Sharing experiences to improve bereavement support and clinical care after stillbirth: report of the 7th annual meeting of the International Stillbirth Alliance.

Stillbirth remains a global health challenge which is greatly affected by social and economic inequality, particularly the availability and quality of maternity care. The International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) exists to raise awareness of stillbirth and to promote global collaboration in the prevention of stillbirth and provision of appropriate care for parents whose baby is stillborn. The focus of this ISA conference was to share experiences to improve bereavement support and clinical care. These issues, relevant throughout the globe, are not discrete but closely interrelated, with both similarities and differences depending on the specific country and cultural context. Counting stillbirths and understanding the causes of stillbirth are essential not only for providing optimal care and support to parents whose babies die, but also for reducing the future burden of stillbirth. This summary highlights novel work from obstetricians, midwives, psychologists, parents and peer support organizations that was presented at the ISA meeting. It covers topics including the bereavement process, peer support for parents, support and training for staff, evidence for clinical care, and the need for accurate data on stillbirths and perinatal audits. Representatives from the maternity services of the region presented their outcome data and shared their experiences of clinical and bereavement care. Data and developments in practice within stillbirth and bereavement care must be widely disseminated and acted upon by those responsible for maternity care provision, both to prevent stillbirths and to provide high-quality care when they do occur.

Long-term impact of intrauterine fetal death on quality of life and depression: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) is a serious incidence that has been shown to impact mothers' psychological well-being in the short-term. Long-term quality of life (QOL) and depression after IUFD is not known. This study aimed to determine the association between intrauterine fetal death and long-term QOL, well-being, and depression. METHODS: Analyses were performed on collected data among 106 women with a history of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) and 262 women with live births, 5-18 years after the event. Univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between previous fetal death and long-term QOL, well-being and depression. QOL was assessed using the QOL Index (QLI), symptoms of depression using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and subjective well-being using the General Health Questionnaire 20 (GHQ-20). RESULTS: More of the cases had characteristics associated with lower socioeconomic status and did not rate their health as good as did the controls. The QLI health and functioning subscale score was slightly but significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (22.3. vs 23.5, P = .023). The CES-D depressed affect subscale score (2.0 vs 1.0, P = 0.004) and the CES-D global score (7.4 vs 5.0, P = .017) were higher in the cases. Subjective well-being did not differ between groups (20.6 vs 19.4, P = .094). After adjusting for demographic and health-related variables, IUFD was not associated with global QOL (P = .674), subjective well-being (P = .700), or global depression score (adjusted odds ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.37-1.57). CONCLUSIONS: Women with previous IUFD, of which the majority have received short-term interventions, share the same level of long-term QOL, well-being and global depression as women with live births only, when adjusted for possible confounders. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, with registration number NCT 00856076.

Lupus and pregnancy: integrating clues from the bench and bedside.

Adequate pregnancy care of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) rests on three pillars: a coordinated medical-obstetrical care, an agreed and well-defined management protocol and a good neonatal unit. Pregnancy should be planned following a preconceptional visit for counselling. Women with severe active disease or a high degree of irreversible damage, such as those with symptomatic pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, severe restrictive pulmonary disease or severe chronic renal failure should best avoid pregnancy. Treatment is based on hydroxychloroquine, low-dose steroids and azathioprine. Patients with antiphospholipid antibodies/syndrome should receive low-dose aspirin +/- low molecular weight heparin. The addition and the dose of heparin depend on the clinical profile of the patient, i.e. a previous history of miscarriage, foetal loss, placental insufficiency or thrombosis. A close surveillance, with monitoring of blood pressure, proteinuria and placental blood flow by Doppler studies helps the early diagnosis and treatment of complications such as preeclampsia and foetal distress. Postpartum follow-up is important.

Use of misoprostol for pregnancy termination in women with prior classical cesarean delivery: a report of 3 cases.

BACKGROUND: Misoprostol has been used for induction of labor either as a cervical ripening agent or as an abortifacient. Its use in women with previous cesarean births may be associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture. CASE: We describe 3 cases of pregnancy termination between 18 and 24 weeks' gestation in women with previous classical cesarean deliveries. Misoprostol was used successfully in all three cases without complications. CONCLUSION: Judicious use of misoprostol results in successful pregnancy termination in women with previous classical cesarean deliveries without uterine rupture.

Intra-vaginal use of misoprostol for induction of labour in intrauterine death.

This prospective study was done in the Department of Obstetric & Gynaecology in Mymensingh Medical College & Hospital during the period of February 2006 to January 2007, to assess the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol for induction of labour in intrauterine foetal death cases and to detect any intrapartum or postpartum complications. For this study, 50 cases of IUD were selected among admitted patients who were diagnosed by detailed history, clinical examination and by USG. Fifty microgram of misoprostol was given per vaginally, which was repeated 4 hours interval upto effective uterine contraction to a maximum six doses. All the informations were recorded in a predesigned structured data collection sheet and data had been interpreted through appropriate statistical analysis. In this study, 46% patients were within 18-25 years of age and gestational age between 28-37 weeks was 80%. Regarding causes of IUD, commonest was idiopathic (52%), next was gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, impending eclampsia (28%). Most of the patients (80%) had no history of antenatal checkup and belongs to below average socioeconomic status. Most case (64%) had less Bishop's score (<3) & all cases had unfavourable cervix, score <6. Vaginal delivery was 98% and 2% needed caesarean section. Mean induction delivery interval was 11.8 hours. Induction delivery interval was within 6-23 hours and 66% cases needed 2-3 doses of vaginal misoprostol. Complications were found in a minor group of patients. Nausea, vomiting, occurred in 12% of cases. Others were fever (2%), shivering (6%), PPH (4%), chorioamniotitis (2%) etc. Vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening and labour induction is very effective and shorten the time of induction delivery interval. On the other hand, misoprostol is quite cheap, easy to administer, well tolerability and less side effects.

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm manifesting as postpartum hemorrhage after uneventful second-trimester pregnancy termination.

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication mainly of abdominal or interventional delivery that can cause profuse postpartum hemorrhage if unrecognized or inadequately treated. There has been no report of this disorder accompanying uneventful second-trimester pregnancy termination. A primiparous Japanese woman underwent pregnancy termination at 24 weeks' gestation due to fetal death. Gradual dilatation of the cervix followed by administration of vaginal gemeprost led to an uneventful delivery without curettage. After 41 days, profuse vaginal bleeding occurred. Ultrasound revealed a mass within the uterine cavity and color Doppler indicated the presence of high-speed flow within the mass. Selective angiography revealed that the mass was connected to the right uterine artery, from which extravasation was observed. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed, and we performed successful uterine artery embolization. This is the first report of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after second-trimester pregnancy termination. Our experience indicates that even after uneventful pregnancy termination, clinicians must remain aware of the possibility of pseudoaneurysm, manifesting as postpartum/post-termination hemorrhage.

Leptospirosis as a cause of intrauterine fetal demise: short report of rare presentation.

We present a rare severe leptospirosis in a patient who presented with fever, jaundice, coagulopathy and intrauterine fetal demise. Possibility of leptospirosis should be kept in an obstetric patient with such clinical profile particularly in endemic areas or if there is recent outbreak of disease.

The use of misoprostol in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Misoprostol, although originally introduced as a therapy for gastric ulcers, is now widely used in reproductive health. For some indications it is now the optimal choice, whilst for others it provides an important alternative, especially in low-resource settings. The optimal dose varies widely from 20 to 600 mcg depending on the indication and gestation. Use of the correct dose is important, too low a dose will be ineffective and overdosage can be dangerous for mother and baby. Evidence-based information about the safest regimens for multiple pregnancy indications are therefore provided in this review.

Arteriovenous malformation of the uterus after a midtrimester loss: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the uterus are rare but potentially life-threatening lesions. The typical presentation includes intermittent, heavy and profuse vaginal bleeding, often refractory to medical therapy. CASE: We present the case of a 25-year-old woman presenting 18 months after a 22-week pregnancy loss complicated by a postpartum curettage for retained placenta. The patient's initial symptoms included irregular and extremely heavy vaginal bleeding. Several transfusions of packed red blood cells were required because of severe anemia. On transfer to our institution, evaluation with ultrasound and hysteroscopy revealed a large AVM in the fundus of the uterus, apparently fed by both the right and left uterine arteries. After 2 embolization procedures of the uterine arteries, the patient experienced a recurrence of her symptoms, requiring definitive treatment with a hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: AVMs of the uterus are a rare cause of vaginal bleeding. AVMs should be considered in the differential diagnosis for the patient with bleeding refractory to medical management and a history of prior uterine surgery. Although unsuccessful in our case, uterine artery embolization remains a viable treatment option, particularly in patients wishing to retain their reproductive capacity.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of obstetric patients requiring ICU admission.

OBJECTIVES: To review a series of critically ill obstetric patients admitted to our ICU to assess the spectrum of disease, required interventions, and fetal/maternal mortality, and to identify conditions associated with maternal death. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Medical-surgical ICU in a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Pregnant/postpartum admissions between January 1, 1998, and September 30, 2005. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We studied 161 patients (age, 28 +/- 9 years; mean gestational age, 29 +/- 9 weeks) [mean +/- SD], constituting 10% of 1,571 hospital admissions. APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II score was 14 +/- 8, with 24% predicted mortality; sequential organ failure assessment score was 5 +/- 3; and therapeutic intervention scoring system at 24 h was 25 +/- 9. Forty-one percent of patients required mechanical ventilation (MV). ARDS, shock, and organ dysfunction were present in 19%, 25%, and 48% of patients, respectively. Most patients (63%) were admitted postpartum, and 74% of admissions were of obstetric cause. Hypertensive disease (40%), major hemorrhage (16%), septic abortion (12%), and nonobstetric sepsis (10%) were the principal diagnoses. Maternal mortality was 11%, with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (44%) and intracranial hemorrhage (39%) as main causes. There were no differences in death rate in patients admitted for obstetric and nonobstetric causes. Fetal mortality was 32%. Only 30% of patients received antenatal care, which was more frequent in survivors (33% vs 6% nonsurvivors, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Although ARDS, organ failures, shock, and use of MV were extremely frequent in this population, maternal mortality remains within an acceptable range. APACHE II overpredicted mortality in these patients. Septic abortion is still an important modifiable cause of mortality. Efforts should concentrate in increasing antenatal care, which was clearly underprovided in these patients.

Fetal death.

The death of a formed fetus is one of the most emotionally devastating events for parents and clinicians. With improved care for conditions such as RhD alloimmunization, diabetes, and preeclampsia, the rate of fetal death in the United States decreased substantially in the mid twentieth century. However, the past several decades have seen much greater reductions in neonatal death rates than in fetal death rates. As such, fetal death remains a significant and understudied problem that now accounts for almost 50% of all perinatal deaths. The availability of prostaglandins has greatly facilitated delivery options for patients with fetal death. Risk factors for fetal death include African American race, advanced maternal age, obesity, smoking, prior fetal death, maternal diseases, and fetal growth impairment. There are numerous causes of fetal death, including genetic conditions, infections, placental abnormalities, and fetal-maternal hemorrhage. Many cases of fetal death do not undergo adequate evaluation for possible causes. Perinatal autopsy and placental examination are perhaps the most valuable tests for the evaluation of fetal death. Antenatal surveillance and emotional support are the mainstays of subsequent pregnancy management. Outcomes may be improved in women with diabetes, hypertension, red cell alloimmunization, and antiphospholipid syndrome. However, there is considerable room for further reduction in the fetal death rate.

Misoprostol for intrauterine fetal death.

The frequency of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) with retained fetus varies, but is estimated to occur in 1% of all pregnancies. The vast majority of women will spontaneously labor and deliver within three weeks of the intrauterine death. The complexity in medical management increases significantly when the cervix is unripe or unfavorable, or when the woman develops disseminated intravascular coagulation. Misoprostol regimens for the induction of labor for second and third trimester IUFDs, range from 50 to 400 microg every 3 to 12 h, and are all clinically effective. Nevertheless, the current scientific evidence supports vaginal misoprostol dosages, which are adjusted to gestational age: between 13-17 weeks, 200 microg 6-hourly; between 18-26 weeks, 100 microg 6-hourly; and more than 27 weeks, 25-50 microg 4-hourly. In women with a previous cesarean, lower doses should be used and doubling of doses should not occur. Clinical monitoring should continue after delivery or expulsion because of the risk of postpartum atony and/or placenta retention.

[Results of pregnancy termination for foetal congenital or chromosomal disorders or intrauterine foetal death by oral mifepristone and/or intravaginal misoprostol; results of a retrospective study]. / Uitkomsten van zwangerschapsafbreking wegens foetale congenitale of chromosomale afwijkingen en bij intra-uteriene vruchtdood door middel van mifepriston oraal en/of misoprostol vaginaal; resultaten van een retrospectieve studie.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the method of mifepristone and misoprostol for pregnancy termination during the second trimester or for intrauterine foetal death during the second or third trimester. The primary outcome measure was time to delivery. Secondary outcomes included: complication registration, need for pain relief and side effects. DESIGN: Retrospective study of medical records. METHOD: Data were collected from patients in whom labour was induced due to intrauterine foetal death or in whom pregnancy was terminated due to a severe foetal congenital or chromosomal disorder between 1 September 2002 and 1 September 2005 in the Amphia Hospital, Breda, the Netherlands. Patients who experienced premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous abortion, or in whom labour was induced by insertion ofa intra-cervical balloon catheter were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 99 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 32 years in the intrauterine foetal-death group and 33 years in the pregnancy-termination group. The median gestational age was 21 weeks at the time of intrauterine foetal death and 19 weeks at the time of pregnancy termination. The median duration of treatment was 10 hours (range: 1-29) for intrauterine foetal death and 8 hours (range: 3-39) for pregnancy termination; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02). The mean duration of treatment did not differ statistically significant between these groups. The proportion of patients who delivered within 24 hours was 96% in the intrauterine foetal-death group and 92% in the pregnancy-termination group. Surgical removal of placenta or partially retained placenta was performed in 33% of all patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the median duration of treatment in nulliparous and multiparous patients; however, the risk of surgical removal of placenta or partially retained placenta was 5-fold greater in the nulliparous group (p < 0.05). No cases of uterine rupture were reported. Overall, 6% experienced severe haemorrhage, 18% had fever, 15% had nausea and 5% had vomiting. Epidural anaesthesia and intramuscular pethidine were administered in 28% and 24% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The median duration of treatment was longer in patients in whom labour was induced due to intrauterine foetal death than in those in whom pregnancy was terminated for foetal disorders. The incidence of secondary outcomes such as complications, need for anaesthesia and side effects were comparable to numbers from earlier studies with mifepristone and misoprostol.

Mifepristone and misoprostol for the treatment of early pregnancy failure: a pilot clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to improve efficacy for women who desire medical management of early pregnancy failure (EPF), we studied the efficacy and acceptability of mifepristone 200 mg, orally (po), followed 24 h later by misoprostol 800 microg, vaginally (pv), for the treatment of EPF. METHODS: We enrolled 30 women with EPF in this pilot clinical trial. All women used misoprostol 800 microg, pv, 24 h after ingesting 200 mg mifepristone. Follow-up evaluations with transvaginal ultrasonography occurred at 24 h and 1 week after treatment. Participants were offered a repeat dose of misoprostol if the pregnancy had not been expelled at the first follow-up. RESULTS: The expulsion rate with one dose of misoprostol was 90% (95% CI=79-100%). The overall success rate of the treatment was 93% (95% CI=84-100%). CONCLUSION: This regimen of mifepristone followed by vaginal misoprostol appears to be an efficacious and acceptable treatment for EPF and may have improved results over a single dose of misoprostol alone.

[Management of in utero foetal death: Which assessment to undertake?]. / Prise en charge de la mort in utero: quel bilan proposer?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of para-clinical exams prescribed in case of in utero foetal death, to result in the establishment of a new algorithm of diagnostic tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis on a series of 106 stillbirths gathered between September 1989 and December 1998 in the obstetrical and gynaecological department of the Lausanne University Hospital which is a tertiary centre. Stillbirth was defined as foetal death occurring as from the date of foetal viability. Thus, only pregnancies from 24 weeks and onwards were included in this series. We excluded all stillbirths occurring during medical termination of pregnancy and cases with incomplete data files. The Fretts' classification was used. The different exams asked by the physician were screened and we analysed their pertinence to determine the aetiological diagnosis for each case. The search for significant risk factors was also taken into account. We compared our management of in utero foetal death with data from the literature to propose a new algorithm. RESULTS: The aetiology of in utero foetal death could be attributed in ninety percent of the cases. The principal causes were in utero growth retardation (19.8%), foetal congenital and chromosomal anomalies (18.9%), infections (15.1%), placental abruption (7.5%), preeclampsia (5.6%), maternal diabetes (3.8%). The remaining 18.9% are divided in to miscellaneous causes. In 10.4% of the cases we could not find any explanation to the death of the foetus. The exams that yielded the most information when done were: foetal autopsy which was abnormal in 92.7%, placental investigation which was abnormal in 93% and the babygramme (X-ray of the foetal skeleton) which was abnormal in 53%. Maternal serology for infections was informative in 6.6% of the cases. CONCLUSION: We present here a protocol for the diagnostic management of stillbirth which is differentiated according to the circumstances surrounding the event. This should prove useful to reduce superfluous tests.

Management of late intrauterine death using a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol--experience of two regimens.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and effectiveness of managing intrauterine death after 24 weeks gestation using a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. STUDY DESIGN: Two regimens are compared. Twenty-nine women (group one) were managed using a combination of oral mifepristone and vaginal/oral misoprostol. After a change in dosage and route of administration, a further 20 women were managed with oral mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol (group two). RESULTS: All women delivered vaginally. The mean induction to delivery interval in group one was 7 h compared with 10.2 h in group two. Group two experienced fewer gastrointestinal side-effects than group one. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the combined use of mifepristone and misoprostol is a safe and effective way of managing IUD after 24 weeks gestation. Regimen one results in a shorter induction to delivery interval but is associated with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal side-effects.

Management strategies for abnormal early pregnancy: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential effectiveness and costs of 4 commonly used strategies to manage abnormal early pregnancies (AEPs). STUDY DESIGN: A decision analysis model was constructed to compare 4 strategies to manage AEPs: (1) observation, (2) medical management, (3) manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), and (4) dilation and curettage (D&C). RESULTS: MVA was the most cost-effective strategy, at dollar 793 per cure, for a total cost of dollar 377 million per 500,000 women and a cure rate of 95%. D&C was more effective than MVA, with a cure rate of 99%, but was more expensive (dollar 2,333 per cure, for a total cost of dollar 1.2 billion). D&C cured 20,000 more patients than MVA; however, at a substantial cost of dollar 38,925 per additional cure. With other estimates at baseline, MVA remained more cost-effective than D&C until the efficacy of MVA was < 82% or the cost of D&C was < dollar 240. CONCLUSION: MVA is the most cost-effective strategy for managing AEP and would be appropriate in settings in which resources are limited. D&C remains a reasonable strategy; however, one must spend dollar 38,925 per additional cure. In the United States, MVA would save dollar 779 million per year relative to D&C.

Quality of life in women undergoing medical treatment for early pregnancy failure.

OBJECTIVES: To examine predictors of quality of life, depression, and stress in women undergoing medical management of early pregnancy failure with misoprostal and to assess the relationship of quality of life, depression, and stress to treatment acceptability. DESIGN: Descriptive observational study of women undergoing medical management of early pregnancy failure with misoprostol conducted as part of a multicenter pilot study testing the efficacy of saline-moistened versus dry application of vaginal misoprostol. Data were collected prior to treatment through 15 days posttreatment. SETTING: Four university-based hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Women (n = 80) < or = 1 weeks pregnant diagnosed with anembryonic gestation or fetal demise. INTERVENTION: Vaginal misoprostol for medical evacuation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of life (physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social functioning, vitality, and bodily pain), depression, stress, and treatment acceptability. RESULTS: Women who received medical evacuation demonstrated poorer quality of life than same-age published population norms, scoring 0.25 to 0.78 of a standard deviation below the population mean for four of the five subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses should assist patients to minimize and manage physical symptoms during treatment for early pregnancy failure. Women with higher external demands and lower social/tangible support may need greater assistance.

Termination of second trimester, complicated gestation.

To assess the effectiveness of intravaginal misoprostol for second trimester uterine evacuation, we studied 70 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by fetal malformation or dead fetuses. Participants received 200 microg misoprostol administered at 4-hour intervals. Gestations with dead fetuses had a shorter induction-abortion interval [14.2 hours, standard deviation (SD) 4.3] than those with live, malformed fetuses (20.2 hours, SD 7.3) (P< 0.001). The abortion rate was significantly higher for gestations with dead fetuses (92.1%) than those with live, malformed fetuses (68.8%) (P< 0.05). There were no major complications and no significant difference in the incidence of side-effects. All women aborted within 38 hours. Administration of misoprostol is an effective clinical method to terminate second trimester, complicated pregnancy.

[Management of maternal tetanus contracted by an obstetric procedure].

A 34-year-old woman from the Philippines showed difficulty in opening the mouth. She had no wounds in the last one mouth, but was treated with an obstetric procedure after stillbirth 16 days before in the Philippines. She showed trismus, rigidity and muscle pain, but no muscle spasms, dyspnea and autonomic dysfunction. In this case, it is supposed that the obstetric procedure is the origin of the injury. In Japan, this is the first report of maternal tetanus.