Sonoelastography of the uterine cervix as a new diagnostic tool of cervical assessment in pregnant women - preliminary report.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at determining whether there exists a correlation between the cervical cohesion parameters assessed in the elastography and the length of the cervix. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Assessment of cervical cohesion parameters with the use of real-time sonoelastography was performed on 59 patients between 28 and 39 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: The analysis showed that there exists a statistically significant (p=0.033) correlation between the cervical length and the elasticity of the front cervical labium (strain ratio A). Correlation coefficient (r) stood at (-) 0.28. CONCLUSIONS: 1. There exists a negative correlation between the condition on the front cervical labium in elastographic imaging and the length of the cervical canal in USG imaging. 2. Elastography of the uterine cervix may be helpful in assessing the risk of premature labour or cervical insufficiency. 3. There is a need to perform a study on a larger group of patients in order to determine whether elastography may find its place among routine obstetric diagnostic methods.

Neonatal outcome from triplet interval delayed delivery: a case report.

In the past decades, we have observed a large increase in the number of multifetal pregnancies, which is mainly associated with the introduction of assisted reproductive techniques. Even though neonatal intensive care of very premature infants has improved significantly, the risk of mortality and long-term morbidity is still much higher among these newborns. A longer interdelivery period may reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity. The authors report the case of a delayed interval delivery in trichorionic, triamniotic triplet pregnancy. After the labor of the first fetus in the 22nd week of gestation, a 75-day interval was achieved before the delayed delivery. To save the surviving fetuses, the umbilical cord was ligated at the cervical level immediately after the first delivery. The patient received antibiotics, tocolytics, and corticosteroids. A baby boy who weighed 1750 g and a girl who weighed 1700 g were successfully delivered by cesarean section in the 33rd week of pregnancy. The babies were discharged home at the age of 28 days. A follow-up examination 20 weeks later showed that their neurological development was normal and without any major problems. The maternal postpartum course was uneventful; the patient stayed in hospital taking care of the babies.

[Cesarean section versus vaginal delivery--state-of-the-art paper]. / Ciecia cesarskie a porody silami natury--aktualne spojrzenie.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to perform a comparative analysis of complications after vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections and to introduce emotional status of the mother as an indication for a cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 406 patients after vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections, that took place in the first quarter of 2009, were enrolled into the study. RESULTS: In the studied group of 406 patients, 200 women (49.2%) had cesarean section and 206 women (50.8%) delivered vaginally. In both groups there were no differences in the clinical state of newborns, which were assessed according to the Apgar score, and in umbilical cord blood pH. Hemoglobin concentration evaluated on the second day of puerperium was statistically significantly higher in the group of patients after cesarean section than after vaginal delivery. Episiotomy and laparotomy wound healing complications were observed in 2 (0.97%) and 3 (1.5%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to lack of differences in complication rates between cesarean section and vaginal delivery patients, the emotional status of a pregnant woman should be considered as an indication for cesarean section.