The effect of thromboembolic prophylaxis after cesarean section in patients with hypertensive disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the effect of thromboembolic prophylaxis in patients diagnosed with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy undergoing cesarean section. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-six patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into groups according to the type of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and whether thromboembolism prophylaxis was applied or not. The thromboembolic event incidence and other pregnancy outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Nonadministration of thromboprophylaxis was recorded in 210 patients. Eleven patients had thromboembolic events (5%). Among 176 patients who received thromboprophylaxis, only two patients (1%) had a thromboembolic event (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There is an increased tendency to thromboembolism in pregnancy. The incidence increases in the presence of hypertension accompanying pregnancy. In our study, the importance of thromboembolism prophylaxis on peri-postnatal complications in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was emphasized.

The effects of traffic accidents on pregnancy: Is hospitalization necessary in every case?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to show whether it is necessary to hospitalize pregnant women who have been involved in traffic accidents. METHODS: Patients at a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, who underwent traffic accidents between 2012 and 2018 were studied, and pregnant patients' files were evaluated. Demographic and obstetric features of patients, type of accident, type of trauma, Glasgow Coma Score, whether or not hospitalization were examined, the response of patients to hospitalization, and the obstetric and maternal results of accidents were assessed. RESULTS: In the present study, 95 patients were included. Overall, hospitalization was recommended for 50 patients, but of these, 58% refused to be admitted. No patients who refused hospitalization had complications. Preterm labor was seen in 3.2% of patients, while 3.2% had a fetal loss and 5.3% had a placental abruption. Only one mother was lost (1.1%) due to sustaining multiple traumas in a traffic accident. Hospitalization was increasingly indicated with increasing gestational age, but other parameters had no effect on hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The likelihood that hospitalization was recommended for pregnant women involved in traffic accidents increased with gestational age. Patients with minor trauma who refused hospitalization had no complications.

A rare case of gastric cancer with bilateral breast metastasis during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is rare during pregnancy and often diagnosed at a later stage due to overlapping symptoms of pregnancy. Breast metastasis of gastric cancer is another uncommon entity. We present a rare case of breast metastasis of gastric cancer during pregnancy. CASE REPORT: A 26-year-old female was diagnosed with gastric cancer at 14 weeks of gestation and underwent total gastrectomy. She rejected adjuvant chemotherapy and continued pregnancy without any follow-up. Cancer recurred in bilateral breasts at 34th week of gestation mimicking primary inflammatory breast cancer. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: It was difficult to diagnose breast metastasis during pregnancy because of overlapping pregnancy symptoms. Following an unresponsive period to antibiotherapy, a fine needle biopsy on breast was performed and signet cell adenocarcinoma metastasis was determined. We started chemotherapy after delivery. There was a near complete response after first line of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, cancer was relapsed within three months and we started second-line chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the fourth case reported in medical literature of gastric cancer presented with breast metastasis during pregnancy. We will try to draw attention to diagnosis, treatment and different presentation of gastric cancer during pregnancy with review of the literature.

What do expectant parents know about antenatal ultrasound screening?

Objective: We aimed to investigate and compare the background knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women and their partners about antenatal ultrasound scans.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a university perinatology clinic. Pregnant women and their partners who underwent the first trimester ultrasound scan or the second trimester anomaly scan were invited to complete a questionnaire which contained items on their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude.Results: In total, 500 eligible expectant mothers and their partners (220 in the first trimester and 280 in the second trimester) were recruited. The knowledge and attitude of expectant mothers and fathers were statistically similar. Working status, education level, and presence of chronic disease were the factors affecting the number of correct answers in both expectant mothers and fathers. The knowledge levels of both the expectant mothers and fathers were similar in the first and second trimesters.Conclusions: Pregnant women's and their partners' attitudes and knowledge on antenatal ultrasound scans were similar and generally satisfactory.

Knowledge and acceptance of influenza and pertussis vaccinations among pregnant women of low socioeconomic status in Turkey.

Pregnant women and infants are at relatively high risk for influenza- and pertussis-related morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is the most important prevention strategy for both diseases. We evaluated knowledge and acceptance of influenza and pertussis vaccinations among pregnant women. We performed a cross-sectional survey of 465 pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the obstetric outpatient clinic in a tertiary medical center in Turkey between November 2015 and May 2016. We used a questionnaire investigating the knowledge of pertussis and influenza to evaluate potential influences on the acceptance or rejection of pertussis or influenza vaccinations. The acceptance rates of pertussis and influenza vaccinations were 11.2% and 19.8%, respectively. Maternal age, education level, employment status, number of gestations, and gestational age did not affect the rate of acceptance of these vaccinations. On the other hand, pregnant women who had a history of vaccination during their adolescence and in previous pregnancies were significantly more likely to accept pertussis vaccination. Knowledge about the risks of pertussis and influenza diseases for pregnant women and their children has a significant effect on vaccination acceptance. Even in low socioeconomic status groups, a recommendation for vaccinations by the primary obstetrician was significantly predictive of acceptance of both pertussis and influenza vaccination. This study revealed that the acceptance rates of pertussis and influenza vaccination among pregnant women are very low in Turkey. Healthcare worker recommendations and increased awareness about pertussis and influenza morbidity and mortality in pregnant women and infants are essential to improve the rates of vaccination acceptance during pregnancy.

Evaluation of late adolescent pregnancies: Is late adolescence a risk factor for preterm labor?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluated effect of late adolescence during pregnancy and its confounding factors on neonatal and maternal results. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of late adolescence on maternal, perinatal outcomes and preterm labor. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out on 172 late adolescents and 160 adult women who delivered in a tertiary center. The demographic features, obstetrical and neonatal properties of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Marital status, education levels, preeclampsia-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), urinary tract infections during pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction, bleeding in last trimester, postpartum hemorrhage, perinatal mortality incidence, and mode of delivery for both groups were similar. Regular antenatal follow up and hemoglobin levels during admission to hospital were low in late adolescents. Anemia during pregnancy, preterm labor incidence was high for late adolescents compared with adults. When a logistic regression analysis was made for preterm labor, lack of antenatal follow up, urinary tract infection during pregnancy and history of still birth was risk factors for preterm labor rather than age. CONCLUSION: We assume that regular antenatal follow up can reduce preterm labor among late adolescents.

Diagnostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in differentiation of ruptured ovarian cysts and adnexal torsion.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cyst rupture and adnexal torsion (AT) differential diagnosis is important for early surgical intervention of AT for preserving ovarian function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of preoperative the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with adnexal torsion and ovarian cyst rupture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 80 patients who underwent surgery between 2012 and 2017 for ovarian cyst rupture, adnexal torsion, and unruptured ovarian cyst were analyzed. Patients were categorized as adnexal torsion (n=35), ovarian cyst rupture (n=20), unruptured ovarian cyst (n=25) groups. Preoperative NLR were compared among the three groups of the patients. RESULTS: The adnexal torsion group had a median NLR of 8.0 (range, 4.0-14.1), the ovarian cyst rupture group had a median of NLR 7.5 (range, 3.7-11.5), and median NLR of the unruptured ovarian cyst group was 2.2 (range,1.8-2.7). The NLR was found to have a difference that reached statistical significance among the three groups (p<0.001). When the groups were individually compared, there was no significant difference between the ovarian cyst rupture and adnexal torsion groups (p=0.372), but there was a significant difference between the unruptured ovarian cyst and adnexal torsion groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: NLR may be useful in the differential diagnosis of unruptured ovarian cyst from adnexal torsion, but it has no diagnostic value for the differentiation of ovarian cyst rupture and adnexal torsion.

Two Years Follow-Up of Patients with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding after Insertion of the Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in the long-term treatment of heavy menstrual blood loss in women unrelated to intrauterine pathology. METHODS: One hundred and six parous women aged 33-48 years with recurrent heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) participated in this study. The women were followed up for 24 months and were assessed for intensity of bleeding both for pre- and post-insertion periods. An LNG-IUS was inserted in each patient within 7 days of the start of menstrual flow. The women were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months following the insertion of the intrauterine device. RESULTS: One hundred and two women completed the follow-up period and had a significant reduction in the amount of menstrual blood loss. The LNG-IUS was well tolerated by all women. Pre-treatment of the use of the LNG-IUS, endometrial biopsy patterns for irregular proliferative endometrium and for atypical simple hyperplasia were 34/106 (32.08%) and 61/106 (57.55%) respectively and after treatment no abnormal pathologic findings were determined (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the LNG-IUS is effective for significantly reducing the amount of menstrual blood loss in women with HMB.

Severe methotrexate toxicity after treatment for ectopic pregnancy: A case report.

Severe methotrexate toxicity due to medical treatment of an ectopic pregnancy is presented. The feasibility of low-dose use and success of methotrexate makes it the first drug in the medical treatment of ectopic pregnancies. Besides its advantages, it should be used with caution and severe toxicity should be kept in mind.

A comparative study of obstetric outcomes in electively or spontaneously reduced triplet pregnancies.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at evaluating the pregnancy outcomes of IVF triplets which are spontaneously or electively reduced to twins and to compare them with non-reduced triplets and twins. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of trichorionic triplets and dichorionic twins of IVF pregnancies. RESULTS: Preeclampsia rate was significantly higher in triplet group (p = 0.014). Premature contractions requiring tocolysis were seen more often in spontaneous reduction and triplet groups compared to elective reduction and twin groups (p < 0.001). Elective reduction and twin groups had significantly lower rate of infants weighing less than 1,500 g than those of triplets (p < 0.001). Highest rate for infants weighing over 2,500 g was found in primary twin group. Preterm delivery rates were significantly lower in both twin and elective reduction groups compared to triplet and spontaneous reduction groups (p < 0.001). Proportion of women giving birth at term was not different in elective reduction and twin groups, and they were significantly higher compared to spontaneous reduction group (p = 0.024). Perinatal mortality rates of both elective reduction and twin groups were significantly less than those in the triplet group (p = 0.045 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric outcomes of triplets from IVF or ovulation induction cycles undergoing elective reduction are better than ongoing triplet and spontaneous reduction groups and are similar to that of dichorionic twins.

Comparison of nulliparas undergoing cesarean section in first and second stages of labour: a prospective study in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Objective. We performed a prospective observational audit study to compare neonatal and maternal outcomes of the primary cesarean sections performed in first stage versus second stage of labour. Methods. One thousand three hundred and eighty-nine nullipara women who had undergone cesarean section in a tertiary teaching hospital between February 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010 were included in the study. Primary maternal outcomes of interest were uterine atonia, transfusion requirement, urinary system injury, requirement for hysterectomy, and duration of hospital stay. Results. A total of 1389 women underwent cesarean section at this 12 month time period. Of these 1389 cesarean sections, 1271 were in the first stage of the labour and 171 were in the second stage of the labour. Urinary injuries, transfusion requirement, and uterine atonia hysterectomy were significantly more frequent in women who underwent cesarean section in the second stage of the labour compared to women undergoing cesarean section in the first stage of the labour. Conclusion. Cesarean section in the second stage of the labour is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidities. Special attention is required to the patients undergoing cesarean section in the second stage of the labour.

Predictive power of activin A levels in the prognosis of first trimester in vitro fertilization pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to determine the predictive power of activin A levels in the prognosis of first trimester pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: The study cohort included 23 biochemical, and 23 normal ongoing pregnancies conceived via IVF. Serum ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG), progesterone, and activin A levels were assessed 14 days after embryo transfer. RESULTS: Serum activin A levels were significantly lower in biochemical pregnancies compared to normal ongoing pregnancies (0.57 vs. 0.81 ng/mL, p<0.001). The ability of activin A to predict normal ongoing pregnancies at a cutoff level of 0.695 ng/mL gave a sensitivity of 91.3%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 92%. Significant correlation was found between ß-hCG and progesterone, ß-hCG and activin A, and progesterone and activin A. Activin A, ß-hCG, and progesterone were all found to be efficacious in prediction of early IVF pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that single measurement of activin A can be suggested as a marker for the progress and outcome of early pregnancies conceived via IVF. However, further large-scale studies are required to determine the efficacy and reliability of activin A in prediction of early pregnancies achieved by assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

Conservative laparoscopic management of adnexal torsion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience with adnexal torsion (AT) in 36 patients and the outcomes of the patients who were managed conservatively via laparoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 36 patients who underwent operations for AT via laparoscopy between January 2008 and December 2009. Data including age, previous history, time of onset of symptoms, time of admission to hospital, gray-scale and color Doppler US findings, time interval between hospital admission and surgery, type of intervention, operative findings and postoperative gray-scale and Doppler US findings were recorded. RESULTS: In 29 (80.5%) patients, a preoperative diagnosis of AT was confirmed clinically. The mean age of the patients was 26.5, with a range of 11 to 44. Ovarian blood flow was assessed by color Doppler US ultrasonography in 30 patients preoperatively. In 11 (36.6%) patients, this was found to be normal. In 19 (63.3%) patients, ovarian blood flow was found to be pathological or absent. Laparoscopic conservative treatment was performed in 34 patients. In two patients, salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. No thromboembolic complications were seen. Postoperative ultrasonographic examinations confirmed normal ovarian morphology and Doppler blood flow in all patients with no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and treatment are key factors in managing AT. According to the results of the present study, given its demonstrated safety and benefits, in women of reproductive age, a conservative approach of untwisting the adnexa and salvaging the ovary via laparoscopy should be considered in AT cases in which the time from the onset of symptoms to surgery does not exceed 44 hours, regardless of the color and number of twists.

Bilateral ovarian gonadoblastoma with coexisting dysgerminoma in a girl with 46, XX karyotype.

Gonadoblastoma is a rare gonadal tumor with tumor cells arranged in nests surrounded by ovarian stroma containing Leydig or lutein-type cells. In 50% of the cases, there is an overgrowth of germ cells with progression to dysgerminoma. A case of gonadoblastoma with coexisting dysgerminoma developing in both ovaries of a 20-year-old girl who had increased abdominal girth is presented here. A pelvic mass measuring 20 x 14 cm was detected by pelvic ultrasonography. Bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy was performed. The histopathological report revealed bilateral gonadoblastoma with coexisting dysgerminoma. After surgery the patient received radiation and chemotherapy (BEP: bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) and was started on hormone replacement therapy. Five years and eight months after treatment, the patient is well and free of recurrence.

Metformin and atorvastatin reduce adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether atorvastatin and metformin are effective in preventing adhesions in a rat uterine horn model. A total of 40 non-pregnant, female Wistar albino rats, weighing 180-210 g, were used as a model for post-operative adhesion formation. The rats were randomized into four groups after seven standard lesions were inflicted in each uterine horn and lower abdominal sidewall using bipolar cauterization. The rats were given atorvastatin 2.5 mg/kg/day, p.o. (10 rats), atorvastatin 30 mg/kg/day, p.o. (10 rats), metformin 50 mg/kg/day, p.o. (10 rats) and no treatment was applied in the control group (10 rats). The animals were killed 2 weeks later and adhesions were scored both clinically and pathologically by authors blinded to groups. One rat in the control group died before the end of the 2 week period. Total clinical adhesion scores regarding extent, severity and degree of adhesions and histopathological findings including inflammation and fibrosis were significantly lower in the metformin (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) and atorvastatin 30 mg/kg/day (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) groups when compared with control group. Metformin and atorvastatin are both effective for prevention of adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model.