Enhancing the competencies of obstetrical nurses and midwives in high-risk pregnancy management through simulation-based training in Lao people's democratic republic: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training has been widely used as a valuable strategy for learning and evaluating clinical skills at different levels of nursing and midwifery education. The impact of simulation training on intensive management for high-risk pregnancy in a low-resource setting has been limited. AIM: To examine the effect of simulation-based training with low-fidelity mannequins on obstetrical nurses and midwives' knowledge, attitude, and skills for high-risk pregnancy management in a low-resource setting. METHOD: During September 2023, twenty-five obstetrical nurses or midwives who worked in five tertiary public hospitals in Vientiane Prefecture participated in the three-day training workshops for intensive management in high-risk pregnant women and newborns that used a simulation-based training approach integrating problem-based learning. The evaluated criteria of knowledge, attitudes, and skills pre- and post-test scores were statistically compared. FINDINGS: Workshop trainees demonstrated an increase significantly in knowledge for high-risk pregnancy management (p = 0.012), attitude toward high-risk pregnancy management (p = 0.000), and attitude toward simulation-based training design (p = 0.002). The clinical skills were used on the simulation performance checklist, and the pre-posttest gain in overall performance scores had a statistically significant difference (p = 0.000). The mean score of postpartum hemorrhage management skills was 11.48±2.23, which increased the highest score among all skills. CONCLUSIONS: The simulation-based training in high-risk pregnancy management improves the knowledge, attitude, and skills of nurses and midwives in low-resource settings. Next steps include direct observation of trainees in the clinical setting to assess their competence in ensuring patient safety, achieving positive pregnancy outcomes, and enhancing satisfaction.

Clinical Experiences of Intravenous Hydralazine and Labetalol for Acute Treatment of Severe Hypertension in Pregnant Thai Women.

Response to acute treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy in Asian women was not known. Labor and delivery checklists of Thai women treated with intravenous hydralazine or labetalol for systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 160 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 110 mm Hg from January 2011 to December 2013 were reviewed as parts of an audit. Primary outcome was prompt achievement of SBP 140-150 and DBP 90-100 mm Hg after the first bolus. Secondary outcomes were medication-related undesired effects. The mean ± standard deviation age and prevalence of chronic hypertension in hydralazine (n = 62) versus labetalol (n = 64) groups were 32.5 ± 6 versus 29.9 ± 6.8 years and 50% versus 21.9%, respectively (P < .05). Magnesium sulfate was promptly administered on admission to every woman to prevent seizure. Targeted blood pressure was timely achieved in 41.9% and 67.2% of the hydralazine and labetalol groups, respectively (P < .05). Nonreassuring fetal heart rate occurred in 51.6% and 32.8% of the hydralazine and labetalol groups, respectively (P = .05). The prevalence of cesarean section and Apgar score < 7 were not significantly different (P > .05). Real-life clinical experiences suggested significant advantages of intravenous labetalol over hydralazine in pregnant women with severe hypertension.

A retrospective review of on-admission factors on attainment of therapeutic serum concentrations of magnesium sulfate in women treated for a diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Introduction: There is little information on the effect of maternal characteristics and on-admission laboratory parameters to the therapeutic serum magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) levels in women with preeclampsia (PE). We sought to identify factors that may predict timely attainment of therapeutic serum magnesium levels after intravenous administration for seizure prophylaxis.Materials and methods: On-admission factors of 360 women with PE who received intravenous MgSO4 (4-g loading and 2-g/h maintenance) for seizure prophylaxis were retrospectively reviewed. Parameters of those who attained therapeutic serum concentrations (4.8-8.4 mg/dL) within 2 h (Group A) and those who did not (Group B) were compared.Results: There was no seizure or magnesium toxicity in this cohort. Median (min-max) level of serum magnesium was 4.3 (2.5-8.4) mg/dL. Women in Group A (n = 105) had lower gestational age, body mass index (BMI), and platelets count, higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, uric acid, direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, prothrombin, and partial thromboplastin times than those in Group B (n = 255) (p < .05). Women with mild PE were less likely to attain therapeutic serum magnesium levels compared with those with severe phenotypes (adjusted OR 23.57, 95% CI 8.20-67.76 versus adjusted OR 14.72, 95% CI 3.56-60.89, respectively; p < .05), which may be explained by their significantly lower serum BUN and uric acid (p < .05).Conclusions: On-admission factors, especially BMI and renal clearance indices, of women with PE may affect timely attainment of therapeutic serum magnesium levels. Validation of its clinical impact requires further study focusing on women with severe PE.

Intravenous carbetocin versus intravenous oxytocin for preventing atonic postpartum hemorrhage after normal vaginal delivery in high-risk singleton pregnancies: a triple-blind randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of intravenous carbetocin to that of intravenous oxytocin for prevention of atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal delivery in high-risk singleton pregnancies. METHODS: This triple-blind randomized controlled trial included singleton pregnant women who delivered at Siriraj Hospital between August 2016 and January 2017 and who were 20 years or older, had a gestational age of at least 34 weeks, had a vaginal delivery, and had at least one risk factor for atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Immediately after vaginal delivery, participants were randomly assigned to receive either 5 U of oxytocin or 100 mcg of carbetocin intravenously. Postpartum blood loss was measured objectively in mL using a postpartum drape with a calibrated bag. RESULTS: A total of 174 and 176 participants constituted the oxytocin and carbetocin groups, respectively. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. The carbetocin group had less postpartum blood loss (146.7 ± 90.4 vs. 195.1 ± 146.2 mL; p < 0.01), a lower incidence of atonic PPH (0 vs. 6.3%; p < 0.01), less usage of additional uterotonic drugs (9.1 vs. 27.6%; p < 0.01), and a lower incidence of postpartum anemia (Hb ≤ 10 g/dL) (9.1 vs. 18.4%; p < 0.05) than the oxytocin group. No significant differences regarding side effects were evident between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous carbetocin is more effective than intravenous oxytocin for the prevention of atonic PPH among singleton pregnancies with at least one risk factor for PPH. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: TCTR20160715004.

Prediction and prevention of pre-eclampsia in Asian subpopulation.

The benefit of the early administration of aspirin to reduce preterm pre-eclampsia among screened positive European women from multivariate algorithmic approach (ASPRE trial) has opened an intense debate on the feasibility of universal screening. This review aims to assess the new perspectives in the combined screening of pre-eclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy and the chances for prevention using low-dose aspirin with special emphasis on the particularities of the Asian population. PubMed, CENTRAL and Embase databases were searched from inception until 15 November 2017 using combinations of the search terms: preeclampsia, Asian, prenatal screening, early prediction, ultrasonography, pregnancy, biomarker, mean arterial pressure, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, placental growth factor, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and pulsatility index. This is not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so the risk of bias of the selected published articles and heterogeneity among the studies need to be considered. The prevalence of pre-eclampsia and serum levels of biochemical markers in Asian are different from Caucasian women; hence, Asian ethnicity needs to be corrected for in the algorithmic assessment of multiple variables to improve the screening performance. Aspirin prophylaxis may still be viable in Asian women, but resource implication needs to be considered. Asian ethnicity should be taken into account before implementing pre-eclampsia screening strategies in the region. The variables included can be mixed and matched to achieve an optimal performance that is appropriate for economical restriction in individual countries.

Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and placental growth factor from 10 to 40 weeks' pregnancy in normotensive women.

INTRODUCTION: Circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are potential markers for preeclampsia. The objective was to construct and analyse the reference ranges of serum levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF throughout the course of pregnancy in low-risk Thai pregnant women. METHODS: We enrolled 110 low-risk, Thai women singleton pregnancy from 10 to 40 gestational weeks. Serum concentrations of sFlt-1 and PlGF were measured with an automated assay. The reference ranges of serum levels of sFlt-1, PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were constructed and assessed for possible correlations with gestational age, maternal factors [age, parity, tobacco use, artificial reproductive technologies (ARTS) and body mass index (BMI)], and pregnancy outcomes (gestational age at delivery, development of preeclampsia, neonatal birth weight and placental weight). RESULTS: None of the subjects developed preeclampsia. Serum sFlt-1 concentrations significantly elevated from 20 to 40 gestational weeks (P=0.003). Significant elevation and dropping of serum PlGF levels and sFlt-1/PlGF ratios were observed at 10 to 29 and 30 to 40 weeks of gestation, respectively (P<0.001). There was an inversed correlation between serum PlGF levels at 20 to 29 gestational weeks and neonatal birth weights (r=-0.48, P<0.05). There were no associations between serum levels of sFlt-1, PlGF, or sFlt-1/PlGF ratios and maternal BMI, gestational age at delivery, or placental weight (P>0.05). Effects from parity, smoking and ARTS were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Robust change of serum PlGF levels suggests for its broader clinical application compared to sFlt-1. Prediction of preeclampsia using serum analytes may be gestational period specific.

Postpartum blood loss: visual estimation versus objective quantification with a novel birthing drape.

INTRODUCTION: Immediate postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the most common cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Most recommendations focus on its prevention and management. Visual estimation of blood loss is widely used for the early detection of PPH, but the most appropriate method remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of visual estimation and objective measurement using a sterile under-buttock drape, to determine the volume of postpartum blood loss. METHODS: This study evaluated patients aged ≥ 18 years with low-risk term pregnancies, who delivered vaginally. Immediately after delivery, a birth attendant inserted the drape under the patient's buttocks. Postpartum blood loss was measured by visual estimation and then compared with objective measurement using the drape. All participants received standard intra- and postpartum care. RESULTS: In total, 286 patients with term pregnancies were enrolled. There was a significant difference in postpartum blood loss between visual estimation and objective measurement using the under-buttock drape (178.6 ± 133.1 mL vs. 259.0 ± 174.9 mL; p < 0.0001). Regarding accuracy at 100 mL discrete categories of postpartum blood loss, visual estimation was found to be inaccurate, resulting in underestimation, with low correspondence (27.6%) and poor agreement (Cohen's kappa coefficient 0.07; p < 0.05), compared with objective measurement using the drape. Two-thirds of cases of immediate PPH (65.4%) were misdiagnosed using visual estimation. CONCLUSION: Visual estimation is not optimal for measurement of postpartum blood loss in PPH. This method should be withdrawn from standard obstetric practice and replaced with objective measurement using the sterile under-buttock drape.