Utility and limitations of perimortem cesarean section: A nationwide survey in Japan.

AIM: Perimortem cesarean section (PCS) is a procedure performed as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aims to clarify maternal and neonatal prognosis and establish PCS's utility and limitations. METHODS: We sent structured questionnaires to obstetrics facilities regarding the cases of PCS performed in Japan between April 2010 and April 2015. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of the time from cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) to return of spontaneous circulation to predict the onset of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). RESULTS: PCS was performed for 18 patients. Out of 18 patients, 12 were resuscitated. The women who were discharged without major sequelae (n = 6) were compared with the non-discharged women who were dead or in persistent vegetative state (n = 12), and median interval time from arrest to PCS was significantly shorter in the former group (P = 0.002). Median interval time from CPA to PCS in the cases in which the neonates survived without major morbidities was significantly shorter than that in the cases of neonatal death and hypoxic encephalopathy (P = 0.01). DIC was observed in 8/9 (89%) patients whose resuscitation took more than 20 min from the diagnosis of CPA. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) was introduced in 4/9 patients. However, more cases with uncontrolled bleeding, possibly caused by a sudden increase in blood flow and DIC after resuscitation, were observed in the PCPS group compared to the non-PCPS group. CONCLUSION: PCS can be an effective CPR procedure. However, if PCS is not performed within 20 min from CPA, starting PCPS before PCS is an option.

Feasibility of Non-invasive Pulse Pressure Measurement Using the Phased-Tracking Method.

Phased tracking (PT) is a high-precision ultrasonic technology that enables measurements of pulse pressure (PP). The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of estimated PP using PT. Estimated PPs were compared with measured PPs in three sheep fetuses that were connected to an artificial placenta system. Similarly, estimated and measured PPs of 30 human neonates were compared. PP was calculated using the Water-Hammer equation (PP = ρ × PWV (pulse wave velocity) × ΔU). PWV was estimated by measuring the transit times of pulse waves at two sites along the aorta using the PT method, and ΔU was obtained by subtracting end-diastolic velocity from peak systolic velocity. The correlation between the estimated and measured PPs of the sheep fetuses was strong (r = 0.95, p ˂ 0.01), as was the case with the human neonates (r = 0.88, p ˂ 0.05). It can be concluded from the results of this study that PT may be a non-invasive alternative method used to predict PP.

A Case of Monochorionic-Triamniotic Triplet Pregnancy with TRAP Sequence Successfully Treated with Radiofrequency Ablation with a Parallel Circuit Consisting of Anastomosed Blood Vessels between the Direct Pump Fetus and the Indirect Pump Fetus.

Monochorionic-triamniotic triplet pregnancy with twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence is one of the rare complications of multiple pregnancy and has been reported by only a few. Here, we report a case of monochorionic-triamniotic triplet pregnancy with TRAP sequence successfully treated with radiofrequency ablation, which did not develop polyhydramnios and heart failure although the estimated weight of the acardiac fetus increased twice as much as that of the direct pump fetus. Interestingly, the anastomosed blood vessels between the direct and indirect pump fetuses comprised a parallel circuit, which provided blood flow to the acardiac fetus. We hypothesized that the burden on the pump fetus in monochorionic pregnancy with TRAP sequence would be different between triplet and twin pregnancies.