Risks and consequences of puerperal uterine inversion in the United States, 2004 through 2013.

BACKGROUND: Puerperal uterine inversion is a rare, potentially life-threatening obstetrical emergency. The current literature consists of small case series and a single nationwide study from Europe with only 15 cases. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to define the incidence, temporal trends, and outcomes in women with uterine inversion using a nationally representative US cohort. STUDY DESIGN: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a 20% sample of US hospital admissions, to identify all deliveries from 2004 through 2013. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes were used to identify cases of uterine inversion and associated adverse outcomes (maternal death, blood transfusion, maternal shock, need for surgical correction, and length of hospital stay). The incidence of uterine inversion overall and for each year of the study period was calculated with 95% confidence intervals. The case fatality and incidence of other adverse outcomes among women with a uterine inversion were also estimated. RESULTS: Among 8,294,279 deliveries in 2004 through 2013, there were 2427 cases of puerperal uterine inversion, corresponding to an incidence of 2.9 per 10,000 deliveries (95% confidence interval, 2.8-3.0). There was 1 maternal death in our cohort (4.1 per 10,000 events). No change in the incidence of uterine inversion over the study period was detected. Among women with a uterine inversion, 37.7% (95% confidence interval, 35.8-39.6%) had an associated postpartum hemorrhage, 22.4% (95% confidence interval, 20.7-24.0%) received a blood transfusion, and 6.0% (95% confidence interval, 5.1-7.0%) required surgical management. Only 2.8% (95% confidence interval, 2.1-3.5%) underwent a hysterectomy. The median length of hospital stay was 3 days. CONCLUSION: This study provides the largest population-based results on puerperal uterine inversion to date and highlights the high likelihood of adverse maternal outcomes associated with the condition. The results inform the optimization of clinical management, by preparing for possible postpartum hemorrhage, need for blood products, and surgical management in the rare event of uterine inversion.

Differences in obstetric care among nulliparous First Nations and non-First Nations women in British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Canada's Aboriginal population faces significantly higher rates of stillbirth and neonatal and postnatal death than those seen in the general population. The objective of this study was to compare indicators of obstetric care quality and use of obstetric interventions between First Nations and non-First Nations mothers in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: We linked obstetrical medical records with the First Nations Client File for all nulliparous women who delivered single infants in British Columbia from 1999 to 2011. Using logistic regression models, we examined differences in the proportion of women who received services aligned with best practice guidelines, as well as the overall use of obstetric interventions among First Nations mothers compared with the general population, controlling for geographic barriers (distance to hospital) and other relevant confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 215,993 single births occurred in nulliparous women in British Columbia, 9152 of which were to members of our First Nations cohort. First Nations mothers were less likely to have early ultrasonography (adjusted risk difference = 10.2 fewer women per 100 deliveries [95% confidence interval {CI} -11.3 to -9.3]), to have at least 4 antenatal care visits (3.6 fewer women per 100 deliveries [95% CI -4.6 to -2.6]), and to undergo labour induction after prolonged (> 24 hours) prelabour rupture of membranes (-5.9 [95% CI -11.8 to 0.1]) or at post-dates gestation (-10.6 [95% CI -13.8 to -7.5]). Obstetric interventions including epidural, labour induction, instrumental delivery and cesarean delivery were used less often in First Nations mothers. INTERPRETATION: We identified differences in the obstetric care received by First Nations mothers compared with the general population. Such differences warrant further investigation, given increases in perinatal mortality that are consistently shown and that may be a downstream consequence of differences in care.

Caesarean section on maternal request: risks and benefits in healthy nulliparous women and their infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risks and benefits of an elective Caesarean section (CS) at term in healthy nulliparous women. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study of deliveries between 1994 and 2002. Using bivariate and multivariable techniques, we compared maternal and neonatal outcomes in healthy nulliparous women who had undergone elective pre-labour CS (using breech presentation as a surrogate) with those in women who had undergone spontaneous labour with anticipated vaginal delivery (SL) at full term. RESULTS: There were 1046 deliveries in the pre-labour CS group and 38 021 in the SL group. Life-threatening maternal morbidity was similar in each group. Life-threatening neonatal morbidity was decreased in the CS group (RR 0.34; 99% CI 0.12 to 0.97). Subgroup analysis of the SL group by mode of delivery demonstrated the increased neonatal risk was associated with operative vaginal delivery and intrapartum CS but not spontaneous vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: An elective pre-labour Caesarean section in a nulliparous woman at full term decreased the risk of life-threatening neonatal morbidity compared with spontaneous labour with anticipated vaginal delivery. However, the 63% of women with spontaneous labour who achieved a spontaneous vaginal delivery would not have benefited from delivery by Caesarean section. Further research is needed to better identify women with an increased likelihood of an operative vaginal or intrapartum Caesarean section, as this may assist maternity caregivers in decision-making about childbirth. Further research is also needed to determine if these findings can be confirmed in a prospective study.

Pregnancy with uterine vascular malformations associated with hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal dominant condition. It is rarely seen in pregnancy and even more rarely has uterine manifestations. CASE: A 29-year-old primigravid woman with HHT was noted to have vascular manifestations of her disease in the lower uterus, distal rectum, pelvis, and bladder before pregnancy. Prior to delivery, a case conference was held, involving representatives of the departments of vascular surgery, hematology, radiology, anaesthesiology, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, and laboratory medicine, and other appropriate health professionals. A successful elective Caesarean section was performed at term, with a good outcome for both mother and child. CONCLUSION: regnancies in women with HHT and associated uterine vascular manifestations have been rarely reported, and published information is minimal. We present a case of a successful operative delivery following careful multidisciplinary antepartum care.

Is the nuchal index increased in fetuses with congenital structural heart defects?

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the Nuchal index (NIx) is increased in euploid fetuses with structural congenital heart defects (CHD). METHODS: Euploid fetuses with CHD between 18 and 24 weeks gestation were identified. The next fetus meeting the same criteria with a normal fetal echocardiogram were selected as a control. The NIx [(mean nuchal thickness /mean biparietal diameter) x 100] and cardiac axis (CA; degrees) were calculated for each fetus. Standard descriptive tests and two-tailed t test were used. RESULTS: The NIx in the abnormal (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups were 9.10 (2.35) and 7.54 (p = 0.04) and CA was 55.8 degrees and 48.6 degrees (p = 0.02), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The NIx and CA were significantly different in fetuses with CHD. A prospective study to confirm these findings and determine clinical utility is warranted.