Delivery outcomes associated with maternal congenital heart disease, 2000-2018.

PURPOSE: To characterize temporal trends and outcomes of delivery hospitalization with maternal congenital heart disease (CHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this repeated cross-sectional analysis, deliveries to women aged 15-54 years with maternal CHD were identified in the 2000-2018 National Inpatient Sample. Temporal trends in maternal CHD were analyzed using joinpoint regression to estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% CIs. The relationship between maternal CHD and several adverse maternal outcomes was analyzed with log-linear regression models. Risk for adverse outcomes in the setting of maternal CHD was further characterized based on additional diagnoses of cardiac comorbidity including congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, valvular disease, pulmonary disorders, and history of thromboembolism. RESULTS: Of 73,109,790 delivery hospitalizations, 51,841 had a diagnosis of maternal CHD (7.1 per 10,000). Maternal CHD rose from 4.2 to 10.9 per 10,000 deliveries (AAPC 4.8%, 95% CI 4.2%, 5.4%). Maternal CHD deliveries with a cardiac comorbidity diagnosis also increased from 0.6 to 2.6 per 10,000 from 2000 to 2018 (AAPC 8.4%, 95% CI 6.3%, 10.6%). Maternal CHD was associated with severe maternal morbidity (adjusted risk ratios [aRR] 4.97, 95% CI 4.75, 5.20), cardiac severe maternal morbidity (aRR 7.65, 95% CI 7.14, 8.19), placental abruption (aRR 1.30, 95% 1.21, 1.38), preterm delivery (aRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.43, 1.51), and transfusion (aRR 2.28, 95% CI 2.14, 2.42). Risk for severe morbidity (AAPC 4.7%, 95% CI 2.5%, 6.9%) and cardiac severe morbidity (AAPC 4.7%, 95% CI 2.5%, 6.9%) increased significantly among women with maternal CHD over the study period. The presence of cardiac comorbidity diagnoses was associated with further increased risk. CONCLUSION: Maternal CHD is becoming more common among US deliveries. Among deliveries with maternal CHD, risk for severe morbidity is increasing. These findings support that an increasing burden of risk from maternal CHD in the obstetric population.

Evaluation and Diagnostic Testing.

The evaluation of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy is challenging due to overlaps between cardiac and normal pregnancy symptomatology, as well as concerns about the potential impact, if any, of imaging studies on fetal development. We discuss here an approach to the evaluation of the pregnant cardiac patient and review the safety and utility of available diagnostic tests, including labs, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, stress testing, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac catheterization. Importantly, the majority of standard imaging studies can be safely performed in pregnancy, and a high index of suspicion must be maintained when evaluating pregnant patients, especially those with preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Effect of Delayed vs Immediate Umbilical Cord Clamping on Maternal Blood Loss in Term Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in term neonates for at least 30 to 60 seconds after birth. Most literature supporting this practice is from low-risk vaginal deliveries. There are no published data specific to cesarean delivery. Objective: To compare maternal blood loss with immediate cord clamping vs delayed cord clamping in scheduled cesarean deliveries at term (≥37 weeks). Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized clinical trial performed at 2 hospitals within a tertiary academic medical center in New York City from October 2017 to February 2018 (follow-up completed March 15, 2018). A total of 113 women undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery of term singleton gestations were included. Interventions: In the immediate cord clamping group (n = 56), cord clamping was within 15 seconds after birth. In the delayed cord clamping group (n = 57), cord clamping was at 60 seconds after birth. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was change in maternal hemoglobin level from preoperative to postoperative day 1, which was used as a proxy for maternal blood loss. Secondary outcomes included neonatal hemoglobin level at 24 to 72 hours of life. Results: All of the 113 women who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 32.6 [5.2] years) completed the trial. The mean preoperative hemoglobin level was 12.0 g/dL in the delayed and 11.6 g/dL in the immediate cord clamping group. The mean postoperative day 1 hemoglobin level was 10.1 g/dL in the delayed group and 9.8 g/dL in the immediate group. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome, with a mean hemoglobin change of -1.90 g/dL (95% CI, -2.14 to -1.66) and -1.78 g/dL (95% CI, -2.03 to -1.54) in the delayed and immediate cord clamping groups, respectively (mean difference, 0.12 g/dL [95% CI, -0.22 to 0.46]; P = .49). Of 19 prespecified secondary outcomes analyzed, 15 showed no significant difference. The mean neonatal hemoglobin level, available for 90 neonates (79.6%), was significantly higher with delayed (18.1 g/dL [95% CI, 17.4 to 18.8]) compared with immediate (16.4 g/dL [95% CI, 15.9 to 17.0]) cord clamping (mean difference, 1.67 g/dL [95% CI, 0.75 to 2.59]; P < .001). There was 1 unplanned hysterectomy in each group. Conclusions and Relevance: Among women undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery of term singleton pregnancies, delayed umbilical cord clamping, compared with immediate cord clamping, resulted in no significant difference in the change in maternal hemoglobin level at postoperative day 1. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03150641.

Low-dose aspirin is associated with reduced spontaneous preterm birth in nulliparous women.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Clinical data suggest that low-dose aspirin may decrease the rate of overall preterm birth, but investigators have speculated that this is likely due to a decrease in medically indicated preterm birth through its effect on the incidence of preeclampsia and other placental disease. We hypothesized that low-dose aspirin may also have an impact on the mechanism of spontaneous preterm labor. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine whether low-dose aspirin reduces the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in nulliparous women without medical comorbidities. STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia in healthy, low-risk, nulliparous women. Low-risk women were defined by the absence of hypertension, renal disease, diabetes, other endocrine disorders, seizures, heart disease, or collagen vascular disease. Our study was limited to singleton, nonanomalous gestations. Women were eligible if they had prior pregnancy terminations but not prior spontaneous pregnancy loss <20 weeks. Current pregnancies that resulted in a loss or termination <20 weeks or antepartum stillbirth or had missing follow-up data were excluded. The treatment intervention was 60 mg of aspirin, initiated at 13-25 weeks' gestation or matching placebo. The primary outcome was spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks' gestation. Secondary outcomes included spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeks and overall preterm birth <37 and <34 weeks. Baseline demographics and primary and secondary outcomes were compared between treatment groups. A logistic regression model was used to adjust for confounders related to spontaneous preterm birth. RESULTS: Of 2543 included women, 1262 (49.6%) received low-dose aspirin and 1281 (50.4%) placebo. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for marital status. The rate of spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks was 1.03% (n = 13) and 2.34% (n = 30) in the low-dose aspirin and placebo group, respectively (odds ratio, 0.43, 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.84). Additionally, the rate of spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeks was 6.58% (n = 83) in the low-dose aspirin group and 7.03% (n = 90) in the placebo group (odds ratio, 0.97, 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.33), and the rate of overall preterm birth <37 weeks was 7.84% (n = 99) in the low-dose aspirin group and 8.2% (n = 105) in the placebo group (odds ratio, 0.97, 95% confidence interval, 0.72-1.31). After adjustment for variables that were clinically relevant or statistically significant, including body mass index, race, tobacco use, marital status, and education level, there was a significant reduction in spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks in the low-dose aspirin group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.46, 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.89). The rates of overall preterm birth <34 and <37 weeks and spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeks were similar in women who received low-dose aspirin compared with placebo. CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin is associated with a substantial decrease in spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks in healthy nulliparous women without comorbidities. These findings suggest a new therapeutic option for preterm birth prevention that requires further study.

The Effect of Prior Term Birth on Risk of Recurrent Spontaneous Preterm Birth.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prior term birth on recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) risk. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 211 women with prior sPTB, comparing women with and without prior term births. The primary outcome was recurrent sPTB <37 weeks. Analyses stratified by gestational age of prior sPTB and adjusted for confounders using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall sPTB rate was 33.7%, with no statistical difference between women with and without prior term births (28.9 vs. 37.7%, p = 0.2). Among women with prior second-trimester loss (16-236/7 weeks), those with a term birth had a decreased sPTB rate (15.4 vs. 43.2%, p = 0.02), which persisted after adjusting for age and 17-α hydroxyprogesterone caproate use. For women with prior sPTB ≥24 weeks, there was no difference in sPTB with and without prior term births (29.5 vs. 26.6%, p = 0.7). A term birth as the most recent delivery lowered, but did not eliminate, the sPTB risk (19.1 vs. 36.4%, p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: Prior term birth lowers the risk of recurrent sPTB for women with prior second-trimester loss, but not for women with prior sPTB ≥24 weeks. Women with prior preterm and term births should be counseled accordingly and all sPTB prevention strategies should be recommended.

Epidemiology of preterm birth.

Preterm birth is a worldwide epidemic with a global incidence of 15 million per year. Though rates of preterm birth in the United States have declined over the last decade, nearly 1 in 10 babies is still born preterm. The incidence, gestational age, and underlying etiology of preterm birth is highly variable across different racial and ethnic groups and geographic boundaries. In this article, we review the epidemiology of preterm birth in the United States and globally, with a focus on temporal trends and racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities.

Patient characteristics associated with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate use among a high-risk cohort.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Women with a prior PTB are at risk for recurrent PTB. Treatment with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHP-C) has become standard of care for women with prior PTB to help reduce this risk. Factors that affect a woman's decision to use this medication are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to investigate patient-level barriers to 17OHP-C. We studied a cohort of women eligible for 17OHP-C with the hypothesis that 17OHP-C is underutilized and certain patient characteristics, such as obstetrical history, influence its use. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of all women seen at a specialty prematurity clinic from 2009 through 2013 was performed. Women with a singleton pregnancy were included if they had a prior spontaneous PTB (sPTB). The χ(2) tests were performed for univariate analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounders. RESULTS: In all, 243 women had 17OHP-C recommended to them based on obstetrical history. There were 218 women with a pregnancy during our study period that were included in our analysis. A total of 163 (74.7%) had documented 17OHP-C use. Women were more likely to accept 17OHP-C if they had a history of a second-trimester loss only (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-4.58) or received recommendation for cerclage due to a short cervical length (OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.55-10.99). Women with a prior full-term birth were less likely to accept 17OHP-C (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26-0.89), especially when the prior full-term birth was subsequent rather than prior to the PTB (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.08-0.47). Race, obesity, and insurance status did not impact 17OHP-C use. There was no difference in the rate of sPTB between those who used and did not use 17OHP-C (37.2 vs 34.0%, P = .7). CONCLUSION: Obstetric history impacted 17OHP-C use. This study identifies biases regarding 17OHP-C at the patient level and can be used to develop strategies to increase its use. However, the similarity in the sPTB rate between users and nonusers highlights the importance of identifying specific populations where 17OHP-C is and is not effective in preventing PTB.

Management of uterine bleeding during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant is an effective treatment strategy for a variety of hematologic disorders, but patients are at risk for dysfunctional coagulation and abnormal bleeding. Gynecologists are often consulted before transplant for management of abnormal uterine bleeding, which may be particularly challenging in this context. CASE: A premenopausal woman with MonoMAC (a rare adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by monocytopenia and Mycobacterium avium complex infections resulting from mutations in GATA2, a crucial gene in early hematopoiesis) presented with pancytopenia, evolving leukemia, and recent strokes, necessitating anticoagulation. During preparation for hematopoietic stem cell transplant, she experienced prolonged menorrhagia requiring transfusions. Surgical therapy was contraindicated, and medical management was successful only when combined with balloon tamponade. CONCLUSION: Balloon tamponade may be a potentially life-saving adjunct to medical therapy for control of uterine hemorrhage before hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Hysteroscopic Removal of Cervical Ectopic Pregnancy Following Failed Intramuscular/Intra-Sac Methotrexate: A Case Report.

Background: Cervical pregnancy is a diagnosis associated with significant morbidity, specifically life-threatening hemorrhage that potentially requires hysterectomy to prevent maternal death. Conservative and fertility-sparing management strategies are poorly described in the literature, and there is no clear standard of care. Case: The patient was a 34-year-old gravida 1, para 0 who had conceived spontaneously after laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis, and was found to have cervical pregnancy. She received both intramuscular and intra-sac methotrexate, with no resolution of the ectopic pregnancy. The pregnancy was removed hysteroscopically. Results: Subsequently, the patient was able to achieve a normal clinical pregnancy with ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination. This pregnancy was carried to term. Conclusions: Although cervical pregnancy is particularly hazardous and potentially fatal, conservative/fertility-sparing management of these pregnancies can be successful. (J GYNECOL SURG 28:369).

Preterm birth in pregnancies complicated by major congenital malformations: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to estimate and compare the relative risk of preterm birth (PTB) in pregnancies complicated by 1 or more of 8 major congenital malformations (MCMs). STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study of the birth database of the Missouri Department of Health (1989-1997) including 678,693 singleton live births. Outcomes included a binary composite variable of any MCM and the following 8 individual malformations: spina bifida, diaphragmatic hernia, renal agenesis, other urogenital anomaly, tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atresia, omphalocele/gastroschisis, cardiac defect, and cleft lip/palate. Chromosomal anomalies were excluded. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association between malformations and PTB. RESULTS: The risk of PTB increased significantly and to varying degrees for each malformation. In pregnancies with any MCM, there was an increased prevalence (11.5%) and relative risk (adjusted odds ratio [(adj)OR] 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9 to 3.6]) of PTB at less than 35 weeks' gestation. The magnitude of risk increase was greatest at the earliest gestational ages: (adj)OR 4.8 (95% CI, 4.0 to 5.7) at less than 28 weeks. Pregnancies with multiple malformations were at highest risk for PTB: (adj)OR 8.0 [95% CI, 4.6 to 14.1]. CONCLUSION: MCMs significantly increase PTB risk. The risk varies by malformation type and is higher with multiple malformations.