Maternal ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation: influence on adverse pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative importance of ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation in determining the likelihood and prevalence of placentally derived composite of adverse pregnancy outcomes (CAPO) and composite of severe adverse pregnancy outcomes (CAPO-S). METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of data obtained in a tertiary maternity unit. Data regarding ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation (as measured with indices of multiple deprivation) were collected for 13 165 singleton pregnancies screened routinely in the first trimester for pre-eclampsia using the Fetal Medicine Foundation combined risk-assessment algorithm. CAPO was defined as the presence of one or more interrelated outcomes associated with placental dysfunction, namely, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, birth weight ≤ 10th centile and stillbirth. CAPO-S was defined as the presence of one or more of the following: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at < 37 + 0 weeks, preterm birth at < 34 + 0 weeks, birth weight ≤ 5th centile and stillbirth at < 37 + 0 weeks. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAPO was 16.3% in white women, 29.3% in black women and 29.3% in South Asian women. However, half (51.7%) of all CAPO cases occurred in white women. There was a strong interaction between ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation, with a correlation coefficient of -0.223. Both ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation influenced the prevalence of CAPO and CAPO-S, with the contribution of ethnicity being the strongest. CONCLUSIONS: Black and Asian ethnicity, as well as socioeconomic deprivation, influence the prevalence of placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite this, most adverse pregnancy outcomes occur in white women, who represent the majority of the population and are also affected by socioeconomic deprivation. For these reasons, inclusion of socioeconomic deprivation should be considered in early pregnancy risk assessment for placenta-mediated CAPO. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Origen étnico materno y privación socioeconómica: influencia en los resultados adversos del embarazo OBJETIVO: Evaluar la importancia relativa de la etnia y la privación socioeconómica en la determinación de la probabilidad y la prevalencia de los resultados adversos compuestos del embarazo relacionados con la placenta (CAPO, por sus siglas en inglés) y los resultados adversos compuestos graves del embarazo (CAPO­S). MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio de cohortes retrospectivo unicéntrico de datos obtenidos en una unidad de maternidad terciaria. Se recopilaron datos relativos al origen étnico y la privación socioeconómica (mediante índices de privación múltiple) de 13 165 embarazos únicos sometidos a cribado rutinario en el primer trimestre para detectar la preeclampsia mediante el algoritmo combinado de evaluación de riesgos de la Fetal Medicine Foundation. Los CAPO se definieron como la presencia de uno o más resultados interrelacionados asociados con una disfunción placentaria, como trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo, parto prematuro, peso al nacer ≤10° percentil y éxitus fetal. Los CAPO­S se definieron como la presencia de uno o más de los siguientes: trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo <37+0 semanas, parto prematuro a <37+0 semanas, peso al nacer ≤5° percentil y éxitus fetal a <37+0 semanas. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de los CAPO fue del 16,3% en las mujeres blancas, del 29,3% en las negras y del 29,3% en las sudasiáticas. Sin embargo, la mitad (51,7%) de todos los casos de CAPO se produjeron en mujeres blancas. Hubo una fuerte interacción entre etnia y privación socioeconómica, con un coeficiente de correlación de −0,223. Tanto la etnia como la privación socioeconómica influyeron en la prevalencia de los CAPO y CAPO­S, siendo la contribución de la etnia la más fuerte. CONCLUSIONES: Las etnias negra y asiática, así como la privación socioeconómica, influyen en la prevalencia de resultados adversos del embarazo relacionados con la placenta. A pesar de ello, la mayoría de los resultados adversos del embarazo se producen en mujeres blancas, que representan la mayoría de la población y también se ven afectadas por la privación socioeconómica. Por estas razones, debe considerarse la inclusión de la privación socioeconómica en la evaluación temprana del riesgo de CAPO relacionados con la placenta durante el embarazo.

Successful use of cardiac allograft from serotonin antagonist intoxication.

BACKGROUND: Compromised organ donors are generally not accepted for heart transplantation (HT) despite the increasing number of critically ill patients on the waiting lists. By extending the donor criteria to include certain cases of intoxication, the organ shortage may be reduced. METHODS: The case of a successful orthotopic HT with an allograft from a donor poisoned by antidepressant overdose is presented. RESULTS: Early graft function was satisfactory with anteroseptal dyskinesis and an ejection fraction of 75% on echocardiography. The cardiac allograft recipient suffered some postoperative complications including gastrointestinal problems. The following period was up to now uneventful. Discharge from the intensive care unit was after 4 days. In-hospital stay was prolonged at 26 days. CONCLUSIONS: Because of limited myocardial toxicity, donor hearts from certain victims of antidepressant intoxication may be safely used for HT. Existing cardiac organ donor criteria must be reevaluated to maximise the available organ pool.

Total replacement of the mitral apparatus with a stentless, chordally supported mitral valve allograft: an experimental study.

Mitral valves, including the papillary muscles, were harvested from freshly slaughtered sheep and implanted in 10 recipient growing sheep. A strip of ovine pericardium was used to reinforce the anulus and a patch of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene was used to cover the donor papillary muscle. In four valves the natural chordae tendineae at the anterior cusp were supported by two pairs of 5-0 expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures. At the beginning of the experiment two animals died early of valve incompetence. Another animal had to be put to death because of paraplegia after extracorporeal circulation and one died on postoperative day 41 of endocarditis. Six sheep were electively put to death, five after 153 +/- 8 days and one after 43 days. At the time of follow-up, a complete hemodynamic study including echocardiography and stress testing was performed. Heart rate at rest was 91 +/- 14 beats/min, left ventricular systolic pressure 96 +/- 20 mm Hg, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure 11 +/- 5 mm Hg, cardiac output 2.04 +/- 0.40 L/min, and the mean transvalvular pressure gradient was 4.9 +/- 2.8 mm Hg as measured by cardiac catheterization. Echocardiography showed excellent movement of all valve components. However, minor regurgitation was evident in one case. Gross morphologic characteristics showed good healing at the anulus and host papillary muscle; in one case there was a rupture of one small first-order chorda. On radiography no signs of calcification were evident. Light microscopy revealed minor to moderate collagen degeneration in all valve components. However, on electron microscopy the presence of numerous fibroblasts within the long-term implants indicated the biosynthesis of new collagen. In summary, allograft mitral valve replacement seems to be a promising procedure if the chordae tendineae are reinforced by expanding polytetrafluoroethylene sutures.

Stentless mitral valve replacement using the quattro valve.

This study analyzed early clinical results after stentless mitral valve (Quadrileaflet Mitral Valve (QMV)/Quattro) implantation. A total of 28 patients have received a Quattro valve since August 1997. Patient age was 69+/-8 years; the underlying disease was mitral incompetence (14) and stenosis (13). Preoperative New York Heart Association functional class was 3.2+/-0.4 and cardiac index was 1.8+/-0.6. Mean cross-clamp duration was 58+/-19 minutes. Twenty patients received a 28-mm prosthesis, and eight patients received a 30-mm prosthesis. Four patients had myocardial revascularization, two had tricuspid valve repair, and six had radiofrequency ablation therapy to restore sinus rhythm. Mortality (1) was nonvalve related. Reoperation was necessary in two patients for posterior paravalvular leakage (1) and for functional stenosis (1). Echocardiography showed satisfactory hemodynamic function. By stentless mitral valve implantation the annuloventricular continuity is preserved to stabilize left ventricular function. The Quattro valve resembles native mitral valve function and is well suited for mitral valve replacement.

Mitral allograft with chordal support: echocardiographic evaluation in sheep.

The in vivo echocardiographic behavior of a new mitral allograft design that incorporates ePTFE patches and chordae to enhance durability has been evaluated in sheep. A strip of pericardium was sewn around the anulus margin and an ePTFE patch of 0.4 mm thickness placed over the truncated papillary muscle tip. In four out of ten cases, 5/0 ePTFE sutures were used additionally to reinforce the native chordae of the anterior leaflet. The allografts were cold-stored at 4 degrees C after antibiotic treatment and implanted in weanling sheep. Valvular function was first examined intraoperatively by transesophageal echocardiography and again after a mean follow up of 153 +/- 8 days by epicardial echo. In all six long term survivors, valve motion was unimpaired and similar to that of the natural mitral valve. There was sufficient coaptation and concentric opening action of the leaflets. Ventricular contraction was enhanced by maintaining the annulo-ventricular connection of the native valve. Color and pulsed Doppler revealed a physiologic biphasic flow pattern and only minor regurgitation in one case. Mean transvalvular pressure gradient was 3.3 +/- 2.1 mmHg on average which correlates well with values obtained from subsequent cardiac catheterization. In conclusion, this new design of a mitral allograft shows excellent in vivo echocardiographic behavior after five months of implantation. Therefore, human allografts of this type could be recommended for clinical application.

Quadrileaflet stentless mitral valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The study evaluates clinical results and hemodynamic parameters one year after implantation of a stentless quadrileaflet mitral valve (QMV). METHODS: Since August 1997 28 patients received the QMV, patient age was 69 +/- 8 years; 13 had predominant mitral stenosis and 15 incompetence, preoperative NYHA functional class was III or IV and cardiac index 1.8 +/- 0.6 L/min/m2. RESULTS: Surgery was performed using a conventional (25) or a minimally invasive approach (3). 20 patients received a medium and 8 a large-size prosthesis, crossclamp time was 58 +/- 19 min. Additional procedures were myocardial revascularization in four, tricuspid repair in two, and left-atrial radiofrequency ablation to restore sinus rhythm in six patients. Perioperative mortality (1) was not valve-related. All other patients were discharged on time. At postoperative, 6-, and 12-months follow-up mean transvalvular pressure gradients were 4.2 +/- 1.5 / 4 +/- 0.9/ 3.8 +/- 1.4 mmHg and mitral valve orifice area index was 1.5 +/- 0.3 / 1.6 +/- 0.3 / 1.6 +/- 0.4, NYHA class was I or II. CONCLUSIONS: The QMV is well suited for mitral valve replacement. The anulo-ventricular continuity is preserved and the QMV function resembles native mitral valve function. If its performance is maintained in the long term the QMV may be the mitral prosthesis of choice.