Prenatal diagnosis of the umbilical cord torsion at the placental cord insertion site: A case report and literature review.

A 35-year-old woman (gravida 1, para 0) was admitted to our hospital at 28 weeks' gestation with vaginal bleeding from placenta previa. Severe fetal bradycardia was observed during fetal heart rate monitoring. Ultrasonography showed widely dilated veins on the fetal surface of the placenta and an extraordinarily low umbilical artery peak systolic velocity in the Doppler study. Umbilical cord torsion was suspected. On the subsequent day, we performed a cesarean section due to worsening fetal heart rate patterns. Umbilical artery blood gas analysis indicated severe acidemia (pH 7.063), and umbilical cord torsion was confirmed at the placental cord insertion site. Diagnosing UCT prenatally is challenging; however, it can be suspected by scanning for the widely dilated veins on the fetal placental surface, termed as the "Sunset Sign," an abnormally low umbilical artery peak systolic velocity, and other fetal Doppler abnormalities.

Predicting Time to Delivery in Hypertensive Disorders: Assessing PlGF and sFlt-1 with the Novel Parameter 'Mtp-Multiples of a Normal Term Placenta'.

Background: Imbalanced angiogenesis is characteristic of normal placental maturation but it also signals placental dysfunction, underlying hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between angiogenic placental aging, measured by markers placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) using the new index "Multiples of a normal term placenta" (Mtp) and the duration of pregnancy. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted, including singleton pregnancies diagnosed or suspected of hypertensive disorders after the 20th gestational week. Mtp measures how far a single dosage of angiogenic marker deviates from the expected value in an uncomplicated full-term pregnancy (Mpt = sFlt-1/sFlt-1 reference value or PIGF/PIGF reference value). We considered the 90th, 95th, and 97.5th centiles for sFlt-1 and the 2.5th, 5th, and 10th centiles for PlGF as references. Results: The categories with longer time to delivery, regardless of gestational age, were: Mtp PlGF 10th c ≥ 2, ≥3 and Mtp sFlt-1 90th c ≤ 0.5 (median days of 9, 11, 15 days, respectively). These two categories Mtp sFlt-1 90th c ≥ 3 and Mtp sFlt-1 97.5th c ≥ 2 allow the identification of women at risk for imminent delivery within 1 day. Women who were deemed at low/medium risk based on the sFlt-1/PIGF ratio appeared to be at high risk when considering the individual values of sFlt-1 and/or PIGF. Conclusions: This new Mtp index for sFlt-1 and PlGF could be employed to assess the degree of placental aging in women with hypertensive disorders. It represents a valid tool for evaluating the risk of imminent birth, irrespective of gestational age, surpassing the current stratification based on the sFlt-1/PIGF ratio.

Neonatal outcomes and rationale for timing of birth in perinatal diabetes: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends delivery in the 39th week of pregnancy for patients with pregestational and medication-controlled gestational diabetes with consideration for earlier delivery among those with poor glucose control. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the impact of birth before 39 weeks' gestation exclusively for diabetes-related indications on neonatal outcomes and clinician rationale for these recommendations. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of all singleton, nonanomalous pregnancies complicated by diabetes. Patients were identified through an obstetrical database containing information of 90,185 births from 2011 to 2021. Patients who delivered in a given week of gestation exclusively for diabetes-related indications were compared with ongoing pregnancies. Recommended births for other obstetrical indications were excluded from the diabetes-related indications cohorts. The primary outcome was neonatal intensive care unit admission. Secondary outcomes included neonatal intensive care unit length of stay, stillbirth, neonatal death, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome, and shoulder dystocia. For all births before 39 weeks' gestation, the electronic medical records were reviewed to confirm the rationale for the intervention for a diabetes-indicated condition. RESULTS: From the 90,185 recorded births that occurred in 2011 to 2021, 4750 patients with diabetes were identified. Of those, 30.5% (n=1449) had a recommended birth for a diabetes-related indications with 2.2% of those (n=32) occurring at 36 weeks' gestation, 7.9% (n=114) at 37 weeks' gestation, 9.7% (n=141) at 38 weeks' gestation, and 63.0% (n=913) at 39 weeks' gestation. Births that occurred at 36 and 37 weeks' gestation exclusively for diabetes-related indications had higher rates of neonatal intensive care unit admission than the respective ongoing pregnancies (62.5% vs 8.7%; P<.001 and 25.4% vs 7.2%; P<.001). There was no difference in neonatal intensive care unit admission for births at 38 or 39 weeks' gestation when compared with ongoing pregnancy. For neonates born at 36 and 37 weeks' gestation in comparison with ongoing pregnancies, the median neonatal intensive care unit length of stay was 11.0 vs 2.8 days, (P<.001) and 4.4 vs 2.6 days (P=.026), respectively. There were significantly increased rates of neonatal hypoglycemia and respiratory distress syndrome among births that occurred at 36, 37, and 38 weeks' gestation when compared with ongoing pregnancies. There were no differences in the rate of stillbirth in this cohort. Primary factors cited for early birth were poor glycemic control (71.4%), recommendation by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (38.7%), and suspected fetal macrosomia (27.9%). Overall, 46.7%, 32.8%, and 20.6% of patients had 1, 2, or ≥3 indications, respectively, listed as rationale for early birth. Overall, few objective measures were used to recommend birth before 39 weeks' gestation owing to diabetes. CONCLUSION: In pregnancies complicated by diabetes, early birth exclusively for diabetes-related indications was associated with increased neonatal intensive care unit admission and length of stay and with neonatal morbidity. Little objective data are documented by clinicians to support their recommendations for early birth associated with diabetes. Additional clinical guidelines are needed to define suboptimal glucose control necessitating birth before 39 weeks' gestation.

Management of the smaller twin with impending compromise in twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction: a questionnaire-based study of clinical practice patterns.

BACKGROUND: In twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR), if the smaller twin is in the state of impending intra-uterine death (IUD), immediate delivery will reduce the risk of IUD of the smaller twin while exposing the larger twin to iatrogenic preterm birth (PTB). Therefore, the management options would either be to maintain pregnancy for the maturation of the larger twin despite the risk of IUD of the smaller twin or immediate delivery to prevent IUD of the smaller twin. However, the optimal gestational age of management transition from maintaining pregnancy to immediate delivery has not been established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physician's perspective on the optimal timing of immediate delivery in twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was performed with obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYN) in South Korea. The questionnaire asked the following: (1) whether participants would maintain or immediately deliver a twin pregnancy complicated by sFGR with signs of impending IUD of the smaller twin; (2) the optimal gestational age of management transition from maintaining pregnancy to immediate delivery in a twin pregnancy with impending IUD of the smaller twin; and (3) the limit of viability and intact survival in general preterm neonates. RESULTS: A total of 156 OBGYN answered the questionnaires. In a clinical scenario of dichorionic (DC) twin pregnancy complicated by sFGR with signs of impending IUD of the smaller twin, 57.1% of the participants answered that they would immediately deliver the twin pregnancy. However, 90.4% answered that they would immediately deliver the pregnancy in the same scenario for monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancy. The participants designated 30 weeks for DC twin and 28 weeks for MC twin pregnancies as the optimal gestational age of management transition from maintaining pregnancy to immediate delivery. The participants regarded 24 weeks as the limit of viability and 30 weeks as the limit of intact survival in general preterm neonates. The optimal gestational age of management transition for DC twin pregnancy was correlated with the limit of intact survival in general preterm neonates (p < 0.001), but not with the limit of viability. However, the optimal gestational age of management transition for MC twin pregnancy was associated with both the limit of intact survival (p = 0.012) and viability with marginal significance (p = 0.062). CONCLUSIONS: Participants preferred to immediately deliver twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR with impending IUD of the smaller twin at the limit of intact survival (30 weeks) for DC twin pregnancies and at the midway between the limit of intact survival and viability (28 weeks) for MC twin pregnancies. More research is needed to establish guidelines regarding the optimal delivery timing for twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR.

Management of late-onset fetal growth restriction: pragmatic approach.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited prospective evidence to guide the management of late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) and its differentiation from small-for-gestational age. The aim of this study was to assess prospectively a novel protocol in which ultrasound criteria were used to classify women with suspected late FGR into two groups: those at low risk, who were managed expectantly until the anticipated date of delivery, and those at high risk, who were delivered soon after 37 weeks of gestation. We also compared the outcome of this prospective cohort with that of a historical cohort of women presenting similarly with suspected late FGR, in order to evaluate the impact of the new protocol. METHODS: This was a prospective study of women with a non-anomalous singleton pregnancy at ≥ 32 weeks' gestation attending a tertiary hospital in London, UK, between February 2018 and September 2019, with estimated fetal weight (EFW) ≤ 10th centile, or EFW > 10th centile in addition to a decrease in fetal abdominal circumference of ≥ 50 centiles compared with a previous scan, umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index > 95th centile or cerebroplacental ratio < 5th centile. Women were classified as low or high risk based on ultrasound and Doppler criteria. Women in the low-risk group were delivered by 41 weeks of gestation, unless they subsequently met high-risk criteria, whereas women in the high-risk group (EFW < 3rd centile, umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index > 95th centile or EFW between 3rd and 10th centiles (inclusive) with abdominal circumference drop or abnormal Dopplers) were delivered at or soon after 37 weeks. The primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcome and included hypothermia, hypoglycemia, neonatal unit admission, jaundice requiring treatment, suspected infection, feeding difficulties, 1-min Apgar score < 7, hospital readmission and any severe adverse neonatal outcome (perinatal death, resuscitation using inotropes or mechanical ventilation, 5-min Apgar score < 7, metabolic acidosis, sepsis, and cerebral, cardiac or respiratory morbidity). Secondary outcomes were adverse maternal outcome (operative delivery for abnormal fetal heart rate) and severe adverse neonatal outcome. Women managed according to the new protocol were compared with a historical cohort of 323 women delivered prior to the implementation of the new protocol, for whom management was guided by individual clinician expertise. RESULTS: Over 18 months, 321 women were recruited to the prospective cohort, of whom 156 were classified as low risk and 165 were high risk. Adverse neonatal outcome was significantly less common in the low-risk compared with the high-risk group (45% vs 58%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.9); P = 0.022). There was no significant difference in the rate of adverse maternal outcome (18% vs 24%; aOR, 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.2); P = 0.142) or severe adverse neonatal outcome (3.8% vs 8.5%; aOR, 0.5 (95% CI, 0.2-1.3); P = 0.153) between the low- and high-risk groups. Compared with women in the historical cohort classified retrospectively as low risk, low-risk women managed under the new protocol had a lower rate of adverse neonatal outcome (45% vs 58%; aOR, 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.9); P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate risk stratification to guide management of late FGR was associated with a reduced rate of adverse neonatal outcome in low-risk pregnancies. In clinical practice, a policy of expectantly managing women with a low-risk late-onset FGR pregnancy at term could improve neonatal and long-term development. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the effect of an evidence-based conservative management protocol for late FGR on perinatal morbidity and mortality and long-term neurodevelopment. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Postpartum severe acute maternal morbidity according to gestational age at delivery in twin pregnancies: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between gestational age at delivery and postpartum severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) in twin pregnancies. METHODS: Secondary analysis of the JUMODA cohort, a national, prospective, population-based study of twin pregnancies in France. We excluded women with delivery before 32 weeks of pregnancy, with a fetal death or medical termination, with antepartum SAMM, or with antepartum conditions responsible for postpartum SAMM. The primary outcome was a composite of postpartum SAMM. We assessed the association between gestational age at delivery and SAMM by using multivariable multilevel modified Poisson regression modeling. RESULTS: Among the 7713 women included, 410 (5.3%) developed postpartum SAMM. Compared with the reference category of 37 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of postpartum SAMM was significantly lower for all categories of earlier gestational age at delivery (from an adjusted relative risk [RR] of 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.68 at 32 weeks to an adjusted RR of 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.94 at 36 weeks), and did not differ for later gestational ages. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancies, compared with delivery at 37 weeks of pregnancy, delivery at earlier gestational ages was associated with a lower risk of postpartum SAMM. Continuing pregnancy beyond 37 weeks of pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of postpartum SAMM.

Timing of delivery for placenta accreta spectrum: the Pan-American Society for the Placenta Accreta Spectrum experience.

BACKGROUND: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommends cesarean delivery with potential hysterectomy scheduled in the late preterm period between 34 0/7 and 35 6/7 weeks of gestation for prenatally suspected placenta accreta spectrum. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate clinical compliance with the recommended delivery timing window for placenta accreta spectrum and its impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective multicenter review of data from referral centers within the Pan-American Society for Placenta Accreta Spectrum. Patients with placenta accreta spectrum with both antenatal diagnosis and confirmed histopathologic findings were included. We investigated adherence to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine-recommended gestational age window for delivery, and compliance was further stratified by scheduled and unscheduled delivery. We compared the outcomes for patients with scheduled delivery within vs immediately 2 weeks outside the recommended window. RESULTS: Among 744 patients with a prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum and placental histopathologic confirmation, 488 (66%) had scheduled delivery. Among all prenatally diagnosed placenta accreta spectrum patients, 252 (39%) delivered within the recommended window of 34 0/7 and 35 6/7 weeks gestation. For the subgroup of patients who underwent scheduled delivery (n=426), 209 (49%) had delivery in this window, 120 (28%) delivered before 34 weeks, and 97 (23%) delivered at or later than 36 weeks. In the patients with scheduled delivery, 27% of placenta accreta spectrum patients with accreta delivered in the 2 weeks immediately after the recommended window (36 0/7-37 6/7 weeks), and 22% of placenta accreta spectrum pregnancies with increta/percreta delivered in the 2 weeks immediately before the recommended delivery (32 0/7-33 6/7 weeks). The maternal outcomes among those who delivered within the recommended range vs those delivering 2 weeks before and after the recommended range were similar, regardless of placenta accreta spectrum severity. CONCLUSION: Less than half of placenta accreta spectrum patients had scheduled delivery within the recommended gestational age of 34 0/7 to 35 6/7 weeks. The reasons for deviation from recommendations and the risks and benefits of individualized timing of delivery on the basis of risk factors and predicted outcomes warrant further investigation.

Time of delivery among low-risk women at 37-42 weeks of gestation and risks of stillbirth and infant mortality, and long-term neurological morbidity.

BACKGROUND: The most important knowledge gap in connection with obstetric management for time of delivery in term low-risk pregnancies relates to the absence of information on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We examined risks of stillbirth, infant mortality, cerebral palsy (CP) and epilepsy among low-risk pregnancies. METHODS: In this population-based Swedish study, we identified, from 1998 to 2019, 1,773,269 singleton infants born between 37 and 42 completed weeks in women with low-risk pregnancies. Poisson log-linear regression models were used to examine the association between gestational age at delivery and stillbirth, infant mortality, CP and epilepsy. Adjusted rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals expressing the effect of birth at a particular gestational week compared with birth at a later gestational week were estimated. RESULTS: Compared with those born at a later gestation, RRs for stillbirth and infant mortality were higher among births at 37 weeks' and 38 weeks' gestation. The RRs for infant mortality were approximately 20% and 25% lower among births at 40 or 41 weeks compared with those born at later gestation, respectively. Infants born at 37 and 38 weeks also had higher RRs for CP (vs infants born at ≥38 and ≥39 weeks, respectively), while those born at 39 gestation had similar RRs (vs infants born at ≥40 weeks); infants born at 40 and 41 weeks had lower RRs of CP (vs those born at ≥41 and 42 weeks, respectively). The RRs for epilepsy were higher in those born at 37 and 38 weeks compared with those born at later gestation. CONCLUSIONS: Among low-risk pregnancies, birth at 37 or 38 completed weeks' gestation is associated with increased risks of stillbirth, infant mortality and neurological morbidity, while birth at 39-40 completed weeks is associated with reduced risks compared with births at later gestation.

Timing of delivery in women with prior uterine rupture: a decision analysis.

Background: Uterine rupture is an obstetric complication with high rates of associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, limited guidance for the timing of delivery in women with a history of prior uterine rupture exists.Objective: To determine the optimal gestational age of delivery in women with prior uterine rupture.Study design: A decision-analytic model was built using TreeAge software to compare the outcomes of repeat cesarean delivery when performed at 32, 33, 34, 35, or 36 weeks gestation in a theoretical cohort of 1000 women with prior uterine rupture. Strategies involved expectant management until a later gestational age accounting for the risks of spontaneous uterine rupture, spontaneous labor, uterine rupture following spontaneous labor, and stillbirth during each successive week that a woman was still pregnant. Maternal outcomes included uterine rupture, hysterectomy, and death. Neonatal outcomes included hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and death. Probabilities were derived from the literature and total quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated. Sensitivity analyses were used to vary model inputs to investigate the robustness of our baseline assumptions.Results: In our theoretical cohort of 1000 pregnant women with a history of prior uterine rupture, cesarean delivery at 34 weeks maximized maternal and neonatal QALYs. Compared to delivery at 36 weeks, delivery at 34 weeks would prevent 38.6 uterine ruptures, 0.079 maternal deaths, 6.10 hysterectomies, and 12.1 neonatal deaths but results in 4.70 more cases of cerebral palsy. Univariate sensitivity analysis found that repeat cesarean at 34 weeks remained the optimal strategy until the probability of spontaneous repeat uterine rupture (baseline estimate: 0.68%) fell below 0.2% or rose above 0.9%, at which point, a strategy of delivery at 35 or 32 weeks became optimal, respectively. However, Monte Carlo simulation demonstrated that delivery at 35 weeks was the optimal strategy 37% of the time, whereas 34 weeks was the optimal strategy 17% of the time.Conclusion: The optimal time for repeat cesarean delivery in women with prior uterine rupture appears to be between 34-0/7 and 35-6/7 weeks gestation.

Unscarred uterine rupture and subsequent pregnancy outcome - a tertiary centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, etiology and obstetric outcomes of rupture in unscarred uterine rupture and in those with a history of uterine rupture MATERIAL AND METHODS: The hospital records of women who had delivered between May 2005 and May 2017 at a tertiary center were examined retrospectively. Data on patients with unscarred uterine rupture in pregnancy who had undergone fertility-preserving surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 185,609 deliveries occurred. Of those, unscarred uterine rupture has occurred in 67 women. There were no ruptures reported in nulliparous women. The rupture was observed in the isthmic region in 60 (89.6%) patients and in the fundus in 7 (10.4%) patients. Thirty-eight (56.7%) patients had undergone a total or subtotal hysterectomy, and 29 (43.3%) patients had received primary repair. Ten patients had reconceived after the repair. Of these, eight patients who had a history of isthmic rupture, successfully delivered by elective C-section at 36-37 wk. of gestation, and two experienced recurrent rupture at 33 and 34 wk. of gestation, respectively. Both patients had a history of fundal rupture, and their inter-pregnancy interval was 9 and 11 mo., respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of rupture in unscarred pregnant uteri was found to be one per 2,770 deliveries. Owing to the high morbidity, regarding more than half of the cases with rupture eventuated in hysterectomy, clinicians should be prudent in induction of labour for multiparous women since it was the main cause of rupture in this series. Short inter-pregnancy intervals and history of fundal rupture may confer a risk for rupture recurrence. Those risk factors for recurrence should be validated in another studies.

Does natural birth have a circadian rhythm?

The aim of this study was to investigate whether natural birth has a circadian rhythm. The present study was planned as a retrospective descriptive study of the natural births performed in a Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital in the north of Turkey between January 1 and December 31. The study included 723 (98.9%) cases of natural birth. It was found that the mean age of the women in the study sample was 26.84 ± 5.83 years and the mean gestational age was 38.98 ± 1.95 years. It was determined that the mean labour duration of the women was 12.47 ± 0.78 hours; of all births, 34.6% occurred between 08:00-16:00 hours, 38.2% occurred between 16:01-00:00 hours and 27.2% occurred between 00:01-07:59 hours. Considering the birth time in terms of month, it was observed that the most common birth month was July and the least common birth month was March. In accordance with the study data, it is observed that the labour process occurred at night in the day/night cycle and in the summer months at a higher rate.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Chronological transitions are of critical importance for pregnancy. There are many mechanisms affecting Labour process. One of the most important mechanisms among these is the release and timing of foetal-maternal hormones. The chronological transitions are critical for a normal pregnancy and any temporary alteration may have detrimental effects for foetal development and/or maternal healthWhat the results of this study add? It is observed that births occur at a higher rate at night hours in the day-night cycle and in summer months, and in terms of day, Wednesday is the most common birth day. Considering these results, although it is thought that the levels of hormones released at night lead the birth to occur mostly at night-time hours and non-fully developed thermoregulatory system and sympathetic nervous systems of foetus and sensitivity to temperature may be effective on the number of births in summer months, it is seen that the data are insufficient to reach this conclusion.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is believed that the foetus has a biological clock. This is parallel to fluctuating levels of various hormones affecting labour and delivery, which may be a positive influence on the labour process itself. It seems that more study results are required in addition to these results.

Timing of Elective Cesarean Section and Growth and Psychomotor Developmental Indices in 6-Month-Old Infants.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we evaluated post-natal growth and psychomotor development status of infants at 6 months of age based on their gestational age at elective cesarean sections. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study performed in 2014-2015 in Iran. The study population consisted of 6-month-old infants with gestational ages of 38-40 weeks delivered by elective cesarean section. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group A (neonates with gestational age of 380/7 weeks), group B (neonates with gestational age of 390/7 weeks), and group C (neonates with gestational age of 406/7 weeks). At the infant age of 6 months, the mothers were called for follow-up visits. Growth and psychomotor status of all subjects were assessed by expert pediatricians based on the Age and Stage Questionnaires. Recorded data related to outcomes in neonatal period and 6 months later were analyzed to determine associations between groups' variables. RESULTS: A total of 952 subjects were found eligible for study participation. The mean birth weight, length and head circumference were significantly higher in group C compared with the other groups (P=0.005). Regarding growth parameters, a significant association was found between gestational age at birth and all other growth indices at 6 months of age (P=0.005). The mean weight at 6 months of age was higher in group B in comparison with group A (P=0.001) and C (P=0.007). Infants born at 380/7 weeks were shorter in comparison with those born at 390/7 (P=0.002) and 406/7 weeks (P=0.005). Head circumference was significantly lower in group A than group B (P=0.02) and C (P=0.05). Regarding psychomotor indices at 6 months, a significant association was found between gestational age at birth and problem-solving skills (P=0.003). Delays in problem-solving skills were more frequent in neonates born at 380/7 weeks compared with those born at 390/7 (P=0.005) or 406/7 weeks (P=0.003). This difference was also significant between the two groups who were born at 390/7 and 406/7 weeks (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: The results from this study demonstrated that postponing the time of planned elective cesareans beyond 39 weeks of gestation may improve infant's growth and psychomotor outcomes.

The growth-restricted fetus: risk of mortality by each additional week of expectant management.

OBJECTIVE: To compare fetal/infant mortality risk associated with each additional week of expectant management with the infant mortality risk of immediate delivery in growth-restricted pregnancies. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of singleton, nonanomalous pregnancies from the 2005-2008 California Birth Registry comparing pregnancies affected and unaffected by growth restriction, defined using birth weights as a proxy for fetal growth restriction (FGR). Birth weights were subdivided as greater than the 90th percentile, between the 10th percentile and 90th percentile, and less than the 10th percentile. Cases greater than the 90th percentile were excluded from analysis. Cases less than the 10th percentile were considered to have FGR and were further subcategorized into <10th percentile, <5th percentile, and <3rd percentile. We compared the risk of infant death at each gestational age week against a composite risk representing the mortality risk of one additional week of expectant management. RESULTS: We identified 1,641,000 births, of which 110,748 (6.7%) were less than 10th percentile. The risk of stillbirth increased with gestational age with the risk of stillbirth at each week of gestation inversely proportional to growth percentile. The risks of fetal and infant mortality with expectant management outweighed the risk of infant death for all FGR categories analyzed beginning at 38 weeks. However, the absolute risks differed by growth percentiles, with the highest risks of infant death and stillbirth in the <3rd percentile cohort. At 39 weeks, absolute risks were low, although the number needed to deliver to prevent 1 death ranged from 413 for <3rd percentile to 2667 in unaffected pregnancies. CONCLUSION: At 38 weeks, the mortality risk of expectant management for one additional week exceeds the risk of delivery across all growth-restricted cohorts, despite variation in absolute risk by degree of growth restriction.

National Practice Patterns for Prenatal Monitoring in Gastroschisis: Gastroschisis Outcomes of Delivery (GOOD) Provider Survey.

BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis is an abdominal wall defect with increasing incidence. Given the lack of surveillance guidelines among maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, this study describes current practices in gastroschisis management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was administered to MFM specialists from institutions affiliated with the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet). Questions focused on surveillance timing, testing, findings that changed clinical management, and delivery plan. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 29/29 (100%) NAFTNet centers, comprising 143/371 (39%) providers. The majority had a regimen for antenatal surveillance in patients with stable gastroschisis (94%; 134/141). Antenatal testing began at 32 weeks for 68% (89/131) of MFM specialists. The nonstress test (55%; 72/129), biophysical profile (50%; 63/126), and amniotic fluid index (64%; 84/131) were used weekly. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) was performed monthly by 79% (103/131) of providers. At 28 weeks, abnormal EFW (77%; 97/126) and Doppler ultrasound (78%; 99/127) most frequently altered management. In stable gastroschisis, 43% (60/140) of providers delivered at 37 weeks, and 29% (40/ 140) at 39 weeks. DISCUSSION: Gastroschisis management differs among NAFTNet centers, although the majority initiate surveillance at 32 weeks. Timing of delivery still requires consensus. Prospective studies are necessary to further optimize practice guidelines and patient care.

Perinatal mortality, timing of delivery and prenatal management of monoamniotic twin pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the rate of perinatal mortality in monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA) twin pregnancies, according to gestational age, and to ascertain the incidence of mortality in pregnancies managed as inpatients compared with those managed as outpatients. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched for studies on monoamniotic twin pregnancy. The primary outcomes explored were the incidence of intrauterine death (IUD), neonatal death (NND) and perinatal death (PND) in MCMA twins at different gestational-age windows (24-30, 31-32, 33-34, 35-36 and ≥ 37 weeks of gestation). The secondary outcomes were the incidence of IUD, NND and PND in MCMA twins according to the type of fetal monitoring (inpatient vs outpatient), and the incidence of delivery ahead of schedule. Random-effects model meta-analyses were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies (1628 non-anomalous twins reaching 24 weeks of gestation) were included. Single and double intrauterine deaths occurred in 2.5% (95% CI, 1.8-3.3%) and 3.8% (95% CI, 2.5-5.3%) of cases, respectively. IUD occurred in 4.3% (95% CI, 2.8-6.2%) of twins at 24-30 weeks, in 1.0% (95% CI, 0.6-1.7%) at 31-32 weeks and in 2.2% (95% CI, 0.9-3.9%) at 33-34 weeks of gestation, while there was no case of IUD, either single or double, from 35 weeks of gestation. In MCMA twin pregnancies managed mainly as inpatients, the incidence of IUD was 3.0% (95% CI, 1.4-5.2%), while the corresponding figure for those managed mainly as outpatients was 7.4% (95% CI, 4.4-11.1%). Finally, 37.8% (95% CI, 28.0-48.2%) of MCMA pregnancies were delivered before the scheduled time, due mainly to spontaneous preterm labor or abnormal cardiotocographic findings. CONCLUSIONS: MCMA twins are at high risk of perinatal loss during the third trimester of pregnancy, with the large majority of such losses occurring as apparently unexpected events. Inpatient management seems to be associated with a lower rate of mortality, although further studies are needed in order to establish the appropriate type and timing of prenatal assessment in these pregnancies. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Single center protocol driven care in 150 patients with gastroschisis 1998-2017: collaboration improves results.

PURPOSE: The treatment of gastroschisis (GS) using our collaborative clinical pathway, with immediate attempted abdominal closure and bowel irrigation with a mucolytic agent, was reviewed. METHODS: A retrospective review of the past 20 years of our clinical pathway was performed on neonates with GS repair at our institution. The clinical treatment includes attempted complete reduction of GS defect within 2 h of birth. In the operating room, the bowel is evaluated and irrigated with mucolytic agent to evacuate the meconium and decompress the bowel. No incision is made and a neo-umbilicus is created. Clinical outcomes following closure were assessed. RESULTS: 150 babies with gastroschisis were reviewed: 109 (77%) with a primary repair, 33 (23%) with a spring-loaded silo repair. 8 babies had a delayed closure and were not included in the statistical analysis. Successful primary repair and time to closure had a significant relationship with all outcome variables-time to extubation, days to initiate feeds, days to full feeds, and length of stay. CONCLUSION: Early definitive closure of the abdominal defect with mucolytic bowel irrigation shortens time to first feeds, total TPN use, time to extubation, and length of stay.

Mid-Pregnancy Ultrasonographic Cervical Length Measurement (A Predictor of Mode and Timing of Delivery): An Observational Study.

Objective: Even though cervical length is considered as predictor of timing and mode of delivery, it is not used as a screening tool in low risk asymptomatic population. This study was carried out with the intention to know the timing and mode of delivery in asymptomatic low risk women using second trimester ultrasonographic cervical length measurement and predict the risk of pretermlabor, prolonged pregnancy and need for caesarean section. 1) To determine the association between cervical length at mid-pregnancy and timing of delivery. 2) To determine the usefulness of mid-pregnancy ultrasonographic cervical length measurement in predicting mode of delivery. Materials and methods: Transvaginal sonography was performed to measure the cervical length between 20-24 weeks of gestation. These patients were followed till delivery to assess the gestational age at delivery and mode of delivery. Results: Totally 237 patients were recruited of which 173 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Out of 15 patients with cervical length less than 3cm, 14(93.33%) had preterm delivery. Postdated pregnancy was observed in 45(90%) out of 50 patients with cervical length more than 4cm. In the group with cervical length less than 3cm, 12 (80%) delivered vaginally. Among cervical length more than 4cm group 24 (48%) required cesarean section. Conclusion: Cervical length of less than 3cm measured between 20-24 weeks of gestation is associated with preterm births and favours vaginal birth whereas, cervical length of more than 4cm is associated with postdated pregnancy and increased incidence of cesarean section.

Cesarean section and the manipulation of exact delivery time.

Physicians are often alleged responsible for the manipulation of delivery timing. We investigate this issue in a setting that negates the influence of financial incentives on physician's behavior. Working on a sample of women admitted at the onset of labor in a big public hospital in Italy we estimate a model for the exact time of delivery as driven by individual Indication to Cesarean Section (ICS) and covariates. We find that ICS does not affect the day of delivery but leads to a circadian rhythm in the likelihood of delivery. The pattern is consistent with the postponement of high ICS deliveries in the late night\early morning shift. Our evidence hardly supports the manipulation of timing of births as driven by medical staff's "demand for leisure". Physicians seem to manipulate the exact timing of delivery to reduce exposure to risk factors extant during off-peak periods.

Timing of delivery and pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) commonly undergo induction of labor (IOL) at term, but the risks and benefits of IOL are incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE: We examined the relationship among gestational age, IOL, and the rate of cesarean delivery (CD) in women with GDM. STUDY DESIGN: We identified 863 women with GDM who underwent either IOL or spontaneous labor ≥37 0/7 weeks. Demographic, cervical favorability, and outcome data were abstracted from the medical record. We compared the CD rate in women undergoing IOL at each week of gestation with expectant management to a later gestational age. RESULTS: When compared to women who were expectantly managed, IOL at 37 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-3.06; P = .23), 38 weeks (aOR, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.89-4.80; P = .09), and 39 weeks (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.44-1.42; P = .43)) was associated with similar risk for CD as expectant management after adjustment for nulliparity, body mass index, baseline simplified Bishop score, and maternal age. CD rates were higher in nulliparous women, but did not differ significantly in those undergoing IOL or expectant management. In multiparous women, IOL was significantly associated with an increased risk for CD at 38 weeks (aOR, 7.47; 95% CI, 1.6-34.8; P = .01) and rates of CD (17.39% vs 2.2%, P = .001) were significantly higher in multiparous women with an unfavorable Bishop score induced <39 weeks. Neonatal morbidity was similar across gestational ages after adjustment for maternal body mass index and maternal glycemic control. CONCLUSION: IOL results in similar risk for CD as expectant management between 37-40 weeks of gestation. Rates of CD differed based on cervical exam and parity. These findings suggest that gestational age alone does not significantly impact maternal and neonatal outcomes, but that decisions regarding delivery in women with GDM should take into account cervical exam and parity.

Risk of neonatal mortality according to gestational age after elective repeat cesarean delivery.

PURPOSE: Despite the well-known neonatal morbidity risks after elective cesarean deliveries performed before 39 weeks, there are scarce data regarding mortality risks. The objective of this study was to calculate the risk of neonatal mortality after elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) by gestational age. METHODS: The Linked Birth-Infant Death Data Files from the Vital Statistics Data of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. from 2004 to 2008 were analyzed. Only ERCD cases were included. Early death (<7 days), neonatal death (<28 days), and infant death (<1 year) were evaluated. A logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios. Cases delivered at 37-41 weeks were studied with 40 weeks as reference. RESULTS: A total of 483,052 cases were included for analysis. The distribution of rates and odds ratios for infant, neonatal and early death was U-shaped with the nadir at 39 weeks. There was a statistically significant increase in early death at 37 compared to 40 weeks' gestation [OR (95 %) CI = 1.929(1.172-3.176)]. No statistical increase was found in any of the other mortality risks. CONCLUSION: There is an increased risk in early death with ERCD performed at 37 weeks. Our study provides evidence of neonatal harm beyond the reported morbidity risks.