[A COMPARISON OF ARABIN CERVICAL PESSARY AND VAGINAL PROGESTERONE VERSUS VAGINAL PROGESTERONE ONLY IN TWIN PREGNANCY FOR THE PREVENTION OF PRETERM BIRTH DUE TO SHORT CERVIX].

INTRODUCTION: Preterm labor is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Up to 17% of twin pregnancy are preterm. Arabin cervical pessary has been proven as preventing preterm labor in singleton pregnancies. The benefit of it in twin pregnancy is controversial. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of preterm delivery in twin gestation with short cervical length in Israel- one center utilized the combined treatment of Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone (study group) and the others utilized vaginal progesterone approach (control group). METHODS: Multi-center retrospective cohort study, including "Shamir", "Wolfson", "Shaare Zedek" and "Galilee" medical centers, between the years 2012-2016. Inclusion criteria were twin gestations and short cervical length (<25mm) between 16-28 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: The study group included 68 women, the control group 78 women. The study group had shorter cervical length at intervention in comparison to the control group (13.6 ± 5.9 vs. 16.5 ± 5.7, respectively, p = .002). The treatment started later for the study group compared to the control group (23.2 +2.2 vs 22.6 +3.0). CONCLUSIONS: Despite having shorter cervical length at recruitment, the rate of spontaneous delivery < 34-weeks' gestation was similar in both groups (36.8 vs. 37.2%, respectively). DISCUSSION: Considering the conclusion in this research it seems that the combination of the mechanical effect of the pessary by embracing the cervix, keeping the cervical mucus, bending it in a way that the pressure is towards the anterior cervical wall together with the progestative effect which increases the estrogen/progesterone ratio, creating uterine quiescence and keeping the structural connective tissue of the cervix have an added benefit. It seems that the combined use of Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone in twin pregnancy with short cervical length have a synergic effect which may have a benefit in preventing preterm labor. The combination of cervical pessary and progesterone does not negatively affect twin pregnancy outcome and does not cause preterm birth.

[PREVENTION OF PRETERM BIRTH IN TWINS WITH SHORT MID-TRIMESTER CERVICAL LENGTH LESS THAN 25MM -COMBINED TREATMENT WITH ARABIN'S CERCLAGE PESSARY AND INTRAVAGINAL MICRONIZED PROGESTERONE COMPARED WITH CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT].

BACKGROUND: Twin pregnancies with short mid-trimester cervical length have a high rate of preterm births. OBJECTIVES: To compare combined treatment of Arabin cerclage pessary, and intravaginal micronized progesterone to conservative treatment for the prevention of preterm births in twins pregnancies with short cervical length in second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective study that compared twin pregnancies with short ≤25mm cervix in second trimester 16-28 gestational weeks treated with combined treatment of Arabin cervical pessary and intravaginal micronized progesterone 200mg TID to a control group with conservative treatment for the prevention of preterm. RESULTS: The treatment group included 32 patients and the control group 26 patients. Average week at admission was 23 ± 2.2 vs 25 ±3.1 weeks, average cervical length at admission 14.1 ± 2.2 mm vs 13 ±2.1 mm respectively. Average week of delivery 34.4 ±3.9 vs. 33.4 ±4.1, p=0.6 and incidence of delivery ≤28weeks was 9.4% vs. 34% p=0.04. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment group had a lower incidence of preterm birth before 28 weeks. Further prospective studies are needed to assess preterm birth prevention treatments efficacy and the use of Arabin cervical pessary in twins.

[First year experience using arabin cervical pessary with intravaginal micronized progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in patients with mid-trimester short cervix].

BACKGROUND: Arabin cervical pessary is a silicone ring pessary for the prevention of preterm birth (PTB] for pregnant women at risk with second trimester short uterine cervix. Progesterone supplementation has been found to prevent PTB. OBJECTIVE: To review our first year of experience using Arabin cervical pessary with intravaginal micronized progesterone in the prevention PTB. METHODS: The study included patients (pt) with singleton and twin pregnancies at 16-30 weeks with uterine cervical length < or = 25 mm treated with Arabin cervical pessary and intravaginal progesterone over one year from September 2011 to September 2012. Progesterone treatment was continued until 34 weeks and pessary was extracted at 36 weeks or in cases of preterm labor, bleeding or other medical indications. RESULTS: The study group included 43 patients, 31 (72.1%) singleton and 12 (27.9%) twins. The average week at admission was 25+2 weeks [w] [SD +/- 3.05], and the average cervical length at admission was 13.5 mm (SD +/- 5.0). A total of 11 patients had previous PTB; in 2 patients the pessary was placed after cerclage failure. The average week of delivery was 35 + 5 weeks SD +/- 3.2 (singleton 36 + w SD +/- 2.6, twins 33 + 4 SD +/- 4.1, p = 0.05); the average time between pessary insertion to delivery 72.1 days SD +/- 26.2 (singleton 76.3 SD +/- 22.9 twins 60.2 SD +/- 28.9 p = 0.02), in 23 patients (53.5%) the pessary was extracted at > or = 36 + 6w, 5 patients 111.6%) delivered < or = 32w (2 singleton, 3 twins, p = 0.08) and 18 patients (41.8%) reported increased vaginal discharge. CONCLUSION: The use of cervical pessary in conjunction with intravaginal progesterone is safe and feasible. Patients with twin pregnancies had a significantly higher rate of preterm birth compared to singleton pregnancies. Further research is needed to assess device efficacy.

[The findings and sequence of events leading to termination of pregnancy due to Down's syndrome--before and after the verge of viability: 10 years experience at a single medical center].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the differences in the sequence of events, leading to termination of pregnancy (TOP) due to diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS). The study compared women who were referred to institutional abortion committees (< 23 weeks) to those who were referred to supreme regional abortion committees (> 23 weeks). METHODS: Cases of singleton pregnancy ending in TOP due to DS in our institute during the period January 2000-December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The women were divided into two groups according to the gestational age at the time of the TOP. Group 1 included women who underwent TOP prior to 23 weeks of pregnancy; group 2 included women who had TOP at 23 weeks and onwards. The groups were compared regarding their demographic, sonographic and biochemical parameters during the affected pregnancy. Women in group 2 completed a telephone questionnaire about the circumstances leading to a late TOP after 23 weeks. RESULTS: There were 303 cases of DS, which had TOP during this period of time. All cases were diagnosed by fetal karyotyping. A total of 282 cases (93%) had earlier TOP while 21 cases (7%) had late TOP. The mean gestational age in each group was 18 weeks (range 12-22 weeks] versus 24 weeks (18-34 weeks) respectively (p < 0.001). In group 2, there were significantly more abnormal cardiovascular findings (67% vs. 21% in group 1, p < 0.002). No other significant differences were found between the groups regarding the demographic parameters, biochemical screening results (triple test), nuchal translucency (NT) and early and/or late sonographic anomaly scans. In Group 2 a total of 9 (42.8%) out of 21 women agreed to answer the telephone questionnaire. In this group the triple test, was performed in the upper recommended time limit according to the Ministry of Health. This may have led to the delay in the TOP. CONCLUSION: In our institutional experience we found that the circumstances leading to late TOPs because of DS were maternal dependent and not related to the screening findings. This stresses the efficiency of current screening programs, leading to early karyotyping and diagnosis of DS.

Evaluating teamwork among medical staff: How to measure and compare aspects of the team mental models of doctors and nurses.

Shared perceptions of a task among those responsible for its completion are important for achieving successful outcomes. This study proposes a framework for eliciting various aspects of team members' "mental models" (TMMs) of complex medical tasks. The intention is to provide 'proof of concept' for a methodology to measure similarities and differences between team members' perceptions of selected attributes of the task. Applying our framework in a gynecology ward, we use cognitive interviewing and concept mapping to reveal differences between the TMMs of doctor and nurse teams. These group differences are found to reflect limited awareness of the other group's level of involvement, workload, responsibilities and contributions to quality of care. We argue that such differences may lead to frustration, conflict, poor teamwork and risks to patient safety; but once identified, and subject to certain limitations, the differences could be used to develop interventions that will enhance teamwork.

Combined therapy with vaginal progesterone, Arabin cervical pessary and cervical cerclage to prevent preterm delivery in high-risk women.

PURPOSE: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Vaginal progesterone cervical cerclage and Arabin cervical pessary are considered as preventive treatments in women at risk for preterm birth. However, there is less evidence as to which of these interventions is the preferred management. The current study aims was to compare the outcome of pregnancy in women with a short cervical length managed with 4 different treatment protocols: therapy with vaginal progesterone, cervical cerclage and an Arabin cervical pessary (group A), Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone (group B), cervical cerclage and vaginal progesterone (group C), or vaginal progesterone alone (group D). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies managed in three tertiary medical centers between September 2011 and December 2017. RESULTS: In the study period, 286 pregnant women underwent vaginal ultrasonography between 15 and 29 weeks gestation. They all had a short cervical length (≤25 mm). Of these, 18 (6.3%), 120 (41.9%), 38 (13.3%) and 110 (38.5%) patients received treatment classifying them into groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. A significantly higher rate of patients in group A had either a history of cervical incompetence (44.4 versus 9.2 versus 7.9 and 0.9%, respectively, p = .0001) or a cervical procedure (61.1 versus 37.5 versus 28.9 and 27.3%, respectively, p = .027) compared to patients in group B, C, and D. Despite having a shorter cervical length at recruitment in group A (median (range); 14.5 (0-25) versus 15 (0-25) versus 15.5 (0-25) and 19 (2-25) mm, respectively, p = .002) the rate of spontaneous preterm delivery <37-week gestation was similar across groups (44.4 versus 32.5 versus 36.8 versus 32.7%, respectively, p = .665). CONCLUSION: A combined rescue therapy involving vaginal progesterone, cervical cerclage, and Arabin cervical pessary emerges as a promising management strategy in pregnant women who have a short cervical length and a high background risk for preterm delivery. This combination may prolong their pregnancy and safely bring them near term. Additional studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Arabin cervical pessary with vaginal progesterone versus vaginal progesterone for preventing preterm delivery.

Purpose: To compare the rate of preterm delivery in pregnant women with a short cervical length managed with Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone versus vaginal progesterone alone.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of singletons pregnancies managed in two tertiary medical centers between September 2011 and May 2017. One center utilized the combined treatment of Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone (study group) and the second utilized vaginal progesterone approach (control group).Results: During the study period, a total of 202 pregnant women who underwent vaginal ultrasonography between 15 and 29 weeks gestation. They all had short cervical length (≤25 mm). Among them, 94 (46.5%) and 108 (53.5%) patients were in the study and control group, respectively. A significantly higher rate of patients in the study group had either a history of cervical incompetence (9.6 vs. 0.9%, respectively, p = 0.006) or cervical surgery (7.9 vs. 0%, respectively, p = .003). Despite having shorter cervical length at recruitment (14.3 ± 5.9 vs. 16.9 ± 5.7, respectively, p = .002) the rate of spontaneous delivery < 34-week gestation was lower in the study group (7.4 vs. 17.6%, respectively, p = .036) and they delivered 1-week later compared to the control group (37.2 ± 2.1 vs. 36.2 ± 3.7, respectively, p = 0.02).Conclusion: We found that for pregnant women with singletons and who had a short cervical length, the combined treatment of Arabin cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone had lower rate of preterm delivery < 34 weeks of gestation and prolonged gestation compared to those women who were treated with vaginal progesterone alone. Our preliminary findings warrant randomized control studies in order to further illuminate our results.

Intrapartum measurement of cervical dilatation using translabial 3-dimensional ultrasonography: correlation with digital examination and interobserver and intraobserver agreement assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of intrapartum translabial 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasonographic measurements of cervical dilatation during labor. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. Three-dimensional ultrasonographic volume data sets from 52 patients were collected during labor and stored. Later, all volumes were randomly reviewed twice offline by 2 examiners blinded to previous clinical and ultrasonographic measurements. The correlation with delivery room personnel digital vaginal examinations and interobserver and intraobserver agreement were determined. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were examined during the latent phase (0- to 4-cm cervical dilatation), and 28 patients were examined during the active phase (5- to 10-cm cervical dilatation). Translabial 3D ultrasonographic measurements of the cervical mean and maximal diameters and inner cervical area showed a positive correlation with digital vaginal examinations (r(2) = 0.609, 0.587, and 0.469, respectively; all P < .001). The interobserver mean differences +/- SD between paired measurements for the mean and maximal cervical dilatation and inner cervical area were 0.11 +/- 0.49 cm, 0.12 +/- 0.48 cm, and -0.22 +/- 5.69 cm(2), and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were 0.82, 0.85, and 0.87. The intraobserver mean differences between paired measurements of the mean and maximal cervical dilatation and inner cervical area were 0.002 +/- 1.15 cm, 0.02 +/- 1.4 cm, and -0.41 +/- 1.15 cm(2), and the ICCs were 0.85, 0.79, and 0.75. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of cervical dilatation using 3D ultrasonography during labor is feasible and reproducible.

Maternal spleen size throughout normal pregnancy.

Ultrasonography (US) is an accurate method with reproducible results for calculating splenic dimensions. Standards of normal spleen sizes have been developed for the general adult population, for children, and even for tall healthy athletes, thereby enabling US diagnosis of splenomegaly. Extrapolation of data from the normal population to pregnant women might, however, be inaccurate because of the physiological changes throughout gestation. We have recently reported a prospective study evaluating the size of the maternal spleen throughout pregnancy and hereby review the results and their implications.

The midluteal decline in serum estradiol levels is drastic but not deleterious for implantation after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in patients with normal or high responses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of the peak E(2) level and its midluteal decline on IVF-ET outcome in a group of normal- and high-responding patients. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of IVF-ET data. SETTING: Tertiary-care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): A total of 100 patients aged 98% E(2) decline; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION(S): Multifactorial analysis refutes the negative role of supraphysiologic levels of E(2) on the day of hCG administration or its dramatic decline at the midluteal phase on the success rate after embryo transfer. A possibly increased rate of early spontaneous abortion in the high-response group warrants further verification.