Tunisian Newborn's Cord Blood: Reference Values of Complete Blood Count and Hemoglobin Fractions.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to establish local reference values for hematological indices and hemoglobin (Hb) fractions in umbilical cord blood (UCB) for the northern population of Tunisia. STUDY DESIGN: Our study included full-term newborns by vaginal deliveries. Hematological parameters were collected using an automated blood cell counter. The amounts of Hb fractions were measured by capillary electrophoresis of Hb. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. RESULTS: A total of 328 cord blood samples were analyzed. Among them, 154 (male: 44.8%, female: 55.2%) were used to establish reference values. The normal reference values of complete blood count (CBC) and Hb fractions were calculated. Mean neonatal Hb was 14.75 ± 2.26 g/dL. Gestational age affects the expression of CBC values as red blood cell (RBC), Hb, hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cell (WBC), and the Hb profile. Umbilical blood hemogram parameters and Hb profile are affected by the environment; higher in newborns from urban regions but not affected by gender ratio. CONCLUSION: Reference ranges of normal CBC indices and Hb fractions have been successfully established in Tunisian neonates' UCB. Our data suggest reference values that could be useful for neonatal patients' laboratory results and clinical interpretation. KEY POINTS: · Reference values for CBC and hemoglobin fractions have been established.. · Hematological reference for UCB is useful to identify hemolytic anemia cases early.. · UCB hematological values are influenced by gestational age and probably by environmental factors..

Congenital Large Cutaneous Hemangioma with Arteriovenous and Arterioarterial Malformations: A Novel Association.

BACKGROUND: Congenital cutaneous hemangioma is a benign vascular lesion that is a leading cause of severe hemodynamic compromise in a fetus when it is of significant size and especially in association with arteriovenous malformation. CASE REPORT: A large cutaneous hemangioma involving the right arm of a 32-week-old male fetus was complicated by fetal hypotrophy, hydrops fetalis and neonatal death. Axillary arteriovenous fistulas and bilateral arterial carotid-subclavian anastomosis were demonstrated at autopsy. Microscopically, the main tumor was a mixed capillary-cavernous hemangioma with vascular channels lined by CD31-positive and GLUT1/Ki-67-negative endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Congenital hemangioma can be associated with vascular malformations, and that associations with other vascular malformations may increase the morbidity/mortality.

Correlation between umbilical resistance index and fetal growth: Pilot study.

AIM: To investigate normal pregnancies to determine whether there is a relationship between umbilical resistance and fetal growth. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in three academic departments. Third trimester routine prenatal ultrasonography was used to estimate fetal weight and measure umbilical resistance index (RI). After delivery the birthweight was noted, along with the time interval between the ultrasound and the delivery, and then the weekly weight gain was calculated. These data were then used to determine the relationship between fetal growth and umbilical artery RI. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 32 ± 4.8 years; mean RI was 0.62 ± 0.07, and mean weight gain was 186.4 ± 63.9 g/week. Mean percentage weight gain relative to the estimated weight on third trimester ultrasound was 8.86 ± 3.8% per week. There was an inverse linear relationship between umbilical artery RI and fetal growth: percentage of weight gained per week relative to the estimated weight during third trimester ultrasound (%/week) = [31.3 - (36.1 × RI)] × 100. CONCLUSION: In normal pregnancies there seems to be a linear relationship between umbilical RI measured at 31-34 weeks of gestation and average fetal growth in the third trimester. The greater the resistance index, the lower the weight gain.

[Predictors of birth outcomes related to women with a previous caesarean section: experience of a Motherhood Center, Bizerte]. / Facteurs prédictifs de l'issue de l'accouchement sur utérus unicicatriciel, expérience du centre de Maternité de Bizerte.

INTRODUCTION: Caesarean section (CS) rates have been significantly increasing in recent decades. For this reason, the obstetrician must frequently decide on the most appropriate mode of delivery for mother and fetus. This study aims to describe vaginal birth after previous cesarean section (VBACs) in our obstetric practice and to identify factors significantly associated with failed VBACs. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study among women with a history of previous cesarean delivery. The study design was retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive and analytical. The case study was conducted over a two years and three months period, from January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014 during which we collected data from 423 medical records of patients attempting VBACs at the Maternity and Neonatology Center, Bizerte. RESULTS: The rate of attempted VBACs was 47%. The success and the failure rates of these attempts were 82,7% and 17,3% respectively. The main factors for a poor prognosis in patients attempting VBACs were: the absence of a previous vaginal delivery (p = 0.005), a previous indication for cesarean section due to stagnation of dilatation or poor labor progress, (p 0.049 and 0.002 respectively), gestational age at delivery of = 40 weeks (p = 0.046), parity <3 (p = 0,75.10-4), Bishop score <6 at the onset of labor (p = 0,23.10-47), "active labor" duration = 6h (p = 0.002), length of labor> 8 h (p = 0.0031) and the occurrence of abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) during labor (p = 0144.10 -9). We observed seven cases of uterine rupture (1.7%). There were no cases of maternal mortality. Total maternal morbidity rate was 9,5%. The difference in rates of maternal complications between the two groups (failed and successful attempted vaginal birth after cesarean) was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Attempting vaginal birth after cesarean on the basis of good and poor prognostic factors and patient consent, contributes to the reduction in maternal and neonatal morbidity and should lead to the establishment of clear and codified Tunisian guidelines as part of a policy against unjustified iterative caesarean sections.

[Adnexal torsion during the second trimester of pregnancy: about two cases]. / Torsion d'annexe au second trimestre de la grossesse, à propos de deux cas.

Acute pelvic pain during pregnancy makes the differential diagnosis more challenging. We here report two cases of adnexal torsion during the second trimester of pregnancy in order to draw attention to this diagnosis and to highlight the importance of early treatment to avoid irreversible damages due to ischemia which can be fertility-threatening. The first patient, G1P0, 20 weeks pregnant, initially presented with appendix syndrome. Exploration with a small McBurney incision showed a right ovarian necrosis, hence ovariectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. The second patient, G2P2, 26 weeks pregnant, presented to the emergency departments with acute left iliac fossa pain. Laparotomy revealed the torsion of a hydatid of Morgagni whose necrotic appearance due to twisting required hydatid ablation. No postoperative complications were noted in the two patients. Adnexal torsion is an emergency condition that should not be ignored in the case of acute pelvic pain in pregnant women. Conservative treatment represents the gold standard and proper management is necessary to avoid possible maternal and fetal complications.

Rupture of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm: role of ultrasonography in postpartum hemorrhage management.

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) rupture should be considered in case of late genital bleeding without obvious cause and lead to perform a sonographic examination with Doppler-scan. We report two cases of late post-partum hemorrhage from UAP diagnosed as such using color Doppler US. In order to avert life-threatening bleeding, prompt and accurate diagnosis should be made using color Doppler US since the latter plays a significant role in demonstrating the vascular nature of this anechoic uterine lesion.

[Fibroids and pregnancy: complications]. / Fibrome et grossesse: les complications.

AIM: To study the maternal and fetal morbidity in the association fibroid and pregnancy and the management in this case. METHODS: A retrospective study of 80 cases of fibroids associated to pregnancy. These cases were taken from the department "C" of gynecology and obstetrics in the center of maternity and neonatology of Tunis. RESULTS: We studied 80 cases of fibroid associated to pregnancy in our study. The mean age of the patients was 32 years old. 45 % of the patients were primipares. The interstitial fibroids (68 %) are the most frequent. The average number of fibroid is 1, 7 in each pregnancy. The aseptic necrobiosis is the most frequent complication of the fibroid whereas for the mother the main complications are the premature delivery, the premature rupture of membranes and the placenta praevia during the third term of pregnancy. The dystocic presentations are more frequent than in the general population, responsible of a higher rate of caesarian sections. The delivery hemorrhage constitutes the most frequent complication of the post partum. The fetal prognosis is globally good with a morbidity dominated by growth restrictions but with no superior mortality rate. The myomectomy was practiced during the caesarian section in 3 cases, the abstention being the rule for the other patients. CONCLUSION: The association fibroid and pregnancy is not rare, the complications are frequent that is why it is considered as a high risk pregnancy. An early detection of the complications and a prevention of delivery hemorrhage would reduce the maternal and fetal morbidity.

[Fine-wire localizations in non palpable breast lesions]. / Le reperage par harpon des lesions mammaires infra-cliniques.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer represents a major health problem in Tunisia. Mammography allows screening and early diagnosis of breast cancer. The Harpoon allows the location of these small lesions in order to have a histological study and to adapt the management. AIM: To demonstrate on one hand, the feasibility and the safeness of the fine-wire localizations of breast lesions due to the collaboration of radiologists and gynecologists, and on the other hand, to show the possibility of outpatient management in these cases. METHODS: Our study is a retrospective study reporting 45 patients who had fine wire breast lesion localization, in the department "C" of the center of maternity and neonatology of Tunis, during a period of 5 years and a half. RESULTS: The rate of malignant lesions was 22.4 % among the patients who had screening mammographies with nine breast cancers among which two bifocal. The rate of in situ cancer was 33.3 % and invasive cancers 66.6 % allowing a less aggressive treatment of a third of the patients. The 38 patients were taken in charge in ambulatory reducing the cost of hospitalization. In our series, we didn't have any complication during the insertion of the harpoon. CONCLUSION: Fine wire breast lesion localization with harpoon is an easy elegant method, under expert hands, allowing a rapid diagnosis compulsory in breast cancers.