Single-dose methotrexate treatment for ectopic pregnancy and pregnancy of unknown location and progesterone as a predictor of success.

BACKGROUND: The use of single-dose intramuscular administration of methotrexate in the treatment of ectopic pregnancies (EP) is a well-established practice. This study evaluates its use at a novel dose of 40 mg/m(2) body surface area (BSA). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-dose methotrexate treatment 40 mg/m(2) for tubal EP and persistent pregnancies of unknown location (PUL) and determine whether serum progesterone is a predictor of treatment success. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients receiving intramuscular methotrexate 40 mg/m(2) for the treatment of EP or PUL at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital over five years. RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen women received single-dose methotrexate with an overall success of 84%. Surgical intervention was needed in 16.6%. Pretreatment beta-hCG level and ectopic diagnosis were independent variables predictive of the need for surgery (P = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively). Serum progesterone level was not predictive of the need for a second dose or surgery. The sensitivity and specificity at pretreatment beta-hCG of 1202 IU/L were 84% and 74%, respectively. Commonly reported side effects included nausea, abdominal pain and heavy vaginal bleeding. Significant treatment-related adverse effects were rare. CONCLUSION: Single-dose IM methotrexate at a novel dose of 40 mg/m(2) is a safe and effective treatment for selected EP and persistent PUL. The risk of surgery was positively correlated to serum beta-hCG level and the diagnosis of EP. Progesterone was not a risk factor for surgery. Further studies are required to confirm the efficacy of this dose regimen and explore the safety of expectant management as an alternative to methotrexate treatment.

Persistent occiput posterior: OUTcomes following digital rotation: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

AIM: To determine the feasibility of a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether digital rotation of the fetal head from occiput posterior (OP) position in the second stage of labour reduces the risk of operative delivery (defined as caesarean section (CS) or instrumental delivery). METHODS: We conducted the study between December 2010 and December 2011 in a tertiary referral hospital in Australia. A transabdominal ultrasound was performed early in the second stage of labour on women with cephalic, singleton pregnancies to determine the fetal position. Those women with a fetus in the OP position were randomised to either a digital rotation or a sham procedure. In all other ways, participants received their usual intrapartum care. Data regarding demographics, mode of delivery, labour, post natal period and neonatal outcomes were collected. RESULTS: One thousand and four women were consented, 834 achieved full dilatation, and 30 were randomised. An additional portable ultrasound scan and a blinded 'sham' digital rotation were acceptable to women and staff. Operative delivery rates were 13/15 in the digital rotation (four CS and nine instrumental) and 12/15 in the sham (three CS and nine instrumental) groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: A large double-blinded multicentre RCT would be feasible and acceptable to women and staff. Strategies to improve recruitment such as consenting women with an effective epidural in active labour should be considered. This would be the first RCT to answer a clinically important question which could significantly affect the operative delivery rate in Australia and internationally.

Does occiput posterior position in the second stage of labour increase the operative delivery rate?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of occipito-posterior position in the second stage of labour on operative delivery. METHODS: Double-blinded prospective cohort study of ultrasound determined occiput-posterior position during the second stage of labour compared with occiput-anterior position. The primary outcome was operative (caesarean section, forceps or vacuum) delivery. RESULTS: A total of 68% (13/19) women in the occiput-posterior group, and 27% (39/141) in the occiput-anterior group had an operative delivery (unadjusted: P < 0.001). Caesarean section was performed in 37% and 5%, respectively (P < 0.001). The occiput-posterior group had a longer second stage (mean 2 h 59 minutes vs 1 h 54 minutes; P = 0.001) and larger infants (mean 3723 g vs 3480 g, P = 0.024). In the logistic regression, occiput-posterior position, nulliparity, abnormal second stage cardiotocograph and epidural analgesia were independent predictors for operative delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Occiput-posterior position early in the second stage of labour is strongly associated with operative delivery. There is potential to explore interventions such as manual rotation.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies associated with illicit substance abuse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of women using illicit drugs during pregnancy by substance group. METHOD: A retrospective audit of obstetric and perinatal outcomes in women who used opiates or amphetamines during their pregnancy and delivered at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), Perth, Australia between December 1997 and April 2000 was performed. Maternal, fetal and neonatal parameters were assessed. These were compared with obstetric and perinatal data recorded by the Health Department of Western Australia (HDWA) for the 25,291 deliveries of 25,677 infants in 1998. RESULTS: Between December 1997 and April 2000 91 opiate-using and 50 amphetamine-using women were identified and included in the analysis. Both groups of drug-using women were younger (opiates P = 0.001, amphetamines P = 0.001) than the general population. There was a higher incidence of aboriginality (P = 0.001) in the amphetamine group. In the opiate-using group multiparity (P = 0.0001) and anaemia (P = 0.0001) were higher. Illicit drug-using women had a higher incidence of hepatitis C (opiates P = 0.001, amphetamines P = 0.003), and a greater need for pharmacological analgesia for labour and delivery (opiates P = 0.007, amphetamines P = 0.042). Their infants were significantly more likely to deliver at less than 37 weeks' gestation (opiates P = 0.0001, amphetamines P = 0.001), to have a birthweight of less than 2.5 kg (P = 0.0001), be small for gestational age and require admission to the special care nursery (P = 0.0001). Infants born to women in the amphetamine group were more likely to have an Apgar score < 7 (P = 0.0001) recorded. Infants of women in the opiate group required more resuscitation (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Women who use illicit drugs are more likely to experience adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes than women in the general population. Differences are seen depending on the type of illicit drug used. These findings need to be replicated in a larger prospective cohort to highlight management requirements of these women and their infants. Further information is required about the effects of amphetamines in pregnancy.