Serious primary post-partum hemorrhage, arterial embolization and future fertility: a retrospective study of 46 cases.

BACKGROUND: The guidelines advise arterial embolization in case of post-partum hemorrhage. We evaluated its feasibility and the subsequent fertility. METHODS: A retrospective study has been conducted in our center for the past 10 years (1996-2005). Fifty-two patients experiencing a primary post-partum hemorrhage who were resistant to medical treatment underwent uterine artery embolization and/or hysterectomy. In case of arterial embolization, a follow-up of all the patients was realized, focusing on the preservation of fertility. RESULTS: Six (11.5%) patients underwent hysterectomy straightaway and 46 (88.5%) arterial embolization in the first instance including 35 arterial embolizations after Cesarean section. Embolization was successful among 41 patients (89.1%) and hysterectomy was performed on the 5 (10.9%) others. Overall, 11/24 398 women suffered from a definitive loss of fertility after post-partum hemorrhage. Fertility was studied at least 1 year after the delivery. All patients had a return of normal menses. Sixteen of 41 women (39%) wanted another child and 100% succeeded. Nineteen pregnancies, including two twin pregnancy and one early spontaneous abortion were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Embolization is a safe and effective non-surgical method to resolve post-partum hemorrhage and should be regarded as gold standard in a hemodynamically stable patient. Furthermore, subsequent fertility is not impaired by the procedure.

[Hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis in pregnancy. A case report]. / Pancréatite aiguë secondaire à une hypertriglycéridémie majeure d'origine gestationnelle. A propos d'un cas.

We report the case of a 31-year-old pregnant patient in the 33rd week of gestation, with no history of dyslipidaemia, admitted for sub-acute epigastric pain. The milky aspect of blood samples was remarkable. Blood analysis showed a moderate increase in pancreatic enzymes but a major hyperlipaemia: triglyceridaemia 113 g/l and total cholesterolaemia 25 g/l. We suspected a hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis in pregnancy. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT-scan. Abdominal echography showed no abnormalities in biliary duct. After few hours, a caesarean was performed for acute fetal distress. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit where a decrease of hypertriglyceridemia was already observed. Only one plasmapheresis was performed. Heparin was introduced. Rapid clinical improvement allowed discharge from intensive care at day 3. This case report illustrates lipid decrease with undertaken treatments. We discuss the management of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis in pregnancy.

[Usefulness of a collecting bag for the diagnosis of post-partum hemorrhage]. / Intérêt de l'utilisation d'un sac de recueil dans le diagnostic des hémorragies de la délivrance.

OBJECTIVE: Depending on the country and the publications, post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) is either the first or second cause of maternal death in the world, including in developed countries. It remains a significant source of morbidity, severe anemia, blood transfusion, transfusion complications, acquired coagulation disorders and hemostasis hysterectomy. Visual assessment underestimates the amount of blood loss in around 45% of cases. Emergency treatment is therefore sometimes undertaken with some delay, giving time for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) to occur, which worsens the prognosis. A collecting plastic bag put under the pelvis of the mother just after delivery is a quantitative and objective method of measuring blood loss. The objective was to assess sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), studying correlation between bag's volume and hemoglobin and hematocrit variation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Included outpatients were women with unique pregnancy at term. Breech presentations were excluded. We measured serum hemoglobin and hematocrit just after admission for labor. A collecting bag, placed under the pelvis of each woman just after birth, was weighted after delivery. Serum hemoglobin and hematocrit were again assessed at three days. Post-partum hemorrhage was defined by a fall of hematocrit more than 10 points (delta Ht), or by a fall of hemoglobin more than 3g/dL (delta Hb). RESULTS: From January 2003 to May 2003, 272 patients were included. 8.9% of the results were unuseful (n=24). The mean volume of blood loss was 190 ml (5th p=29 ml, 10th p=48 ml, 90th p=610 ml, 95th p=824 ml). The mean delta Ht was 2.7 +/- 4 pts (16.5 / -4.8). The mean delta Hb was 1.2 +/- 1.4 g/dL (5.9 / -1.5). For a delta Ht=10 the calculated bag volume was 564 ml. With this cut off we noted 5.5% PPH (n=15) prevalence=0.06. Sensitivity=34.21%. Specificity=99%. PPV=86%. NPV=90.38%. For a delta Hb=3 the calculated bag volume was 486 ml. With this cut off we noted 10.7% PPH (n=24) prevalence of PPH=0.1. Sensitivity=38.77%. Specificity=95.96%, PPV=67. 85%. NPV=87.7%. CONCLUSION: The collecting pelvis bag is a rapid and precise procedure to diagnose PPH in the delivery room. It also enables a visual and quantitative non-subjective estimation of blood loss. Because of its simplicity and very low cost, the collecting pelvis bag should be used widely as a routine preventive measure.

[Prenatal Bartter's syndrome. Report of two cases]. / Le syndrome de Bartter anténatal. A propos de deux cas.

Antenatal Bartter Syndrome (ABS) is a rare autosomic recessive tubulopathy characterized by idiopathic hydramnios, fetal polyuria and elevated levels of amniotic chloride. It is related to mutations affecting several transporters in the loop of Henle e.g. the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter, the chloride channel CLC-NKB and the potassium channel ROMK. We report two cases of ABS in siblings born to consanguineous parents (first cousins). The first pregnancy showed hydramnios of unknown etiology at week 23. Two amnio drains were performed at weeks 26 and 27. The baby was born in week 29 and developed polyuria with hyponatremia, hypokalemia and hyperaldosteronism. After eliminating diabetes insipidus and adrenal insufficiency, ABS was diagnosed. The baby was treated with 0.5 mg/kg/d indomethacine, which controlled the polyuria and the hydroelectrolytic disorder. The second pregnancy showed idiopathic hydramnios at week 24. The elevated amniotic chloride level (above 112 mmole/l) led to the antenatal diagnosis of ABS. The mother was treated with 1 mg/kg/d indomethacine until week 31 in order to stabilize the hydramnios. Two amnio drains at weeks 31 and 33 allowed the pregnancy to be prolonged until week 34. A genetic study of the family showed homozygosity of the NKCC2 gene marker suggesting its implication in the disease.

[The ovarian vein syndrome: eight cases and review of the literature]. / Le syndrome de la veine ovarienne: à propos de huit cas et revue de la littérature.

OBJECTIVE: The ovarian vein syndrome is an uncommon clinical entity occurring secondary to ureteral obstruction caused by dilation of aberrant ovarian veins. After initial scepticism about its reality, many authors currently recognize the ovarian vein syndrome as a separate clinical entity, included among pelvic congestive syndromes. Excretory urography, sonography and retrograde ureteropyelography findings confirm the clinical diagnosis. Our purpose was to demonstrate the efficacy of surgery and the contribution of laparoscopic treatment. METHODS: and material. We rapport eight cases treated from 1980 to 1998. The surgical procedure was laparotomy in seven cases and laparoscopy in one. RESULTS: Ovarian vein resection was successful in all cases without any adverse event. Average hospital stay was about four days. Complete and persistent relief of lumbar pain was achieved. CONCLUSION: Ovarian vein syndrome is an uncommon diagnosis of pelvic pain that should be recognized. Surgery is considered as the appropriated therapy. The laparoscopic approach should be preferred