Nicotine Use During Pregnancy: Cessation and Treatment Strategies.

Abstract: The use of tobacco and nicotine products during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of adverse effects on the fetus. Increased education and research have resulted in greater rates of smoking cessation during pregnancy, with a decline from 13.2% of pregnant individuals smoking in 2006 to 7.2% in 2016. However, smoking while pregnant still proves to be a prevalent issue that is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental delays. Smoking cessation before or during pregnancy can help mitigate these effects, but the appropriate treatment can be challenging to ascertain. Accordingly, clinicians should look to provide individualized care composed of behavioral counseling in conjunction with pharmacotherapies when indicated, combined with ongoing support and education.

Sonographic Evaluation of the Placenta in Fontan Patients: A Case Series.

Due to the advancements in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery and medical management, more individuals with congenital heart disease are reaching reproductive age. It is well established that individuals with Fontan circulation are at an increased risk for maternal and fetal adverse outcomes including maternal cardiovascular complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. Early onset of poor placental health likely related to chronically elevated central venous pressure/low cardiac output inherited to Fontan circulation may play a role in the development of these outcomes. In this case series, we present second-trimester placental imaging findings and pregnancy outcomes of three individuals with Fontan circulation who delivered at a tertiary center in the Southeastern United States.

Benefits and Risks of Bilateral Salpingectomy Compared With Standard Tubal Ligation During Cesarean Delivery for Permanent Postpartum Contraception.

Importance: Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy, but the most deadly female reproductive cancer in the United States. Epithelial ovarian cancer makes up approximately 90% of all cases and is responsible for more than 90% of ovarian cancer deaths. Elective salpingectomy has been shown to reduce ovarian cancer risk when performed at the time of a benign hysterectomy. Data regarding the risks and benefits of opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy performed at the time of cesarean delivery are limited. Objective: We aim to review the current evidence regarding safety and benefits of opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy at the time of cesarean delivery compared with bilateral tubal ligation. Evidence Acquisition: Original research articles, review articles, and guidelines on contraception were reviewed. Conclusions and Relevance: Opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy at the time of cesarean delivery is feasible and safe. Operative time may be increased up to 15 minutes for salpingectomy performed by suture ligation compared with standard tubal ligation. Women with a history of 3 or more cesarean deliveries are more likely to require an alternative procedure. It is important to counsel women that although opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy may significantly decrease the risk of ovarian cancer, it does not eliminate the risk entirely.

Am I Really Qualified To Be Here: Exploring The Impact Of Impostor Phenomenon On Training And Careers In OB/GYN Medical Education.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with Impostor Phenomenon (IP) believe they have achieved success by fooling others into thinking they are intelligent/capable and fear they will be discovered. This fear has been shown to cause psychological distress and may affect OB/GYN training. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of IP and correlation with anxiety among OB/GYN trainees and faculty. DESIGN/SETTING: An anonymous cross-sectional survey including a demographic questioner, Clance Impostor Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-items screening tool was distributed to 200 attendees at the 2019 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Meeting. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-nine medical students, 38 residents, 3 fellows, and 9 attendings completed the survey for a response rate of 72%. RESULTS: The average participant experienced frequent feelings of IP with the mean score of 65 ± 18. Nine (8%) experienced few feelings of IP, 27 (24%) had moderate IP feelings, 55 (50%) had frequent IP feelings, and 20 (18%) had intense IP feeling. There was no difference between IP score and trainee/faculty gender, race, or region of country. The degree of IP was significantly associated with level of medical training with more experienced physicians scoring lower than trainees (F = 6.07, p = 0.001). Finally, an association was found between anxiety and IP; individuals with a positive GAD-2 screen had significantly more feelings of IP compared to individuals with a negative GAD-2 screen (t = 4/79, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that IP is likely prevalent among OB/GYN trainees and correlate with anxiety. Further discussion is needed regarding the impact of IP on medical education training and career advancement in the field of OB/GYN and other surgical specialties.

Postpartum Pyelonephritis and Risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: Pyelonephritis is the most common nonobstetric cause for hospitalization during pregnancy. The maternal and obstetric complications associated with antepartum pyelonephritis are well described. However, it is not clear whether these risks extend into the postpartum period. The primary objective of this study was to describe the morbidity associated with postpartum pyelonephritis, by comparing the morbidity associated with pyelonephritis in the postpartum period to morbidity seen during pregnancy or delivery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD), an all-payor sample of discharges from approximately 60% of U.S. hospitalizations. Discharges between October 2015 and December 2018 were included. Maternity-associated hospitalizations, diagnosis of pyelonephritis, comorbid conditions, and incidence of severe maternal morbidity were identified using International Classification of Disease-10th Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis and procedure codes. Bivariate statistics, weighted to account for the complex survey methods in the NRD, were used to evaluate the association between antepartum, delivery, and postpartum hospital stays associated with pyelonephritis and maternal morbidity. Weighted regression models were used to evaluate the association between admission timing and maternal outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 32,850 pyelonephritis admissions were identified, corresponding to a national estimate of 61,837 admissions. Of these, 1,465 (2.4%) were postpartum, 55,056 (89.0%) were antepartum, and 5,317 (8.6%) involved a delivery stay. Rates of severe maternal morbidity were higher in the postpartum group than the antepartum or delivery hospitalization groups (59.5 vs. 12.9 and 15.8%, respectively, p < 0.001); when compared with antepartum hospitalizations, the adjusted relative risk for composite severe maternal morbidity for postpartum hospitalizations was 4.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.33, 5.05). Most of this difference was driven by rates of sepsis (53.2 vs. 11.0 vs. 10.9%). CONCLUSION: Though relatively uncommon, postpartum hospitalizations for pyelonephritis are associated with higher rates of severe maternal morbidity, driven by differential rates of sepsis, than are antepartum or delivery-associated hospitalizations.

The Impact of Body Mass Index on Postpartum Infectious Morbidities and Wound Complications: A Study of Extremes.

OBJECTIVE: As body mass index increases, the risk of postpartum infections has been shown to increase. However, most studies lump women with a body mass index (BMI) of above 40 kg/m2 together, making risk assessment for women in higher BMI categories challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of extreme obesity on postpartum infectious morbidity and wound complications during the postpartum period. STUDY DESIGN: The present study is a secondary analysis of women who underwent cesarean delivery and had BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Cesarean Registry. The primary outcome was a composite of postpartum infectious morbidity including endometritis, wound infection, inpatient wound complication prior to discharge, and readmission due to wound complications. Appropriate statistics used to compare baseline demographics, pregnancy complications, and primary outcomes among women by increasing BMI groups (40-49.9, 50-59.9, 60-69.9, and >70 kg/m2). RESULTS: Rates of postpartum infectious morbidity increased with BMI category (11.7% BMI: 50-59.9 kg/m2; 13.7% BMI: 60-69.9 kg/m2; and 21.9% BMI >70+ kg/m2; p = 0.001). Readmission for wound complications also increased with BMI (3.1% for BMI: 50-59.9 kg/m2; 6.2% for BMI: 60-69.9 kg/m2; and 9.4% for BMI >70+ kg/m2; p = 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, increased BMI of 70+ kg/m2 category remained the most significant predictor of postpartum infectious complications compared with women with BMI of 40 to 49.9 kg/m2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-29.7). The adjusted odds of readmission also increased with BMI (aOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.35-4.02 for BMI 50-59.9 kg/m2; aOR = 4.91, 95% CI: 2.07-11.7 for BMI of 60-69.9 kg/m2; and aOR = 36.2, 95% CI: 7.45-176 for BMI >70 kg/m2). CONCLUSION: Women with BMI 50 to 70+ kg/m2 are at an increased risk of postpartum wound infections and complications compared with women with BMI 40 to 49.9 kg/m2. These data provide increased guidance for counseling women with an extremely elevated BMI and highlight the importance of postpartum wound prevention bundles. KEY POINTS: · Women with super obesity have higher rates of wound complications.. · Women at extremes of obesity experience worse postpartum infectious morbidity.. · More research is needed on effective strategies to minimize morbidity in this population..

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Associated With Infective Endocarditis in Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but serious infection that complicates pregnancy. Little is known about IE management and outcomes in this population. METHODS: The National Readmissions Database was used to obtain data between October 2015 and October 2018. Billing codes identified admissions for IE in female patients of reproductive age. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between patients with maternity-associated and nonmaternity-associated IE and obstetric patients who delivered with and without IE. Weighted regressions were used to examine outcomes in adjusted models. RESULTS: We identified 12 602 reproductive-aged female patients with a diagnosis of IE, of which 382 (weighted national estimate, 748) were maternity-associated. Of these cases, 117 (weighted national estimate, 217) occurred during a delivery admission. Compared with patients with nonmaternity-associated IE, maternity-associated infection was associated with younger age (mean, 29.0 vs 36.6 years; P < .001), Medicaid coverage (72.5% vs 47.2%; P < .001), and drug use (76.2% vs 59.8%; P < .001). Mortality was comparable (8.1% vs 10.6%; adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .71-1.48). Compared with patients who delivered without IE, IE complicating delivery was associated with worse maternal and fetal outcomes, including maternal mortality (17.2% vs <0.01%; aRR, 323.32; 95% CI: 127.74-818.37) and preterm birth (55.7% vs 10.1%; aRR, 3.61; 95% CI, 2.58-5.08). CONCLUSIONS: Maternity-associated IE does not appear to confer additional risk for adverse outcome over nonmaternity-associated infection. Patients who deliver with IE have worse maternal and fetal outcomes than those whose deliveries are not complicated by IE.

Venous thromboembolism incidence among patients recommended for pharmacologic thromboembolism prophylaxis after cesarean delivery in selected guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Multiple guidelines regarding risk stratification for venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence following cesarean delivery have been promulgated. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the percentage of cesarean delivery patients for which pharmacologic VTE would be recommended and subsequent incidence of VTE, based on several guidelines. PATIENTS/METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Nationwide Readmissions Database from October 2015 through December 2017. Diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify patients undergoing cesarean delivery, incidence of VTE, and risk factors used to stratify risk in the existing guidelines. Time-to-event analysis was used to analyze data, stratified by risk categorization in 2011 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 2012 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), 2015 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) guidelines. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of 1 235 149 cesarean deliveries, VTE incidence was 2.1 per 1000 deliveries at 330 days following delivery (95% confidence interval: 2.0-2.2). Proportions of patients that would be recommended for pharmacologic prophylaxis ranged from 0.2% in 2018 ASH guidelines to 73.4% in 2015 RCOG criteria. Among groups considered at elevated risk for VTE for which pharmacologic prophylaxis would be recommended, VTE incidence varied from 35.2 per 1000 deliveries based on 2018 ASH criteria to 2.5 per 1000 in 2015 RCOG criteria. In a large cohort of cesarean deliveries in the United States, application of different risk stratification guidelines identified widely different proportions at risk of VTE following delivery, with implications for being categorized as having elevated risk.

Micro RNA in Exosomes from HIV-Infected Macrophages.

Exosomes are small membrane-bound vesicles secreted by cells that function to shuttle RNA and proteins between cells. To examine the role of exosomal micro RNA (miRNA) during the early stage of HIV-1 infection we characterized miRNA in exosomes from HIV-infected macrophages, compared with exosomes from non-infected macrophages. Primary human monocytes from uninfected donors were differentiated to macrophages (MDM) which were either mock-infected or infected with the macrophage-tropic HIV-1 BaL strain. Exosomes were recovered from culture media and separated from virus particles by centrifugation on iodixanol density gradients. The low molecular weight RNA fraction was prepared from purified exosomes. After pre-amplification, RNA was hybridized to microarrays containing probes for 1200 miRNA species of known and unknown function. We observed 48 miRNA species in both infected and uninfected MDM exosomes. Additionally, 38 miRNAs were present in infected-cell exosomes but not uninfected-cell exosomes. Of these, 13 miRNAs were upregulated in exosomes from HIV-infected cells, including 4 miRNA species that were increased by more than 10-fold. Though numerous miRNA species have been identified in HIV-infected cells, relatively little is known about miRNA content in exosomes from these cells. In the future, we plan to investigate whether the upregulated miRNA species we identified are increased in exosomes from HIV-1-positive patients.