Risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a web-based multinational cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic using Mind-COVID, a prospective cross-sectional study that compares outcomes in middle-income economies and high-income economies. METHODS: A total of 7102 pregnant women from 12 high-income economies and nine middle-income economies were included. The web-based survey used two standardized instruments, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). RESULT: Pregnant women in high-income economies reported higher PHQ-9 (0.18 standard deviation [SD], P < 0.001) and GAD-7 (0.08 SD, P = 0.005) scores than those living in middle-income economies. Multivariate regression analysis showed that increasing PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales were associated with mental health problems during pregnancy and the need for psychiatric treatment before pregnancy. PHQ-9 was associated with a feeling of burden related to restrictions in social distancing, and access to leisure activities. GAD-7 scores were associated with a pregnancy-related complication, fear of adverse outcomes in children related to COVID-19, and feeling of burden related to finances. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, the imposed public health measures and hospital restrictions have left pregnant women more vulnerable during these difficult times. Adequate partner and family support during pregnancy and childbirth can be one of the most important protective factors against anxiety and depression, regardless of national economic status.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in ragged placental membranes: a prospective, multicentre, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Ragged placental membranes is a distinct entity from retained placenta and not uncommonly reported in midwifery texts. Although the incidence of postpartum endometritis is merely 1-5% after vaginal births, it remains the most common source of puerperal sepsis, contributing up to 15% of maternal mortality in low income countries. Geographically-remote centres in Malaysia prophylactically administer antibiotics for women with ragged placental membranes after vaginal birth, extrapolating evidence from retained placenta. We sought to clarify the rationale in continuing such practices. METHODS: This was an open-label, prospective, multicentre, randomized trial. Three hospitals where the current protocol was to administer prophylactic amoxycillin-clavulanic acid served as the sites of recruitment. Women who delivered vaginally beyond 24+ 0 weeks of gestation with ragged membranes were invited to participate in the trial and randomized into prophylaxis or expectant management with medical advice by blocks of 10, at a 1:1 ratio. A medication adherence diary was provided and patients followed up at 2 weeks and 6 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: A total of 6569 women gave birth vaginally in three centres during the trial period, of which 10.9% had ragged membranes. The incidence of endometritis was not significantly raised in women with or without prophylaxis (0.90% vs 0.29%; p = 0.60). All cases of endometritis presented within the first 2 weeks and preventive use of antibiotics did not ameliorate the severity of endometritis since rates of ICU admission, surgical evacuation and transfusion were comparable. CONCLUSION: Preventive use of antibiotics after vaginal delivery in women with ragged placental membranes did not result in a reduction of endometritis. Educating women on the signs and symptoms of endometritis would suffice. Based on the reported incidence of ragged membranes, a change in practice would result in 1500 less prescriptions of antibiotics per annum in these three centres. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03459599 (Retrospectively registered on 9 March 2018).

Carbetocin versus oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in cesarean deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: Postpartum hemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality in developing countries and a significant proportion of these cases are attributable to uterine atony. In contrast to the advances made in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, there has been few novel prophylactic agents. This study was undertaken to analyze the effectiveness of carbetocin compared to oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, in the context of cesarean deliveries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Major electronic databases were searched for randomized-controlled trials comparing carbetocin with oxytocin. Only trials involving cesarean deliveries were included. Non-randomized trials, non-cesarean deliveries, studies which did not directly compare carbetocin to oxytocin and studies which did not analyze the intended outcomes were excluded. Outcomes analysed were postpartum hemorrhage, additional use of uterotonic and transfusion requirement. RESULTS: Seven studies involving 2012 patients were included in the meta-analysis. There was a significant reduction in the rates of postpartum hemorrhage (RR 0.79; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.94; p = 0.009), use of additional uterotonics (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.65; p < 0.001) and transfusion (RR 0.31; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.64; p = 0.002) when carbetocin rather than oxytocin was used. There was significant heterogeneity across studies however, for the outcome of additional uterotonic usage. CONCLUSION: Carbetocin is effective in reducing the use of additional uterotonics, reduction in postpartum hemorrhage and transfusion when used during cesarean deliveries. However, despite the potential benefits illustrated in this meta-analysis, the disparity between the cost of carbetocin and oxytocin suggests that locoregional cost-effectiveness analysis should be performed before any decision is made to adopt it for routine prophylaxis.

Postpartum thromboprophylaxis in a multireligious cohort: a retrospective review of indications and uptake.

Strategies to prevent mortality from obstetric venous thromboembolism begin with identification, risk stratification and subsequently, implementation of prophylactic measures. We sought to identify the burden of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in postpartum women, including the main clinical indications and its uptake in a multireligious population, with Islam as the official religion. A total of 2514 deliveries between 1st January to 31st December 2016, across three centres in Malaysia were reviewed retrospectively from hospital-based registries. 770 (30.62%) patients fulfilled the criteria for thromboprophylaxis based on the revised 2015 criteria proposed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. A combination of age, parity, BMI, caesarean section and preterm births were the main indications. One out of the five patients who delivered vaginally required thromboprophylaxis. In our setting with a sizable Muslim population, low molecular weight heparin was the thromboprophylaxis of choice in more than two-third of the patients. The information obtained from this study allows better local resource planning. Impact statement What is already known on this subject: Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in pregnancy and puerperium are largely drawn from registries due to the rarity of the index event. Up to 7% of women require antenatal thromboprophylaxis based on the criteria proposed by the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists in 2009. What do the results of this study add: Using the RCOG guideline revised in 2015, a significant proportion of women delivering vaginally would require postnatal thromboprophylaxis based on age, parity and BMI. When either age or parity, both with relatively low odds ratio for thrombosis were omitted, a substantial proportion of women would not achieve the threshold for prophylaxis. Despite a sizable Muslim population in the country, the uptake of low molecular weight heparin was relatively high. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or future research: Cost-benefit studies should consider the adjusted odds ratio of individual indications on a VTE event. While uptake and acceptability is high, prospective studies on medication adherence is equally pertinent.

Call for Caution: Neonatal Portal Vein Thrombosis following Enbucrilate Embolization of Placental Chorioangioma.

We illustrate a case of giant placental chorioangioma presenting at 20 weeks of gestation. Subsequent monitoring revealed enlargement of the lesion, associated with fetal anemia and cardiac failure, prompting in utero intervention. Amnioreduction followed by percutaneous embolization of the tumour with enbucrilate:Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid™ at a dilution of 1:5 was successfully performed. No repeat intervention or additional supportive measures were required throughout pregnancy and the baby was delivered at 36 weeks of gestation, following spontaneous labour. Due to prolonged neonatal jaundice, further investigations were undertaken, demonstrating subacute right portal vein thrombosis. Other previously reported causes of neonatal portal vein thrombosis such as umbilical vein thrombosis, neonatal umbilical vein catheterization, thrombophilia and sepsis were excluded. There was resolution of the thrombus by 6 months of life. A brief discussion of measures to minimize the risk of such an event and the long-term outcomes of neonatal portal vein thrombosis was included. Whilst the simplicity and efficacy of the procedure has been demonstrated in a handful of patients, judgment on its safety is best deferred. Counselling should be comprehensive, as even rare complications can result in significant postnatal morbidity.

Cost effectiveness analysis of carbetocin during cesarean section in a high volume maternity unit.

AIM: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of carbetocin compared to oxytocin when used as prophylaxis against post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) during cesarean deliveries. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the use of carbetocin to oxytocin in the context of cesarean deliveries. Cost effectiveness analysis was then performed using secondary data from the perspective of a maternity unit within the Malaysian Ministry of Health, over a 24 h time period. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials with over 2000 patients comparing carbetocin with oxytocin during cesarean section were identified. The use of carbetocin in our center, which has an average of 3000 cesarean deliveries annually, would have prevented 108 episodes of PPH, 104 episodes of transfusion and reduced the need for additional uterotonics in 455 patients. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio of carbetocin for averting an episode of PPH was US$278.70. CONCLUSION: Reduction in retreatment, staffing requirements, transfusion and potential medication errors mitigates the higher index cost of carbetocin. From a pharmacoeconomic perspective, in the context of cesarean section, carbetocin was cost effective as prophylaxis against PPH. Ultimately, the relative value placed on the outcomes above and the individual unit's resources would influence the choice of uterotonic.