Effect of delayed interval delivery of remaining fetus(es) in multiple pregnancies on survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The management of the pregnancy after delivery of the first fetus during a second-trimester miscarriage or very early preterm birth has not been well defined. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether delayed interval delivery of the remaining fetus(es) in twins/triplets is associated with improved survival, when compared with immediate delivery, after miscarriage or very preterm birth of the first fetus in multiple pregnancy. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched through January 2019. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (STUDY DESIGN, POPULATIONS, AND INTERVENTIONS): The following eligibility criteria applied: full-text original article; included at least 5 cases of delayed interval delivery for remaining fetus(es); and reported the survival rate of the first-born and the remaining fetus(es). STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: K.W.C. and W.W. searched, screened, and reviewed the articles. The quality of the studies was assessed according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology checklist. If possible, data were stratified for assigned chorionicity. Effect sizes were pooled through a meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2295 published article and abstracts were identified. Only 16 studies met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 492 pregnancies (432 twins [88%], 56 triplets [11%], 3 quadruplets and 1 quintuplets) showed that delayed interval delivery significantly improved the perinatal survival of remaining fetus(es) compared with the first born (odds ratio, 5.22, 95% confidence interval, 2.95-9.25, I2 = 53%), before 20+0 weeks (odds ratio, 6.32, 95% confidence interval, 1.99-20.13, I2 = 0%), between 20+0 and 23+6 weeks (odds ratio, 3.31, 95% confidence interval, 1.95-5.63, I2 = 0%), and after 24+0 weeks (odds ratio, 1.92, 95% confidence interval, 1.21-3.05, I2 = 0%), in dichorionic twin pregnancy (odds ratio, 14.89, 95% confidence interval, 6.19-35.84, I2 = 0%), and unselected triplet pregnancy (odds ratio, 2.33, 95% confidence interval, 1.02-5.32, I2 = 0%. ). Among the survivors, there were no significant differences in the short-term and long-term neonatal morbidities between the first-born and the remaining fetus(es). Serious maternal morbidity was reported in 39% of pregnancy after delayed interval delivery (71 of 183). In addition, 2 cases were managed by postpartum hysterectomy and 1 reported postoperative uterovaginal fistula. There were no recorded cases of maternal mortality. CONCLUSION: Delayed interval delivery when a fetus has delivered in a multiple pregnancy is an effective management option to increase the survival rate of the remaining fetus(es). About 39% of women may experience morbidity following this management option.

Comparing the accuracy of obstetric sonography and fetal echocardiography during pediatric cardiology consultation in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.

AIM: The diagnostic accuracy of fetal echocardiogram performed by an obstetrician alone and that performed jointly by an obstetrician and pediatric cardiologist for congenital heart disease were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of suspected fetal congenital heart disease (CHD) referred to the Prenatal Diagnostic Clinic at Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong during 2006-2011 were reviewed. Prenatal fetal echocardiogram findings were compared with postnatal diagnosis. Cases of incorrect prenatal diagnosis with significant difference in prognosis were analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven cases of fetal CHD were analyzed. Complete agreement between prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of CHD was observed in 69.4% of cases by fetal echocardiogram performed by obstetrician and 83.8% by fetal echocardiogram performed during pediatric cardiology consultation (P = 0.001). Collaboration with a pediatric cardiologist also improved detection of ductal-dependent cardiac lesions (77.4% vs. 86%, P = < 0.001). Five cases with an incorrect diagnosis were associated with a different prognosis. Three of the cases involved outflow tract abnormalities with incorrect identification of outflow vessels. CONCLUSION: Collaboration with a pediatric cardiologist can significantly improve the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis of CHD. In particular, joint consultation is associated with significantly better detection of ductal-dependent lesions. Outflow tract abnormalities remain a diagnostic challenge in prenatal diagnosis. Incorrect identification of outflow tract vessels was the major cause of incorrect diagnosis in our series.

Fetal Meconium Peritonitis and Maternal Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: There are five reported cases of fetal meconium peritonitis developing after episodes of maternal hepatitis. These cases demonstrate a potential association between severe maternal liver injury and subsequent fetal meconium peritonitis. CASE: A 26-year-old primigravid woman developed acute liver failure 4 days after unilateral oophorectomy for ovarian torsion at 24 weeks of gestation. Her liver function gradually normalized with conservative management. She was readmitted for acute abdominal pain with elevated blood pressure at 29 weeks of gestation. An emergency cesarean delivery was performed for severe preeclampsia. Her neonate was noted to have a distended abdomen. Laparotomy and bowel resection were performed for meconium peritonitis and bowel perforation. CONCLUSION: Fetal meconium peritonitis may develop after severe maternal liver disease. Thus, the latter may warrant heightened fetal surveillance.

Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma presented as back pain in pregnancy: case report and review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of pancreatic adenocarcinoma complicating pregnancy with a review of literature. METHODS: A literature search of all English articles on pancreatic adenocarcinoma in pregnancy till December 2014. RESULTS: A 35-year-old patient presented at 22 weeks of gestation for back pain and weight loss. Subsequent she was confirmed to have metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There were in total eleven case reports identified. Abdominal pain and back pain were the presenting symptoms in 75% and 33.3% of patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic adecnocarcinoma is a rare cancer in pregnancy. A high index of suspicion is required in case of atypical symptoms.