Perinatal outcome after ultrasound diagnosis of anhydramnios at term.

The aim was to assess the maternal and fetal outcome in women who had labour induced for anhydramnios after 37 completed weeks of gestation. A retrospective study was conducted at the Rotunda Hospital from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2007. All women with anhydramnios at term were identified from a review of ViewPoint® (computer software for antenatal scans performed), hospital data and the labour ward register. All women with a history of previous lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), current significant medical illness such as diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia or ruptured membranes were excluded because the aim of the study was to focus specifically on low risk pregnancies with an incidental diagnosis of anhydramnios after 37 weeks' gestation. The maternal and fetal outcome parameters reviewed included: maternal age, parity, gestation, method of induction, mode of delivery, Apgar score and the requirement for obstetric or neonatal intervention. This study showed that anhydramnios is associated with a 56.6% LSCS rate in primigravida and a 19.0% LSCS rate in multigravida. Our study did not show any significant neonatal morbidity and there were no cases of mortality.

Maternal post natal hospital readmission-trends and association with mode of delivery.

The aim of this study is to examine the trend in maternal postnatal readmission within six weeks of discharge from childbirth hospitalisation. It is a retrospective review of the maternity computer records system, patient's clinical notes and HIPE data base. All women who delivered babies weighing > 500 g and/ > or = 24 weeks gestational age at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Ireland from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2008 who were re-hospitalised within six weeks of discharge from hospital following child birth were included in the study. A total of 15782 women were delivered over the four year study period. Of these, 236 were readmitted. A series of chi-square analysis were conducted to assess the difference in readmission rates between the year 2008 86 (2.03%) and the years 2005-51(1.46%), 2006-39 (1.01%) and 2007-60 (1.42%). The readmission rate was found to be significantly higher in 2008 compared with the three preceding years. Complications of Caesarean section and secondary postpartum haemorrhage following spontaneous vaginal delivery constitute the major indications for readmission.