Diabesity and Pregnancy: How Do We Get Our Patients Moving?

Obesity and diabetes are 2 commonly encountered complications in pregnancy that adversely affect pregnancy outcomes, maternal health, and the health of the offspring, both short-term and long-term. It is well established that physical activity provides numerous health benefits, both during and outside of pregnancy. By participating in physical activity, many of the negative consequences of both obesity and diabetes may be mitigated. Physical activity guidelines recommend that all adults, including pregnant women, perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly in order to obtain health benefits. More physical activity may be needed to achieve weight management goals.

Prenatal ABO/RHD Genotyping: A New Paradigm to Allow for Fresh Whole Blood for Cardiopulmonary Bypass in the Immediate Newborn Period.

Compared to standard component therapy, fresh whole blood (FWB) offers potential benefits to neonates undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in the context of open cardiac surgery: decreased blood loss and subsequent risk of volume overload, improved coagulation status, higher platelet counts during and following CPB, circumvention of limited vascular access, and significantly reduced donor exposures. Obtaining FWB, however, entails 2-5 days of preparation, which often precludes its availability for neonates requiring CPB in the immediate newborn period. Using a multidisciplinary approach and molecular ABO/RHD genotyping on amniotic fluid, we developed a protocol to allow procurement of FWB for timed delivery followed by open cardiac surgery. Eligible subjects include patients undergoing genetic amniocentesis following the diagnosis of a fetal cardiac anomaly likely to require open surgical repair in the initial days after birth. This protocol has been successfully implemented following prenatal diagnosis of severe fetal cardiac anomalies. Taking advantage of the prenatal time period and the ability to perform fetal blood typing prenatally using molecular genotyping makes possible a new paradigm for the availability of FWB for CPB to improve perioperative, short-term, and long-term outcomes in a population comprised of some of the smallest and sickest patients who will undergo CPB.

Patient satisfaction following midurethral sling surgeries.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction are recognized as being equally important as traditional objective measures of success following midurethral sling (MUS) procedures. The objective of this article is to review the success after MUSs in the context of patient satisfaction. RECENT FINDINGS: Patient satisfaction for both transobturator and retropubic MUSs at 2 years is high with rates up to 88%. Factors that positively influence satisfaction include improvement in quality of life and reduction in severity of symptoms. Satisfaction has been found to be negatively impacted by persistent stress incontinence, preoperative urinary urgency, mixed urinary incontinence, detrusor overactivity, and selected comorbidities such as diabetes. Factors, such as postoperative incomplete bladder emptying, irritative voiding, and complications after MUS surgery, can also influence satisfaction adversely. SUMMARY: Combining patient-reported outcome measures with customary objective measures offer a more comprehensive assessment of success. Even though the data are limited, the short-term and intermediate-term rates of satisfaction are promising for both transobturator and retropubic MUSs. Future studies should focus on further elucidating long-term predictors of satisfaction after MUS placement.

Development of an Obstetric Hemorrhage Response Intervention: The Postpartum Hemorrhage Cart and Medication Kit.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity in the United States, and timely treatment is imperative. Delay in treatment of PPH can lead to significant blood loss and increased morbidity and mortality. Supplies and medications essential for treating PPH are typically not located in close proximity to the hemorrhaging patient, leading to inefficiency and delay in timely response to hemorrhage. METHODS: An in situ hemorrhage simulation was created dictating the collection of a prespecified list of supplies commonly used in response to PPH on labor and delivery (L&D). Baseline data were collected, then Lean Six Sigma tools were used to construct a process map, including recording times and cumulative distance traveled for collection of each item. The simulation was repeated after development, creation, and deployment of each intervention. For the first intervention, a PPH cart was created containing the supplies most used in response to PPH. Second, a PPH medication kit was created consisting of a refrigerated box containing all medications typically administered during a PPH. RESULTS: The average time to collect a prespecified list of supplies and medications in response to a PPH scenario was 11 minutes 5 seconds (standard deviation [SD] = 3 minutes 33 seconds), with an average cumulative distance traveled of 4,092 feet. Following Intervention 1, the time decreased to 4 minutes 0 seconds, with 918 feet traveled (only one trial performed). Intervention 2 further reduced the average time and cumulative distance to 2 minutes 14 seconds (SD = 16 seconds) and 462 feet, respectively. This represents a 79.8% reduction in time and an 88.7% reduction in distance from baseline to postintervention. CONCLUSION: A PPH cart and medication kit can significantly reduce the amount of time and distance traveled to obtain materials necessary to treat hemorrhage, thus optimizing a team's ability to efficiently treat PPH.

Fetal and maternal responses to yoga in the third trimester.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to examine maternal and fetal responses to a typical, moderate-intensity yoga session in healthy pregnant women during the third trimester using continuous monitoring.Methods: This prospective observational study in low-risk, pregnant women used the Monica AN24 Abdominal ECG wireless maternal-fetal monitor to measure fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate, and uterine activity during a prenatal yoga session. Sessions included 4 time periods: (1) 20-minute rest, (2) 50 minutes standard prenatal yoga, (3) 10-minute meditation, (4) 20-minute recovery. Data were continuously recorded throughout the entire session, stored at 0.25-second intervals, and then averaged over 5-minute intervals. To evaluate changes over time, overall means for the four time periods (rest, yoga, meditation, recovery) were compared using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons (Tukey's) were used to probe significant differences between the four time points. Statistical significance was reached at p < .05.Results: Twenty participants were enrolled; 19 completed the yoga session. Mean gestational age was 35 weeks and 6 days (range of 32-0/7 to 38-6/7) with an average participant age of 32 ± 2.7 years. Maternal heart rates significantly increased during the yoga period (102 ± 11 bpm) compared to rest (90 ± 10), meditation (85 ± 12), and recovery (88 ± 10) (p < .01). The maximum maternal heart rate reached during the yoga session was 125 ± 13 bpm. While fetal heart rates fluctuated slightly over the course of the yoga session, there were no significant fetal heart rate decelerations to suggest deleterious fetal effects. There were no statistically significant differences among resting (138 ± 14 bpm), yoga (137 ± 11 bpm), meditation (139 ± 7 bpm), or recovery (135 ± 22 bpm) fetal heart rates (p = .814). Uterine activity was significantly greater during the yoga period compared with the other time points (p < .001).Conclusion: Yoga can be recommended for low-risk women during pregnancy as no adverse fetal or maternal heart rate changes were observed during a typical prenatal yoga session.

Postpartum hemorrhage: Blood product management and massive transfusion.

Blood product transfusion capabilities are crucial for appropriate response to postpartum hemorrhage. Novel treatments are continually being sought to improve maternal morbidity and mortality associated with massive hemorrhage.

Simulation of a Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery and Neonatal Resuscitation in a Biocontainment Unit.

This article describes a large-scale scenario designed to test the capabilities of a US biocontainment unit to manage a pregnant woman infected with a high-consequence pathogen, and to care for a newborn following labor and spontaneous vaginal delivery. We created and executed a multidisciplinary functional exercise with simulation to test the ability of the Johns Hopkins Hospital biocontainment unit (BCU) to manage a pregnant patient in labor with an unknown respiratory illness and to deliver and stabilize her neonate. The BCU Exercise and Drill Committee established drill objectives and executed the exercise in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Simulation Center in accordance with Homeland Security and Exercise Program guidelines. Exercise objectives were assessed by after-action reporting and objective measurements to detect contamination, using a fluorescent marker to simulate biohazardous fluids that would be encountered in a typical labor scenario. The immediate objectives of the drill were accomplished, with stabilization of the mother and successful delivery and resuscitation of her newborn. There was no evidence of contamination when drill participants were inspected under ultraviolet light at the end of the exercise. Simulation optimizes teamwork, communication, and safety, which are integral to the multidisciplinary care of the maternal-fetal unit infected, or at risk of infection, with a high-consequence pathogen. Lessons learned from this drill regarding patient transportation, safety, and obstetric and neonatal considerations will inform future exercises and protocols and will assist other centers in preparing to care for pregnant patients under containment conditions.

Uterine Artery Doppler Velocimetry During Individually Prescribed Exercise in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate uterine artery blood flow in response to typical exercise sessions performed in pregnancy in accordance with the current recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study measured uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in healthy pregnant women after individually prescribed exercise, including 1) moderate-intensity exercise (40-59% of heart rate reserve) in both nonexercisers and regular exercisers and 2) vigorous-intensity exercise (60-84% of heart rate reserve) in women who regularly engage in exercise. Resting uterine artery Doppler measures were obtained after a 20-minute fetal heart tracing; then the exercise session was performed. Immediately after the exercise session ended, the participants returned to the semirecumbent, leftward tilt position for ultrasound examination. Uterine artery measures were obtained 3.4±0.9 minutes (mean±SD) postexercise. RESULTS: Forty-five healthy pregnant women participated in the study: 30 regular exercisers and 15 nonexercisers. For the moderate-intensity session, mean gestational age was 31.1 and 31.7 weeks for the exercisers and nonexercisers, respectively. Mean uterine artery Doppler indices (pulsatility index, resistance index, systolic/diastolic ratio) did not significantly change with exercise. For the vigorous-intensity session, the average gestational age was 31.5 weeks. After vigorous activity, all mean uterine artery Doppler indices showed reductions postexercise, for example, pulsatility index decreased from 0.63±0.12 to 0.58±0.12 (P=.04). CONCLUSION: Individually prescribed exercise according to guidelines for pregnant women does not adversely alter uterine artery Doppler values, suggesting that uterine blood flow is not reduced as a result of exercise.

Pharmacokinetics of amlodipine besylate at delivery and during lactation.

BACKGROUND: Amlodipine is rarely used in the treatment of pregnant hypertensive women due to limited pharmacokinetic data during pregnancy and the postpartum period. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of amlodipine besylate in the peri-partum period including quantities of placental passage, breast milk excretion and infant exposure. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective study of pregnant women who were prescribed 5 mg of amlodipine daily for treatment of chronic hypertension and delivered at term. Cord and maternal blood samples were collected at delivery. On postpartum day 2, six paired maternal plasma and breast milk samples were obtained at 4, 6, 8, 12, 15 and 24 h following amlodipine dosing. Infant plasma samples were collected 24-48 h after delivery. All samples were analyzed for amlodipine concentration. A one compartment, first-order model was used to calculate pharmacokinetic estimates for maternal plasma. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients enrolled in the study, 11 had cord blood and maternal serum collected at delivery, of which only 6 produced sufficient breast milk for sampling. Amlodipine was detected in infant cord blood plasma with a mean concentration of 0.49 ±â€¯0.29 ng/mL compared to mean maternal serum level of 1.27 ±â€¯0.84 ng/mL. Amlodipine concentrations in both in breast milk and infant plasma were undetectable at the lower limit of assay detection (<0.1 ng/mL). In the immediate postpartum period, the amlodipine elimination half-life was 13.7 ±â€¯4.9 h, the area under the curve was 53.4 ±â€¯19.8 ng*h/mL and the peak concentration was 2.0 ±â€¯1.0 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine does cross the placenta in measurable quantities, but is not detected in breast milk or infant plasma at 24-48 h of life indicating that it is likely safe to use during the peripartum period.