Anatomic and Functional Outcomes of Paramesonephric Remnant-Supported Laparoscopic Double-Layer Peritoneal Pull-Down Vaginoplasty Technique in Patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome: Uncu Modification.

OBJECTIVE: To describe modifications to the double-layer peritoneal pull-down laparoscopic vaginoplasty technique (Davydov operation) and evaluate anatomic and functional outcomes of the new technique, known as the Uncu modification. DESIGN: Case series (Canadian Task Force classification III). SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2016. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic double-layer peritoneal pull-down vaginoplasty with paramesonephric remnant support to the neovagina. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Long-term anatomic and functional satisfaction results. Twenty-seven women with MRKHS underwent surgery with the Uncu-modified Davydov procedure. At 1 year after surgery, the mean vaginal length in these patients was 7.91 ± 1.4 cm. Among the 23 patients who had regular vaginal intercourse, the mean functional satisfaction score was 8.65 ± 1.2. One patient had a perioperative bladder injury, and another patient had a rectovaginal fistula at 3 months after the operation. One woman who did not comply with the prescribed postoperative mold exercises had complete closure of the introitus. CONCLUSION: The Uncu modified laparoscopic double-layer peritoneal pull-down technique appears to be an effective and safe surgical management option that is easy to learn and perform by gynecologic surgeons.

What should we do to optimise outcome in twin pregnancy complicated with placenta percreta? A case report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) are under risk of massive bleeding. It readily necessitates very complicated surgery and massive blood transfusion, and even leads to mortality. Cesarean hysterectomy (CH) is the procedure that is acknowledged worldwide, since it helps to minimize complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A patient with dichorionic twin pregnancy underwent to cesarean section (CS) due to preliminary diagnosis of placenta percreta at her 35(th) week of pregnancy. Both of the placentas were left in situ. The patient admitted with signs of infection. Emergency total abdominal hysterectomy was performed 7 weeks after CS. In the course of hysterectomy, 3 units of erythrocyte suspension and 2 units of fresh frozen plasma were transferred, whereas none was required during CS. CONCLUSION: Abandoning placenta in situ seems to be a logical alternative to the CH in patients with placenta percreta in order to minimize complications related to massive blood transfusion and surgical technique. However, it appears to increase maternal morbidity due to maternal infection in twin pregnancy.

Cutaneous Fistulization of an Ovarian Mature Cystic Teratoma: An Unusual Occurrence.

A bilobulated mature cystic teratoma (MCT) at the left ovary measuring 6 cm in diameter fistulized to the left lower quadrant of the anterior abdominal wall, contralateral to McBurney's point. This is the first reported case of a MCT fistulized to the skin. Symptoms, if present, usually depend on the size of the teratoma. However, most patients with a MCT are asymptomatic. Complications such as rupture of the cyst capsule are quite rare. Moreover, complication of fistulization is highly infrequent.

Does antenatal magnesium sulphate improve hearing function in premature newborns?

Objective: To evaluate whether antenatal magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) exposure has a neuroprotective effect against hearing impairment in premature newborns. Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study was performed with prematurely (<37 weeks) delivered newborns at a tertiary university hospital. Newborns of 92 women who received MgSO4 infusions (study group) for various indications were compared to newborns of 147 women who did not receive MgSO4 infusions (control group). All eligible premature newborn underwent hearing screening by auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing before being discharged from the hospital. Results: The fail rate for ABR hearing screening was 3.3% (n=3) in the study group and 10.9% (n=16) in the control group (p=0.034). The rate of concurrent use of betamethasone was higher in the study group (72.8%; n=67) compared to control group (29.2%; n=43) (p<0.001). Other neonatal parameters, such as the number of neonates who were small for gestational age and the rate of microcephaly were similar between the groups (p=0.54, p=0.48, respectively). After adjusting for co-variates including the use of betamethasone and gestational age at delivery, no statistically significant association between antenatal administration of MgSO4 and ABR fail rates were found (p=0.07). Conclusion: These results do not suggest a significant benefit in terms of hearing impairment in premature newborns when antenatal MgSO4 infusion was given.

Serum decorin measurement in prediction of the risk for preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To define serum decorin (sDEC) levels in healthy pregnants and in patients with preterm labor (PTL), and to introduce possible role of sDEC in predicting the risk for preterm birth (PTB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one women with diagnosis of PTL between 24th to 32nd weeks of pregnancy were compared with 44 healthy pregnants in this prospective case-control study. Maternal blood sDEC and uterine cervical length (CL) measurements were conducted at referral. RESULTS: Median sDEC level was significantly decreased in PTL group (p = 0.013). Median CL was significantly shorter in PTL group (p < 0.001). There was not any correlation between sDEC level and maternal age, BMI, and gestational age at blood sampling time within PTL (p = 0.955, p = 0.609, p = 0.079, respectively) and control groups (p = 0.652, p = 0.131, and p = 0.921, respectively). There was not any association between sDEC level and PTB within 7 days, before 34th weeks, but before 37th weeks there was (p = 0.206, 0.091, and p = 0.026, respectively). There was not any correlation between sDEC level and the CL in PTL group (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: sDEC has a limited effect in prediction of PTB within a week or before 34th weeks. Combination of sDEC with CL measurements predicted PTB before 37th weeks.

What is the optimal strategy in the management of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 32 weeks of gestation?

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare the outcomes of expectant management of pregnancy or immediate delivery in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 24+0 and 32+0 weeks of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary medical center. Patients who were diagnosed as having PPROM between 24+0 and 32+0 weeks of gestation were selected from an electronic database. Thirty-one patients with expectant management and 22 patients with spontaneous immediate delivery were analyzed. Birth weight, Apgar score, duration of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), composite adverse outcomes, and mortality rates of groups were compared. Binary logistic regression analysis with backward stepwise elimination was used to determine confounding factors for antenatal complications and neonatal composite adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Gestational age at admission was smaller in the expectant management group. The median latency period was 6 days (range, 2-58 days). Although gestational age at delivery was similar, birth weights were smaller in expectant management group compared with the immediate delivery group (p=0.264 and p<0.05, respectively). Apgar scores, duration in the NICU, composite adverse outcomes, and neonatal mortality rates were similar in each group. Antenatal complication in the expectant management group was higher (p<0.05). Gestational age at delivery and serum C-reactive protein levels were two confounding factors for antenatal complication and gestational age at delivery was the only factor affecting composite adverse outcome. CONCLUSION: Expectant management in patients with PPROM at 24 to 32 gestational weeks might be considered as a good alternative.

Possible role of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in prediction of perinatal outcome in preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation related to preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate maternal serum and neonatal umbilical cord asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in prediction of perinatal prognosis in pregnancies with preeclampsia (PE) and fetal intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) accompanying PE (PE + IUGR). METHODS: Maternal serum ADMA (msADMA) and neonatal umbilical cord ADMA (ucADMA) levels were studied from 34 patients with PE, 25 patients with PE + IUGR, and 30 healthy pregnant controls in this prospective case-control study. Umbilical artery Doppler indices of fetuses, birth weights, Apgar scores, umbilical artery pH measurements of neonates, and admissions to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were recorded. RESULTS: Median msADMA was significantly higher in PE and PE + IUGR groups (p = 0.024 and p = 0.011, respectively), and ucADMA was significantly higher in PE and PE + IUGR groups than the control group (p = 0.029 and p = 0.018, respectively). Median msADMA and ucADMA levels were significantly higher in the PE + IUGR group than the PE group (p = 0.019 and 0.021, respectively). ucADMA levels did not correlate with fetal umbilical arterial blood flow neither in the PE nor in the PE + IUGR group (p = 0.518 and p = 0.892, respectively). None was related with neonatal umbilical artery pH or NICU admission rates. CONCLUSIONS: msADMA and ucADMA correlated with severity of PE. msADMA and ucADMA failed to predict perinatal outcome in patients with PE and PE + IUGR.

Meckel Gruber syndrome, A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Meckel-Gruber Syndrome was first described by J R Meckel in 1822. It is an autosomal recessive disorder, and is caused by the failure of mesodermal induction. The typical triad of Meckel-Gruber Syndrome (MGS) involves meningo-encephalocele, polycystic kidneys and postaxial polydactyly. The worldwide incidence varies from 1 in 1.300 to 1 in 140.000 live births. CASE: In this report, we present a case of MGS in which the diagnosis was made at 19 weeks of gestation based on ultrasonographic findings of the typical triad of the disease (encephalocele, polycystic kidneys, and polydactyly) These features were suggestive of the diagnosis of Meckel Gruber Syndrome (MGS). She had also placenta previa totalis. The patient was counselled regarding the lethal outcome of MGS. Unfortunately, the family did not approve the termination of pregnancy. At the 32nd week, she referred to hospital with complaints of vaginal bleeding and uterine contractions. An emergency cesarean section was perfomed due to plasental malposition. A 1380 gr, female fetus was delivered. First and 5th minute Apgar scores were 1 and 0, respectively. Consequently, the baby died after 45 minutes of neonatal resuscitation. CONCLUSION: MGS is a lethal disorder. One cannot speak about survival of the fetus because of the pulmonary hypoplasia. The parents should be counseled about prognosis of the fetus and the outcome. Counselers should strictly give information about the recurrence risk for the next pregnancies.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: Relationship between bile acid levels and maternal and fetal complications.

OBJECTIVE: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) complicates pregnancies which is characterized by elevated serum bile acid levels. ICP increases maternal and fetal morbidities. This study was designed to determine the association of maternal and fetal complications and serum bile acid levels. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Maternal and fetal characteristics were analyzed from the medical records of 61 patients who gave birth following a pregnancy complicated with ICP between 2009 and 2013. RESULTS: Eighty seven percent of 61 cases were singletons, and 13% of them were twins. Mean SBA level was 36 µmol/L. Preterm birth rate among singletons and twin pregnancies were 24.5% and 62.5%, respectively. Mean SBA level in preterm birth group was statistically higher with respect to the term birth group (100.8 µmol/L and 25.61 µmol/L, respectively; p=0.001). No perinatal mortality associated with ICP was detected in the study group. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with the ICP compose high-risk group in regard to fetal and maternal risks. Close follow-up of these patients is required due to increased risks such as preterm delivery, meconium staining and fetal death.

An unusual presentation of a submucous leiomyoma accounting to a non-puerperal uterine inversion: A case report.

Non-puerperal uterine inversion is an extremely rare gynaecological event that is usually associated with uterine tumours such as submucous or cervical leiomyomas. In this report, we describe a case of uterine inversion due to a large submucous leiomyoma in a 42-year-old multiparous and obese Caucasian woman.