Peripartum interventions for people with class III obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify evidence-based peripartum interventions for people with a body mass index ≥40 kg/m2. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to 2022 without date, publication type, or language restrictions. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Cohort and randomized controlled trials that implemented an intervention and evaluated peripartum outcomes of people with a body mass index ≥40 kg/m2 were included. The primary outcome depended on the intervention but was commonly related to wound morbidity after cesarean delivery (ie, infection, separation, hematoma). METHODS: Meta-analysis was completed for interventions with at least 2 studies. Pooled risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals and heterogeneity (I2 statistics) were reported. RESULTS: Of 20,301 studies screened, 30 studies (17 cohort and 13 randomized controlled trials) encompassing 10 types of interventions were included. The interventions included delivery planning (induction of labor, planned cesarean delivery), antibiotics during labor induction or for surgical prophylaxis, 6 types of cesarean delivery techniques, and anticoagulation dosing after a cesarean delivery. Planned cesarean delivery compared with planned vaginal delivery did not improve outcomes according to 3 cohort studies. One cohort study compared 3 g with 2 g of cephazolin prophylaxis for cesarean delivery and found no differences in surgical site infections. According to 3 cohort studies and 2 randomized controlled trials, there was no improvement in outcomes with a non-low transverse skin incision. Ten studies (4 cohort and 6 randomized controlled trials) met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Two randomized controlled trials compared subcuticular closure with suture vs staples after cesarean delivery and found no differences in wound morbidity within 6 weeks of cesarean delivery (n=422; risk ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.59; I2=9%). Prophylactic negative-pressure wound therapy was compared with standard dressing in 4 cohort and 4 randomized controlled trials, which found no differences in wound morbidity (cohort n=2200; risk ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.63; I2=66.1%) or surgical site infections (randomized controlled trial n=1262; risk ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.29; I2=0). CONCLUSION: Few studies address interventions in people with a body mass index ≥40 kg/m2, and most studies did not demonstrate a benefit. Either staples or suture are recommended for subcuticular closure, but available data do not support prophylactic negative-pressure wound therapy after cesarean delivery for people with a body mass index ≥40 kg/m2.

Housing instability is associated with failure to achieve virologic control among pregnant individuals with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Homelessness and housing instability, which are on the rise nationally, are considered important social determinants of health. Among nonpregnant adults living with HIV, both have been associated with decreased linkage to medical care and virologic nonsuppression. This association may be particularly concerning in pregnancy, because virologic control is the primary determinant of HIV perinatal transmission. In addition, housing instability in pregnancy may be an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes, further amplifying perinatal risks in pregnant individuals living with HIV. However, the role of housing as a social determinant of health among such individuals is largely unstudied. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the association between housing instability and virologic control among pregnant individuals living with HIV. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant individuals seeking perinatal care in a specialty HIV clinic from 2007 to 2018. Markers of virologic control, including time from antiretroviral therapy initiation to virologic suppression, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and viral load at 36 weeks and at delivery, were assessed. All patients underwent assessment of housing status with a licensed clinical social worker and were classified as experiencing housing instability (ie, staying with family or friends, transitional housing, treatment program, shelter, outdoors or vehicle, hotel, or incarcerated) vs not experiencing instability (renting or owning). Multivariable regression models assessed the associations of housing instability with virologic control. RESULTS: Of 232 pregnant patients living with HIV with documented housing status, 41.4% (n=96) experienced housing instability. Patients with housing instability were younger and more likely to self-identify as non-Hispanic Black, have public or no insurance, and have a mental health or substance use disorder. They were less likely to be married, be employed, or have greater than a high school education. There were no differences in parity, number of prenatal visits, or timing of HIV diagnosis between groups. On adjusted analyses, patients with housing instability required an adjusted 2.45 weeks (95% confidence interval, 0.16-4.74) longer to achieve initial viral suppression and had greater odds of missing 5 or more doses of antiretroviral medications (adjusted odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-4.09) and having a detectable viral load at delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-4.47). CONCLUSION: Housing instability among pregnant individuals living with HIV is common and is associated with decreased virologic control during pregnancy. Given the association between virologic control and perinatal transmission, housing instability may be an important social determinant of HIV-related perinatal outcomes. Addressing housing instability during pregnancy may be a critical avenue to improve maternal and neonatal health and reduce the risk of perinatal transmission.

Inferior Vena Cava Leiomyosarcoma With Extension to Right Atrium in a Parturient at 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Case Report.

Primary leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are rare sarcomas, none of which have been described in literature during a third-trimester pregnancy. Here, we describe the complex care of a patient at 30 weeks of gestation who presented to her obstetrician with shortness of breath and lower extremity swelling. She was found to have a 5.0 × 5.0 × 13 cm heterogeneous mass of her IVC, ultimately diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma. She underwent a cesarean delivery under combined spinal epidural and a subsequent tumor resection and IVC reconstruction requiring multidisciplinary surgical and anesthetic care.

Third-trimester repeat HIV testing: it is time we make it universal.

Since the 1990s, perinatal transmission of HIV has decreased substantially, largely as a result of improved detection secondary to routine HIV screening in pregnancy and the use of antiretroviral therapy. However, despite reductions in HIV transmission, elimination of perinatal transmission, defined as an incidence of perinatal HIV infection of <1 per 100,000 live births and a transmission rate of <1%, remains elusive. An estimated 80% of perinatal transmissions occur after 36 weeks' gestation, which highlights the importance of diagnosis and treatment of maternal HIV infection before the highest-risk period for perinatal transmission. With timely identification of seroconversion, intrapartum and neonatal interventions can lower the risk of perinatal transmission from 25% to 10%, substantially reducing perinatal transmission events. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that routine HIV testing be performed in all pregnancies, as early in the prenatal course as possible. Third-trimester repeat testing is only recommended for individuals known to be at high risk of acquiring HIV (ie, those who are incarcerated; who reside in jurisdictions with elevated HIV incidence; who are receiving care in facilities that have an HIV incidence in pregnant women > 1 per 1000 per year; or have signs or symptoms of acute HIV). However, among reproductive-age women, heterosexual intercourse is the most common mode of HIV transmission, and the risk of HIV seroconversion is greater during pregnancy than outside of pregnancy. Furthermore, state statutes for HIV testing in pregnancy are largely lacking. In this clinical opinion, we reviewed the evidence in support of universal third-trimester repeat HIV testing in pregnancy using a successful state-mandated testing program in Illinois. In addition, we provided clinical recommendations to further reduce missed perinatal transmission cases by implementing universal third-trimester repeat testing, obtaining hospital buy-in, monitoring testing adherence, bridging communications across multidisciplinary teams, and engaging clinicians in advocacy work.

Prophylactic anticoagulation for preterm premature rupture of membranes: a decision analysis.

BACKGROUND: The current standard of care in the setting of preterm premature rupture of membranes involves antenatal hospitalization until delivery. The reduced physical activity during this time compounds the heightened risk for venous thromboembolism in pregnancy. Prophylactic anticoagulation can decrease this risk of venous thromboembolism; however, this benefit must be balanced against the risks of precluding neuraxial analgesia or increasing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the optimal modality for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis during hospitalization for preterm premature rupture of membranes using a decision analysis model. STUDY DESIGN: A decision-analytical Markov model was constructed using the TreeAge software comparing the use of unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin or no anticoagulation in women with a singleton pregnancy who were hospitalized for preterm premature rupture of membranes after 24 weeks and remained hospitalized until delivery. Maternal outcomes examined included attainment of neuraxial analgesia (vs no analgesia for vaginal delivery or general anesthesia for cesarean delivery), venous thromboembolism, postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal death. Probabilities and utilities were derived from existing literature. Sensitivity analyses were performed to interrogate model assumptions, and a Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the robustness of the model. RESULTS: In this decision-analytical model, no prophylactic anticoagulation maximized maternal utilities. Clinical outcomes among a theoretical cohort of 100,000 women are shown in the Table. The 1- and 2-way sensitivity analyses supported this conclusion. Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that no prophylaxis was the preferred choice in 56% of simulations, unfractionated heparin in 34% of simulations, and low-molecular-weight heparin in 10% of simulations. CONCLUSION: Our results do not support the routine use of prophylactic anticoagulation in women admitted to the hospital for preterm premature rupture of membranes. These findings can be used to inform clinical decisions when admitting low-risk singleton pregnancies to the hospital in the setting of preterm premature rupture of membranes.