Maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler ultrasonography in preeclampsia and pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of ophthalmic artery (OA) Doppler measure - the ratio of velocity peaks (PR) - to adverse pregnancy outcomes in preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOMES: Prospective cohort study of 56 women with preeclampsia that underwent Doppler measurements of OA flow, medial to optic nerve. PR results were classified as normal (PR < 0.78), abnormal (PR 0.78-0.98), or highly abnormal (PR ≥ 0.99). Attending clinicians were blinded to OA Doppler results. The primary endpoints were (1) a composite of adverse maternal outcomes-central nervous system injury (eclampsia or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome), HELLP syndrome, hypertensive crisis, maternal admission to the intensive care unit, and maternal death-and (2) a composite of adverse perinatal outcomes-birth weight <10th percentile for gestational age, neonatal acidemia, 5-min Apgar score <7, admission of infants weighing >2500 g to the neonatal intensive care, preterm birth <32 weeks, fetal or neonatal death. RESULTS: Adverse maternal outcomes became more frequent as the PR values increased (p=.005). The occurrence of hypertensive crisis after hospital admission (secondary endpoint) was also positively associated with PR values (p=.001). Adverse perinatal outcomes were not associated with PR values (p=.551), but women in the highly abnormal PR group (PR ≥ 0.99) had the earliest deliveries (p=.001) and the smallest newborns (p=.004). All women in the highly abnormal PR group (n=16) had an adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal OA Doppler PR ≥ 0.99 in preeclampsia may identify women at increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes and pregnancies at the greatest risk of preterm birth.

Ultrassonografia nas massas anexiais: aspectos de imagem / Ultrasonography of adnexal masses: imaging findings

A ultrassonografia realizada por um habilidoso e experiente examinador é considerada, atualmente, método de elevada acurácia no diagnóstico diferencial das massas anexiais. Os autores expõem uma revisão baseada em imagens ultrassonográficas das principais apresentações das massas anexiais, descrevendo suas características e localizações.

Transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonography performed by a skilled and experienced investigator is currently considered as a highly accurate method in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. The authors set out a review based on sonographic images demonstrating the main presentations of adnexal masses, describing their characteristics and locations.

O uso de drogas psicotrópicas na gestação / The use of psychotropic drugs during pregnancy

Os transtornos psiquiátricos durante a gravidez constituem uma situação complexa para o médico no momento da abordagem do tratamento. Os riscos para o concepto do uso de medicação psiquiátrica na gravidez incluem o surgimento de malformações, toxicidade neonatal e sequelas comportamentais. Além disso, deve-se levar em consideração também o risco, tanto para a mulher gestante como para o feto, de conduzir a gestação paralelamente a esses transtornos psiquiátricos sem tratamento algum. As evidências quanto às ações teratogênicas dos antidepressivos não são convincentes. Há, porém, a possibilidade de efeitos tóxicos sobre o feto, devendo ser evitado sempre que possível. Estudos de caso-controle relatam risco para lábio leporino ou fenda palatina em crianças expostas a benzodiazepínicos durante a gestação de 11:10.000 nascimentos, um aumento de 80 por cento em comparação com o risco de 6:10.000 na população geral. Os recém-nascidos expostos intraútero às drogas antipsicóticas podem desenvolver sinais de disfunção extrapiramidal, como tremores, reflexos tendinosos profundos hiperativos e irritabilidade. No ser humano, o lítio administrado durante a gravidez provoca uma taxa elevada de anormalidades congênitas, incluindo a doença de Ebstein. O objetivo deste trabalho é revisar os principais riscos para a mãe e o feto no tratamento de doenças psiquiátricas durante a gravidez.

Psychiatric disturbances during pregnancy are complex for the physician to manage when approaching a patient's treatment. Fetal risks with the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy are malformations, newborn toxicity and behaviour problems. Moreover, we have to consider maternal and fetal risks during pregnancy with the use of these drugs conducting the pregnancy with psychiatric disorders without any treatment. Evidences about the teratogenic effects of antidepressants are not convincing. However, there is the possibility of toxic effects to the fetus and we have to avoid this whenever possible. Controlled studies suggest a risk of 11:10.000 births of cleft lip or palate in children exposed to benzodiazepines during pregnancy, an incidence 80 percent higher than the risk of 6:10.000 in the general population. Newborns exposed to intra-uterine antipsychotic drugs can develop signs of extrapyramidal dysfunction, like tremors, hyperactive reflexes and irritability. The use of lithium during pregnancy is related to high rates of congenital abnormalities, including Ebstein disease. The purpose of this article is to review the main maternal and fetal risks of treating psychiatric diseases during pregnancy.

Screening for placental insufficiency by transvaginal uterine artery Doppler at 22-24 weeks of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of routine transvaginal color Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries at 22-24 weeks of gestation in the prediction of placental insufficiency. METHODS: Women with singleton pregnancies scheduled for routine ultrasound scans at 22-24 weeks were offered Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries by transvaginal ultrasound. The pulsatility index (PI) was obtained for each artery and the mean value was calculated. A mean PI >95th percentile was considered increased. Screening characteristics for predicting placental insufficiency, defined as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction or intrauterine death, were calculated. RESULTS: Doppler examination of the uterine arteries was carried out in 1,057 singleton pregnancies. The mean uterine artery PI was 1.03 and the 95th percentile was 1.55. In 54 cases (5.1%) the mean PI was >1.55 (screen-positive). In the study population there were 48 cases of preeclampsia (5.1%), 72 fetal growth restrictions (7.5%) and 7 intrauterine deaths (0.7%). The screen-positive group showed an incidence of 47.1% of combined adverse results. The relative risks after a positive screening test were 7.3 (CI 4.2-12.6) for pre-eclampsia, 3.9 (CI 2.3 - 6.6) for fetal growth restriction and 4.5 (CI 3.2-6.4) for overall placental insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine artery Doppler at 22-24 weeks identifies women at higher risk for the development of subsequent complications of placental insufficiency. This test could be used in combination with other markers to stratify the level of care offered in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Transvaginal ultrasonographic assessment of the expulsion rate of intrauterine devices inserted in the immediate postpartum period: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the expulsion rates of intrauterine devices (IUDs) inserted in the immediate postpartum after vaginal birth and cesarean section. METHODS: Nineteen patients who had a vaginal birth and 19 patients who had a cesarean section at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, were selected for copper T 380A IUD insertion. With the aim of detecting clinically unnoticed dislodged devices, ultrasound examinations were performed at 1 month and between 3 and 12 months after delivery. The IUDs were considered completely expelled when found outside the endometrial cavity (e.g., in the cervical canal) or outside the uterus (in the vagina). RESULTS: Expulsion rates were statistically different between the two groups: after a vaginal birth, 50% (ultrasound only) + 27.8% (clinical examination); and post-cesarean section, 0% (p < .001; OR 5.75, 95% CI 2.36-14.01). CONCLUSION: Considering that the contraceptive efficacy of IUDs is associated with their intrauterine location, the high expulsion rates seen when they are inserted immediately after vaginal delivery contraindicate their use in this setting. The use of IUDs immediately after a cesarean section is still a reasonable alternative because its expulsion rate was zero. Ultrasound assessment of IUD positioning performed better than clinical examination, which failed to detect expulsion after postpartum insertion in 75% of the cases (9 from 12 cases).