Pregnancy after kidney transplantation: 40 years single-center experience / Gestação após transplante renal: 40 anos de experiência em centro único

Abstract Background: Kidney transplantation (KT) improves quality of life, including fertility recovery. Objective: to describe outcomes of post-KT pregnancy and long-term patient and graft survival compared to a matched control group of female KT recipients who did not conceive. Methods: retrospective single-center case-control study with female KT recipients from 1977 to 2016, followed-up until 2019. Results: there were 1,253 female KT patients of childbearing age in the study period: 78 (6.2%) pregnant women (cases), with a total of 97 gestations. The median time from KT to conception was 53.0 (21.5 - 91.0) months. Abortion rate was 41% (spontaneous 21.6%, therapeutic 19.6%), preterm delivery, 32%, and at term delivery, 24%. Pre-eclampsia (PE) occurred in 42% of pregnancies that reached at least 20 weeks. The presence of 2 or more risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes was significantly associated with abortions [OR 3.33 (95%CI 1.43 - 7.75), p = 0.007] and with kidney graft loss in 2 years. The matched control group of 78 female KT patients was comparable on baseline creatinine [1.2 (1.0 - 1.5) mg/dL in both groups, p = 0.95] and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) [0.27 (0.15 - 0.44) vs. 0.24 (0.02 - 0.30), p = 0.06]. Graft survival was higher in cases than in controls in 5 years (85.6% vs 71.5%, p = 0.012) and 10 years (71.9% vs 55.0%, p = 0.012) of follow-up. Conclusion: pregnancy can be successful after KT, but there are high rates of abortions and preterm deliveries. Pre-conception counseling is necessary, and should include ethical aspects.

Resumo Histórico: Transplante renal (TR) melhora qualidade de vida, incluindo recuperação da fertilidade. Objetivo: descrever desfechos gestacionais pós-TR e sobrevida de longo prazo da paciente e do enxerto renal comparada a um grupo controle pareado de receptoras de TR que não conceberam. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo caso-controle com receptoras de TR de 1977 a 2016, acompanhadas até 2019. Resultados: foram identificadas 1.253 receptoras de TR em idade fértil no período do estudo: 78 (6,2%) gestantes (casos), total de 97 gestações. Tempo mediano entre TR até concepção foi 53,0 (21,5 - 91,0) meses. Taxa de aborto foi 41% (espontâneo 21,6%, terapêutico 19,6%), parto prematuro, 32%, e a termo, 24%. Pré-eclâmpsia (PE) ocorreu em 42% das gestações que alcançaram pelo menos 20 semanas. Presença de 2 ou mais fatores de risco para desfechos gestacionais desfavoráveis foi significativamente associada a abortos [OR 3,33 (IC95% 1,43 - 7,75), p = 0,007] e perda de enxerto renal em 2 anos. O grupo controle de 78 mulheres com TR foi comparável na creatinina basal [1,2 (1,0 - 1,5) mg/dL nos dois grupos, p = 0,95] e na relação proteína/creatinina urinária (RPCU) [0,27 (0,15 - 0,44) vs. 0,24 (0,02 - 0,30), p = 0,06]. Sobrevida do enxerto foi maior nos casos que nos controles em 5 anos (85,6% vs. 71,5%, p = 0,012) e 10 anos (71,9% vs. 55,0%, p = 0,012) de acompanhamento. Conclusão: a gestação pode ser bem-sucedida após TR, mas existem altas taxas de abortos e partos prematuros. Aconselhamento pré-concepção é necessário e deve incluir aspectos éticos.

Sentimentos da mulher frente a gestação de alto risco / Sentimientos de la mujer frente al embarazo de alto riesgo / Women's feelings facing High-Risk pregnancy

Resumo Introdução: A gestação configura-se como um acontecimento único e memorável para a vida de uma mulher. A gravidez de alto risco é uma experiência estressante em razão dos riscos a que estão submetidos a mãe e o bebê e devido às mudanças que afetam negativamente o seu equilíbrio emocional. Objetivo: Identificar os sentimentos vivenciados pela gestante frente à gravidez de alto risco. Método: Descritivo e exploratório com abordagem qualitativa, com amostra por conveniência composta por mulheres com gestação de alto risco, selecionadas de acordo com a disponibilidade do serviço de internamento, até a saturação das entrevistas. A coleta dos dados foi realizada em um período de dois meses através de entrevistas guiadas por um roteiro. Os dados foram analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo segundo Minayo. Resultados: Fizeram parte 37 mulheres. Os resultados foram oeganizados nas categorias: Como se deu o diagnóstico de alto risco; Sentimentos ao descobrir que a gestação é/era de risco; Sentimentos em relação ao apoio familiar acerca da gestação de alto risco. Os sentimentos relatados pelas gestantes e puérperas que conviveram com a gravidez de alto risco, deixam evidentes os impactos que este evento traz não somente na saúde física sobretudo para a emocional, deixando as gestantes fragilizadas. Conclusão: Assim, o estudo nos permitiu perceber que os sentimentos vivenciados nesse processo podem interfir na vida dessas mulheres, e de forma negativa. Mas, que apesar dessa situação, estas expressam sentimentos ambíguos, pois mesmo com o risco gestacional, muitas mostram-se felizes pela dádiva de ser mãe.

Resumen Introducción: El embarazo se considera un evento único y memorable en la vida de una mujer. El embarazo de alto riesgo es una experiencia estresante debido a los riesgos a los que están expuestas tanto la madre como su bebé y a los cambios que afectan negativamente su equilibrio emocional. Objetivo: Identificar los sentimientos experimentados por las mujeres embarazadas frente a un embarazo de alto riesgo. Metodología: Descriptivo y exploratorio con enfoque cualitativo, con una muestra a conveniencia compuesta por mujeres con embarazos de alto riesgo, seleccionadas según la disponibilidad del servicio de hospitalización, hasta la saturación de las entrevistas. La recopilación de datos se llevó a cabo durante un período de dos meses a través de entrevistas guiadas. Los datos fueron analizados utilizando la técnica de análisis de contenido según Minayo. Resultados: Participaron 37 mujeres y los resultados se organizaron en las siguientes categorías: cómo se realizó el diagnóstico de alto riesgo; sentimientos al descubrir que el embarazo era de riesgo; sentimientos con respecto al apoyo familiar en relación con el embarazo de alto riesgo. Los sentimientos relatados por las mujeres embarazadas y posparto que vivieron un embarazo de alto riesgo evidencian los impactos que tiene este evento no solo en la salud física sino, especialmente, en el bienestar emocional, pues deja a las mujeres embarazadas en un estado de vulnerabilidad. Conclusión: El estudio nos permitió darnos cuenta de que los sentimientos experimentados en este proceso pueden interferir en la vida de estas mujeres de manera negativa. Sin embargo, a pesar de esta situación, muchas de ellas expresan sentimientos ambiguos, porque, incluso con el riesgo gestacional, están agradecidas por el regalo de la maternidad.

Abstract Introduction: Pregnancy is considered a unique and memorable event in a woman's life. High-risk pregnancy is a stressful experience due to the risks to which the mother and the baby are exposed, and due to the changes that negatively affect their emotional balance. Objective: To identify the feelings experienced by pregnant women facing high-risk pregnancy. Method: Descriptive and exploratory, employing a qualitative approach, the study featured a convenience sample of women with high-risk pregnancies, selected based on inpatient service availability, until interview saturation was achieved. Data collection was conducted over a two-month period through scripted interviews. Data analysis was performed utilizing Minayo's content analysis technique. Results: Thirty-seven women participated in the study. The results were categorized as follows: How the high-risk diagnosis was determined; Feelings upon discovering the pregnancy was high-risk; Feelings regarding family support regarding the high-risk pregnancy. The feelings reported by pregnant and postpartum women who experienced high-risk pregnancies clearly reveal the impacts this event has, not only on physical health, but especially on emotional well-being, leaving the pregnant women in a vulnerable state. Conclusion: The study allowed us to realize that the feelings experienced in this process can negatively interfere in the lives of these women. However, despite this situation, many of them express mixed feelings, because even with the gestational risk, they are grateful for the gift of motherhood.

Exploring the Impact of Iron Deficiency Anaemia on Glycated Haemoglobin A1c Levels in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review.

Haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) is fundamental in monitoring glycaemic control during pregnancy. However, several conditions could affect this test's accuracy, including iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). Hence, this systematic review delves into the underexplored connection between IDA, iron replacement therapy (IRT), and haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) during pregnancy. An electronic search of the Cochrane, MEDLINE, and Embase databases was conducted by six authors. From a comprehensive search strategy, 968 records were obtained. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies were included, comprising 365 women selected for analysis. Six studies indicated a positive correlation between IDA and HbA1c levels, while one found no correlation. The average HbA1c level of the included studies in pregnant women was 5.64%. In comparison, it was found that non-pregnant women had lower HbA1c levels. Among the included studies, the mean HbA1c levels decreased from 5.1% to 4.89% after treating pregnant women with IRT. The review emphasises the complexity of interpreting HbA1c levels in pregnant women with IDA, highlighting the influence of pregnancy-induced physiological changes. In addition, this suggests that HbA1c should not be the sole criterion for diabetes management in pregnant women with IDA. Future research should focus on alternative glycaemic monitoring methods unaffected by IDA.

A Case of Erythema Nodosum in a 20-Year-Old Female During the Postpartum Period.

Erythema nodosum (EN) is the most common form of panniculitis and occurs in about one in 100,000 people. EN typically presents as an eruption of tender, erythematous nodules on the anterior aspect of the legs, although the face, trunk, and arms can also be involved. While the majority of cases are idiopathic, a subset of cases occurs in association with various triggers, including infections, medications, tumors, and autoimmune diseases. Rarely can EN develop in relation to pregnancy, which is thought to provide a physiologic background that favors its development. While pregnancy has been associated with EN in a minority of cases, currently, there is a limited amount of data suggesting that EN can develop in the late postpartum period. Herein, we present a case of a 20-year-old female with a six-week history of painful lesions on her lower extremities. A physical exam revealed multiple tender, erythematous nodules on the anterior aspect of the lower extremities, spanning from the knees to the toes. Laboratory workup showed no other identified triggers of EN in our patient besides pregnancy. Management of EN in our patient involved a low dose, six-day course of prednisone (initial dose of 15 mg/day) and ibuprofen for one week, leading to symptomatic improvement. Our case emphasizes the possibility of EN presenting in the late postpartum period. This case underscores the importance of considering EN in the differential diagnoses for women presenting with compatible lesions postpartum.

Factors associated with the absence of postpartum consultations in a high-risk population.

Objective: To assess the rate of missed postpartum appointments at a referral center for high-risk pregnancy and compare puerperal women who did and did not attend these appointments to identify related factors. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with all women scheduled for postpartum consultations at a high-risk obstetrics service in 2018. The variables selected to compare women were personal, obstetric, and perinatal. The variables of interest were obtained from the hospital's electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square, Fisher's exact, or Mann-Whitney tests. For the variable of the interbirth interval, a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to best discriminate whether or not patients attended the postpartum consultation. The significance level for the statistical tests was 5%. Results: A total of 1,629 women scheduled for postpartum consultations in 2018 were included. The rate of missing the postpartum consultation was 34.8%. A shorter interbirth interval (p = 0.039), previous use of psychoactive substances (p = 0.027), current or former smoking (p = 0.003), and multiparity (p < 0.001) were associated with non-attendance. Conclusion: This study showed a high rate of postpartum appointment non-attendance. This is particularly relevant because it was demonstrated in a high-risk obstetric service linked to clinical severity or social vulnerability cases. This highlights the need for new approaches to puerperal women before hospital discharge and new tools to increase adherence to postpartum consultations, especially for multiparous women.

A meta-analysis of ferric carboxymaltose versus other intravenous iron preparations for the management of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating the clinical effects of ferric carboxymaltose therapy compared to other intravenous iron in improving hemoglobin and serum ferritin in pregnant women. We also assessed the safety of ferric carboxymaltose vs. other intravenous iron. Data source: EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for trials related to ferric carboxymaltose in pregnant women, published between 2005 and 2021. We also reviewed articles from google scholar. The keywords "ferric carboxymaltose," "FCM," "intravenous," "randomized," "pregnancy," "quality of life," and "neonatal outcomes" were used to search the literature. The search was limited to pregnant women. Selection of studies: Studies related to ferric carboxymaltose in pregnancy were scanned. Observational studies, review articles, and case reports were excluded. Randomized studies in pregnant women involving ferric carboxymaltose and other intravenous iron formulations were shortlisted. Of 256 studies, nine randomized control trials were selected. Data collection: Two reviewers independently extracted data from nine selected trials. Data synthesis: The final effect size for increase in hemoglobin after treatment was significant for ferric carboxymaltose vs. iron sucrose/iron polymaltose (standard mean difference 0.89g/dl [95% confidence interval 0.27,1.51]). The final effect size for the increase in ferritin after treatment was more for ferric carboxymaltose vs. iron sucrose/iron polymaltose (standard mean difference 22.53µg/L [-7.26, 52.33]). No serious adverse events were reported with ferric carboxymaltose or other intravenous iron. Conclusion: Ferric carboxymaltose demonstrated better efficacy than other intravenous iron in increasing hemoglobin and ferritin levels in treating iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women.

Fertility preservation in patients with gynecologic cancer.

In this editorial we comment on the article by Gu et al. We focus and debate the necessity of fertility sparing surgery in young women's with gynecologic cancers, specifically on those patients with the desire to conceive. This type of individualized treatment options is often very difficult, due to the risk of disease evolution and multiple disparities in fertility preservation services among women in different countries and societies. For this reason national policy interventions are mandatory in order to ensure equitable access this procedures, in women with cancer.

Breast cancer screening in BRCA1/2 pathogenic sequence variant carriers during pregnancy and lactation.

OBJECTIVES: Women harboring germline BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic sequence variants (PSVs) are at an increased risk for breast cancer. There are no established guidelines for screening during pregnancy and lactation in BRCA carriers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of whole-breast ultrasound (US) screening in pregnant and lactating BRCA PSV carriers. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from medical records of BRCA PSV carriers between 2014 and 2020, with follow-up until 2021. Associations between imaging intervals, number of examinations performed and pregnancy-associated breast cancers (PABCs) were examined. PABCs and cancers diagnosed at follow-up were evaluated and characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall 212 BRCA PSV carriers were included. Mean age was 33.6 years (SD 3.93, range 25-43 years). During 274 screening periods at pregnancy and lactation, eight (2.9 %) PABCs were diagnosed. An additional eight cancers were diagnosed at follow-up. Three out of eight (37.5 %) PABCs were diagnosed by US, whereas clinical breast examination (n = 3), mammography (n = 1) and MRI (n = 1) accounted for the other PACB diagnoses. One PABC was missed by US. The interval from negative imaging to cancer diagnosis was significantly shorter for PABCs compared with cancers diagnosed at follow-up (3.96 ± 2.14 vs. 11.2 ± 4.46 months, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, pregnant BRCA PSV carriers should not delay screening despite challenges like altered breast tissue and hesitancy towards mammography. If no alternatives exist, whole-breast ultrasound can be used. For lactating and postpartum women, a regular screening routine alternating between mammography and MRI is recommended.

The importance of blood-count-derived inflammatory markers in predicting methotrexate success in patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting a successful methotrexate response in tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP). METHODS: Women treated for TEP at a tertiary hospital between 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 502 (100%) eligible patients who received methotrexate were included and divided into two groups based on whether or not they were successfully treated with methotrexate alone. Inflammatory parameters derived from the patients' hemograms at hospital admission were compared. RESULTS: In total, 434 (86.4%) patients were successfully treated with methotrexate alone (Group 1), while 68 (13.6%) patients underwent surgery after methotrexate failure (Group 2). Median neutrophil count, NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, SII, largest ectopic mass diameter, and ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) were significantly lower, whereas median lymphocyte and platelet counts were significantly higher in Group 1. According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis performed for the discriminatory power of NLR, ß-hCG, and SII for methotrexate response, the area under the curve values were 0.742, 0.730, and 0.699, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low NLR and SII are associated with methotrexate success and could be used to refine decision making regarding ß-hCG for predicting successful response to methotrexate in patients with TEP.

Medical management of ectopic pregnancy: Case series at a private tertiary hospital, Tanzania.

Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in which the developing blastocyst implants outside the endometrial cavity. An estimated 1.3%-2.4% of pregnancies end up outside the uterus. With prompt diagnosis and efficient treatment, the risks of morbidity and mortality associated with ectopic pregnancy can be reduced. For the treatment of carefully chosen ectopic pregnancies, methotrexate therapy, a folic acid antagonist that is highly toxic to rapidly replicating tissues, produces outcomes comparable to surgery. We describe six cases of ectopic pregnancy which were successfully treated with methotrexate and on follow-up two of them successfully conceived to term delivery. For patients who are physically fit enough, medical management of an ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate should be the first line of treatment to lower surgical morbidity and mortality. Following the administration of the medication, the patient is monitored with a clinical symptom interview and weekly plasma human chorionic gonadotrophin levels checks. When initial human chorionic gonadotrophin levels are extremely high, complete resolution of an ectopic pregnancy can take 6-8 weeks instead of the usual 2-3 weeks. Early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies is necessary to improve their prognosis. Ectopic pregnancies can be managed medically with methotrexate to preserve fertility. Compared to surgical management, methotrexate therapy appears to have more advantages.

Extent of foetal exposure to maternal elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are living longer and healthier due to improved treatments, e.g. cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), with treatment possibly occurring in pregnancy. The risk of ETI to foetuses remain unknown. Thus the effect of maternally administered ETI on foetal genetic and structural development was investigated. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were orally treated with ETI (6.7 mg·kg-1·day-1 elexacaftor + 3.5 mg·kg-1·day-1 tezacaftor + 25 mg·kg-1·day-1 ivacaftor) for 7 days from E12 to E19. Tissue samples collected at E19 were analysed using histology and RNA sequencing. Histological changes and differentially expressed genes (DEG) were assessed. KEY RESULTS: No overt structural abnormalities were found in foetal pancreas, liver, lung and small intestine after 7-day ETI exposure. Very few non-functionally associated DEG in foetal liver, lung and small intestine were identified using RNA-seq. 29 DEG were identified in thymus (27 up-regulated and two down-regulated) and most were functionally linked to each other. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that multiple muscle-related terms were significantly enriched. Many more DEG were identified in cortex (44 up-regulated and four down-regulated) and a group of these were involved in central nervous system and brain development. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION: Sub-chronic ETI treatment in late pregnancy does not appear to pose a significant risk to the genetic and structural development of many foetal tissues. However, significant gene changes in foetal thymic myoid cells and cortical neuronal development requires future follow-up studies to assess the risk to these organs.

Placental mesenchymal disease masquerading as molar pregnancy with a favourable maternal and fetal outcome.

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is an exceptionally rare placental anomaly characterised by placentomegaly and grape-like vesicles resembling partial mole on ultrasonography, yet it can coexist with a viable fetus. We present the case of a primigravida who presented at 22 weeks gestation with a suspected partial mole but with a normally growing fetus. The differential diagnoses considered included placental mesenchymal disease, partial mole and twin pregnancy with molar pregnancy. With normal beta HCG levels and prenatal invasive testing reports, a probable diagnosis of PMD was made, and after thorough counselling, the decision was made to continue the pregnancy. The pregnancy progressed until 37 weeks, culminating in the uneventful delivery of a 2.4 kg healthy male infant. Histopathology confirmed PMD. Early recognition and management of PMD pose significant challenges, given its rarity. Prenatal identification of PMD during both early and late gestation could avert unnecessary termination of pregnancy.

The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on stress urinary incontinence in women previously submitted to mid-urethral sling: A systematic review and metanalysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is no guideline or clinical consensus concerning the mid-urethral sling (MUS) operation for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and future pregnancies. The aim of this systematic review and metanalysis is to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and of delivery on SUI in women who previously sustained a MUS surgery. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, and selected seven publications for inclusion in the analysis. RESULTS: Recurrence of SUI after childbirth in women previously submitted to MUS was 22% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.0%-26.0%; I2 = 0%) while the reintervention rate for SUI the 5% (95% CI: 2.0%-8.0%; I2 = 47.34%) in the included studies. There was not statistically significant difference between women who delivered (both vaginally and by caesarian section) or not after MUS in SUI recurrence (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.73-1.40; p = 0.96 and I2-test of 41% p = 0.18) and in SUI reintervention (RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.91-2.30; p = 0.12 and I2-test of 0% p = 0.38) with homogeneity among studies. There was no difference between women who delivered vaginally or by caesarian section both for recurrence of SUI (RR 1.24, 95%CI 0.77-2.01; p = 0.37 and I2-test of 0% p = 0.60) and reintervention (RR 1.61, 95% CI 0.76-3.42; p = 0.22 and I2-test of 0% p = 0.47). BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, urinary incontinence (UI) before and during pregnancy emerged as risk factors for postpartum UI relapse. CONCLUSION: Childbirth do not affect SUI relapse or reintervention in women previously submitted to MUS. In the same population of patients, no difference was highlighted concerning the mode of delivery for the outcome SUI relapse or reintervention. Previous MUS surgery may not be an appropriate indication for cesarean birth in subsequent pregnancy.

The Impact of Conservative Surgical Treatment of Adenomyosis on Fertility and Perinatal Outcomes.

Adenomyosis is a benign condition commonly encountered in patients with infertility. While the definitive surgical management is hysterectomy, conservative surgical management is gaining attention in patients desiring future fertility. This review explores whether the surgical treatment of adenomyosis affects fertility outcomes for patients trying to conceive. The PubMed and Medline databases were searched using the keywords: "adenomyosis", "surgery", "radiofrequency", "infertility", "pregnancy", "sterility", "conception", "miscarriage", and "endometrial receptivity". Abstracts were screened, and relevant articles were selected for review. This review reveals that surgery appears to improve fertility outcomes with or without medical therapy; however, the risk of uterine rupture remains high and the best technique to reduce this risk is still not known. More studies are needed to formulate the best surgical approach for preserving fertility in treating adenomyosis and to establish standardized guidelines.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Cholecystitis: A Comprehensive Narrative Review for a Practical Approach.

Acute cholecystitis (AC), generally associated with the presence of gallstones, is a relatively frequent disease that can lead to serious complications. For these reasons, AC warrants prompt clinical diagnosis and management. There is general agreement in terms of considering early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) to be the best treatment for AC. The optimal timeframe to perform ELC is within 72 h from diagnosis, with a possible extension of up to 7-10 days from symptom onset. In the first hours or days after hospital admission, before an ELC procedure, the patient's medical management comprises fasting, intravenous fluid infusion, antimicrobial therapy, and possible administration of analgesics. Additionally, concomitant conditions such as choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, biliary pancreatitis, or systemic complications must be recognized and adequately treated. The importance of ELC is related to the frequent recurrence of symptoms and complications of gallstone disease in the interval period between the onset of AC and surgical intervention. In patients who are not eligible for ELC, it is suggested to delay surgery at least 6 weeks after the clinical presentation. Critically ill patients, who are unfit for surgery, may require rescue treatments, such as percutaneous or endoscopic gallbladder drainage (GBD). A particular treatment approach should be applied to special populations such as pregnant women, cirrhotic, and elderly patients. In this review, we provide a practical diagnostic and therapeutic approach to AC, even in specific clinical situations, based on evidence from the literature.

Surgical treatment and reproductive outcomes in caesarean scar pregnancy at a single center.

BACKGROUND: To investigate factors associated with different reproductive outcomes in patients with Caesarean scar pregnancies (CSPs). METHODS: Between May 2017 and July 2022, 549 patients underwent ultrasound-guided uterine aspiration and laparoscopic scar repair at the Gynaecology Department of Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Ultrasound-guided uterine aspiration was performed in patients with type I and II CSPs, and laparoscopic scar repair was performed in patients with type III CSP. The reproductive outcomes of 100 patients with fertility needs were followed up and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 43% had live births (43/100), 19% had abortions (19/100), 38% had secondary infertility (38/100), 15% had recurrent CSPs (RCSPs) (15/100). The reproductive outcomes of patients with CSPs after surgical treatment were not correlated with age, body mass index, time of gestation, yields, abortions, Caesarean sections, length of hospital stay, weeks of menopause during treatment, maximum diameter of the gestational sac, thickness of the remaining muscle layer of the uterine scar, type of CSP, surgical method, uterine artery embolisation during treatment, major bleeding, or presence of uterine adhesions after surgery. Abortion after treatment was the only risk factor affecting RCSPs (odds ratio 11.25, 95% confidence interval, 3.302-38.325; P < 0.01) and it had a certain predictive value for RCSP occurrence (area under the curve, 0.741). CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence probability of CSPs was low, and women with childbearing intentions after CSPs should be encouraged to become pregnant again. Abortion after CSP is a risk factor for RCSP. No significant difference in reproductive outcomes was observed between the patients who underwent ultrasound-guided uterine aspiration and those who underwent laparoscopic scar repair for CSP.

Comparison of pregnancy outcomes after bariatric surgery by sleeve gastrectomy versus gastric bypass.

Objective: Bariatric surgery has an impact on subsequent pregnancies, in particular an association between gastric bypass and small for gestational age. Knowledge is lacking on whether sleeve gastrectomy is associated with more favorable pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to compare the impact of sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on the incidence of small for gestational age (SGA), and of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Study design: We conducted a retrospective study in a single reference center, including all patients with a history of sleeve or bypass who delivered between 2004 and 2021 after their first pregnancy following bariatric surgery. We compared the incidence of SGA, intrauterine growth retardation, preterm delivery and adverse maternal outcomes between patients who had sleeve versus bypass. Results: Of 244 patients, 145 had a sleeve and 99 had a bypass. The proportion of SGA < 10th percentile did not differ between the two groups (38/145 (26.2 %) vs 22/99 (22.22 %), respectively, p = 0.48). Preterm birth < 37 WG was lower in the sleeve group (5/145 (3.45%) vs 12/99 (12.12 %) in the bypass group (p = 0.01), as well as NICU hospitalizations (3 (2.07%) vs 12/99 (12.12%), p < 0.01). There was no difference regarding adverse maternal outcomes such as gestational diabetes and hypertensive complications. The proportion of SGA was not lower in patients with bypass when adjusting for other risk factors (BMI, smoking, geographic origin, diabetes and hypertension) (aOR 0.70; 95%CI 0.01 - 2.85). Conclusion: sleeve was associated with an incidence of SGA which was as high as after bypass, however the incidence of preterm birth was lower.

Investigating the association of the lifestyle of pregnant women with the rate of preterm labor.

Introduction: From a long time ago, preterm birth has posed life-threatening risks due to the significant complications it causes. The present study aimed to examine how the lifestyle of pregnant women is related to the incidence of preterm birth. Materials and Methods: For this cohort study, a total of 234 individuals with healthy and unhealthy lifestyles who visited the women's clinics of Azad University hospitals during the year 2021 were randomly selected to participate. Four criteria were utilized to build lifestyle questionnaires, which included smoking habits, physical activity levels, consumption of high-fiber foods, and sufficient sleep. According to the individuals' responses, 117 mothers who scored above 14, and 117 mothers who scored below 14 were followed up. The SPSS version 25 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA) was used to analyze the correlation between variables and preterm birth, employing statistical tests such as Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, and independent t-test. Results: In this study, the mean age of the examined women was 27.11 ± 3.19. Out of the total number of babies, 133 (56.8%) were females, while 101 (43.2%) were males. The P value for the association between lifestyle and preterm birth was less than 0.0001, indicating statistical significance. The difference between the consumption of tobacco, fruits, and vegetables and sufficient sleep with preterm birth was not statistically significant (P value >0.05). Conclusion: A healthy lifestyle can serve as an important preventive measure against preterm birth. Adequate education provided by the healthcare and treatment system plays an important role in promoting the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and benefiting from its positive outcomes.

Endometrium development patterns and BMI groups among in vitro fertilization patients; prognostic aspects.

Introduction: The impact of the obesity pandemic on female reproductive capability is a factor that needs to be investigated. In addition, the link between endometrial thickness and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes is contentious. Goal: Our goal was to analyze the association among endometrium development, hormone levels, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, anamnestic parameters, and body mass index (BMI) in women receiving IVF treatment. Patients and methods: 537 participants undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles with successful oocyte retrieval were enrolled. Subjects were divided into four BMI based groups: underweight (UW; n=32), normal weight (NW; n=324), overweight (OW; n= 115), obesity (OB; n=66). Anthropometric and anamnestic parameters, characteristics of stimulation, endometrial thickness on the day of hCG injection, at puncture, at embryo transfer, FSH, LH, AMH, partner's age and the semen analysis indicators, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, were recorded and analyzed. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was built to predict potential pregnancies based on medical data using 22 dimensions. Results: In accordance with BMI categories, when examining pregnant/non-pregnant division, the average age of pregnant women was significantly lower in the UW (30.9 ± 4.48 vs. 35.3 ± 5.49 years, p=0.022), NW (34.2 ± 4.25 vs. 36.3 ± 4.84 years, p<0.001), and OW (33.8 ± 4.89 vs. 36.3 ± 5.31 years, p=0.009) groups. Considering FSH, LH, and AMH levels in each BMI category, a statistically significant difference was observed only in the NW category FSH was significantly lower (7.8 ± 2.99 vs. 8.6 ± 3.50 IU/L, p=0.032) and AMH (2.87 ± 2.40 vs. 2.28 ± 2.01 pmol/L, p=0.021) was higher in pregnant women. There were no further statistically significant differences observed between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups across any BMI categories, especially concerning endometrial development. Surprisingly, BMI and weight correlated negatively with FSH (r=-0.252, p<0.001; r=-0.206, p<0.001, respectively) and LH (r= -0.213, p<0.001; r= -0.195, p<0.001) in the whole population. SVM model average accuracy on predictions was 61.71%. Discussion: A convincing correlation between endometrial thickness development and patients' BMI could not be substantiated. However, FSH and LH levels exhibited a surprising decreasing trend with increasing BMI, supporting the evolutionary selective role of nutritional status. Our SVM model outperforms previous models; however, to confidently predict the outcome of embryo transfer, further optimization is necessary.