Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Successfully Managed to Term: When the Patient Is Determined to Keep the Pregnancy.

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, defined as the implantation of the gestational sac at the uterine incision scar of the previous cesarean section. This condition is associated with severe maternal and fetal/neonatal complications, including severe bleeding, rupture of the uterus, fetal demise, or preterm delivery. In view of these, early diagnosis allows the option of termination of pregnancy. In this case report, we present a patient with a cesarean scar pregnancy who was diagnosed at the sixth week of gestation but declined early termination of the pregnancy and was managed to the 38th week. Placenta previa was confirmed in the second trimester. A planned cesarean section was performed that resulted in the birth of a live full-term neonate. Intraoperatively, placenta percreta was diagnosed, and due to uncontrollable bleeding, a hysterectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. In cases where an early diagnosis of CSP is made, women should be counseled that this will almost certainly evolve to placenta previa, and the associated risks should be explained. Close follow-up of CSP is mandatory if expectant management is selected. Further studies are needed for definitive conclusions and to determine the risks of expectant management.

[The effects of remifentanil used during cesarean section on oxidative stress markers in correlation with maternal hemodynamics and neonatal outcome: a randomized controlled trial]. / Os efeitos do remifentanil sobre os marcadores do estresse oxidativo durante a cesariana, em correlação com a hemodinâmica materna e o desfecho neonatal: um estudo randômico controlado.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Remifentanil is used to attenuate maternal hemodynamic response to intubation and surgical stress during Induction-Delivery period of cesarean section. The goal was to compare the effects of two remifentanil dosing regimens on oxidative stress level, in correlation with its hemodynamic and neonatal effects. METHODS: Fifty-one patients, 17 per group, enrolled for elective cesarean section were randomly divided by computer-generated codes into three parallel groups: (A) patients received a 1µg.kg-1 remifentanil bolus immediately before induction, followed by 0.15µg.kg-1.min-1 infusion, that was stopped after skin incision; (B) patients received a 1µg.kg-1 remifentanil bolus immediately before induction; (C) (control), patients did not receive remifentanil until delivery. Maternal venous blood samples were taken at basal time, at extraction and 30minutes after the end of operation for spectrophotometrical determination of malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products concentration. The same was conducted for umbilical venous sample. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure and heart rate remained significantly lower in group A compared to B and C during entire Induction-Delivery period (p<0.001, p=0.02 after intubation; p=0.006, p=0.03 after skin incision; p=0.029, p=0.04 after extraction; respectively). Malondialdehyde concentration was lower at time of extraction in maternal blood in group A compared to B and C (p=0.026). All neonatal Apgar scores were ≥ 8 and umbilical acid-base values within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The remifentanil dosing regimen applied in group A significantly attenuated lipid peroxidation and maternal hemodynamic response during entire I-D period, without compromising neonatal outcome.

The effects of remifentanil used during cesarean section on oxidative stress markers in correlation with maternal hemodynamics and neonatal outcome: a randomized controlled trial / Os efeitos do remifentanil sobre os marcadores do estresse oxidativo durante a cesariana, em correlação com a hemodinâmica materna e o desfecho neonatal: um estudo randômico controlado

Abstract Background and objective: Remifentanil is used to attenuate maternal hemodynamic response to intubation and surgical stress during Induction-Delivery period of cesarean section. The goal was to compare the effects of two remifentanil dosing regimens on oxidative stress level, in correlation with its hemodynamic and neonatal effects. Methods: Fifty-one patients, 17 per group, enrolled for elective cesarean section were randomly divided by computer-generated codes into three parallel groups: (A) patients received a 1 µg.kg-1 remifentanil bolus immediately before induction, followed by 0.15 µg.kg-1.min-1 infusion, that was stopped after skin incision; (B) patients received a 1 µg.kg-1 remifentanil bolus immediately before induction; (C) (control), patients did not receive remifentanil until delivery. Maternal venous blood samples were taken at basal time, at extraction and 30 minutes after the end of operation for spectrophotometrical determination of malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products concentration. The same was conducted for umbilical venous sample. Results: Systolic blood pressure and heart rate remained significantly lower in group A compared to B and C during entire Induction-Delivery period (p < 0.001, p = 0.02 after intubation; p = 0.006, p = 0.03 after skin incision; p = 0.029, p = 0.04 after extraction; respectively). Malondialdehyde concentration was lower at time of extraction in maternal blood in group A compared to B and C (p = 0.026). All neonatal Apgar scores were ≥ 8 and umbilical acid-base values within normal range. Conclusions: The remifentanil dosing regimen applied in group A significantly attenuated lipid peroxidation and maternal hemodynamic response during entire I-D period, without compromising neonatal outcome.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivo: O remifentanil é usado para atenuar a resposta hemodinâmica materna à intubação e ao estresse cirúrgico durante o intervalo indução-parto cesariana. O objetivo foi comparar os efeitos de dois regimes posológicos de remifentanil sobre o nível de estresse oxidativo, em correlação com seus efeitos na hemodinâmica materna e no neonato. Métodos: Mediante códigos gerados por computador, 51 pacientes (17 por grupo) programadas para cesariana eletiva foram randomicamente divididas em três grupos paralelos (A, B e C). No Grupo A, as pacientes receberam remifentanil em bolus de 1 µg.kg-1 imediatamente antes da indução, seguido por infusão de 0,15 µg.kg-1.min-1 que foi interrompida após a incisão da pele; no Grupo B, as pacientes receberam remifentanil em bolus de 1 µg.kg-1 imediatamente antes da indução; no Grupo C (controle), as pacientes não receberam remifentanil até o parto. Amostras de sangue venoso materno foram colhidas no momento basal, na extração do feto e 30 minutos após o término da operação para determinar espectrofotometricamente as concentrações do malondialdeído e dos produtos proteicos de oxidação avançada. O mesmo foi feito para a coleta das amostras de sangue venoso umbilical. Resultados: A pressão arterial sistólica e a frequência cardíaca permaneceram significativamente menores no Grupo A, comparado aos grupos B e C, durante todo o intervalo indução-parto (p < 0,001, p = 0,02 após a intubação; p = 0,006, p = 0,03 após a incisão da pele; p = 0,029, p = 0,04 após a extração do feto, respectivamente). No momento da extração do feto, a concentração do malondialdeído foi menor no sangue materno do Grupo A, comparado aos grupos B e C (p = 0,026). Todos os escores de Apgar neonatais foram ≥ 8 e os valores da avaliação ácido-base do cordão umbilical estavam dentro da faixa normal. Conclusões: O regime posológico de remifentanil aplicado ao Grupo A atenuou de modo significativo a peroxidação lipídica e a resposta hemodinâmica materna durante todo o intervalo indução-parto, sem comprometer o desfecho neonatal.

Magnesium in obstetric anesthesia and intensive care.

Magnesium, one of the essential elements in the human body, has numerous favorable effects that offer a variety of possibilities for its use in obstetric anesthesia and intensive care. Administered as a single intravenous bolus dose or a bolus followed by continuous infusion during surgery, magnesium attenuates stress response to endotracheal intubation, and reduces intraoperative anesthetic and postoperative analgesic requirements, while at the same time preserving favorable hemodynamics. Applied as part of an intrathecal or epidural anesthetic mixture, magnesium prolongs the duration of anesthesia and diminishes total postoperative analgesic consumption with no adverse maternal or neonatal effects. In obstetric intensive care, magnesium represents a first-choice medication in the treatment and prevention of eclamptic seizures. If used in recommended doses with close monitoring, magnesium is a safe and effective medication.

Attenuation of cardiovascular stress response to endotracheal intubation by the use of remifentanil in patients undergoing Cesarean delivery.

The induction-delivery time during Cesarean section is traditionally conducted under light anesthesia because of the possibility of anesthesia-induced neonatal respiratory depression. The serious consequences of such an approach could be the increased risk of maternal intraoperative awareness and exaggerated neuroendocrine and cardiovascular stress response to laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and surgical stimuli. Here, we briefly discuss the various pharmacological options for attenuation of stress response to endotracheal intubation during Cesarean delivery and then focus on remifentanil, its pharmacokinetic properties, and its use in anesthesia, both in clinical studies and case reports. Remifentanil intravenous bolus doses of 0.5-1 µg/kg before the induction to anesthesia provide the best compromise between attenuating maternal stress response and minimizing the possibility of neonatal respiratory depression. Although neonatal respiratory depression, if present, usually resolves in a few minutes without the need for prolonged resuscitation measures, health care workers skilled at neonatal resuscitation should be present in the operating room whenever remifentanil is used.

ALTERNATIVES OF MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY.

INTRODUCTION: It has been generally accepted that the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy outweigh the risks. but there are still some concerns about the administration of menopausal hormone therapy, which has introduced alternative treatments. Pharmacological Alternatives. Central alpha-2 agonist clonidine is only marginally more effective than placebo, and significantly less effective than estrogen. Antiepileptic drug gabapentin reduces hot flashes; however, it is less effective than estrogen. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (paroxetine and fluoxetine) and selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine) reduce vasomotor symptoms and improve depression, anxiety and sleep. Results of studies about dehydroepiandrosterone effects on menopausal symptoms are inconsistent and additional investigations are needed. Non-Pharmacological Alternatives. Stellatum ganglion blockade is a successful treatment for reducing vasomotor symptoms in patients with contraindications for menopausal hormone therapy. Efficacy of acupuncture, homeopathy and reflexology Should be proved by adequate studies. Phytoestrogens could reduce vasomotortymptoms but to a lesser extent than conventional menopausal hormone therapy. However, they have not been proved yet to pro-ide cardiovascular protection and prevention of osteoporosis. nor they could be recommended instead of traditional menopausal hor-one therapy. There is a concern about their undesirable effects. Adequate diet, unchanging body weight Nwthin ideal values and adequate physical activities have beneficial long-term effects, first of all onlpreservation of bone density Alternatives for Atrophic Changes of Vaginal Epithelium. Menopausal symptoms resulting from vaginal atrophy could be resolved by use of hydrophilic prep- arations, lubricants and topical lidocaine creamn r 4% lidocaine water solution for dyspareunia. CONCLUSION: If there are contrain-ications to menopausal hormone therapy or patients are unwilling to take hormone therapy, alternative treatments, which canlalso solve menopausal symptoms, should be considered.

MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY BENEFITS AND DIFFERENT FORMS.

INTRODUCTION: Declining of ovarian hormone production can seriously disturb the quality of woman's life, with physical and emotional consequences and to potentiate the development of additional health risks such as cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis which are already present in women of older age. Benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy. Menopausal hormone therapy ameliorates the quality of life by resolving the atrophic symptoms and vasomotor problems, protecting from the osteoporosis, maintaining the skin and connective tissue turgor, as well as by improving libido, mood and depression during the menopausal transition. Forms of Menopausal Hormone Therapy. There are several possibilities to treat menopausal problems: estrogen, combination of estrogen and progestogen, androgens, selective estrogen receptor modulators, tissue selective estrogen complex, tibolon and alternatives. Initiating, Monitoring and Discontinuing Menopausal Hormone Therapy. Menopausal hormone therapy should be started when the problems due to menopausal symptoms appear. It is important to have on mind that the effects of hormones depend on age and actual condition of the woman's organism. The goal is effective treatment at the lowest dose and during the shortest interval needed for symptom control. The therapy must be reevaluated every year and potential risks must be discussed as well. CONCLUSION: Menopausal hormone therapy ameliorates the quality of woman's life in perimenopause. Type, doses and duration of the menopausal hormone therapy should be individualized.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in eclamptic patients: neuroradiological manifestation, pathogenesis and management.

INTRODUCTION: Eclampsia is one of the most serious complications of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, defined as the occurrence of one or more convulsions superimposed on preeclampsia. Besides the ordinary course of the disease, ranging from a mild to a severe form, with culmination in eclamptic seizures, there is a significant percent of cases where eclampsia starts unexpectedly, without typical premonitory symptoms and signs, which makes it difficult to prevent. NEURORADIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PATHOGENESIS OF ECLAMPSIA. Neuroradiological signs of eclampsia are described as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and are manifested by nausea, vomiting, headache, visual disturbances, altered mental status, convulsions and coma, together with characteristic findings on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan of the head, indicating the presence of vasogenic brain edema. The topic of this article are possible mechanisms of the development of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in pregnancy and modalities of acute treatment of this emergency state. MANAGEMENT OF ECLAMPSIA: Magnesium sulphate is nowadays the drug of choice for the treatment and prevention of eclamptic seizures. Labetalol is considered to be the agent of choice in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies of pregnancy, followed by hydralazine, nifedipine, nicardipine, urapidil, nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside (in most refractory cases). Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin blocking drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy. Captopril and enalapril are allowed during lactation. CONCLUSION: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in eclamptic patients is completely reversible if adequate diagnosis is promptly made and intensive treatment immediately administered.

EARLY PRIMARY ABDOMINAL PREGNANCY IMPLANTED IN THE VESICOUTERINE POUCH - A CASE REPORT.

INTRODUCTION: An abdominal pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy and potentially life-threatening condition. It is difficult to make an early diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy. CASE REPORT: We present a case of early primary abdominal pregnancy, diagnosed at 6th gestational week, located in thevesicouterine pouch and treated laparoscopically. Despite the rapidly decreasing serum ß-human chorionic gonadotropin levels, the presence of the intraperitoneal blood allowed neither expectant management nor medical treatment, although the patient was hemodinamically stable at that moment. The absence of significant bleeding during the surgery and histopathological finding of placental villi with necrosis confirmed that, in this case, the abdominal pregnancy was already the subject of spontaneous involution. CONCLUSION: High index of suspicion and carefully interpreted clinical and ultrasound findings are crucial for timely diagnosis of early abdominal pregnancy before the occurrence of massive and potentially fatal intraperitoneal bleeding.

[Epidural analgesia in labor: specific characteristics, dilemmas and controversies].

INTRODUCTION: Epidural analgesia has become the most popular method for labor pain relief. Analgesia in Labor: Yes or No? Labor pain is a complex phenomenon with sensory, cognitive, motivational, emotional, social, and cultural variables. Pain and anxiety lead to adrenergic hyperactivity, hyperventilation, hypocapnia with reduced uteroplacental blood flow and uncoordinated uterine activity, so pain relief is recommended and even indicated in cases of maternal comorbidity. Analgesia in Labor: Method of Choice. The quality of epidural analgesia is better than the one achieved by parenteral or inhalation agents, with increased uteroplacental blood flow and improved fetal-maternal oxygenation. Epidural Analgesia in Labor: What is Specific? The increased weight, lumbar lordosis, soft tissue edema and engorgement of epidural veins make it more difficult to perform epidural block in pregnancy. Epidural puncture should be performed by medial approach, at L2-3 or L3-4 level by loss of resistance technique between contractions. Epidural Analgesia in Labor: What With? Local anesthetics, bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, are used and they can be combined with small doses of opioids (fentanyl or sufentanyl). Epidural Analgesia in Labor: How? Available techniques are epidural, spinal and combined spinal--epidural analgesia. Epidural Analgesia in Labor: Controversies. The most important controversy is the influence ofepidural analgesia on operative or instrumental delivery rate. Low concentrations of local anesthetic in combination with small doses of opioids, together with active management of labor by an obstetrician, would lead to increased spontaneous delivery rate. CONCLUSION: Although there still are some difficulties, complications and controversies, epidural analgesia provides safe and effective labor pain control.

[Characteristics of endometrial carcinoma in obese women].

INTRODUCTION: In most developed countries, endometrial cancer appears as most frequent invasive neoplasm of genital tract. Obesity is one of most important risk factors. Aim of study was to establish characteristics endometrial cancer in obese women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 50 surgically treated women with endometrial cancer. According body mass index they were divided into two groups--group A (30 obese women), group B (20 non-obese women). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Non-obese women with endometrial cancer are statistically significantly older than obese. Menopausal status, parity are not statistically significant. The obese group most frequently includes endometrioid type of tumor, while non-obese group most frequently includes non-endometrioid types of endometrial cancer. Over 50% thick myometrial invasion is statistically more frequent in non-obese group than in obese group. In obese group, less than 50% thick myometrial invasion, is statistically significant in comparison to nonobese group. High-differentiated endometrial cancer (G1) is statistically significantly more present in obese women than non-obese. Low-differentiated endometrial cancer is statistically more frequent in non-obese women than in obese. Most frequent in both groups is NG2. According to FIGO stage I, disease is statistically significantly more frequent in obese group than in non-obese. In non-obese group, total number of diseased in higher stages (II and III) is statistically significantly higher than in stage I. CONCLUSION: Endometrial cancer present in obese women is mostly endometroid type I, with slow myometrial invasion, with histological grade I, nuclear grade II in FIGO stage I of disease. In non-obese women, non-endometrioid cancer-- type II is more frequent, with faster myometrial invasion, histological grade II and III, nuclear grade II, in FIGO stage II of disease.

Insulin resistance and C-reactive protein in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is referred to as the "disease of the theories" because of the multiple hypotheses proposed to explain is occurrence. Despite considerable research, the causes of preeclampsia remain unclear. Preeclampsia is likely to be multifactorial in origin, and recent research has focused on endothelial dysfunction as a central abnormality in preeclampsia. Insulin resistance and inflammation may contribute to the onset of preeclampsia. They could also be correlated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence and relationship between insulin resistance and its markers and C-reactive protein as a marker of inflammation. During their third trimester, 17 preeclamptic women and 20 normotensive controls underwent oral glucose tolerance test, basic biochemical analyses and SHBG. Preeclamptic women were more insulin resistant (p=0,004), and they had higher triglycerides levels (p=0,006), uric acid (p=0,002). However, the study groups did not differ in C-reactive protein (CRP), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), high and low-density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol). In multiple regression analysis only SHBG (p=0,014) and triglycerides (p=0,003) were associated with insulin sensitivity independently of the body mass index (BMI), weight gain, HDL and LDL, and CRP. Preeclampsia is a state of increased insulin resistance, and CRP as the marker of inflammation was not increased in our research, and not associated with established preeclampsia.

[Color Doppler imaging and measurements of intraovarian and intrauterine vascularization on basal ultrasound examination in spontaneous ovulatory and anovulatory cycles].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Any organs functioning directly depends on vascularization. It applies also to the uterus and ovary which go through changes of vascularization during a menstruation cycle. The aim of this investigation was to determine differences in intrauterine and ovarian stromal arterioral blood flow on basal ultrasound examination (day 2-4) between spontaneous ovulatory and anovulatory cycles. METHODS: This prospective clinical investigation included 205 patients divided into two groups: with ovulatory and with anovulatory cycles. RESULTS: Resistance to ovarian arterioral stromal blood flow was significantly lower in the patients with ovulatory cycles (pulsatile index--PI 0.97 +/- 0.4 vs 1.93 +/- 1.37; p = 0.001737; and (resistance index - RI 0.55 +/- 0.12 vs 0.68 +/- 0.14; p = 0.040033). There. were no statistically significant differences in arcuate arterioral blood flow in the pateints with ovulatory and anovulatory cycles (PI 1.21 +/- 0.34 vs 61 +/- 0,61 p = 0.136161 and RI 0.64 +/- 0.11 vs 0.74 +/- 0.07; p = 0.136649). The patients with ovulatory cycles had lower uterine radial arterioral blood flow than the patients with anovulatory cycles (PI 1.001 +/- 0.22 vs 1.61 +/- 0.23 p = 0.007501 and RI 0.55 +/- 0.08 vs 0.71 +/- 0.12; p = 0,0460113). The patients with ovulatory cycles had lower subendometrial arterioral blood flow resistance (PI 0.69 0.19 vs 1.385 +/- 0.09; p = 0.00622 and RI 0.44 +/- 0.09 vs 0.65 +/- 0.02; p = 0.027458). CONCLUSION: Color Doppler ultrasuond imaging and measurements of intrauterine and ovarian stromal arterioral blood flow on basal ultrasound examination (day 2-4), showed lower resistance to blood flow in ovulatory than in anovulatory cycles.