Effect of administration routes of oxytocin on hemoglobin in neonates with delayed umbilical cord clamping: a multi-centre randomized controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravenous infusion versus intramyometrial injection of oxytocin on hemoglobin levels in neonates with delayed umbilical cord clamping during cesarean section. METHODS: The multi-centre randomized controlled trial was performed at three hospitals from February to June 2023. Women with term singleton gestations scheduled for cesarean delivery were allocated to receive an intravenous infusion of 10 units of oxytocin or a myometrial injection of 10 units of oxytocin during the surgery. The primary outcome was neonatal hemoglobin at 48 to 96 h after birth. Secondary outcomes were side-effects of oxytocin, postpartum haemorrhage, phototherapy for jaundice, feeding at 1 month, maternal and neonatal morbidity and re-admissions. RESULTS: A total of 360 women were randomized (180 women in each group). The mean neonatal hemoglobin did not show a significant difference between the intravenous infusion group (194.3 ± 21.7 g/L) and the intramyometrial groups (195.2 ± 24.3 g/L) (p = 0.715). Secondary neonatal outcomes, involving phototherapy for jaundice, feeding at 1 month and neonatal intensive care unit admission were similar between the two groups. The maternal outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for a 200 mL higher intraoperative infusion volume observed in the intravenous group compared to the intramyometrial group. CONCLUSION: Among women undergoing elective cesarean delivery of term singleton pregnancies, there was no significant difference in neonatal hemoglobin at 48 to 96 h after birth between infants with delayed cord clamping, whether the oxytocin was administrated by intravenous infusion or intramyometrial injection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical trial registry: ChiCTR2300067953 (1 February 2023).

Delayed umbilical cord clamping in elective and nonelective term Cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is recommended for preterm and term neonates, regardless of delivery mode. After impression of increased maternal blood loss following DCC implementation during Cesarean delivery (CD) concerns arose about maternal safety, particularly in term CDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by reviewing birth records from our tertiary hospital in Kuopio, Finland including 914 women with singleton term CD and recorded estimated blood loss. Early cord clamping (ECC) occurred from January 2016 to December 2019, while DCC (30-60 s) from January 2020 to December 2020. We evaluated maternal and neonatal outcomes for ECC vs. DCC and assessed severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (≥1500 ml) and its potential clinical risk factors. RESULTS: In total, 914 women were included (DCC N = 152; ECC N = 762). Estimated mean maternal blood loss showed no significant difference between DCC and ECC groups (697 ml vs. 750 ml, p < 0.96). Severe PPH was less frequent in the DCC group (4.6% vs. 10.5 %, p < 0.024). Neonatal outcomes were similar between groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that women with placenta previa (OR 5.63, p < 0.001), macrosomic neonate (OR 2.75, p < 0.001), and intrapartum infection (OR 2.00, p < 0.057) had an increased risk for severe PPH. Earlier CD was associated with less severe PPH (OR 0.36, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: DCC (30-60 s) during term CD did not increase maternal blood loss in singleton pregnancies and demonstrated no short-term adverse effects on neonates. Our findings support the general practice of DCC during both elective and nonelective term CD.

Hemodynamic Changes with Umbilical Cord Milking in Nonvigorous Newborns: A Randomized Cluster Cross-over Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the hemodynamic safety and efficacy of umbilical cord milking (UCM) compared with early cord clamping (ECC) in nonvigorous newborn infants enrolled in a large multicenter randomized cluster-crossover trial. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred twenty-seven nonvigorous term or near-term infants who were enrolled in the parent UCM vs ECC trial consented for this substudy. An echocardiogram was performed at 12 ± 6 hours of age by ultrasound technicians blinded to randomization. The primary outcome was left ventricular output (LVO). Prespecified secondary outcomes included measured superior vena cava (SVC) flow, right ventricular output (RVO), peak systolic strain, and peak systolic velocity by tissue Doppler examination of the RV lateral wall and the interventricular septum. RESULTS: Nonvigorous infants receiving UCM had increased hemodynamic echocardiographic parameters as measured by higher LVO (225 ± 64 vs 187 ± 52 mL/kg/min; P < .001), RVO (284 ± 88 vs 222 ± 96 mL/kg/min; P < .001), and SVC flow (100 ± 36 vs 86 ± 40 mL/kg/min; P < .001) compared with the ECC group. Peak systolic strain was lower (-17 ± 3 vs -22 ± 3%; P < .001), but there was no difference in peak tissue Doppler flow (0.06 m/s [IQR, 0.05-0.07 m/s] vs 0.06 m/s [IQR, 0.05-0.08 m/s]). CONCLUSIONS: UCM increased cardiac output (as measured by LVO) compared with ECC in nonvigorous newborns. Overall increases in measures of cerebral and pulmonary blood flow (as measured by SVC and RVO flow, respectively) may explain improved outcomes associated with UCM (less cardiorespiratory support at birth and fewer cases of moderate-to-severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) among nonvigorous newborn infants.

Perfusão arterial reversa gemelar: revisão da literatura / Twin reverse arterial perfusion: literature review

A perfusão arterial reversa gemelar é uma anormalidade rara que pode ocorrer em gestações gemelares monocoriônicas. Consiste em uma alteração na circulação fetoplacentária, com desvio de sangue de um dos gemelares para o outro, por meio de anastomoses arterioarteriais e venovenosas na superfície placentária e anastomoses arteriovenosas em áreas de circulação placentária compartilhada. O feto bombeador pode desenvolver insuficiência cardíaca devido ao aumento do débito cardíaco, e o feto receptor, perfundido por sangue pobre em oxigênio por meio do fluxo reverso, é severamente malformado, incompatível com a vida extrauterina. Este artigo apresenta o caso de uma gestação gemelar monocoriônica diamniótica, com manejo clínico conservador. O objetivo é relatar um caso de complicação rara de gestações monozigóticas e revisar condutas para diagnóstico e manejo adequado.(AU)

Twin reverse arterial perfusion is a rare abnormality that can occur in monochorionic twin pregnancies. It consists of an alteration in the fetal-placental circulation, with blood diversion from one of the twins to the other, through arterio-arterial and veno- venous anastomosis on the placental surface and arterio-venous anastomosis in areas of shared placental circulation. The pumping fetus may develop heart failure due to increased cardiac output, and the recipient fetus, perfused by oxygen-poor blood through reverse flow, is severely malformed, incompatible with extrauterine life. This article presents the case of a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy, with conservative clinical management. The objective is to report a case of rare complication of monozygotic pregnancies and review procedures for diagnosis and adequate management.(AU)

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Identification After Delayed Cord Clamping.

We sought to determine the feasibility of identifying and quantifying mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord blood (UCB) after delayed cord clamping in preterm and term births. We obtained 3 mL of UCB at various gestational ages after delayed cord clamping. UCB separated by density gradient centrifugation within 4 h of delivery was passed through magnetic bead micro-columns to exclude the CD34 + cell population. The samples were incubated with fluorescent-tagged mesenchymal cell marker antibodies CD 29, CD44, CD73, CD105, and hematopoietic cell marker CD45. The cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Viable cells were assessed with 7-aminoactinomycin-D. The results were expressed in median (minimum to maximum) MSCs and compared between preterm and term samples. A total of 12 UCB samples (32-40 weeks) were obtained, 10 of which demonstrated MSCs, accounting for 0.0174% (0-14.7%) of the viable UCB mononuclear cells. MSCs comprised 0.148% (0.0006-1.59%) and 0.116% (0-14.7%) of the viable UCB mononuclear cells in the term (n = 5), 38.4 ± 1.3 weeks, and preterm (n = 7) samples, 34.6 ± 1.1, respectively, p = 0.17. There was an overall median of 96 (0-39,574) MSCs. There was no difference in the median numbers of MSCs identified between term and preterm UCB samples, 3384 (23-6042) and 36 (0-39,574), respectively, p = 0.12. Mesenchymal stem cells were identified and quantified in 5 of 7 preterm and all 5 term UCB 3-mL samples obtained after delayed cord clamping.

Placental Transfusion Strategies in Preterm Infants in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Placental transfusion strategies in preterm newborns have not been evaluated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The objective of this systematic review was to compare placental transfusion strategies in preterm newborns in LMICs, including delayed cord clamping (DCC) for various time intervals, DCC until cord pulsations stop, umbilical cord milking, and immediate cord clamping (ICC). METHODS: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL were searched from inception. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Two authors independently extracted data for Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis (NMA) if more than 3 interventions reported an outcome or a pairwise meta-analysis was utilized. RESULTS: Among newborns <34 weeks of gestation, NMA of 9 RCTs could not rule out benefit or harm for survival from DCC 30-60 s compared to ICC: relative risk (RR) (95% credible interval) 0.96 (0.78-1.12), moderate certainty, or any included strategy compared to each other (low to very low certainty). Among late preterm newborns, DCC 120 s might be associated with improved survival: RR (95% confidence interval) 1.11 (1.01-1.22), very low certainty. We could not detect differences in the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage grade > II and bronchopulmonary dysplasia for any included intervention (low to very low certainty). DCC 60 s and 120 s might improve the hematocrit level among all preterm newborns (very low certainty), and DCC 45 s may decrease the risk of receipt of inotropes among newborns <34 weeks of gestation (low certainty). CONCLUSIONS: In LMICs, DCC for 60 s and 120 s might improve hematocrit level in preterm newborns, and DCC for 45 s may decrease the risk of receipt of inotropes in newborns <34 weeks, with no conclusive effect on survival.

Relação entre iniquidade racial e violência obstétrica no parto / Relation between racial inequality and obstetric violence in childbirth

A iniquidade racial é a desigualdade em oportunidades e condições de vida que acontece em decorrência da etnia de uma pessoa. Indivíduos pretos, pardos e indígenas são modelos de povos que resistem aos desafios subsequentes dos processos históricos de segregação. Objetivo: Verificar a influência dos aspectos raciais na prática de violência obstétrica na atenção ao parto e nascimento. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem quantitativa, de corte transversal, com coleta de dados prospectiva, realizado em uma maternidade pública na cidade de Goiânia, Goiás. Resultados: Pode-se determinar um cuidado menos satisfatórios para as mulheres negras quando comparado com as brancas para a maioria dos indicadores avaliados neste estudo. Mulheres pretas e pardas têm maior chance de sofrerem manobra de Kristeller, amniotomia precoce, privação alimentar no trabalho de parto, clampeamento imediato do cordão umbilical e menor chance de contato pele a pele e de ser ofertado métodos não farmacológicos para o alívio da dor. Conclusão: O fator raça/cor influencia no tratamento em que as mulheres recebem dentro do estabelecimento de saúde.

Racial inequity is inequality in opportunities and living conditions that occurs as a result of a person's ethnicity. Black, brown and indigenous individuals are models of peoples who resist the subsequent challenges of historical processes of segregation. Objective: To verify the influence of racial aspects in the practice of obstetric violence in labor and birth care. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, with prospective data collection, carried out in a public maternity hospital in the city of Goiânia, Goiás. Results: Less satisfactory care can be determined for black women when compared to white women for most of the indicators evaluated in this study. Black and brown women are more likely to undergo the Kristeller maneuver, early amniotomy, food deprivation during labor, immediate clamping of the umbilical cord and less chance of skin-to-skin contact and being offered non-pharmacological methods for pain relief. Conclusion: The race/color factor alone influences the treatment that women receive within the health establishment.

Delayed cord clamping: Impact on fetal cord blood gas analysis.

Both delayed cord clamping (DCC) and cord blood gas (CBG) analysis are recommended practices for preterm births. However, the compliance rates remain lower than expected, with a DCC rate of only 48.9% and CBG sampling of 66.6% in the preterm cohort. DCC was associated with a significant reduction in success rate of paired CBG analysis in both the term and preterm cohort of 8.3% and 7.7% respectively. Our study highlights the difficulty in achieving both recommendations.

Análise das boas práticas de atenção ao parto em maternidade pública de Roraima / Analysis of good practices for child care in Roraima public maternity

Objetivo: Analisar se boas práticas de atenção ao parto estão sendo executadas e quais necessitam ser aperfeiçoadas no Hospital Materno Infantil Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (HMINSN), em Boa Vista-RR. Métodos: Foram registrados os partos normais de setembro de 2019 a março de 2020, pela equipe administrativa do hospital, na base de dados do Apice On. Nove recomendações de boas práticas da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) foram avaliadas e comparadas com outros serviços do País. Resultados: Observou-se que, em comparação com outros serviços do Brasil, entre as nove práticas analisadas, quatro apresentaram melhor resultado no HMINSN, com alta proporção de acompanhantes (90,1%), aplicação de ocitocina no terceiro período (98,7%), amamentação na primeira hora pós-parto (81,5%) e baixo número de episiotomia (8,8%). Além disso, atingiu metas do Apice On em quatro boas práticas, que são a presença de acompanhante (meta: acima de 90%), a aplicação de ocitocina no terceiro período (meta: acima de 90%), o clampeamento tardio do cordão umbilical (meta: acima de 90%) e a episiotomia (meta: abaixo de 10%). Conclusão: Este estudo identificou que é preciso melhorar as taxas de prescrição de dieta livre e o contato pele a pele na primeira hora pós-parto. De modo geral, o HMINSN tem apresentado bons indicadores em relação a outros serviços do País e vem buscando aprimorar a organização da equipe e do serviço para que todas as recomendações da OMS sejam efetivamente praticadas.(AU)

Objective: Analyze whether good practices for child care are being carried out and which need to be improved at the Hospital Materno Infantil Nossa Senhora de Nazaré (HMINSN), in Boa Vista-RR. Methods: Normal deliveries from September 2019 to March 2020 were recorded by the hospital's administrative staff in the Apice On database. Nine recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO) good practices were evaluated and compared with other services in the country. Results: It was observed, in comparison with other services in Brazil, among the nine practices analyzed, four of them had better results at HMINSN, with a high proportion of companions (90.1%), application of oxytocin in the third period (98.7 %), breastfeeding in the first hour postpartum (81.5%) and low number of episiotomy (8.8%). In addition, it reached Apice On targets in four good practices, which are the presence of a companion (target: above 90%), the application of oxytocin in the third period (target: above 90%), the late clamping of the umbilical cord (target: above 90%) and episiotomy (target: below 10%). Conclusion: This study identified that it is necessary to improve the prescription rates of free diet and skin-to-skin contact, in the first postpartum hour. In general, HMINSN has presented good indicators in relation to other services in the country and has been seeking to improve the organization of the team and the service, so that all WHO recommendations are effectively practiced.(AU)

Large Hemoglobin Differences at Birth in Monochorionic Twins with a Placental Chorangioma and Delayed Cord Clamping.

We report a case of a monochorionic diamniotic twin with an uncomplicated pregnancy, but with an unexpected large intertwin hemoglobin (Hb) difference at birth. Twin 1 was delivered vaginally and had an uneventful neonatal course. The umbilical cord of Twin 1 was clamped approximately 5 min after birth. After the birth of Twin 1, Twin 2 developed severe bradycardia and showed limited cardiac output on ultrasound, for which an emergency cesarean section was performed. A full blood count revealed an Hb of 20.1 g/dL for Twin 1 and 10.2 g/dL for Twin 2 (intertwin difference 9.9 g/dL). Reticulocyte counts were similar, 40‰ and 38‰, respectively. Placental examination revealed 10 vascular anastomoses, including one arterio-arterial anastomosis with a diameter of 1.4 mm. Additionally, a large chorangioma was present on the placental surface of Twin 2. There was no color difference on the maternal side of the placenta. Based on the reticulocyte count ratio and the placental characteristics, twin anemia polycythemia sequence was ruled out as the cause of the large intertwin Hb difference. In this report, we discuss the various potential causes that could explain the large intertwin Hb difference including the role of delayed cord clamping in Twin 1, and the role of a large chorangioma, which may have attracted blood from the fetal circulation of Twin 2.

Impact of early respiratory care for extremely preterm infants.

Despite advances in neonatal intensive care, more than half of surviving infants born extremely preterm (EP; < 28 weeks' gestation) develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Prevention of BPD is critical because of its associated mortality and morbidity, including adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and respiratory health in later childhood and beyond. The respiratory care of EP infants begins before birth, then continues in the delivery room and throughout the primary hospitalization. This chapter will review the evidence for interventions after birth that might improve outcomes for infants born EP, including the timing of umbilical cord clamping, strategies to avoid or minimize exposure to mechanical ventilation, modes of mechanical ventilation and non-invasive respiratory support, oxygen saturation targets, postnatal corticosteroids and other adjunct therapies.

Maternal perceptions of cesarean birth care: A qualitative study to inform ERAS guideline development.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean birth (CB) is the most common inpatient surgical procedure, and until recently, there were no internationally accepted, standardized clinical guidelines available. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS® ) program aims to improve outcomes through the development of international guidelines (IGs). As an ERAS IG for CB was being developed, this qualitative study was conducted to explore and consolidate women's experiences with CB. METHODS: Qualitative methods were used to assess the patient experience with current evidence-based CB protocols across operative phases. Twelve women who experienced CB at a single center in Canada were interviewed using an open-ended, semi-structured interview guide at six weeks postpartum. Two researchers coded the emerging themes separately and compared findings. RESULTS: Women described feeling informed, but felt they did not have a choice. Presurgery, women wanted more information about the risks of CB. Preoperatively, women expressed confusion with the procedures, but felt informed about local anesthesia and thermoregulation. Post-CB, women felt informed about pain and nausea control; however, urinary catheter removal was delayed when compared to the ERAS recommendations. Information about postpartum infant care was not well communicated, as many women were uninformed about delayed cord clamping and infant thermoregulation. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative study provides opportunities to improve communication, the patient-practitioner relationship, and the overall satisfaction throughout the CB process. The findings support the implementation of patient decision aids and training with the shared decision model. The improved procedures recommended in the ERAS IG for CB have the potential to deliver significant improvements to patient care and patient satisfaction.

Hepcidin is a relevant iron status indicator in infancy: results from a randomized trial of early vs. delayed cord clamping.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate whether serum hepcidin is a useful indicator of iron status in infants. METHODS: Term infants (n = 400) were randomized to delayed (≥180 s) or early (≤10 s) cord clamping (CC). Iron status was assessed at 4 and 12 months. In all cases with iron depletion or iron deficiency (ID) (as defined in "Methods") (n = 30) and 97 randomly selected iron-replete infants, we analyzed hepcidin and explored its correlation to the intervention, iron status, and perinatal factors. RESULTS: Serum hepcidin concentrations were significantly lower in the early CC group at both time points and in ID infants at 4 months. Median (2.5th-97.5th percentile) hepcidin in non-ID infants in the delayed CC group (suggested reference) was 64.5 (10.9-142.1), 39.5 (3.5-157.7), and 32.9 (11.2-124.2) ng/mL in the cord blood and at 4 and 12 months, respectively. The value of 16 ng/mL was a threshold detecting all cases of iron depletion/ID at 4 months. No similar threshold for ID was observed at 12 months. The strongest predictor of hepcidin at both ages was ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: Hepcidin is relevant as iron status indicator in early infancy and may be useful to detect ID. Levels <16 ng/mL at 4 months of age indicates ID. IMPACT: Serum hepcidin is a relevant indicator of iron status in early infancy. Normal reference in healthy infants is suggested in this study. Serum hepcidin may be useful in clinical practice to detect iron deficiency.

Humanização no atendimento ao parto baseada em evidências / Evidence-based humanization in childbirth care

Há diversas publicações científicas evidenciando os benefícios do atendimento humanizado ao parto vaginal. Assim mesmo, os profissionais mais resistentes à readequação de suas tradicionais condutas são os médicos. Por isso, realizou-se uma revisão de literatura com objetivo de avaliar quais as melhores condutas a serem adotadas pelos Obstetras, nos partos em que forem responsáveis pelo atendimento. Os principais tópicos pesquisados foram as intervenções médicas diretas ou prescricionais. Avaliou-se a prescrição de dieta, permissão de acompanhante e doula, posição da parturiente, realização de amniotomia e episiotomia, e o clampeamento do cordão umbilical. Deve-se permitir a ingesta líquida e de alimentos leves e incentivar a participação de acompanhantes e doulas. Recomenda-se ainda a adoção de posições verticalizadas, o uso da amniotomia e da episiotomia somente em casos selecionados e o clampeamento tardio do cordão umbilical. Os resultados, em geral, apontam para uma diminuição de intervenções, respeitando os desejos das mulheres, sem abandonar a vigilância do bem-estar fetal.(AU)

There are several scientific publications demonstrating the benefits of humanized childbirth care. However, the most resistant professionals to readjust their traditional behaviors are physicians. Therefore, we carried out a literature review to evaluate what are the best measures to be adopted by Obstetricians in births that they are responsible for. The main topics studied were the direct or prescriptive medical interventions. It has been assessed diet prescription, companion and doula permission, labour's positioning, amniotomy and episiotomy performing and umbilical cord clamping. Liquids and food intake should be allowed and the participation of companions and doulas should be encouraged. It is also recommended the adoption of upright positions, selective use of amniotomy and episiotomy and late umbilical cord clamping. The results generally indicates interventions declining, in respect of women desires, without abandoning the fetal well-being surveillance.(AU)