Relationship between fetal peak systolic velocity in Middle cerebral artery and umbilical blood gas values and hemoglobin levels in diabetic pregnant women.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA-PSV) and fetal hypoxia in diabetic pregnant women requiring insulin therapy. METHODS: The data of diabetic pregnant women using insulin who were followed in our departments were reviewed retrospectively. The relationships between MCA-PSV and umbilical cord pO2, pCO2, base deficit, hemoglobin, and birth weight were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 120 cases were included in the final analysis. The median (Q1 - Q3 ) gestational age at Doppler evaluation was 37 weeks 3 days (37-38 weeks and 2 days), and the mean ± SD gestational age at delivery was 38 weeks 4 days ± 3days. The mean ± SD hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was 5.7% ± 1.0% and, median (Q1 -Q3 ) daily total insulin dose was 25 U (10U-48U). There was no statistically significant correlation between MCA-PSV and pH, PO2, PCO2, base deficit, Hb, and birth weight (Spearman correlation, r:-.001[P = .99], r:-.011[P = .90], r:-.052 [P = .51], r: .049[P = .59], r: .049 [P = .59], r: .030 [P = .75], respectively). Using binary logistic regression analysis, no independent factor for the prediction of fetal acidosis (venous pH < 7.23), and metabolic acidosis (base deficit >6.3 mmol/L) was detected. CONCLUSION: MCA-PSV is not a good indicator of fetal polycythemia or chronic hypoxia in fetuses of diabetic pregnant women. Fetal well-being should be monitored with other tools in these circumstances.

Leaving the placenta in situ versus conservative and radical surgery in the treatment of placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To compare different treatment methods in the management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, medical records were retrieved for patients who underwent elective surgery at 24 weeks of pregnancy or more after a diagnosis of PAS disorder (creta, increta, or percreta) at a center in Turkey between May 2, 2010, and August 10, 2016. The final analysis included patients whose diagnosis was confirmed intraoperatively and for whom complete data were available. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 included those who underwent hysterectomy without placental removal, group 2 included patients whose placenta was left in situ, and group 3 included those who underwent placental removal and conservative surgery. RESULTS: Among 79 included patients (33 creta, 18 increta, 28 percreta), 27 (34%) were in group 1, 15 (19%) in group 2, and 37 (47%) in group 3. Total blood loss and the amounts of blood products transfused were lowest in group 2; significant differences between groups were noted (all P ≤ 0.001). Surgical complication rates were similar between groups (4/27 [15%], 1/15 [7%], and 11/37 [30%], respectively; P=0.119). Overall uterine preservation rates were not significantly different between groups 2 and 3 (14/15 [93%] vs 33/37 [89%]; P>0.99). CONCLUSION: Leaving the placenta in situ could become the treatment of choice for PAS disorders.

Comparison of systemic and local methotrexate treatments in cesarean scar pregnancies: time to change conventional treatment and follow-up protocols.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the use of systemic and local methotrexate in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective cohort study, we collected the data of 44 patients with cesarean scar pregnancy. The patients were grouped according to treatment modality: Group 1, local methotrexate injection (n=17) and Group 2, systemic methotrexate (n=27). The groups were compared with respect to side effects, recovery time, reproductive outcome, and treatment cost. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at diagnosis (6.4±0.93 vs. 5.4±0.80 weeks, p=0.001), pretreatment serum ß-human chorionic gonadotrophin level [27,970 (11,010-39,421) vs. 7606 (4725-16,996) mIU/mL, p=0.001], and lesion size (2.74±1.36 and 1.28±0.55cm, p=0.001) were higher in Group 1. All patients were cured by primary therapy without additional surgery. The mean times for ß-human chorionic gonadotrophin normalization, the uterine-mass disappearance, were significantly shorter in Group 1 than in Group 2 (6.17±1.55 vs. 8.11±2.0 weeks, p=0.001 and 10.47±4.14 vs. 13.40±4.44 weeks, p=0.002, respectively). The cost of treatment was similar between groups (281.133±112.123$ vs. 551.134±131.792$, p=0.76). The total pregnancy rates were not different between groups (5/16, 31.4% vs. 6/11, 54.6%, p=0.301). One recurrent cesarean scar pregnancy occurred after systemic methotrexate. Oral ulcers, the most common side effect, were seen in seven patients in Group 2. CONCLUSION: Even though treatment success and reproductive outcomes are similar, local methotrexate is superior to systemic methotrexate with regard to recovery time, side effects, and treatment costs, even in patients with unfavorable pretreatment prognostic predictors.

Laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy for enlarged uterus: operative outcomes and the learning curve.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of uterine size and surgeon experience on the surgical out-comes of laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) for benign gynecological conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 184 LAVH cases. All hysterectomies were performed by the same surgeon and divided into two groups, with uterine weight of < 280 g (group 1) and uterine weight of > 280 g (group 2). The groups were compared in terms of the effects of the uterine size and surgeon experience vs. the operative outcomes (operative time, change in hemoglobin levels, hospital stay, and perioperative complications). RESULTS: No significant differences in mean age, parity, history of chronic systemic diseases and previous surgery history were observed between the two groups. However, operative time was significantly greater in group 2 as compared to group 1 (132.1 ± 42.7 minutes vs. 111.5 ± 30.4 minutes, p < 0.05). There were no differences in the hospital stay and perioperative complications between the two groups. One case of bladder injury occurred in each group and one patient underwent a second laparoscopic surgery for postoperative bleeding in group 2. Greater surgeon experience was demonstrated to be associated with decreased operative bleeding and, consequently, smaller differences between preoperative and postop-erative hemoglobin levels. Operative time was also reduced as the surgeon was getting more experienced but the effect did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the thesis that LAVH is a safe and effective procedure for managing benign gynecologi-cal conditions. Despite increased operative time, LAVH can be safely performed for enlarged uterus in conjunction with increased surgeon experience.

Concurrent endometrial carcinoma in hysterectomy specimens in patients with histopathological diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia in curettage specimens.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to appraise the presence of Endometrial Carcinoma (EC) sequence in patients undergoing hysterectomy for Endometrial Hyperplasia (EH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients undergoing hysterectomy with the indication of EH based on endometrial curettage between January 2009 and December 2013 were analyzed respectively All patients with a diagnosis of EH were investigated for age, parity history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The histopathology of the hysterectomy specimens were compared with their curettage specimens. RESULTS: A total number of 82 women; 48 (58.5%) postmenopausal and 34 (41.5%) premenopausal were determined to have EH on histopathological evaluation of endometrial tissues obtained by endometrial curettage performed for evaluation of various bleeding abnormalities. Mean-age of patients was 54.6?8.7. Among 82 patients found to have EH on curettage specimens 39 had EC on hysterectomy specimens (39/82. 47.5%). Consequently we determined well differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma in 66% (35/53) of the patients with hyperplasia with atypia (17/35. 48.5% Grade 1 and 18/35.51.4% Grade 2) and 13.7% (4/29) hyperplasia without atypia (4/4.100% Grade 1). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative diagnosis of endometrial pathology might be different from that of preoperative especially in cases with complex EH with atypia. Our study indicated that most of women diagnosed preoperatively with Atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) may have a cancer at final examination of hysterectomy specimens. It may be useful to operate patients with AEH in specific centers because of invasive endometrial cancer risk in final histopathological evaluation.

A case of dichorionic twin pregnancy concordant for bilateral cleft lip and palate and discordant for spina bifida; schisis association.

BACKGROUND: The schisis theory suggests that neural tube defect (NTD), cleft lip and palate (CL/P), omphalocele and diaphragmatic hernia are associated to each other more frequently than at the expected random combination rates in a given fetus. However, it is unusual to see schisis-associated defects concordantly in dichorionic twin pregnancy with other schisis-associated and non-associated defects. In addition, the association of lower limb oligodactly with oral cleft and spina bifida has not been reported before. CASE: A 24-year-old woman with twin gestation at 21 weeks was referred to our unit. At ultrasound examination, bilateral CL/P and single umbilical artery in male fetus, and bilateral CL/P and open lumbar spina bifida in female fetus were revealed. At autopsy, oligodactyly of both lower limbs was demonstrated in the female fetus. The parents had no family history of NTD and CL/P. There was no consanguinity, nor was the mother exposed to teratogens.