Tranexamic Acid for the Prevention of Blood Loss after Cesarean Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic administration of tranexamic acid has been associated with reduced postpartum blood loss after cesarean delivery in several small trials, but evidence of its benefit in this clinical context remains inconclusive. METHODS: In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned women undergoing cesarean delivery before or during labor at 34 or more gestational weeks to receive an intravenously administered prophylactic uterotonic agent and either tranexamic acid (1 g) or placebo. The primary outcome was postpartum hemorrhage, defined as a calculated estimated blood loss greater than 1000 ml or receipt of a red-cell transfusion within 2 days after delivery. Secondary outcomes included gravimetrically estimated blood loss, provider-assessed clinically significant postpartum hemorrhage, use of additional uterotonic agents, and postpartum blood transfusion. RESULTS: Of the 4551 women who underwent randomization, 4431 underwent cesarean delivery, 4153 (93.7%) of whom had primary outcome data available. The primary outcome occurred in 556 of 2086 women (26.7%) in the tranexamic acid group and in 653 of 2067 (31.6%) in the placebo group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 0.94; P = 0.003). There were no significant between-group differences in mean gravimetrically estimated blood loss or in the percentage of women with provider-assessed clinically significant postpartum hemorrhage, use of additional uterotonic agents, or postpartum blood transfusion. Thromboembolic events in the 3 months after delivery occurred in 0.4% of women (8 of 2049) who received tranexamic acid and in 0.1% of women (2 of 2056) who received placebo (adjusted risk ratio, 4.01; 95% CI, 0.85 to 18.92; P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Among women who underwent cesarean delivery and received prophylactic uterotonic agents, tranexamic acid treatment resulted in a significantly lower incidence of calculated estimated blood loss greater than 1000 ml or red-cell transfusion by day 2 than placebo, but it did not result in a lower incidence of hemorrhage-related secondary clinical outcomes. (Funded by the French Ministry of Health; TRAAP2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03431805.).

Tranexamic acid for the prevention of blood loss after cesarean among women with twins: a secondary analysis of the TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage Following a Cesarean Delivery randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Although prophylactic tranexamic acid administration after cesarean delivery resulted in a lower incidence of calculated estimated blood loss of >1000 mL or red cell transfusion by day 2, its failure to reduce the incidence of hemorrhage-related secondary clinical outcomes (TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage Following a Cesarean Delivery trial) makes its use questionable. The magnitude of its effect may differ in women at higher risk of blood loss, including those with multiple pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effect of tranexamic acid vs placebo to prevent blood loss after cesarean delivery among women with multiple pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of the TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage Following a Cesarean Delivery trial data, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial from March 2018 to January 2020 in 27 French maternity hospitals, that included 319 women with multiple pregnancies. Women with a cesarean delivery before or during labor at ≥34 weeks of gestation were randomized to receive intravenously 1 g of tranexamic acid (n=160) or placebo (n=159), both with prophylactic uterotonics. The primary outcome was a calculated estimated blood loss of >1000 mL or a red blood cell transfusion by 2 days after delivery. The secondary outcomes included clinical and laboratory blood loss measurements. RESULTS: Of the 4551 women randomized in this trial, 319 had a multiple pregnancy and cesarean delivery, and 298 (93.4%) had primary outcome data available. This outcome occurred in 62 of 147 women (42.2%) in the tranexamic acid group and 67 of 152 (44.1%) receiving placebo (adjusted risk ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.38; P=.86). No significant between-group differences occurred for any hemorrhage-related clinical outcomes: gravimetrically estimated blood loss, provider-assessed clinically significant hemorrhage, additional uterotonics, postpartum blood transfusion, arterial embolization, and emergency surgery (P>.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Among women with a multiple pregnancy and cesarean delivery, prophylactic tranexamic acid did not reduce the incidence of any blood loss-related outcomes.

Impact of uterine balloon tamponade on the use of invasive procedures in severe postpartum hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of tamponade when uterotonic agents fail, on the need for surgery or interventional radiology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All women who received sulprostone for postpartum hemorrhage were retrospectively compared over two periods [December 2008 to December 2010 without use of tamponade (period 1) and June 2011 to June 2013 with use of tamponade (period 2)] in the case of sulprostone failure (STROBE compliant retrospective cohort study). During period 2, interventional radiology or surgery was used only in the case of tamponade failure. RESULTS: 165 women were included (74 for period 1, 91 for period 2). The rate of interventional radiology or surgery significantly decreased from period 1 (21 of 74 women, 28.4%) to period 2 (six of 91 women, 6.6%, p = 0.0003). The rate of assumed failure of uterotonic agents was higher for period 2: 22 of 74 women (29.7%) during period 1, and 41 of 91 (45.1%, p = 0.0439) during period 2. The success rate of tamponade was 92.1% (35 of 38 women). CONCLUSIONS: Although the efficacy of tamponade should be viewed in the light of its widespread use, our findings confirm that tamponade significantly reduces the need for interventional radiology or surgery for postpartum hemorrhage treatment.

Perinatal outcomes of severe, isolated intrauterine growth restriction before 25 weeks' gestation: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perinatal outcome associated with severe and isolated intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) diagnosed before 25 weeks and to describe factors related to fetal death. METHODS: This retrospective study included singleton pregnancies with an estimated fetal weight (EFW) ≤ 3rd centile between 21 + 0 and 24 + 6 weeks' gestation referred between 2013 and 2020. All fetuses with morphological or chromosomal abnormalities were excluded. We constituted three groups based on perinatal outcomes to highlight poor prognostic factors: live birth, fetal death and termination of pregnancies (TOP). RESULTS: We included 98 pregnancies with an overall survival rate of 61.2% (60/98). There were 63.2% (62/98) live births, 24.5% (24/98) TOP, and 12.2% (12/98) fetal death. Of the live births, 27.4% (17/62) of fetuses were born before 32 weeks, and two died in the neonatal period (2/62; 3.2%). The fetal death rate was higher with the presence of an EFW below the first percentile (83.3% of fetal death Vs 33.8% of live births; p = 0.002), Doppler abnormalities (83.3% of fetal death Vs 6.4% of live births; p<0.001), and oligoamnios (41.9% of fetal death Vs 11.3% of live births; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Severe growth restriction detected before 25 weeks was associated with poor perinatal outcomes. There were more often EFW <1st percentile, abnormal Doppler and oligoamnios in cases of fetal death compared to live births.

[Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast: a morphological and immunohistochemical study]. / Les carcinomes métaplasiques du sein : une étude morphologique et immunohistochimique.

INTRODUCTION: Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast are rare and form a heterogenic group of tumors, characterized by the presence of squamous or sarcomatoid differentiation. PATIENT AND METHODS: In 23 cases, we study the main histoprognostic features, hormonal status, and the expression of HER2, CK5/6, CK14, p63, EGFR, beta-catenin, MUC1 and E-cadherin, the expression of this seven last antigens being also studied in nodal metastases. RESULTS: The different metaplastic types are spindle cell carcinoma (35%), squamous cell carcinoma (26%), osteo- or chondrosarcomatoid (11%) or mixed type (26%). Vascular emboli are seen in 30% of the tumors and perinervous infiltration in 4%. 33% of the patients have nodal metastases. The immunohistochemical features are: RO+: 4%; RP+: 8%; HER2+: 0%; p63+: 74%; CK14+: 83%; CK5/6+: 74%; EGFR+: 100%; E-cadherin+: 70%; beta-catenin: aberrant staining (cytoplasm or weak membrane staining greater than 5%): 74%, negative: 13%; MUC1: aberrant staining (cytoplasm or complete membrane staining greater than 5%): 35%, pure partial membrane staining: 22%, negative: 43%. In 43% of tumors, more aberrant staining for MUCI is present in nodal metastases compared with primitive tumor. CONCLUSION: Metaplastic carcinomas are aggressive tumors, generally with a "triple-negative" and basal phenotype. The expressions of MUC1 and beta-catenin are often absent or aberrant, which could favor metastatic dissemination.

Predictors of successful manual rotation for occiput posterior positions.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of the success of manual rotation of fetuses in an occiput posterior position. METHODS: A prospective, observational, single-center study included all women with a singleton pregnancy at term with a fetus in an occiput posterior position for whom manual rotation was attempted from December 1, 2013, to April 30, 2015 at a tertiary care maternity unit in Nancy, France. Occiput posterior position was confirmed by ultrasonography, and success of manual rotation was defined by the occiput anterior position of the fetus after the attempt. RESULTS: Occiput posterior position was diagnosed in 233 (9.2%) of the 2522 deliveries during the study period and the majority of cases were managed successfully by manual rotation (167 [71.7%]). Factors associated with successful rotation were fetal engagement (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-4.56), spontaneous labor (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.01-3.43), and no failure to progress (aOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.02-3.94). Successful manual rotation was associated with lower rates of cesarean (P<0.001) and instrumental (P<0.001) deliveries. CONCLUSION: Study findings suggested that manual rotation, especially after fetal engagement, succeeded more often when performed systematically than when it was attempted after failure to progress.