Extraabdominal uterine exteriorization at cesarean section.

A series of 386 consecutive cesarean sections is presented in which postpartum uteri were randomly exteriorized or left in situ for suturing the hysterotomy incision in an attempt to evaluate differences in morbidity. Both groups were shown to be similar with respect to overall morbidity, although a high-morbidity subgroup exhibiting increased blood loss was defined and included significantly more patients in the noneventrated group. Emesis occurred in 4 (3.4%) patients in the eventrated group and was directly related to fundal traction under regional anesthesia. Although a larger prospective series is needed to evaluate more serious morbidity, the data presented suggest that uterine eventration at cesarean section is not to be condemned.

Fetal monitoring: is it worth it?

The current trend to fewer births per family, a lower birth rate, and a national commitment to reduce mental retardation calls for evaluation of methods which will optimize perinatal outcome individually and in a collective sense. Based on the assumption that continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during labor can reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity by 50%, a cost analysis is constructed. The cost for total monitoring of 3000 deliveries per year is compared with the potential savings due to prevention of one-half of the mental retardation that would develop from the same group were they not monitored.

Nurse-midwifery in a large teaching hospital.

The role of the nurse-midwife in a busy obstetric hospital is explored. This report reviews the role and development of this service and teaching program in a high volume obstetric service. The relationship among the nurse-midwives, residents, and faculty demonstrates the ability of these services to work effectively with a high-risk population. The occasional complication in the obstetric patient as seen in this study dictates a close working relationship within the hospital environment. With the ever increasing demands being placed on obstetric care, a strong working relationship among health care professionals is essential.

Term early-onset neonatal seizures: obstetric characteristics, etiologic classifications, and perinatal care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe obstetric characteristics and etiologic classifications and assess perinatal care in term neonates with early-onset seizures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of neonatal and obstetric records of neonates delivered at term with a diagnosis of early-onset seizures between January 1981 and December 1992 at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Data regarding obstetric characteristics and etiologic classifications of the seizures were abstracted from the medical records. Lack of antepartum testing in high-risk patients, delayed intervention with nonreassuring antepartum or intrapartum fetal heart rate patterns, birth trauma, and failure to use prophylactic antibiotics or treat infection were the criteria used for identifying seizures that were potentially preventable. RESULTS: Forty term neonates had early-onset seizures out of 60,712 live births (0.07%). These seizures were attributed to hypoxic events in 15 neonates (37.5%), cerebral malformations in seven (17.5%), cerebral infarcts in seven (17.5%), intracranial hemorrhage in five (12.5%), infection in three, and an unknown etiology in three. Twenty-three neonates had 5-minute Apgar scores of 7 or greater (cerebral malformations excluded). Seven of these neonates (30%) had cerebral infarcts. A review of all records identified nine cases (22.5%) of the early-onset seizures as potentially preventable. CONCLUSION: The majority of the term early-onset neonatal seizures identified did not appear to be preventable. Many of the neonates with 5-minute Apgar scores of 7 or greater had cerebral infarcts.

Oxidative stress, brain white matter damage and intrauterine asphyxia in fetal lambs.

In order to examine the role of oxidative stress in asphyxia-induced perinatal brain damage, near-term fetal lambs were subjected to umbilical cord occlusion for approximately 60min until fetal arterial pH diminished to less than 6.9 and base excess to less than -20 meq/l. The levels of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbiturate-reactive substances (TBARS) within brain grey and white matter were determined at 72h to correlate with morphological changes. Although the topography and extent of brain damage varied somewhat from case to case, ranging from focal infarction in grey or white matter to subtle and patchy alterations of white matter, the telencephalic white matter appeared to bear the brunt of damage as compared to other regions. The parietal white matter, in particular was often the seat of early pathological changes that could be seen in isolation. These white matter changes were accompanied by significant increases in hydrogen peroxide and TBARS levels as compared to those in grey matter. In another set of experiments, 8 different brain regions were assayed for TBARS, GSH and superoxide dismutase (SOD). A highly significant rise in the levels of TBARS was again noted in the parietal and frontal white matter. SOD levels were higher in the frontal and parietal white matter, basal ganglia and cerebellum. Cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurons were relatively unaffected until accompanied by more severe damage to grey and white matter at other sites. These results suggest that the developing telencephalic white matter appears to be most vulnerable to the effects of intrauterine fetal asphyxia and that oxidative stress may be a major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Double-blind comparison of intravenously injected butorphanol and meperidine in parturients.

One hundred women with moderate-to-very-severe prepartum pain participated in a double-blind study of intravenously injected butorphanol and meperidine that compared the analgesic properties, effect on the process of labor, condition of the newborn and the incidence of side effects associated with the two drugs. Cervical dilation, infant birth weight and Apgar scores were not significantly different between the test groups. The mean fetal heart rate for the butorphanol group was significantly faster than that of the meperidine group. Butorphanol provided significantly more analgesia than meperidine at 30 minutes and one hour after administration, based on pain intensity and pain relief scores. Some side effects, including sedation, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting and pain at the injection site, were reported for both drugs.

Ultrasound needle guidance for amniocentesis in pregnancies with low amniotic fluid.

In six pregnancies accompanied by oligohydramnios (three cases) or decreased amniotic fluid and maternal obesity (three cases), needles specifically designed for use with ultrasound were successfully utilized in combination with real-time ultrasound guidance for amniocentesis. There was successful fluid retrieval in all six, with two requiring more than one needle pass. All three cases accompanied by oligohydramnios later resulted in fetal death. In the three cases accompanied by decreased amniotic fluid and maternal obesity, the amniocentesis results were helpful in ensuring the existence of a normal pregnancy. A specially designed ultrasound needle used in combination with a real-time guidance system is helpful in the performance of difficult amniocentesis.

Obstetrics and gynecology.

Treating HIV-infected pregnant patients and the newborn with zidovudine reduced the percentage of HIV-infected infants. Uterine myomas are being treated effectively with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues. Nonoperative therapy is being used in the patient with an ectopic pregnancy.