Second stage of labor and intraventricular hemorrhage in early preterm infants in the vertex presentation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between exposure to second stage of labor and duration of second stage, and risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) among infants delivered <30 weeks of gestation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 158 singleton vertex deliveries (97 vaginal and 61 cesarean). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk of IVH related to second stage. RESULTS: Infants exposed to second stage as compared to those not exposed to second stage irrespective of their mode of delivery had increased risk of mild IVH (odds ratio [OR] 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15, 6.29) but not of severe IVH (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.33, 3.84). No relation with risk of mild (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.95, 1.01) and severe (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.95, 1.05) IVH was observed for each 1 min increase in duration of second stage. We also observed no significant association between quartiles of duration of second stage and risk of mild (p = 0.20) and severe (p = 0.29) IVH. We did not observe any significant interaction by gestational age, chorioamnionitis, birth weight or presenting complaint on admission. CONCLUSION: The risk of mild IVH was increased in those exposed to a second stage of labor. However, no clear association was observed between duration of second stage and mild or severe IVH.

Association of gestational weight gain with cesarean delivery rate after labor induction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of gestational weight gain with the cesarean delivery (CD) rate in term women undergoing induction of labor (IOL). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of 2,495 consecutive term women from May 2005 to June 2008 admitted for IOL between 37 and 42 completed weeks of gestation. Labor induction ending in cesarean delivery was defined as a binary outcome. Weight gain during pregnancy was calculated by subtracting prepregnancy weight from weight recorded at delivery. Multiple gestation, malpresentation, stillbirth, planned CD and women with prior CD were excluded. Maternal and obstetric characteristics were examined as predictors of CD using multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The risk of CD increased by 13% (odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.23) for each 5 kg increase in gestational weight gain. Other factors associated with an increased risk of CD included maternal age (OR per year 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06), neonatal birth weight (OR 1.06 per 100 g, 95% CI 1.03-1.08), nulliparity (OR 9.13, 95% CI 7.00-11.90), Bishop score at admission < or = 5 (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.90-2.90), male infant (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.10-1.70) and unit increase in prepregnancy body mass index (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.10). CONCLUSION: The CD rate following labor induction increases significantly with increasing gestational weight gain even after controlling for possible confounding variables.

The use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in a patient with H1N1 pneumonia.

A 32-year-old multigravida was admitted at 33.9 weeks with respiratory distress. Community-acquired pneumonia was suspected and antimicrobial treatment initiated with ceftriaxone sodium and azithromycin. However, despite these therapies her respiratory status deteriorated. She was subsequently diagnosed with Swine-origin Influenza A (H1N1) Virus pneumonia and treated with oseltamivir. After failing conventional ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was utilized. In pregnant patients who fail to respond to conventional ventilation techniques, HFOV should be considered.

Physical activity before and during pregnancy and duration of second stage of labor among Hispanic women.

OBJECTIVE: To study a possible association between physical activity and the duration of second stage of labor among Hispanic women. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated this relationship in the Latina Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Study, a prospective cohort of Hispanic obstetric patients. The Kaiser Physical Activity Survey was used to collect information on physical activity in prepregnancy, early pregnancy and mid-pregnancy. Duration of labor was abstracted from medical records. A total of 725 women with a singleton pregnancy and a spontaneous vaginal delivery were included, which yielded > 80% power to detect a clinically meaningful mean difference of 30 minutes. RESULTS: The mean duration of second-stage of labor was 34.3 min (SD 42.02). After adjusting for established risk factors, no significant differences in duration of labor were observed among women according to physical activity level in prepregnancy, early pregnancy, or midpregnancy. CONCLUSION: Findings confirm prior literature demonstrating the absence of an association between physical activity and duration of labor.

Accuracy of fetal fibronectin to predict preterm birth in twin gestations with symptoms of labor.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate accuracy of fetal fibronectin testing to predict preterm birth in twin gestations with symptoms of preterm labor. METHODS: We reviewed charts of all patients with twin gestations who underwent fetal fibronectin testing and presented with complaints of preterm labor between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2004. We also reviewed the charts of all singleton gestations with similar complaints that had fetal fibronectin testing between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2001. All samples were processed using a rapid fetal fibronectin detection system. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of fetal fibronectin testing in singleton and twin gestations in predicting delivery within 14 days of testing. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-nine singletons and 87 twins met the inclusion criteria. The birth rate before 34 weeks of gestation for singletons was 3.5% compared with the rate of twin pregnancies of 28.7%. Fetal fibronectin predicted delivery within 14 days of testing with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values in singleton gestations of 82%, 90%, 17%, and 99%, respectively. In twin gestations, fetal fibronectin predicted delivery within 14 days of testing with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 71%, 74%, 19%, and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION: As noted in singleton pregnancies, fetal fibronectin testing in twins has a high negative predictive value. Fetal fibronectin evaluation may be a useful tool in screening twins with symptoms of preterm labor, because a negative result places these women at a low risk for delivering within 2 weeks of testing.

Antenatal necrotic injury in severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. A case and review.

A case of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) was associated with ischemic injury of the left leg of the recipient twin. Five reduction amniocenteses were performed between 17 6/7 and 23 3/7 weeks followed by fetoscopic laser ablation of chorioangiopagus vessels at 23 6/7 weeks of gestation. Anatomic assessment of the affected limb indicated timing of the injury at 19 4/7 weeks gestational age. The published literature suggests that ischemic fetal injuries in severe TTTS are associated with blood hyperviscosity in the affected twin.

Limited prognostic value of a staging system for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is usually classified according to a staging system (I-V) based on ultrasonographic findings of polyhydramnios in the recipient, oligohydramnios in the donor, the presence or absence of the donor's bladder, Doppler waveform changes and (impending) hydrops. Stage correlates with the severity of disease, and it is assumed that, without intervention, severe TTTS will evolve in succession from stage I to stage V (fetal demise). However, this progression has not been validated in longitudinal studies. Herein, we report on the natural progression of severe TTTS in a cohort of patients from a regional Fetal Treatment Program. METHODS: Eighteen patients with severe TTTS, diagnosed between 15 and 25 weeks of gestation, were managed over a 28-month period. Data were collected until delivery, endoscopic surgical intervention or dual fetal demise. Patients were evaluated at least once a week. Stage, estimated fetal weight, percent recipient/donor body weight discordance and survival were recorded. RESULTS: The present study represents a total follow-up of 108 patient-weeks. Of 90 week-to-week evaluations, 65 showed no change in stage; 11 showed downstaging (by more than 1 stage in 3, or 27%), and 13 showed upstaging (by more than 1 stage in 8, or 62%). Nine patients (all stage II or above) underwent endoscopic laser ablation. Overall survival was 67%, and survival of at least 1 twin occurred in 78% of pregnancies. Weight discordance between the donor and recipient did not predict outcome. CONCLUSION: The current staging system for severe TTTS may not be helpful in predicting the direction, degree or speed of progression of the condition. Indications for intervention should remain stage-related, and not based on projected progression.

Concentrations of serum total activin A and inhibin A in preterm and term labor patients: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal serum levels of total activin A and inhibin A in preterm and term patients who are in labor or not in labor. METHODS: A cross-sectional study compared activin A and inhibin A in the following groups of patients: preterm and in labor (n = 65), preterm and not in labor (n = 96), term and in labor (n = 65), and term and not in labor (n = 65). Preterm was defined as 23-34 weeks' gestation and term as 37-42 weeks' gestation. Labor was defined as regular contractions with progressive cervical change or an initial examination revealing cervical dilation of 1-3 cm with 50% effacement or more. Follistatin levels were analyzed in a subset of 12 patients from each group. Analytes were measured by two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Activin A levels were higher in the preterm labor group (median 1.38 multiples of the median [MoM], interquartile range [IQR] 1.01 MoM) compared with the preterm nonlabor group (median 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.78 MoM, P <.05) and in the term labor group (median 1.37 MoM, IQR 1.74 MoM) compared with the term nonlabor group (median 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.87 MoM, P <.05). Inhibin A levels were higher in the preterm labor group (median 1.27 MoM, IQR 0.73 MoM) compared with the preterm nonlabor group (median 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.58 MoM, P <.05). Post-hoc analysis of activin A and inhibin A elevations in the preterm labor group revealed a significant effect only during 31-34 weeks' gestation. The total activin A:follistatin ratio, an indirect measure of free activin A, was similar between labor and nonlabor gestational age-matched patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of total activin A and inhibin A were increased in patients during labor; however, based on the moderate degree and narrow gestational age range of the increased levels, these analytes are not likely to be clinically useful in predicting preterm labor.

Deficiency of decidual IL-10 in first trimester missed abortion: a lack of correlation with the decidual immune cell profile.

PROBLEM: To determine if first trimester missed abortion decidua is characterized by an altered immune cell profile and/or a modified interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma production pattern compared with decidua from elective termination. METHOD OF STUDY: Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to determine the decidual immune cell phenotypic profile and production pattern of IL-10 and IFN-gamma in cases of elective termination (n = 14) and missed abortion (n = 12). RESULTS: Both groups had a similar proportion of CD56+ CD16-, CD56+ CD16+, CD19+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, alphabeta T cells and gammadelta T cells. The majority of alphabeta and gammadelta positive T cells in both groups coexpressed the natural killer (NK) cell marker CD56, but lacked cell surface expression of CD3. Diminished decidual IL-10 staining was noted in 7/10 missed abortion cases compared with none of the elective termination cases (n = 12) (P = 0.007). A uniform decidual IFN-gamma staining pattern was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: Decreased IL-10 production coupled with a sustained IFN-gamma presence noted in missed abortion compared with elective termination cases suggest that these cytokines may be important determinants in pregnancy outcome. In contrast, differences in the proportion of immune cells between both groups may not be a critical factor in early pregnancy loss. In normal pregnancy, decidual alphabeta and gammadelta positive T cells with reduced CD3 on their cell surface may be intrinsically restricted in T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated activation.