Factors associated with infection-related severe maternal outcomes in pregnant and recently pregnant women: A secondary analysis of the WHO global maternal sepsis study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for severe maternal outcomes (SMO) of women with suspected or confirmed infections using the data from the WHO global maternal sepsis study (GLOSS). METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the GLOSS cohort study, which involved pregnant or recently pregnant women with suspected or confirmed infection around 713 health facilities in 52 low- and middle-income countries, and high-income countries. A nested case-control study was conducted within the GLOSS cohort. Cases included infection-related maternal deaths or near misses, while controls represented non-SMO. Logistic mixed models, adjusting for country variations, were employed. Using univariate analysis, we calculated crude odds ratios (crude OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Variables were identified with less than 16% missing data, and P values less than 0.20 were used to perform the multivariate logistic model multilevel. RESULTS: A total of 2558 women were included in the analysis. As for the cases, 134 patients were found in the pregnant in labor or not in labor group and 246 patients in the postpartum or postabortion group. Pregnant women with prior childbirths faced a 64% increased risk of SMO. Ante- or intrapartum hemorrhage increased risk by 4.45 times, while trauma during pregnancy increased it by 4.81 times. Pre-existing medical conditions elevated risk five-fold, while hospital-acquired infections increased it by 53%. Secondary infections raised risk six-fold. Postpartum/postabortion women with prior childbirths had a 45% elevated risk, and pre-existing medical conditions raised it by 2.84 times. Hospital-acquired infections increased risk by 93%. Postpartum hemorrhage increased risk approximately five-fold, while abortion-related bleeding doubled it. Previous cesarean, abortion, and stillbirth also elevated risk. CONCLUSIONS: Key risk factors for SMO include prior childbirths, hemorrhage, trauma, pre-existing conditions, and hospital-acquired or secondary infections. Implementing effective alert systems and targeted interventions is essential to mitigate these risks and improve maternal health outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings.

Subphenotypes of severe early-onset pre-eclampsia at hospital admission. A Latin American single-center exploratory latent class analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify distinct subphenotypes of severe early-onset pre-eclampsia in Latin America and analyze biomarker and hemodynamic trends between subphenotypes after hospital admission. METHODS: A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted in Colombia. The latent class analysis identified subphenotypes using clinical variables, biomarkers, laboratory tests, and maternal hemodynamics. Class-defining variables were restricted to measurements at and 24 h after admission. Primary and secondary outcomes were severe maternal and perinatal complications. RESULTS: Among 49 patients, two subphenotypes were identified: Subphenotype 1 (34.7%) had a higher likelihood of an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≤ 38, maternal age > 35, and low probability of TPR > 1400, CO <8, and IUGR; Subphenotype 2 (65.3%) had a low likelihood of an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio < 38, maternal age > 35, and high probability of TPR > 1400, CO <8, and IUGR. At 24 h postadmission, 64.7% of subphenotype 1 patients changed to subphenotype 2, while 25% of subphenotype 2 patients were reclassified as subphenotype 1. Subphenotype 1 displayed significant changes in CO and TPR, while subphenotype 2 did not. Maternal complications were more prevalent in subphenotype 2, with an odds ratio of 5.3 (95% CI: 1.3-22.0; P = 0.02), but no significant differences in severe neonatal complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We identified two distinct subphenotypes in a Latin American cohort of patients with severe early-onset pre-eclampsia. Subphenotype 2, characterized by higher TPR, sFlt-1, and serum creatinine and lower CO and PlGF at admission, was associated with worse maternal outcomes and appeared less modifiable after in-hospital treatment.

Damage-control resuscitation in obstetrics.

Severe obstetric hemorrhage is a catastrophic event and represents the main cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The elevated mortality rate due to hemorrhage is associated with metabolic complications and organ hypoperfusion that may trigger a state of irreversible coagulopathy. Thus, the use of conventional measures to control bleeding frequently generates a vicious cycle in which the patient continues bleeding (prolonging surgical times). Damage-control surgery has proven to be feasible and effective in the context of obstetric hemorrhage. It combines surgical and resuscitative measures that generate successful results in the control of refractory bleeding, ultimately decreasing mortality in patients being in critical condition.

Prophylactic use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in women with abnormal placentation: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and case series.

BACKGROUND: We describe intraoperative and postdischarge outcomes of a case series after the prophylactic use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) during elective cesarean delivery in pregnant women with morbidly adherent placenta (MAP). We furthermore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the use of REBOA during elective cesarean delivery in pregnant women with MAP. METHODS: Descriptive case series of REBOA (December 2015 to June 2017) used during elective cesarean delivery in pregnant women with MAP. The systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We included studies involving pregnant women with a diagnosis of MAP who underwent an elective cesarean delivery with prophylactic REBOA placement. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the overall amount of transfusions and intraoperative hemorrhage of REBOA compared to NO-REBOA cases. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients with MAP underwent elective cesarean delivery with REBOA deployment. The median (interquartile range) of packed red blood cells transfused during the first 24 hours following surgery was two units (0-3.5). The median (interquartile range) of intraoperative blood loss was 1,500 mL (900-2,750). At 28 days, all patients were alive, and no adverse outcomes were observed. Four articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. These articles included a total of 441 patients. Quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) found that the use of REBOA as prophylaxis for the prevention of major hemorrhage was associated with a lower amount of intraoperative hemorrhage (in milliliters) (weighted mean difference, -1,384.66; 95% confidence interval, -2,141.74 to -627.58) and lower requirements of blood products transfusions (in units) (weighted mean difference, -2.42; 95% confidence interval, -3.90 to -0.94). CONCLUSION: We provide clinical data supporting the use of REBOA in the management of pregnant women with MAP undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of REBOA as a prophylactic intervention to improve outcomes in women at risk of catastrophic postpartum hemorrhage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level V; Systematic Review, level IV.

Model of obstetric attention based on critical care in Latin America.

PURPOSE: Report the results obtained following the implementation of an OCC (Obstetric Critical Care) model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational prospective study in obstetric population with high complexity illness attended in a safety and quality model of attention in a specific unit supporting the concept of obstetric critical care. Records were used as the primary source for collecting information, using the standards of the Center for Clinical Research. RESULTS: In a 5-year period, 10,956 patients were admitted. About 51% had diseases that were not exclusive to pregnancy, 91% were admitted while pregnant and, from all births, 46% were by vaginal delivery. 1685 (19%) patients met the criteria for Near Miss Maternal Mortality (NMMM). Forty-three patients died, which represented a mortality rate of 0.49% of the total of hospitalized patients. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an OOC model, security models, and an institutional support system improve the quality of care in the obstetric services of reference hospitals in developing countries.