Diagnosis and treatment of deep-vein thrombosis and approach to venous thromboembolism in obstetrics and gynecology.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common condition in which the approach to its diagnosis has evolved over the years. Currently, an algorithm strategy combining pre-test probability, D-Dimer testing and compression ultrasound imaging allows for safe and convenient investigation of suspected lower-extremity thrombosis. Patients with low pre-test probability and a negative D-Dimer test result can have proximal DVT excluded without the need for diagnostic imaging. The mainstay of treatment of DVT is anticoagulation therapy, whereas interventions such as thrombolysis and placement of inferior vena cava filters are reserved for special situations. The use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMW) allows for outpatient management of most patients with DVT. The duration of anticoagulation therapy depends on whether the primary event was idiopathic or secondary to a transient risk factor. More research is required to optimally define the factors that predict an increased risk of recurrent DVT to determine which patients can benefit from extended anticoagulant therapy. DVT is also a serious problem in the antenatal and postpartum period of pregnancy. Thromboembolic complications are the leading cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The incidence of venous thromboembolism during normal pregnancy is six-fold higher than in the general female population of childbearing age. The treatment of DVT during pregnancy deserves special mention, since oral anticoagulation therapy is generally avoided during pregnancy because of the teratogenic effects in the first trimester and the risk of fetal intracranial bleeding in the third trimester. LMW heparin is the treatment of choice for DVT during pregnancy. If acute DVT occurs near term, interrupting anticoagulation therapy may be hazardous because of the risk of pulmonary embolism. In this situation, placement of a retrievable inferior vena cava filter must be considered. However, there is no consensus as to what the appropriate dose should be and whether anti-Xa levels need to be monitored.

The assessment of the gestational sac diameter, crown-rump length, progesterone and fetal heart rate measurements at the 10th gestational week to predict the spontaneous abortion risk.

AIM: The assessment of the first trimester ultrasonographic and progesterone measurements to predict spontaneous abortion risk. METHODS: Ninety-nine women at the 10th week of pregnancy were included in this prospective study. Their ages, progesterone (P) levels, mean gestational sac diameters (MGSD), crown-rump lengths (CRL), MGSD-CRL measurements and fetal heart rates (FHR) were recorded. These variables were compared by abortion status. RESULTS: Patients were followed up until the 20th weeks, and 8 (8.08%) aborted. We evaluated the variables by receiver operator characteristic curve to predict abortion. Only the areas under the curve for P levels (0.29) and for MGSD--CRL (0.16) were statistically significant We. also made logistic regression analysis to predict abortion. P level and FHR were statistically significant (P < 0.01) when the threshold value was 50%. Negative predictive value of the model was 98.9%, and positive predictive value was 50%. Overall, this model can correctly classify 94.9% of the groups. We determined threshold values for MGSD-CRL (> or =10 mm) and P (> or =25 ng/mL) to predict abortion, but not for FHR. Interestingly, 14 patients with FHR > or =175 beats/min did not abort. For the MGSD-CRL threshold, we can predict that the pregnancy will continue with 95.78% probability, with 67% sensitivity and 89% specificity. For the P threshold, the pregnancy will continue with 97.85% probability, with 80% sensitivity and 80% specificity. CONCLUSION: MGSD-CRL and P could predict patients with low abortion risk. However, at the 10th week of pregnancy, FHR > or =175 beats/min should be evaluated for this purpose by future studies with larger sample sizes.

Length of the third stage of labor at term pregnancies is shorter if placenta is located at fundus: prospective study.

AIM: To investigate how the location of the placenta at term pregnancies affects the duration of the third stage of labor and to discuss the possible mechanisms affecting the duration of the third stage. We believe that this is the first prospective study comparing the duration of the third stage of labor according to placental location. METHODS: The placental implantation was determined as anterior (n = 78), posterior (n = 59), or fundal (n = 64) by ultrasound, in 201 women with singleton pregnancies. After delivery of the newborn, oxytocin infusion was routinely given. Duration of the third stage of labor was compared by anova. P < 0.05 was determined as significant. RESULTS: The duration of the third stage of labor was 10.36 +/- 5.94 min, 10.44 +/- 5.35 min, and 8.12 +/- 4.25 min with placentas located anteriorly, posteriorly, and fundal, respectively. The length of the third stage was significantly shorter in the fundal placenta group. CONCLUSION: In this study, the length of the third stage of labor was approximately 2 min shorter with placentas located at the fundus compared to the other two groups. The mechanism responsible for shorter duration may be the bipolar separation of fundal placentas in contrast to usual unipolar down-up separation of anterior or posterior placentas. Another contributing factor may be the use of oxytocin infusion for the management of the third stage, however this should be investigated by further studies by using real time ultrasonography.

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and stool antigen in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

The objective of this paper is to investigate whether Helicobacter pylori is an etiologic factor in hyperemesis gravidarum. Thirty one patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and twenty nine pregnant controls without hyperemesis gravidarum were included in this prospective study. All pregnant women were examined both for Helicobacter pylori serum immunoglobulin G antibodies (HpIgG Ab), showing chronic infection, and Helicobacter pylori stool antigens (HpSA), showing active gastrointestinal colonization. Chi-square and Student t tests were used accordingly for statistical analysis. Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was 67.7% in the patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 79.3% in the control group (chi(2) = 1.02, P = .31). HpSA was detected in 22.6% of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum, whereas 6.9% of patients in the control group. The difference was not statistically significant (chi(2) = 2.89, P = .08). In this study, no relation was found between Helicobacter pylori and hyperemesis gravidarum. The low social status of women in both groups could be one of the reasons for the high prevalence of Hp infection.