Bacterial vaginosis in a subfertile population undergoing fertility treatments: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the role of bacterial vaginosis (BV) on pregnancy rates during various fertility treatments. BV is known to influence several obstetric outcomes, such as preterm delivery and endometritis. Only few studies investigated the effect of BV in subfertile women, and studies found a negative effect on fecundity especially in the in vitro fertilisation population. METHODS: Observational prospective study, 76 couples attending a fertility clinic in the Netherlands between July 2019 and June 2022, undergoing a total of 133 attempts of intra uterine insemination, in vitro fertilization or intra cytoplasmatic sperm injection. Vaginal samples taken at oocyte retrieval or insemination were analysed on qPCR BV and 16S rRNA gene microbiota analysis of V1-V2 region. Logistic regression with a Generalized Estimated Equations analysis was used to account for multiple observations per couples. RESULTS: A total of 26% of the 133 samples tested positive for BV. No significant differences were observed in ongoing pregnancy or live birth rates based on BV status (OR 0.50 (0.16-1.59), aOR 0.32 (0.09-1.23)) or microbiome community state type. There was a tendency of more miscarriages based on positive BV status (OR 4.22 (1.10-16.21), aOR 4.28 (0.65-28.11)) or community state type group III and IV. On baseline qPCR positive participants had significantly higher body mass index and smoked more often. Odds ratios were adjusted for smoking status, body mass index, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: Bacterial vaginosis does not significantly impact ongoing pregnancy rates but could affect miscarriage rates.

Prophylactic radiologic interventions to reduce postpartum hemorrhage in women with risk factors for placenta accreta spectrum disorder: a nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the association between prophylactic radiologic interventions and perioperative blood loss in women with risk factors for placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PAS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective nationwide cohort study of women with risk factors for placenta accreta spectrum disorder who underwent planned cesarean section in 69 Dutch hospitals between 2008 and 2013. All women had two risk factors for PAS: placenta previa/anterior low-lying placenta and a history of cesarean section(s). Women with and without ultrasonographic signs of PAS were studied as two separate groups. We compared the total blood loss of women with prophylactic radiologic interventions, defined as preoperative placement of balloon catheters or sheaths in the internal iliac or uterine arteries, with that of a control group consisting of women without prophylactic radiologic interventions using multivariable regression. We evaluated maternal morbidity by the number of red blood cell (RBC) units transfused within 24 h following childbirth (categories: 0, 1-3, >4), duration of hospital admission, and need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: A total of 350 women with placenta previa/anterior low-lying placenta and history of cesarean section(s) were included: 289 with normal ultrasonography, of whom 21 received prophylactic radiologic intervention, and 61 had abnormal ultrasonography, of whom 22 received prophylactic intervention. Among women with normal ultrasonography without prophylactic intervention (n = 268), the median blood loss was 725 mL (interquartile range (IQR) 500-1500) vs. 1000 mL (IQR 550-1750) in women with intervention (n = 21); the adjusted difference in blood loss was 9 mL (95% confidence interval (CI) -315-513), p = .97). Among women with abnormal ultrasonography, those without prophylactic intervention (n = 39) had a median blood loss of 2500 mL (IQR 1200-5000) vs. 1750 mL (IQR 775-4000) in women with intervention (n = 22); the adjusted difference in blood loss was -1141 mL (95% CI -1694- -219, p = .02). Results of outcomes on maternal morbidity were comparable among women with and without prophylactic intervention. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that prophylactic radiologic interventions prior to planned cesarean section may help to limit perioperative blood loss in women with clear signs of placenta accreta spectrum disorder on ultrasonography, but there was no evidence of a difference within the subgroup without such ultrasonographic signs. The use of these interventions should be discussed in a multidisciplinary shared decision-making process, including discussions of potential benefits and possible complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Registry, https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/28238, identifier NL4210 (NTR4363).

CenteringPregnancy in the Netherlands: Who engages, who doesn't, and why.

BACKGROUND: CenteringPregnancy (CP), a model of group antenatal care, was implemented in 2012 in the Netherlands to improve perinatal health; CP is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes. However, motivating women to participate in CP can be difficult. As such, we explored the characteristics associated with CP uptake and attendance and then investigated whether participation differs between health care facilities. In addition, we examined the reasons why women may decline participation and the reasons for higher or lower attendance rates. METHODS: Data from a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial were used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine associations among women's health behavior, sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics, health care facilities, and participation and attendance in CP. RESULTS: A total of 2562 women were included in the study, and the average participation rate was 31.6% per health care facility (range of 10%-53%). Nulliparous women, women <26 years old or >30 years old, and women reporting average or high levels of stress were more likely to participate in CP. Participation was less likely for women who had stopped smoking before prenatal intake, or who scored below average on lifestyle/pregnancy knowledge. For those participating in CP, 87% attended seven or more out of the 10 sessions, and no significant differences were found in women's characteristics when compared for higher or lower attendance rates. After the initial uptake, group attendance rates remained high. CONCLUSION: A more comprehensive understanding of the variation in participation rate between health care facilities is required, in order to develop effective strategies to improve the recruitment of women, especially those with less knowledge and understanding of health issues and smoking habits.

Toward more accurate prediction of future pregnancy outcome in couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: taking both partners into account.

OBJECTIVE: To identify, besides maternal age and the number of previous pregnancy losses, additional characteristics of couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) that improve the prediction of an ongoing pregnancy. DESIGN: Hospital-based cohort study in couples who visited specialized RPL units of two academic centers between 2012 and 2020. SETTING: Two academic centers in the Netherlands. PATIENTS: Clinical data from 526 couples with unexplained RPL were used in this study. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The final model to estimate the chance of a subsequent ongoing pregnancy was determined using a backward selection process and internally validated using bootstrapping. Model performance was assessed in terms of calibration and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve). RESULTS: Subsequent ongoing pregnancy was achieved in 345 of 526 couples (66%). The number of previous pregnancy losses, maternal age, paternal age, maternal body mass index, paternal body mass index, maternal smoking status, and previous in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were predictive of the outcome. The optimism-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.63 compared with 0.57 when using only the number of previous pregnancy losses and maternal age. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of additional predictors of a subsequent ongoing pregnancy after RPL, including male characteristics, is significant for both clinicians and couples with RPL. At the same time, we showed that the predictive ability of the current model is still limited and more research is warranted to develop a model that can be used in clinical practice.

Serial neurosonography in fetuses with congenital heart defects shows mild delays in cortical development.

INTRODUCTION: Neurodevelopmental delay is more common in children born with congenital heart defects (CHD), even with optimal perinatal and peri-operative care. It is hypothesized that fetuses with CHD are prone to neurological impairment in utero due to their cardiac defect, possibly leading to delayed cortical development. METHODS: Cerebral cortical maturation was assessed with advanced neurosonographic examinations every 4 weeks in fetuses with CHD and compared to control fetuses. Five different primary fissures and four areas were scored (ranging 0-5) by blinded examiners using a cortical maturation scheme. RESULTS: Cortical staging was assessed in 574 ultrasound examinations in 85 CHD fetuses and 61 controls. Small differences in grading were seen in Sylvian and cingulate fissures. (Sylvian fissure: -0.12 grade, 95% CI (-0.23; -0.01) p = 0.05, cingulate fissure: -0.24 grade, 95% CI (-0.38; -0.10) p = <0.001. Other cortical areas showed normal maturation as compared to control fetuses. CONCLUSION: Small differences were seen in three of the nine analyzed cortical areas in CHD fetuses, in contrast to previous reports on progressive third-trimester delay. The clinical implications of the small differences however, remain unknown.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary clinical pathway for women with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: SLE and/or antiphospholipid syndrome (SLE/APS) are complex and rare systemic autoimmune diseases that predominantly affect women of childbearing age. Women with SLE/APS are at high risk of developing complications during pregnancy. Therefore, clinical practice guidelines recommend that patients with SLE/APS should receive multidisciplinary counselling before getting pregnant. We investigated the clinical effectiveness of implementing a multidisciplinary clinical pathway including prepregnancy counselling of patients with SLE/APS. METHODS: A clinical pathway with specific evaluation and prepregnancy counselling for patients with SLE/APS was developed and implemented in a tertiary, academic hospital setting. Patients were prospectively managed within the clinical pathway from 2014 onwards and compared with a retrospective cohort of patients that was not managed in a clinical pathway. Primary outcome was a combined outcome of disease flares for SLE and thromboembolic events for APS. Secondary outcomes were maternal and fetal pregnancy complications. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients with 112 pregnancies were included in this study. The primary combined outcome was significantly lower in the pathway cohort (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.20 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.75)) which was predominantly determined by a fivefold risk reduction of SLE flares (aOR 0.22 (95% CI 0.04 to 1.09)). Maternal and fetal pregnancy complications were not different between the cohorts (respectively, aOR 0.91 (95% CI 0.38 to 2.17) and aOR 1.26 (95% CI 0.55 to 2.88)). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study suggest that patients with SLE/APS with a pregnancy wish benefit from a multidisciplinary clinical pathway including prepregnancy counselling.

Assessment of human fetal cardiac autonomic nervous system development using color tissue Doppler imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Functional development of the fetal cardiac autonomic nervous system (cANS) plays a key role in fetal maturation and can be assessed through fetal heart rate variability (fHRV)-analysis, with each HRV parameter representing different aspects of cANS activity. Current available techniques, however, are unable to assess the fHRV parameters accurately throughout the whole pregnancy. This study aims to test the feasibility of color tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI) as a new ultrasound technique for HRV analysis. Secondly, we explored time trends of fHRV parameters using this technique. METHODS: 18 healthy singleton fetuses were examined sequentially every 8 weeks from 10 weeks GA onwards. From each examination, 3 cTDI recordings of the four-chamber view of 10 seconds were retrieved to determine accurate beat-to-beat intervals. The fHRV parameters SDNN, RMSSD, SDNN/RMSSD, and pNN10, each representing different functional aspects of the cANS, were measured, and time trends during pregnancy were explored using spline functions within a linear mixed-effects model. RESULTS: In total, 77% (95% Cl 66-87%) of examinations were feasible for fHRV analysis from the first trimester onwards, which is a great improvement compared to other techniques. The technique is able to determine different maturation rates of the fHRV parameters, showing that cANS function, presumably parasympathetic activity, establishes around 20 weeks GA and matures rapidly until 30 weeks GA. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study able to assess cANS function through fHRV analysis from the first trimester onwards. The use of cTDI to determine beat-to-beat intervals seems feasible in just 3 clips of 10 seconds, which holds promise for future clinical use in assessing fetal well-being.

Clinical value of early viscoelastometric point-of-care testing during postpartum hemorrhage for the prediction of severity of bleeding: A multicenter prospective cohort study in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate rotational fibrin-based thromboelastometry (ROTEM® FIBTEM) with amplitude of clot firmness at 5 min (A5) as an early point-of-care parameter for predicting progression to severe postpartum hemorrhage, and compare its predictive value with that of fibrinogen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study in the Netherlands including women with 800-1500 ml of blood loss within 24 h following birth. Blood loss was quantitatively measured by weighing blood-soaked items and using a fluid collector bag in the operating room. Both FIBTEM A5 values and fibrinogen concentrations (Clauss method) were measured between 800 and 1500  ml of blood loss. Predictive accuracy of both biomarkers for the progression to severe postpartum hemorrhage was measured by area under the receiver operating curves (AUC). Severe postpartum hemorrhage was defined as a composite endpoint of (1) total blood loss >2000 ml, (2) transfusion of ≥4 packed cells, and/or (3) need for an invasive intervention to cease bleeding. RESULTS: Of the 391 women included, 72 (18%) developed severe postpartum hemorrhage. Median (IQR) volume of blood loss at blood sampling was 1100 ml (1000-1300) with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) fibrinogen concentration of 3.9 g/L (3.4-4.6) and FIBTEM A5 value of 17 mm (13-20). The AUC for progression to severe postpartum hemorrhage was 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46-0.61) for FIBTEM A5 and 0.58 (95% CI 0.50-0.65) for fibrinogen. Positive predictive values for progression to severe postpartum hemorrhage for FIBTEM A5 ≤12 mm was 22.5% (95% CI 14-33) and 50% (95% CI 25-75) for fibrinogen ≤2 g/L. CONCLUSIONS: The predictive value of FIBTEM A5 compared to fibrinogen concentrations measured between 800 and 1500 ml of blood loss following childbirth was poor to discriminate between women with and without progression towards severe postpartum hemorrhage.

The association between flow and oxygenation and cortical development in fetuses with congenital heart defects using a brain-age prediction algorithm.

OBJECTIVES: Presumably, changes in fetal circulation contribute to the delay in maturation of the cortex in fetuses with congenital heart defect (CHD). The aim of the current study is to analyze fetal brain development based on hemodynamic differences, using novel brain-age prediction software. METHODS: We have performed detailed neurosonography, including acquiring 3D volumes, prospectively in cases with isolated CHD from 20 weeks onwards. An algorithm that assesses the degree of fetal brain-age automatically was used to compare CHD cases to controls. We stratified CHD cases according to flow and oxygenation profiles by lesion physiology and performed subgroup analyses. RESULTS: A total of 616 ultrasound volumes of 162 CHD cases and 75 controls were analyzed. Significant differences in maturation of the cortex were observed in cases with normal blood flow toward the brain (-3.8 days, 95%CI [-5.5; -2.0], P = <.001) and low (-4.0 days, 95% CI [-6.7; -1.2] P = <.05; hypoplastic left heart syndrome[HLHS]) and mixed (-4.4 days, 95%CI [-6.4; -2.5] p = <.001) oxygen saturation in the ascending aorta (TGA) and in cardiac mixing (eg, Fallot) cases. CONCLUSION: The current study shows significant delay in brain-age in TGA and Fallot cases as compared to control cases. However, the small differences found in this study questions the clinical relevance.

Perinatal death in a term fetal growth restriction randomized controlled trial: the paradox of prior risk and consent.

BACKGROUND: The disproportionate intrauterine growth intervention trial at term was an intention to treat analysis and compared labor induction with expectant monitoring in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction at term and showed equivalence for neonatal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trial participation bias and to examine the generalizability of the results of an obstetrical randomized trial. STUDY DESIGN: We used data from participants and nonparticipants of a randomized controlled trial-the disproportionate intrauterine growth intervention trial at term (n=1116) -to perform a secondary analysis. This study compared induction of labor and expectant management in women with term growth restriction. Data were collected in the same manner for both groups. Baseline characteristics and neonatal and maternal outcomes were compared. The primary outcome was a composite measure of adverse neonatal outcome. Secondary outcomes were delivery by cesarean delivery and instrumental vaginal delivery; length of stay in the neonatal intensive care, neonatal ward, and the maternal hospital; and maternal morbidity. RESULTS: Nonparticipants were older, had a lower body mass index, had a higher level of education, smoked less, and preferred expectant management. The time between study inclusion and labor onset was shorter in participants than in nonparticipants. Notably, 4 perinatal deaths occurred among nonparticipants and none among participants. Among nonparticipants, there were more children born with a birthweight below the third centile. The nonparticipants who had expectant management were monitored less frequently than the participants in both the intervention and the expectant arm. CONCLUSION: We found less favorable outcomes and more perinatal deaths in nonparticipants. Protocol-driven management, differences between participants and nonparticipants, or the fact that nonparticipants had a preference for expectant management might explain the findings.

A low incidence of preoperative neurosonographic abnormalities in neonates with heart defects.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To investigate whether neonates with prenatally detected congenital heart defects (CHD) demonstrate cerebral abnormalities on early preoperative cranial ultrasound (CUS), compared to healthy neonates, and to measure brain structures to assess brain growth and development in both groups. STUDY DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Prospective cohort study with controls. Between September 2013 and May 2016 consecutive cases of prenatally detected severe isolated CHD were included. Neonatal CUS was performed shortly after birth, before surgery and in a healthy control group. Blinded images were reviewed for brain abnormalities and various measurements of intracranial structures were compared. RESULTS: CUS was performed in 59 healthy controls and 50 CHD cases. Physiological CUS variants were present in 54% of controls and in 52% of CHD cases. Abnormalities requiring additional monitoring (both significant and minor) were identified in four controls (7%) and five CHD neonates (10%). Significant abnormalities were only identified in four CHD neonates (8%) and never in controls. A separate analysis of an additional 8 CHD neonates after endovascular intervention demonstrated arterial stroke in two cases that underwent balloon atrioseptostomy (BAS). Cerebral measurements were smaller in CHD neonates, except for the cerebrospinal fluid measurements, which were similar to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of significant preoperative CUS abnormalities in CHD cases was lower than previously reported, which may be partially caused by a guarding effect of a prenatal diagnosis. Arterial stroke occurred only in cases after BAS. As expected, neonates with CHD display slightly smaller head size and cerebral growth.

Advanced paternal age is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although spontaneous miscarriage is the most common complication of human pregnancy, potential contributing factors are not fully understood. Advanced maternal age has long been recognised as a major risk factor for miscarriage, being strongly related with fetal chromosomal abnormalities. The relation between paternal age and the risk of miscarriage is less evident, yet it is biologically plausible that an increasing number of genetic and epigenetic sperm abnormalities in older males may contribute to miscarriage. Previous meta-analyses showed associations between advanced paternal age and a broad spectrum of perinatal and paediatric outcomes. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis on paternal age and spontaneous miscarriage. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of paternal age on the risk of spontaneous miscarriage. SEARCH METHODS: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched to identify relevant studies up to August 2019. The following free text and MeSH terms were used: paternal age, father's age, male age, husband's age, spontaneous abortion, spontaneous miscarriage, abortion, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, fetal loss and fetal death. PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis were followed. Original research articles in English language addressing the relation between paternal age and spontaneous miscarriage were included. Exclusion criteria were studies that solely focused on pregnancy outcomes following artificial reproductive technology (ART) and studies that did not adjust their effect estimates for at least maternal age. Risk of bias was qualitatively described for three domains: bias due to confounding, information bias and selection bias. OUTCOMES: The search resulted in 975 original articles. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Nine of these studies were included in the quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). Advanced paternal age was found to be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. Pooled risk estimates for miscarriage for age categories 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and ≥45 years of age were 1.04 (95% CI 0.90, 1.21), 1.15 (0.92, 1.43), 1.23 (1.06, 1.43) and 1.43 (1.13, 1.81) respectively (reference category 25-29 years). A second meta-analysis was performed for the subgroup of studies investigating first trimester miscarriage. This showed similar pooled risk estimates for the first three age categories and a slightly higher pooled risk estimate for age category ≥45 years (1.74; 95% CI 1.26, 2.41). WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Over the last decades, childbearing at later ages has become more common. It is known that frequencies of adverse reproductive outcomes, including spontaneous miscarriage, are higher in women with advanced age. We show that advanced paternal age is also associated with an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage. Although the paternal age effect is less pronounced than that observed with advanced maternal age and residual confounding by maternal age cannot be excluded, it may have implications for preconception counselling of couples comprising an older aged male.

The prevalence of genetic diagnoses in fetuses with severe congenital heart defects.

PURPOSE: Congenital heart defects (CHD) are associated with genetic syndromes. Rapid aneuploidy testing and chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) are standard care in fetal CHD. Many genetic syndromes remain undetected with these tests. This cohort study aims to estimate the frequency of causal genetic variants, in particular structural chromosome abnormalities and sequence variants, in fetuses with severe CHD at mid-gestation, to aid prenatal counselling. METHODS: Fetuses with severe CHD were extracted from the PRECOR registry (2012-2016). We evaluated pre- and postnatal genetic testing results retrospectively to estimate the frequency of genetic diagnoses in general, as well as for specific CHDs. RESULTS: 919 fetuses with severe CHD were identified. After exclusion of 211 cases with aneuploidy, a genetic diagnosis was found in 15.7% (111/708). These comprised copy number variants in 9.9% (70/708). In 4.5% (41/708) sequence variants were found that would have remained undetected with CMA. Interrupted aortic arch, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and atrioventricular septal defect were most commonly associated with a genetic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In case of normal CMA results, parents should be offered exome sequencing sequentially, if time allows for it, especially if the CHD is accompanied by other structural malformations due to the large variety in genetic syndromes.

Preferred and actual mode of delivery in relation to fear of childbirth.

PURPOSE: This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the interrelation between preferred/actual mode of delivery and pre- and postpartum fear of childbirth (FOC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants from 13 midwifery practices and four hospitals in Southwest Netherlands filled out questionnaires at 30 weeks' gestation (n = 561) and two months postpartum (n = 463), including questions on preferred mode of delivery, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Results were related to obstetric data. RESULTS: Both severe FOC (OR 7.0, p < .001) and previous Cesarean section (CS) (OR 16.6, p < .001) predicted preference for CS. Severe prepartum FOC also predicted actual CS. Preferring a vaginal delivery (VD) and actually having a CS predicted higher postpartum W-DEQ scores (partial r = 0.107, p < .05). Other significant predictors for high postpartum W-DEQ scores were high prepartum W-DEQ (partial r = 0.357) and HADS anxiety scores (partial r = 0.143) and the newborn in need of medical assistance (partial r = -0.169). CONCLUSIONS: Women preferring a VD but ending up with a CS are at risk for severe FOC postpartum, while the same risk was not demonstrated for women who preferred a CS but had a VD. Prepartum FOC is strongly associated with postpartum FOC, regardless of congruence between preferred and actual mode of delivery.

Is fear of childbirth related to the woman's preferred location for giving birth? A Dutch low-risk cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In The Netherlands, women with low-risk pregnancy are routinely given the option of home birth, providing a unique opportunity to study the relationship between fear of childbirth (FOC) and preference for childbirth location, and whether women experience higher FOC when the actual location differs from their preference. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 331 nulliparous and parous women completed a questionnaire at gestational week 30 (T1) and two months postpartum (T2). FOC was assessed using versions A (T1) and B (T2) of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ). RESULTS: At T1, women who preferred home birth had significantly lower FOC compared with women who preferred a hospital birth (mean ± SD W-DEQ scores: 55 ± 19.8 and 64 ± 18.3, respectively, P < .01). About 28% of women who responded at T2 gave birth at home. Congruence between the preferred and actual childbirth location was not predictive of FOC assessed at T2 when adjusted for obstetric and psychological variables. In an extended analysis, we found that except for prepartum FOC, the following variables also correlated with postpartum FOC: being referred because of complications and poor neonatal condition. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to women who prefer hospital birth, women who prefer home birth have lower prepartum and postpartum FOC. Giving birth at a location other than the preferred location does not appear to affect postpartum FOC. Whether giving birth at home or in the hospital, caregivers should pay extra attention to women with high FOC because they are vulnerable to postpartum FOC, especially after a complicated birth and referral.

Cortical development in fetuses with congenital heart defects using an automated brain-age prediction algorithm.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital heart defects are associated with neurodevelopmental delay. It is hypothesized that fetuses affected by congenital heart defect have altered cerebral oxygen perfusion and are therefore prone to delay in cortical maturation. The aim of this study was to determine the difference in fetal brain age between consecutive congenital heart defect cases and controls in the second and third trimester using ultrasound. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 2014, we have included 90 isolated severe congenital heart defect cases in the Heart And Neurodevelopment (HAND)-study. Every 4 weeks, detailed neurosonography was performed in these fetuses, including the recording of a 3D volume of the fetal brain, from 20 weeks onwards. In all, 75 healthy fetuses underwent the same protocol to serve as a control group. The volumes were analyzed by automated age prediction software which determines gestational age by the assessment of cortical maturation. RESULTS: In total, 477 volumes were analyzed using the age prediction software (199 volumes of 90 congenital heart defect cases; 278 volumes of 75 controls). Of these, 16 (3.2%) volume recordings were excluded because of imaging quality. The age distribution was 19-33 weeks. Mixed model analysis showed that the age predicted by brain maturation was 3 days delayed compared with the control group (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that fetuses with isolated cases of congenital heart defects show some delay in cortical maturation as compared with healthy control cases. The clinical relevance of this small difference is debatable. This finding was consistent throughout pregnancy and did not progress during the third trimester.

Postnatal Catch-Up Growth After Suspected Fetal Growth Restriction at Term.

Objective: The aim of this study was to study growth patterns of children born after suspected fetal growth restriction (FGR) at term and to compare the effect of induction of labor (IoL) and expectant management (EM), also in relation to neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcome at age 2. Methods: We performed a 2 years' follow-up of growth of children included in the Disproportionate Intrauterine Growth Restriction Trial at Term (DIGITAT) study, a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) comparing IoL with EM in pregnancies with suspected FGR at term. We collected data on child growth until the age of 2 years. Standard deviation scores (SDSs) for height and weight were calculated at different ages. We assessed the effects of IoL compared with EM and the effects of a birth weight below or above the 3rd or 10th centile on catch-up growth. Target height SDSs were calculated using the height of both parents. Results: We found a significant increase in SDS in the first 2 years. Children born after EM showed more catch-up growth in the first month [height: mean difference -0.7 (95% CI: 0.2; 1.3)] and weight [mean difference -0.5 (95% CI: 0.3; 0.7)]. Children born with a birth weight below the 3rd and 10th centiles showed more catch-up growth after 1 year [mean difference -0.8 SDS (95% CI: -1.1; -0.5)] and after 2 years [mean difference -0.7 SDS (95% CI: -1.2; -0.2)] as compared to children with a birth weight above the 3rd and 10th centiles. SDS at birth had the strongest effect on adverse neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age. Conclusion: After FGR at term, postnatal catch-up growth is generally present and associated with the degree of FGR. Obstetric management in FGR influences postnatal growth. Longer-term follow-up is therefore needed and should be directed at growth and physical health. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier SRCTN10363217.

Why do trainees leave hospital-based specialty training? A nationwide survey study investigating factors involved in attrition and subsequent career choices in the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into factors involved in attrition from hospital-based medical specialty training and future career plans of trainees who prematurely left their specialty training programme. DESIGN: Nationwide online survey study. SETTING: Postgraduate education of all hospital-based specialties in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: 174 trainees who prematurely left hospital-based medical specialty training between January 2014 and September 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors involved in trainees' decisions to leave specialty training and their subsequent career plans. RESULTS: The response rate was 38%. Of the responders, 25% left their programme in the first training year, 50% in year 2-3 and 25% in year 4-6. The most frequently reported factors involved in attrition were: work-life balance, job content, workload and specialty culture. Of the leaving trainees, 66% switched to another specialty training programme, of whom two-thirds chose a non-hospital-based training programme. Twelve per cent continued their career in a non-clinical role and the remainder had no specific plans yet. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight in factors involved in attrition and in future career paths. Based on our findings, possible interventions to reduce attrition are: (1) enable candidates to develop a realistic view on job characteristics and demands, prior to application; (2) provide individual guidance during specialty training, with emphasis on work-life balance and fit with specialty.

Comparison of outcome between intrauterine balloon tamponade and uterine artery embolization in the management of persistent postpartum hemorrhage: A propensity score-matched cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of women who were initially managed by intrauterine balloon tamponade or uterine artery embolization because of persistent postpartum hemorrhage demanding an immediate intervention to control bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Propensity score-matched cohort study including women who had intrauterine balloon tamponade or uterine artery embolization as initial management strategy to control persistent postpartum hemorrhage, that is, refractory to first-line therapy combined with at least one uterotonic agent. The primary outcome measure was a composite of peripartum hysterectomy and/or maternal mortality. Secondary outcomes measures were total volume of blood loss and total number of packed red blood cells transfused. RESULTS: Our 1:1 propensity score-matched cohort comprised of 50 women who had intrauterine balloon tamponade and 50 women who underwent uterine artery embolization at a blood loss between 1000 and 7000 mL. There was no statistically significant difference in the hysterectomy risk between the two groups (n = 6 in each group, odds ratio [OR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] .30-3.34), in total volume of blood loss (median 4500 mL, interquartile range [IQR] 3600-5400) for balloon vs 4000 mL (IQR 3250-5000) for embolization, P = 0.382) or in total units of packed red blood cells transfused (median 7 (IQR 5-10) for balloon vs 6 [IQR 4-9] for embolization, P = 0.319). Fifteen women (30%) who were initially managed by an intrauterine balloon still underwent uterine artery embolization, of whom one had an embolization-related thrombo-embolic event. Maternal mortality occurred in neither of the intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: No difference in the risk of peripartum hysterectomy and/or maternal death was observed between women who had intrauterine balloon tamponade and women who underwent uterine artery embolization as an initial management for persistent postpartum hemorrhage. Although this study was underpowered to demonstrate equivalence, our study design provides a framework for future research in which intrauterine balloon tamponade may prove to be a suitable intervention of first choice in the management of persistent postpartum hemorrhage.

Women receiving massive transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage: A comparison over time between two nationwide cohort studies.

INTRODUCTION: Incidence of massive transfusion after birth was high in the Netherlands between 2004 and 2006 compared with other high-income countries. This study investigated incidence, causes, management and outcome of women receiving massive transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage in the Netherlands in more recent years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data for all pregnant women who received eight or more units of packed red blood cells from a gestational age of 20 weeks and within the first 24 hours after childbirth, during 2011 and 2012, were obtained from a nationwide retrospective cohort study, including 61 hospitals with a maternity unit in the Netherlands. RESULTS: Incidence of massive transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage decreased to 65 per 100 000 births (95% CI 56-75) between 2011 and 2012, from 91 per 100 000 births (95% CI 81-101) between 2004 and 2006, while median blood loss increased from 4500 mL (interquartile range 3250-6000) to 6000 mL (interquartile range 4500-8000). Uterine atony remained the leading cause of hemorrhage. Thirty percent (53/176) underwent peripartum hysterectomy between 2011 and 2012, compared with 25% (83/327) between 2004 and 2006. Case fatality rate for women who received massive transfusion due to postpartum hemorrhage was 2.3% (4/176) between 2011 and 2012, compared with 0.9% (3/327) between 2004 and 2006. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage with massive transfusion decreased in the Netherlands between both time frames, but remained an important cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, including peripartum hysterectomy. National surveillance of maternal morbidity and mortality due to postpartum hemorrhage through an improved and continuous registration with confidential enquiries may lead to the identification of clear improvements of maternal care.