Thrombosis of the Renal Vein and Inferior Vena Cava Associated With Placental Fetal Vascular Malperfusion in a Neonate Exposed to Methadone Maintenance Therapy In Utero.

Methadone, an opioid agonist, is the recommended treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Fetal/neonatal autopsy findings as well as placental changes in the setting of maternal OUD or methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) are not well-characterized. Here we present a case of a neonate who had exposure to MMT while in utero and died shortly after birth and was subsequently found to have multifocal calcified renal vein thrombosis, a recent inferior vena cava thrombus, and placental features of fetal vascular malperfusion at autopsy.

Walk with Me: A Bridge Program for Assisting Families Expecting Babies with Fetal Anomalies and/or a Terminal Diagnosis.

When an expectant mother hears the news that her infant has a fetal anomaly, she may feel unsure of the future. A RN recognized the needs of women (and their families) expecting infants with critical fetal diagnoses and reached out to help them through their journey-through the pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. The act of walking alongside the mothers through their experience has grown into a formal program at a specialized children's and womens' hospital in the southeastern United States. This article describes the purpose of the program, how the program came into existence, and what services the program provides to this special population. The program continues to evolve, and the team members have worked with over 169 mothers to date.

Maternal risk factors and neonatal outcomes in placental abruption among patients with equal access to health care.

INTRODUCTION: Placental abruption complicates 1% of pregnancies, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The objective was to examine risk factors and outcomes in pregnancies complicated by abruption in a health care system with equal access to care. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all deliveries at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) between 1 January 2014 and 1 June 2017. The primary outcome was maternal factors that influenced abruption. The secondary outcome evaluated the neonatal outcomes after abruption. RESULTS: A total of 4351 patients delivered at WRNMMC and met the inclusion criteria. 52 patients (1.2%) had a pathology confirmed abruption. There was an association with smoking (p < .05; OR 4.25) and African American race (p = .005). Neonatal variables demonstrated an association between abruption and gestational age at delivery, low birth weight, Apgar scores, NICU admissions, and fetal demise all with p < .005. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate an association between both smoking and African American race with placental abruption. Unlike previous studies, there were no barriers to access to care. Further, there was no association with age, hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disease, or trauma. Results did reaffirm an association between abruption and preterm birth, low birth weight, lower Apgars, NICU admissions, and fetal demise.PrécisIn a medical system with no barriers to access to care, maternal risk factors and neonatal outcomes associated with placental abruptions were investigated in over 4300 deliveries.

Obstetrical and perinatal outcomes of patients with methamphetamine-positive drug screen on labor and delivery.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of methamphetamine use in reproductive-age women across the United States is increasing. The existing literature on methamphetamine use in pregnancy has indicated an elevated risk of adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate pregnancy outcomes in patients with recent methamphetamine use compared with patients who received negative test results for methamphetamine at the time of delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A single-site retrospective cohort study from January to December 2015 was performed. Patients with a documented urine drug screen during the delivery encounter were identified from the electronic medical records. The outcomes of patients with methamphetamine-positive urine drug screens were compared with controls with urine drug screens negative for methamphetamine. Maternal outcomes of interest included placental abruption, hypertensive disorders, premature preterm rupture of membranes, postpartum hemorrhage, and preterm birth. Utilization of prenatal care, social work consults, and child protective services referrals were also recorded. Neonatal outcomes included birthweight, neonatal intensive care unit length of stay, Apgar scores, and perinatal mortality. RESULTS: The 2 groups had similar demographic characteristics (age, multiparity, ethnicity), with the methamphetamine-positive group more likely to have no or limited prenatal care. Both groups engaged in polysubstance use. A methamphetamine-positive urine drug screen at the time of delivery carries an increased risk of abruption (odds ratio, 5.63; confidence interval, 1.21-26.21) but indicated no increased risk of maternal hypertensive disorders. Additional associated risks include preterm birth (odds ratio, 3.10; confidence interval, 1.44-6.68), lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes (P=.012 and P=.02, respectively), and increased perinatal mortality (odds ratio, 6.9; confidence interval, 1.01-47.4). CONCLUSION: Positive urine drug testing for methamphetamines during labor admission confers considerable maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality including an increased risk of placental abruption, preterm birth, and perinatal demise. Given the limited treatments for methamphetamine addiction, further research is urgently needed.

First Neonatal Demise with Travel-Associated Zika Virus Infection in the United States of America.

Zika virus is increasingly recognized as a fetal pathogen worldwide. We describe the first case of neonatal demise with travel-associated Zika virus infection in the United States of America, including a novel prenatal ultrasound finding. A young Latina presented to our health care system in Southeast Texas for prenatal care at 23 weeks of gestation. Fetal Dandy-Walker malformation, asymmetric cerebral ventriculomegaly, single umbilical artery, hypoechoic fetal knee, dorsal foot edema, and mild polyhydramnios were noted upon initial screening prenatal sonography at 26 weeks. A growth-restricted, microcephalic, and arthrogrypotic infant was delivered alive at 36 weeks but died within an hour despite resuscitation. The neonatal karyotype was normal. Flavivirus IgM antibodies were identified in the serum of the puerpera, once she disclosed that she had traveled from El Salvador to Texas in the early second trimester. Zika virus was identified in the umbilical cord and neonatal brain. Fetal arthritis may precede congenital arthrogryposis in cases of Zika virus infection and may be detectable by prenatal sonography. Physician and health care system vigilance is required to optimally address the significant and enduring Zika virus global health threat.