The Jellyfish Sign: A New Sonographic Cervical Marker to Predict Maternal Morbidity in Abnormally Invasive Placenta Previa.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of a new cervical sonographic sign, called the jellyfish sign (JS), for predicting the risk of maternal morbidity in cases of abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) previa totalis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of transvaginal (TV) and transabdominal (TA) scans performed in all singleton pregnancies with placenta previa totalis. JS, i. e. the absence of the normal linear demarcation between the placenta previa and the cervix, was evaluated by TV scans. The presence/severity of AIP and outcomes of maternal morbidity were related to this sign. RESULTS: JS was noted in 8/39 (20.5 %) patients. The two analyzed groups, i. e. with and without JS, were similar. The specificity of JS in AIP diagnosis, histological findings of accreta/increta/percreta, need for caesarean hysterectomy or blood loss > 2000 ml ranges between 92 % and 96.2 %, with the PPV and NPV ranging between 71.4 % and 85.7 % and 61.3 % and 80.6 %, respectively. The JS group had a significant increase in blood loss (ml) (p = 0.003), transfusions (%) (p = 0.016), red blood cells (p = 0.002) and plasma (p = 0.002), admission to an postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) (%) (p = 0.002), hospitalization length (p < 0.001) and the need of cesarean hysterectomy (%) (p < 0.001). JS was independently correlated to cesarean hysterectomy (OR 25.6; 95 % CI 2.0:322.3, p = 0.012) and blood loss > 2000 ml (OR 16.6; 95 % CI 1.5:180.1, p = 0.021) also in a logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: JS is useful in predicting the increase in maternal morbidity: massive transfusion, admission to the ICU and cesarean hysterectomy related to intraoperative bleeding in patients with a previa AIP.

Early visualization and measurement of the pericallosal artery: an indirect sign of corpus callosum development.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of visualization and measurement of the pericallosal artery during early stages of gestation. METHODS: The study group comprised 80 pregnant women between 12 and 21 weeks' gestation who attended our ultrasound unit. Transabdominal or transvaginal sonography was performed to obtain the optimal angle of a midsagittal section. High-definition flow power Doppler imaging was used to visualize the pericallosal artery. In a sagittal plane, the lengths of the pericallosal artery were measured using a straight line to connect the most anterior and posterior points. All patients were reexamined at a later stage of pregnancy to verify the existence of the corpus callosum and pericallosal artery. RESULTS: Visualization of the pericallosal artery was evident in 71 fetuses, in all of whom the biparietal diameter was greater than 20 mm. We were able to verify normal anatomy and the existence of the pericallosal artery in these fetuses between 30 and 32 weeks' gestation. A positive linear association was found between the length of the pericallosal artery and the gestational age (R(2) = 0.95) and the biparietal diameter at each gestational age (R(2) = 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that it is feasible to visualize and measure the pericallosal artery from an early stage of gestation, and this measurement could be an indirect indication of normal corpus callosum development.

Surface rendering of external genitalia of a fetus at the 32nd week of gestation affected by partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Objectives. To demonstrate the feasibility of the prenatal diagnosis of partial androgen insensitivity syndrome by 3D-4D ultrasound. Methods. To report prenatal diagnosis of partial androgen insensitivity syndrome at 32nd week of gestation by 3D-4D ultrasound in a fetus with a 46XY karyotype, testing negative to the mutation analysis of SRY gene and the 5 α -reductase 2 gene (SRD5A2). Results. 3D-4D surface rendering allows the detection of external and internal genital malformations and can address the prenatal diagnosis of PAIS and can exclude associated complications. Conclusions. Prenatal diagnosis of PAIS allows an adequate parental counseling and an early optimal management of the condition, not only for the psychological and social reflections but also for the avoidance of complications and postnatal morbidity due to misdiagnosis or delays in the treatment of the genital ambiguity.

Second trimester amniocentesis is not a risk factor for very low birth weight and extremely low birth weight.

Objectives. To assess the risk of very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) attributable to second trimester amniocentesis. Methods. Records of 4,877 consecutive amniocentesis, performed between 1997 and 2003, were analyzed. Only VLBW and ELBW in the study population (exposed) and in the control group (unexposed) were evaluated. Comparisons were made between the amniocentesis group versus nonexposed. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for VLBW and ELBW classes. Results. In the study population, the VLBW were 35 (0.71%) and the ELBW were 20 (0.41%). In the control group, the VLBW were 220 (0.67%) and the ELBW were 112 (0.34%). The Odds ratios of the VLBW between the study and the control group did not show any statistical significant risk (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.72-1.54). Also in ELBW odds ratios between study and control group were not statistically significant (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.7-1.95). Conclusions. No effect of the second trimester amniocentesis was noted on VLBW and ELBW.