefore, summarizes the importance of PBM in obstetrics and the current evidence on this topic.
Method
We review the current literature and summarize the current evidence of PBM in pregnant women and postpartum with a focus on postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) using PubMed as literature source. The literature was reviewed and analysed and conclusions were made by the Swiss PBM in obstetrics working group of experts in a consensus meeting.
Results
PBM comprises a series of measures to maintain an adequate haemoglobin level, improve haemostasis and reduce bleeding, aiming to improve patient outcomes. Despite the fact that the WHO has recommended PBM early 2010, the majority of hospitals are in need of guidelines to apply PBM in daily practice. PBM demonstrated a reduction in morbidity, mortality, and costs for patients undergoing surgery or medical interventions with a high bleeding potential. All pregnant women have a significant risk for PPH. Risk factors do exist; however, 60% of women who experience PPH do not have a pre-existing risk factor. Patient blood management in obstetrics must, therefore, not only be focused on women with identified risk factor for PPH, but on all pregnant women. Due to the risk of PPH, which is inherent to every pregnancy, PBM is of particular importance in obstetrics. Although so far, there is no clear guideline how to implement PBM in obstetrics, there are some simple, effective measures to reduce anaemia and the necessity of transfusions in women giving birth and thereby improving clinical outcome and avoiding complications.
Conclusion
PBM in obstetrics is based on three main pillars: diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions during pregnancy, during delivery and in the postpartum phase. These three main pillars should be kept in mind by all professionals taking care of pregnant women, including obstetricians, general practitioners, midwifes, and anaesthesiologists, to improve pregnancy outcome and optimize resources.
Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of the disease may be challenging. Complications may precede the onset of clinical symptoms and medical ...intervention is often delayed. Moreover, in the absence of specific clinical signs, many patients will present symptoms mimicking the disease without ever being diagnosed with preeclampsia. This situation may, however, lead to medical interventions and cause unnecessary stress for the patient. For many years, research tried to evaluate the significance of serum biomarkers as early indicators of preeclampsia. Among many, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, given its performance, aroused the greatest interest. This article reviews current knowledge on the subject, focusing on a Swiss perspective.
Postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, cumulative incidence of postpartum hemorrhage and severe postpartum hemorrhage are commonly ...monitored within and compared across maternity hospitals or countries for obstetrical safety improvement. These indicators are usually based on hospital discharge data though their accuracy is seldom assessed. We aimed to measure postpartum hemorrhage and severe postpartum hemorrhage using electronic health records and hospital discharge data separately and compare the detection accuracy of these methods to manual chart review, and to examine the temporal trends in cumulative incidence of these potentially avoidable adverse outcomes.
We analyzed routinely collected data of 7904 singleton deliveries from a large Swiss university hospital for a three year period (2014-2016). We identified postpartum hemorrhage and severe postpartum hemorrhage in electronic health records by text mining discharge letters and operative reports and calculating drop in hemoglobin from laboratory tests. Diagnostic and procedure codes were used to identify cases in hospital discharge data. A sample of 334 charts was reviewed manually to provide a reference-standard and evaluate the accuracy of the other detection methods.
Sensitivities of detection algorithms based on electronic health records and hospital discharge data were 95.2% (95% CI: 92.6% 97.8%) and 38.2% (33.3% to 43.0%), respectively for postpartum hemorrhage, and 87.5% (85.2% to 89.8%) and 36.2% (26.3% to 46.1%) for severe postpartum hemorrhage. Postpartum hemorrhage cumulative incidence based on electronic health records decreased from 15.6% (13.1% to 18.2%) to 8.5% (6.7% to 10.5%) from the beginning of 2014 to the end of 2016, with an average of 12.5% (11.8% to 13.3%). The cumulative incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage remained at approximately 4% (3.5% to 4.4%). Hospital discharge data-based algorithms provided significantly underestimated incidences.
Hospital discharge data is not accurate enough to assess the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage at hospital or national level. Instead, automated algorithms based on structured and textual data from electronic health records should be considered, as they provide accurate and timely estimates for monitoring and improvement in obstetrical safety. Furthermore, they have the potential to better code for postpartum hemorrhage thus improving hospital reimbursement.
Waddlia chondrophila is an intracellular bacterium suspected to cause human and bovine abortion. We confirmed an association between antibodies against W. chondrophila and human miscarriage and ...identified this organism in placenta or genital tract of women who had had miscarriages. These results suggest a possible role of W. chondrophila infection in miscarriage.
Background
Screening ultrasound (US) has increased the detection of congenital vascular anomalies in utero. Complementary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may improve the diagnosis, but its real ...utility is still not well established.
Objectives
We aimed to describe the imaging findings on prenatal US and MRI of the most frequent congenital vascular anomalies (lymphatic malformations and congenital hemangiomas) to assess the accuracy of prenatal US and MRI exams for diagnosis and to evaluate the relevance of the additional information obtained by complementary fetal MRI.
Materials and methods
All confirmed postnatal congenital vascular anomalies detected in the last 10 years at 3 university hospitals were retrospectively identified. The prenatal diagnosis was compared with the final diagnosis for both methods and the clinical relevance of additional MRI information was evaluated. A second MRI in advanced pregnancy was performed in fetuses with lesions in a sensitive anatomical location and the clinical relevance of the additional information was evaluated.
Results
Twenty-four cases were included in the study, 20 lymphatic malformations and 4 hemangiomas. MRI slightly improved the diagnosis of lymphatic malformation, 85% vs. 80% at US, especially for abdominal lesions. Both methods had a low identification rate (25%) for tumors. MRI performed late in five fetuses with lymphatic malformation allowed optimized management at birth.
Conclusion
MRI improves the diagnosis of congenital lymphatic malformations whereas hemangiomas remain difficult to identify in utero. The main role of MRI is to provide high-defined anatomical data to guide management at birth.
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