Comparison of techniques used to deliver a deeply impacted fetal head at full dilation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Second-stage caesarean section with a deeply impacted fetal head is associated with maternal and neonatal complications. OBJECTIVES: Systematic review and meta-analysis to identify, appraise and synthesise existing evidence that evaluated various techniques of delivering a baby with a deeply impacted head at full-dilation caesarean section. The primary outcome was uterine extension and secondary outcomes were other maternal and neonatal morbidities. SEARCH STRATEGY: Online searches of MEDLINE (1946-January 2015), EMBASE (1950-January 2015), Web of Sciences (1950-2015), and the Cochrane Library databases were performed using a set of relevant keywords. SELECTION CRITERIA: All studies that compared the outcome of various techniques of delivering the baby's head at full-dilation caesarean section. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data collected from each of the studies included variables on the participants, comparisons used, and feto-maternal outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed using review manager 5.3. MAIN RESULTS: In total, 12 studies were included. Six studies (n = 455) examined primary outcomes. Meta-analysis showed that the risks of uterine incision extension, infection, mean blood loss, and operative time were significantly higher with the push technique compared with the reverse breech extraction. The evidence to support the Patwardhan method and fetal pillow was inadequate. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Evidence gathered from observational studies suggests that reverse breech extraction is associated with significantly lower maternal risks compared with the push method. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Meta-analysis suggests reverse breech extraction during caesarean section to deliver impacted fetus is safer.

Review of perinatal management of arthrogryposis at a large UK teaching hospital serving a multiethnic population.

OBJECTIVE: To review the prevalence and perinatal management of cases of arthrogryposis delivering at our hospital over a 6-year period. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of cases of arthrogryposis managed at a UK teaching hospital. Cases were identified from the regional congenital anomalies register and departmental databases. Case notes were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2007, there were 27 cases of arthrogryposis. Sixteen (59.3%) were Caucasians, 7(25.9%) Asians and 4(14.8%) Afro-Caribbean; 17(63%) were nulliparous. In eight (29.6%) cases, there was a family history of congenital anomalies. Three had previously affected siblings and in three cases the parents were affected with arthrogryposis. Five (18.5%) were from consanguineous families. Eighteen (66.7%) cases were diagnosed prenatally at a mean gestational age of 21 weeks. Twelve (57%) were delivered by caesarean section. There were 18 live births. Sixteen (59%) cases were reviewed by clinical geneticist. Following detailed review and investigation including post-mortems, 20 (74%) of our cases had a formal diagnosis or likely cause identified. CONCLUSIONS: Suspected cases of arthrogryposis require multi-disciplinary management to optimise the possibility of making a diagnosis and providing parents with accurate information to enable them to make informed choices regarding the pregnancy and providing information regarding likelihood of recurrence.

The peri-partum management of pregnancies with macrosomic babies weighing > or =4,500 g at a tertiary University Hospital.

The management of fetal macrosomia diagnosed antenatally presents a dilemma to the obstetrician. We retrospectively reviewed the peripartum management of singleton pregnancies, which ended in the delivery of a macrosomic baby (birth weight >/=4,500 g) in our unit between 1995 and 1999. This was to determine first, the associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and second, whether the lack of consensual management in our unit influences outcome. Over the 5-year period, there were 380 macrosomic births out of 26,974 deliveries; an incidence of macrosomia of 1.4%. The mean birth weight was 4,697 +/- 330 g (range 4,500 - 5,560 g). The onset of labour was spontaneous in 234 (61.6%) cases, 120 (31.6%) were inductions and 26 (6.8%) were elective caesarean sections. Of the 354 planned vaginal deliveries, 233 (65.8%) were spontaneous, 62 (17.5%) were operative vaginal deliveries and 59 (16.7%) were emergency caesarean sections. There was no relationship between the rate of successful vaginal delivery and birth weight. There were 40 (13.6%) cases of shoulder dystocia compared with 0.9% in the non-macrosomic population (p < 0.001). Emergency caesarean sections and shoulder dystocia were significantly more common with babies weighing >/=5,000 g (28.9% vs 15.2%, p < 0.002 for caesarean section and 25.8% vs 11%, p < 0.001 for dystocia). We therefore recommend that where the estimated fetal weight is >5,000 g, an elective caesarean section should be considered. Variations in the care provided by different consultants did not have any effect on outcome. Induction for fetal macrosomia alone did not improve outcome but was associated with a significantly higher emergency caesarean section rate and should therefore be discouraged.