Effect of Young Maternal Age on Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes: Results from the Tertiary Center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Young maternal age is variously defined in studies of its effect on obstetrics and perinatal outcomes. Also, pregnancy has been reported as the leading cause of death in adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries. AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether young maternal age was associated with an increased risk of obstetrics and perinatal adverse outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: This case-control study was derived from a database of the medical records between January 2008 and December 2012. In the present study, 1374 teenage pregnancy and 1294 adult pregnancy cases were included. After restriction of analyses to singleton primiparous women, 1282 teenage pregnancy and 735 adult pregnancy cases were analyzed. Maternal age was separated into three groups: 15 and less, 16-19, and 20-34 years. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were derived through logistic regression models for the potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Adolescents aged 15 years and younger had higher risks of preterm delivery, early preterm delivery, intrauterine fetal death and neonatal death compared with women aged 20 to 34 years after adjustment for confounding factors. In addition, both groups of adolescents had higher risks for anemia and episiotomy and lower risk of cesarean delivery. The rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, chronic diseases, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were higher in the adult group. CONCLUSION: Younger maternal age was correlated with increased risks of preterm delivery, fetal and neonatal death and anemia.

Maternal and fetal risk factors affecting perinatal mortality in early and late fetal growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors which affect the perinatal deaths in early and late fetal growth restriction (FGR) fetuses using threshold of estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 5(th) percentile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included singleton 271 FGR fetuses, defined as an EFW < 5(th) percentile. All fetuses considered as growth restrictions were confirmed by birth weight. Fetuses with multiple pregnancy, congenital malformation, chromosomal abnormality, and premature rupture of membrane were excluded. Samples were grouped in early and late FGR. Early FGR fetuses was classified as gestational age at birth ≤ 34 weeks and late FGR was classified as gestational age at birth > 34 weeks. Factors which affect the perinatal deaths were analyzed descriptively in early and late FGR. The perinatal mortality was calculated by adding the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. RESULTS: The study included 86 early and 185 late FGR fetuses, 31 resulted in perinatal deaths, 28 perinatal deaths were in early FGR, and three perinatal deaths were in late FGR. Perinatal deaths occurred more commonly in early FGR fetuses with an EFW < 3(rd) percentile. Prior stillbirth, preeclampsia, the degree of increasing vascular impedance of umbilical artery(UA) and uterine artery (UtA) showed significant correlation with perinatal death in early FGR. All three perinatal deaths in late FGR occurred in fetuses with EFW < 3(rd) percentile and severe oligohydramnios. Also, placental abruption and perinatal death was found significantly higher in increased vascular impedance of UtAs whatever the umbilical artery Doppler. CONCLUSION: Only EFW < 3(rd) percentile and severe olgohydramnios seem to be contributing factors affecting perinatal death in late FGR in comparison with early FGR.

Predictive factors for failure of salpingostomy in ectopic pregnancy.

AIM: The objective of this study was to review our experience with ectopic pregnancy management and to evaluate major predictive factors for failure of conservative linear salpingostomy. METHODS: Seven hundred and ninety-seven cases that were treated for ectopic pregnancy in our clinic between October 2005 and September 2011 were analyzed retrospectively for incidence and treatment options. We defined failure as rising or plateauing postoperative serum ß-hCG levels that required additional medical or surgical treatment after initial removal of the ectopic pregnancy by laparoscopy or by laparotomy. We examined the risk factors consisting of preoperative ß-hCG, size and location of ectopic lesions, the presence of fetal heart beat and tubal condition that can influence the failure or success of conservative salpingostomy. RESULTS: In total, 403 patients were treated conservatively. These conservative managements consist of 334 salpingostomies performed by laparoscopy and 69 by laparotomy. Because of persistent ectopic pregnancy, 16 patients underwent medical treatment. In total, 387 patients were treated successfully with conservative management and 16 patients were treated unsuccessfully with conservative management. When variables of P < 0.05 were subjected to multivariate analysis, size of the ectopic pregnancy of 33.5 mm or greater and fimbrial and isthmic region ectopic pregnancies were significantly associated with the failure rate. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the ectopic pregnancy and fimbrial and isthmic region ectopic pregnancies were determinant of failure of conservative surgery. Our success rate in the ruptured group is not an underestimated value to dissuade patients wishing to maintain fertility by undergoing salpingectomy. So, the conservative approach to ectopic pregnancy should be undertaken after careful patient evaluation.