Successful Treatment of Bronchopulmonary Sequestration by Radiofrequency Ablation of Feeding Artery.

INTRODUCTION: Most cases of bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) regress. Prenatal intervention is needed in cases of fetal hydrothorax or hydrops. Laser is commonly used to ablate the feeding artery. CASE PRESENTATION: In a fetus with BPS, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was used to ablate the feeding artery arising from descending aorta at 29 weeks gestation. There was an extralobar BPS and significant pleural effusion causing mediastinal shift and collapse of lung. The effusion and tumor started decreasing from day 3 after procedure, and by the time patient delivered at 36 weeks gestation, the lesion had almost resolved. CONCLUSION: With proper technique, RFA can be safely used to ablate feeding artery in BPS.

Facility preparedness for an obstetric unit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 infection has placed health systems under unprecedented strain and foresight for preparedness is the key factor to avert disaster. Every facility that provides obstetric service needs a certain level of preparedness to be able to handle at least Covid-suspect pregnant women awaiting test reports, who need to be managed as Covid-positive patients till reports are available. Thus, these facilities need to have triage areas and Covid-suspect labour rooms. Healthcare facilities can have designated areas for Covid-positive patients or have referral linkages with designated Covid-positive hospitals. Preparation includes structural reorganization with setting up a Covid-suspect and Covid-positive facility in adequate space, as well as extensive training of staff about infection control practices and rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE). A systematic approach involving five essential steps of making standard operating procedures, infrastructural reorganization for a triage area and a Covid-suspect labour ward, procurement of PPE, managing the personnel and instituting appropriate infection control practices can ensure uninterrupted services to patients without compromising the safety of healthcare providers.

Medical, Administrative, Financial, and Social Challenges in the Management of a Case of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus Caused by a Rare Alloantibody in a Low-Resource Setting.

Antibodies to high-frequency antigens are rarely implicated in cases of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), yet they pose a challenge to both clinical staff and transfusion medicine, especially with the identification of the implicating antibody and the arrangement of compatible blood for intrauterine transfusion. Here we report one such interesting case of HDFN caused by an alloantibody to a high-frequency antigen belonging to the Rhesus (Rh) blood group system. The patient presented at the 19th week with Rh-isoimmunized pregnancy. She received six intrauterine transfusions (IUTs) at different intervals during the antenatal period. Arranging the blood of this rare blood group required great efforts from hospital administration, clinicians, and social workers. At 31 weeks, the fetus developed a non-reassuring non-stress test (NST). Hence, the baby was delivered by cesarean section. The baby fared well in the neonatal period. With great efforts and support from social health workers, the Japanese Red Cross society, the administration, and non-government organizations, the impossible became possible.

Diagnostic and management dilemmas of pregnancies at the utero-tubal junction: A case series and management algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: A pregnancy at the utero-tubal junction is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy and is associated with high maternal morbidity if it remains undetected. In the present study we discuss four cases of ectopic pregnancies at the utero-tubal junction which caused diagnostic and management dilemmas. METHODS: Four cases of early pregnancies with the gestational sac (G-sac) implanted near the utero-tubal junction are described. In case 1 this was suspected after a failed attempt at dilatation and curettage at our hospital, cases 2 and 3 presented with amenorrhea and pain abdomen and case 4 was diagnosed on first pregnancy documentation scan after frozen embryo transfer. RESULTS: As initial two-dimensional (2D) transvaginal scan (TVS) failed to diagnose the exact location of the G-sac, three-dimensional (3D) TVS helped to localize the exact location of pregnancy and subsequent individualized management. Case 1 had a partial intramural ectopic pregnancy managed by laparotomy and removal of the ectopic sac. The second and third cases were eccentric uterine pregnancies. The fourth was an interstitial ectopic pregnancy managed by a laparoscopic loop and stitch technique. CONCLUSION: This case series describes the role of 3D TVS for the evaluation of pregnancies implanted at the utero-tubal junction and individual management of eccentric intrauterine, interstitial ectopic and intramural ectopic pregnancies. A diagnostic algorithm for such types of cases and management options is discussed.

Blended Tele-mentoring Support for Strengthening Antenatal Care by Private Health care Facilities: FOGSI VISTRIT INITIATIVE.

Introduction: The objective of the present initiative was to build capacity of health care providers in private sector along with standardisation of care during antenatal period for common antenatal problems of GDM and iron deficiency anaemia in private sector. Methods: A pilot project for all levels of health care providers including doctors, nurses, counsellors and laboratory technicians of 34 private facilities in six districts of Jharkhand was planned. Training modules for GDM and anaemia based on government of India guidelines were developed. End line evaluation included data collection and descriptive analysis of quantitative data quality scores from assessment standards on GDM and anaemia in pregnancy. Results: Knowledge assessment of health care providers and doctors through baseline and end line knowledge assessment survey questionnaire showed that 100% health care providers who were trained scored 85% or more in knowledge assessment questionnaires as seen by baseline and end line questionnaire results. All project hospitals (n = 34) in Jharkhand achieved quality standards of care in intervention period for gestational diabetes mellitus and anaemia in pregnancy. They achieved total score more than 80% and exceeded target of 80% of the quality standards. Conclusion: A systematic strengthening of private health care facilities through a blended tele-mentoring and onsite support is possible. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13224-023-01866-5.

An unusual association of type II Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, turner mosaic syndrome and tubo-ovarian inguinal hernia- case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Herniation of ovaries and Mullerian structures into inguinal canal is usually reported in infants and is rare among adults. We are presenting a rare case of Mullerian agenesis and Turner mosaic syndrome with tubo-ovarian inguinal hernia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old girl presented with complaints of primary amenorrhea, phenotypical features of Turner syndrome with left inguinal hernia and severe hypertension. Baseline hormonal analysis was normal. Karyotype revealed Turner mosaic with 46XX (85%); 45XO (15%). MRI showed Mullerian agenesis with normally located right ovary in pelvis and left ovary prolapsed through deep inguinal ring into the canal of Nuck. Anti-hypertensives were started and patient optimized for surgery. Laparoscopic hernia repair and repositioning of left ovary into the pelvis was done. Patient had uneventful post-operative course and was discharged in stable condition on anti-hypertensive medication. Future reproductive issues and need of passive vaginal dilatation or vaginoplasty before marriage were explained to the patient and family. CONCLUSION: This is the first ever reported case with unusual association of atypical MRKH, Turner mosaic syndrome and tubo-ovarian hernia into the inguinal canal. The case emphasizes the need and importance of complete work up of these atypical cases as patients may have more than one cause of primary amenorrhea and complete evaluation is must before any medical or surgical intervention.

Perinatal Outcome in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH): A Single-Center Experience.

Objective: To study the perinatal outcome in fetuses diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods: Thirty-two pregnant women with antenatal diagnosis of CDH in fetus, who delivered between 2018 and 2021, were included in the study. Postnatally eventration of diaphragm was diagnosed in 3 neonates and were excluded. Results: The median gestational age at diagnosis was 23 weeks (IQR: 216-261 weeks). The mean O/E LHR was 34.88 ± 9.03%, and the O/E LHR was significantly lower in fetuses who did not survive (40.81 ± 4.25 vs 31.26 ± 9.33; p = 0.0037). On ROC analysis, at a cutoff of ≤ 32.93, O/E LHR had a specificity of 100% with a sensitivity of 72.22% in predicting mortality. Cases with liver herniation were not significantly different between survivors versus non-survivors. The overall survival rate was 37.93%, and the leading cause of death was severe persistent pulmonary hypertension. Conclusion: O/E LHR can predict mortality in neonates with antenatal diagnosis of CDH. The presence of pulmonary hypertension was the leading cause of death in these neonates.

SCOPE: Surveillance of COVID-19 in pregnancy- results of a multicentric ambispective case-control study on clinical presentation and maternal outcomes in India between April to November 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical manifestations, risk factors, treatment modalities and maternal outcomes in pregnant women with lab-confirmed COVID-19 and compare it with COVID-19 negative pregnant women in same age group. DESIGN: Multicentric case-control study. DATA SOURCES: Ambispective primary data collection through paper-based forms from 20 tertiary care centres across India between April and November 2020. STUDY POPULATION: All pregnant women reporting to the centres with a lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive result matched with controls. DATA QUALITY: Dedicated research officers extracted hospital records, using modified WHO Case Record Forms (CRF) and verified for completeness and accuracy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data converted to excel files and statistical analyses done using STATA 16 (StataCorp, TX, USA). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 76,264 women delivered across 20 centres during the study period. Data of 3723 COVID positive pregnant women and 3744 age-matched controls was analyzed. Of the positive cases 56·9% were asymptomatic. Antenatal complications like preeclampsia and abruptio placentae were seen more among the cases. Induction and caesarean delivery rates were also higher among Covid positive women. Pre-existing maternal co-morbidities increased need for supportive care. There were 34 maternal deaths out of the 3723(0.9%) positive mothers, while covid negative deaths reported from all the centres were 449 of 72,541 (0·6%). CONCLUSION: Covid-19 infection predisposed to adverse maternal outcomes in a large cohort of Covid positive pregnant women as compared to the negative controls.

Perinatal outcome in monochorionic twin pregnancies after selective fetal reduction using radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the perinatal outcomes in women with complicated monochorionic twin pregnancies undergoing selective fetal reduction using radiofrequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: This retrospective study included 44 patients with monochorionic twin pregnancies, between 14 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, who underwent RFA for selective fetal reduction. Perinatal and maternal outcomes and procedure-related complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The procedure was technically successful in all 44 cases. Indications for selective fetal reduction included twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (52.3%), twin reversed arterial perfusion (20.5%), twins discordant for anomaly (15.9%), and selective fetal growth restriction (11.4%). Median gestational age at procedure was 222/7  weeks (range 14-266/7 ). Live birth rate was 77.3% with three neonatal deaths; so overall survival was 70.5%. Median procedure-to-delivery interval was 123/7  weeks (range 24/7 -23). There were eight losses before 24 weeks of pregnancy, which included two co-twin deaths. Median gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks (interquartile range 321/7 -37 weeks). The preterm delivery rate was 66.7% (24/36) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurred in 22.7% (10/44) of patients. CONCLUSION: Selective fetal reduction using RFA is safe and effective in complicated monochorionic pregnancies. However, the rates of PPROM and preterm delivery remain high.

Establishing communication with relatives of admitted obstetrical patients with COVID-19 infection during COVID-19 pandemic: A quality improvement initiative.

OBJECTIVES: To establish communication with relatives of obstetrical patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to an isolation ward by systematic use of quality improvement tools during the COVID-19 pandemic as there were many challenges in communicating with relatives. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a tertiary-care teaching hospital based on four systematic steps of Point of Care Improvement methodology. After identifying the problem, a quality improvement team was constituted, which formed a specific aim. After root-cause analysis with fishbone tool, three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles with various interventions were planned. RESULTS: The outcome was measured as percentage of relatives of obstetrical patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 who were counseled about vital patient-related information. The baseline percentage of counseling of relatives of COVID-19-positive obstetrical patients admitted to the hospital was 14% per day. After three PDSA cycles, the target of 66.5% was achieved. CONCLUSION: Communication with the relatives of COVID-19-positive obstetrical patients admitted to isolation wards in the hospital could be easily streamlined without any additional resources using the principles of quality improvement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of 'Printed Investigation Sheet' as Checklist in Admitted Antenatal Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: The study was conducted to establish use of printed investigation sheets as checklists for timely workup and clinical evaluation of antenatal women with medical diseases; admitted in maternity ward, by third day of their hospital admission. This was aimed to standardize care, avoid repeated blood sampling of patients, avoid delay in starting the treatment and help teams perform optimally by systematic use of quality improvement (QI) tools. Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a tertiary care teaching hospital using point-of-care quality improvement methodology systematically. A QI team was made who formulated an aim statement, conducted a root-cause analysis, performed plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. The outcome was measured as complete clinical evaluation of antenatal women with anaemia, hypertension, and/or diabetes by third day of admission in the maternity ward. Results: The baseline data showed that median percentage of patients with complete clinical evaluation was only 29.2%. After a root-cause analysis with fishbone tool, three PDSA cycles were conducted to achieve the target of 80%. After the third PDSA cycle, complete clinical evaluation in anaemia, hypertension, diabetes showed an improving trend with a median of 75%. Conclusion: Adopting simple principles of quality improvement, initiating use of printed investigation sheets as checklist can streamline and expedite clinical evaluation of antenatal patients with medical problems so as to avoid unnecessary delay in initiating the management in busy maternity wards.

Prenatal Pericardiocentesis and Postnatal Sirolimus for a Giant Inoperable Cardiac Rhabdomyoma.

We describe the case of an antenatally diagnosed massive cardiac tumor in a fetus requiring cardiorespiratory support immediately following birth. We further discuss the successful management of this case and highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team in managing such complicated cases. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

A Cross-Sectional Analysis to Evaluate Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Among Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional analysis pertaining to COVID-19 which was conducted at a tertiary care obstetric facility in India among 200 consecutive consenting pregnant women. They were assessed for demographic details and KAP score (knowledge-17 questions, attitude-9 questions and practice-8 questions). Analysis of data was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Results: The participants had adequate mean knowledge score (± SD) of 22.5 (± 3.5) were following good practices [mean score (± SD) = 15.5 (± 2.6)] and showed positive attitude for preventive measures against COVID-19 [n (%) = 194(96%)]. Low knowledge score (p-value 0.030) was seen in non-health care workers. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that majority of the pregnant women had satisfactory knowledge, positive attitude and were following practices in right manner regarding COVID-19 but continued efforts for generating awareness were warranted. As India is battling the second COVID-19 wave and in the absence of definitive cure, strengthening of health policies directed at pregnant women should be prioritized with special focus on significant gaps in KAP.

A descriptive audit of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 at a tertiary care center in India.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a descriptive audit of healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID-19, and their contacts, to understand the dynamics of transmission among HCWs. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of contact tracing data of infected HCWs was done from March 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020 at a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India. Contacts were categorized according to the nature of contact and followed for 14 days. RESULTS: Qualitative RT-PCR testing was performed on 106 HCWs (from a total of 257) owing to exposure or development of symptoms. Positive results were found in 16 HCWs (6.2%) who were exposed to 120 other HCWs, generating 197 exposure incidents. Of these, 30 (15.2%) exposure incidents were high risk with multiple exposures in 48 (40.0%) HCWs. Exposure to infected HCWs was noted in 3 (18.8%) of 16 positive cases. Of the 197 exposure incidents, 54 (27.4%) were deemed avoidable exposures. Infection prevention and control policies were periodically reviewed, and the department implemented mitigating steps to minimize the risk to healthcare providers. CONCLUSION: Instituting appropriate infection prevention and control policies and use of adequate precautions by HCWs is vital to minimize high-risk exposure to COVID-19.

Safety of delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm neonates of less than 34 weeks of gestation: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: There is concern regarding the safety of delayed cord clamping (DCC) in babies born at less than 34 weeks' gestation. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to compare the rates of hyperbilirubinemia and polycythemia during initial 7 days in infants born at less than 34 weeks' gestation and randomized to receive DCC by 120 seconds or early cord clamping (ECC) within less than 30 seconds. METHODS: One hundred pregnant women were randomly subjected to DCC or ECC at the time of birth in a tertiary referral hospital setting. Blood samples were obtained from each newborn at 48 hours and 7 days for hematocrit measurement. Serum bilirubin levels were estimated once the infant had clinically significant jaundice or at 72 hours. For the statistical analysis, the χ2 test, student's t-test, or Wilcoxon rank sum test was used. RESULTS: The hematocrit was significantly higher in the DCC group than in the ECC group (P<0.001). None of the babies had polycythemia. Mean total serum bilirubin level was 6.6 mg/dL in the DCC group and 8.7 mg/dL in the ECC group (P<0.001). There was no increased risk of hyperbilirubinemia in the DCC group. CONCLUSION: DCC benefits preterm neonates with no significant adverse effects.