Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion: a case report and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The velamentous cord insertion is a rare pathology in which the umbilical blood vessels branch before reaching the placenta; by varying its structure, the cord becomes prone to spontaneous internal ruptures. This pathology is an obstetric emergency, so its early diagnosis is essential. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present a 27-year-old pregnant woman who attends an antenatal check-up for a routine third-trimester examination. Ultrasound reveals grade I polyhydramnios and suggestive findings of a trivascular umbilical cord with velamentous insertion 35 mm from the nearest placental border. The ultrasound diagnosis allowed a term delivery by elective cesarean section, avoiding severe complications of the maternal-fetal binomial. CONCLUSION: Velamentous cord insertion can and should have an early prenatal diagnosis, even from the second trimester, through imaging techniques such as transabdominal ultrasound or color Doppler. Early detection and appropriate peripartum management will highly reduce complications during labor.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta deployed by acute care surgeons in patients with morbidly adherent placenta: a feasible solution for two lives in peril.

Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), which includes accreta, increta, and percreta, is a condition characterized by the invasion of the uterine wall by placental tissue. The condition is associated with higher odds of massive post-partum hemorrhage. Several interventions have been developed to improve hemorrhage-related outcomes in these patients; however, there is no evidence to prefer any intervention over another. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is an endovascular intervention that may be useful and effective to reduce hemorrhage and transfusions in MAP patients. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the evidence for REBOA in patients with MAP. We posit that acute care surgeons can perform REBOA for patients with MAP.

Prophylactic use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in women with abnormal placentation: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and case series.

BACKGROUND: We describe intraoperative and postdischarge outcomes of a case series after the prophylactic use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) during elective cesarean delivery in pregnant women with morbidly adherent placenta (MAP). We furthermore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the use of REBOA during elective cesarean delivery in pregnant women with MAP. METHODS: Descriptive case series of REBOA (December 2015 to June 2017) used during elective cesarean delivery in pregnant women with MAP. The systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We included studies involving pregnant women with a diagnosis of MAP who underwent an elective cesarean delivery with prophylactic REBOA placement. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the overall amount of transfusions and intraoperative hemorrhage of REBOA compared to NO-REBOA cases. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients with MAP underwent elective cesarean delivery with REBOA deployment. The median (interquartile range) of packed red blood cells transfused during the first 24 hours following surgery was two units (0-3.5). The median (interquartile range) of intraoperative blood loss was 1,500 mL (900-2,750). At 28 days, all patients were alive, and no adverse outcomes were observed. Four articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. These articles included a total of 441 patients. Quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) found that the use of REBOA as prophylaxis for the prevention of major hemorrhage was associated with a lower amount of intraoperative hemorrhage (in milliliters) (weighted mean difference, -1,384.66; 95% confidence interval, -2,141.74 to -627.58) and lower requirements of blood products transfusions (in units) (weighted mean difference, -2.42; 95% confidence interval, -3.90 to -0.94). CONCLUSION: We provide clinical data supporting the use of REBOA in the management of pregnant women with MAP undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of REBOA as a prophylactic intervention to improve outcomes in women at risk of catastrophic postpartum hemorrhage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level V; Systematic Review, level IV.

Abducens Nerve Palsy In Gestational Hypertension: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Headache, blurring of vision, and confusion are common neurologic symptoms of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, whereas abducens nerve palsy during pregnancy is an extremely rare condition. CASE: A 28-year-old woman with gestational hypertension presented isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy after delivery. Neither simple resonance nor angioresonance showed alterations. No other specific pathology was found. Symptoms of abducens nerve palsy resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSION: Abducens nerve palsy is an unusual condition. We present a review of the literature finding eight documented cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy associated with sixth nerve palsy. This case is the ninth reported case.