Bakri Balloon: an easy, useful and effective option for the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage.

We report our postpartum haemorrhage protocol focussing on the use of Bakri Balloon, describing its placement and affixing method, effectiveness rates, risk factors that might contribute to Bakri Balloon's failure and complications associated. We designed a retrospective study including 147 cases where a Bakri Balloon was necessary to control the postpartum uterine bleeding to assess the efficacy and to determine which clinical, obstetric or delivery variables could be associated with successful treatment. Failed treatment was defined when surgery or any other technique was needed after a Bakri Balloon placement in order to control uterine bleeding. For statistical analysis, we developed a descriptive analysis and a univariate logistic regression study.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Postpartum haemorrhage is one of the most severe situations in the immediate postpartum period entailing a major cause of maternal morbimortality if an accurate and quick intervention is not carried out.What do the results of this study add? The use of Bakri Balloon was effective in 94.6% of patients. No statistically significant differences were found in the success rates according to obstetric or delivery characteristics. No major complications occurred due to the placement of a Bakri Balloon. In the failure group, blood loss was significantly higher and all required blood products transfusion.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Bakri Balloon is an easy-to-use device that provides an effective therapeutic alternative to more aggressive techniques in postpartum haemorrhages when medical treatment fails. Obstetrics or delivery characteristics should not entail a contraindication in its use. A continuous training system based on an agreed protocol is recommended in order to guarantee the best care possible.

[Sonographic fetal sex determination in the first trimester: study in 2314 pregnancies and literature review]. / Determinación ecográfica del sexo fetal en el primer trimestre de gestación: estudio en 2314 gestaciones y revisión bibliográfica.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success rate and reliability of fetal sex determination in first trimester between 11-13+ 6 weeks and make a comparative study with other studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort study was performed. 2314 first trimester pregnancy ultrasounds were examined. For fetal sex estimation, the method of a sagittal section and the relation between the angle formed by the genital tubercle and spinal column was used. RESULTS: Diagnosis of fetal sex was issued in 1986 cases with 90.1% success rate. In 328 cases (14.2%) no gender assignment was achieved. A directly proportional relationship between success rate in fetal sex diagnosis and crown-rump length (CRL) (p < 0.001) was described; with CRL over 65 mm, the prediction of fetal sex is above 95% and from 77 mm is close to 100%. With CRL < 51 mm, the success rate is less than 80% in both sexes. CONCLUSION: The simplest and best performing technique is the relation between the angle formed by the genital tubercle and spinal column. Success rate below 60 mm is less than 90% overall, so it would have to be wary of establishing the fetal sex, especially if it involves a decision as to avoid an invasive test.

[Cervix adenocarcinoma in a virgin patient with negative human papillomavirus]. / Adenocarcinoma de cérvix en una paciente virgen con virus del papiloma humano negativo.

Cervical cancer in virgin women is extremely rare. We present the case of a 36-year-old patient without any type of sexual contact with sensa- tion of lump in external genitalia referring only irregular bleeding in the previous two months, finding in vaginal examination an indurated mass in vaginal introitus with result in the biopsy of adenosquamous adenocarcinoma. The evolution of the tumor was very aggressive in spite of trying palliative chemotherapy, and patient died two months after of diagnosis with lung, liver and brain metastases. Cervical human papil- lomavirus testing was negative. What unusual of these cases does not justify the cytology as the only method of screening for cervical cancer.

[Split hand-foot: sonographic detection at 12 weeks]. / Ectrodactilia: detección ecográfica a las 12 semanas.

Split hand-foot malformation is a rare disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with variable expression. Inour case, it was detected early by ultrasound in the twelfth week of gestation. The sonographic findings were bilateral split hands and feet. No other alterations were observed in the rest of the systematic assessment of the foetal anatomy. The pathological findings were consistent with the sonographic diagnosis. Prenatal diagnosis by corionic villus sampling was performed and voluntary termination of gestation decided.

Pregestational body mass index, trimester-specific weight gain and total gestational weight gain: how do they influence perinatal outcomes?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between pre-gestational body mass index (BMI), total gestational weight gain (GWG), and/or trimester-specific weight gain (GWGT) with adverse maternal or perinatal outcomes (AMPOs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maternal clinical characteristics and pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were used to predict AMPOs. The predictive ability of BMI, GWG, or GWGT for AMPOs was analyzed using the area under the curve (AUC). Logistic regression models in a univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to predict maternal outcomes (pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia or gestational diabetes mellitus) and perinatal outcomes (small for gestational age, large for gestational age, 5-min Apgar score, admission to neonatal intensive care unit or umbilical cord pH <7.15). RESULTS: Women with AMPOs (n = 293) were younger with higher rate of nulliparity (p < .001) and with lower height (p = .018) as compared to controls (n = 134). In the univariate study, GWGT in third trimester was associated with double risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR 2.00; 95% CI, 1.01-3.97). Nonetheless, third-trimester GWG and total GWG have a negative relationship with gestational diabetes mellitus OR 0.32 (95% CI, 0.18-0.58) and OR 0.35 (95% CI, 0.21-0.59), respectively. Women with greater overall and in second trimester, GWG have a lower risk of having SGA neonates, OR 0.62 (95% CI, 0.39-0.98) and OR 0.60 (95% CI, 0.37-0.98), respectively. In the multivariate study, pre-gestational BMI is strongly related to the development of preeclampsia and the area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of pre-gestational BMI and total weight gain was 0.832 (95% CI, 0.63-0.81) for preeclampsia and 0.719 (95% CI, 0.71-0.94) for gestational diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest than timing of gestational weight gain influence in maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pre-gestational BMI is a determinant of preeclampsia, maternal weight gain in the third trimester is a determinant of pregnancy-induced hypertension and the increase in total GWG reduces the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and small for gestational age.

Hemoptysis as the first symptom in the diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma in the third trimester of pregnancy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Choriocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm (1/40000 pregnancies). In the context of a viable pregnancy, the incidence is even lower (1/160000). CASE REPORT: A woman in her second pregnancy was admitted at 31 + 6 weeks of gestation with hemoptysis and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Numerous placental venous lakes, bilateral pulmonary nodules and a pleural effusion were found. Pleural fluid ß-HCG levels were elevated and a brain-chest-abdominal-pelvic CT scan led to the diagnosis of a high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasm. A caesarean section at 32 + 1 weeks of gestation was performed. Six cycles of an EMA-CO chemotherapy regime were administered. ß-HCG levels normalized after 3 cycles. Placental histopathology confirmed the presence of a gestational choriocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: Choriocarcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor. In high-risk tumors, combination chemotherapy is the first-line treatment, offering high remission rates. Treatment response is evaluated by monitoring blood ß-HCG levels, which should be long-term.

[Abdominal wall actinomycosis. A report of a case]. / Actinomicosis de pared abdominal. A propósito de un caso.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall Actinomycosis is a rare disease associated with the use of intrauterine device and as a complication of abdominal surgery. Diagnosis is difficult because it is unusual and behaves like a malignant neoplasm. AIM: A case report is presented of a patient who had used an intrauterine device for four years and developed a stony tumour in the abdominal wall associated with a set of symptoms that, clinically and radiologically, was simulating a peritoneal carcinomatosis associated with paraneoplastic syndrome, even in the course of an exploratory laparotomy. CLINICAL CASE: The patient attended our hospital with a two-month history of abdominal pain and symptoms that mimic a paraneoplastic syndrome. The diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis was suspected by the finding of the microorganism in cervical cytology together with other cultures and Actinomyces negative in pathological studies, confirming the suspicion of a complete cure with empirical treatment with penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Actinomycosis should be considered in patients with pelvic mass or abdominal wall mass that mimics a malignancy. Antibiotic therapy is the first treatment choice and makes a more invasive surgical management unnecessary.

Tratamiento con drenaje percutáneo ecoguiado de hematomas vesicouterinos postcesárea complicados. Experiencia en 4 casos / Treatment with ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of complicated post-cesarean vesicouterine hematomas. Experience in 4 cases

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Los hematomas vesicouterinos sobreinfectados son una rara complicación de la histerotomía segmentaria transversa. La acumulación de sangre entre la pared posterior de la vejiga y el segmento uterino facilita la proliferación de microorganismos patógenos. Cuando el tratamiento antibiótico falla deben plantearse técnicas invasivas para su resolución, entre las que destaca el drenaje percutáneo ecoguiado. CASOS CLÍNICOS: Se exponen 4 casos de mujeres que, después de la cesárea, iniciaron con descenso del hematocrito, fiebre (3 casos) y cuadro pseudooclusivo (1 caso). Con base en la ecografía se estableció el diagnóstico de hematoma vesicouterino sobreinfectado. Después de la falla del tratamiento con antibióticos se propuso el drenaje percutáneo ecoguiado. Se observó mejoría clínica en todos los casos de forma significativa. El cultivo del material drenado orientó al tratamiento antibiótico específico. La evolución de las pacientes fue satisfactoria. CONCLUSIONES: El drenaje percutáneo ecoguiado permite evacuar el contenido hemático, obtener suficiente muestra para el cultivo y aportar información del microorganismo patógeno concreto. Además, es una técnica efectiva, menos invasiva que la cirugía y se asocia con escasas complicaciones.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Infected bladder-flap hematomas are a rare complication after a lower uterine segment caesarean section. This blood collection located in the space between the posterior bladder wall and the lower uterine segment allows microorganism proliferation. When the treatment with antibiotics fails, invasive techniques are considered, such as ultrasound percutaneous drainage. CLINICAL CASE: We present 4 cases of women whom, after the performance of a cesarean section, began with a decrease in hemoglobin levels, spiking fevers in 3 cases and pseudo-occlusive symptoms in the other one. With an ultrasound examination, the diagnosis of infected bladder-flap hematomas were achieved. After the failure of the antibiotics treatment, an ultrasound percutaneous drainage was performed. As a result of the evacuation of the collection, the clinical situation improved significantly. Culture of the sample obtained permitted to establish a more effective antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound percutaneous drainage allows not only the evacuation of the blood collection to obtain a sample for culture, but also provides information about the presence of a specific microorganism. Moreover, it is a highly efficient technique, less invasive than surgery which presents few complications.

Embarazo extrauterino abdominal / Abdominal ectopic pregnancy

El embarazo extrauterino abdominal es uno de los tipos de embarazo ectópico junto con el ovárico, menos frecuentes. El diagnóstico es difícil y suele realizarse de forma tardía, lo que contribuye a aumentar la morbimortalidad materna. Presentamos el caso de un embarazo abdominal diagnosticado a las 9 semanas de amenorrea con embrión de tamaño acorde con edad gestacional, asintomática al diagnóstico, que se resolvió satisfactoriamente mediante laparotomía(AU)

Abdominal pregnancy is one of the rarest types of ectopic pregnancy. The diagnosis is difficult and is generally delayed. We report the case of an abdominal pregnancy diagnosed at 9 weeks of amenorrea, with size of embryo according to gestational age, asymptomatic at diagnosis, whichwas resolved satisfactorily by laparotomy(AU)