Sonographic measurement of fetal ear length in Turkish women with a normal pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal fetal ear length is a feature of chromosomal disorders. Fetal ear length measurement is a simple measurement that can be obtained during ultrasonographic examinations. AIMS: To develop a nomogram for fetal ear length measurements in our population and investigate the correlation between fetal ear length, gestational age, and other standard fetal biometric measurements. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Ear lengths of the fetuses were measured in normal singleton pregnancies. The relationship between gestational age and fetal ear length in millimetres was analysed by simple linear regression. In addition, the correlation of fetal ear length measurements with biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length were evaluated.Ear length measurements were obtained from fetuses in 389 normal singleton pregnancies ranging between 16 and 28 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: A nomogram was developed by linear regression analysis of the parameters ear length and gestational age. Fetal ear length (mm) = y = (1.348 X gestational age)-12.265), where gestational ages is in weeks. A high correlation was found between fetal ear length and gestational age, and a significant correlation was also found between fetal ear length and the biparietal diameter (r=0.962; p<0.001). Similar correlations were found between fetal ear length and head circumference, and fetal ear length and femur length. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a nomogram for fetal ear length. The study also demonstrates the relationship between ear length and other biometric measurements.

Clinical and cytogenetic results of a large series of amniocentesis cases from Turkey: report of 6124 cases.

AIM: The aim of this study was to document the clinical and cytogenetic results of a large series of amniocentesis (AS) cases from Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Second-trimester amniocentesis cases performed in Suleymaniye Maternity Hospital for Research and Training between January 2007 and December 2011 were included. RESULTS: During this period, 6124 AS were performed. Indications were increased risk in maternal serum screening (MSS) (56%), advanced maternal age (29%) and pathologic ultrasound finding (11.5%). Most frequent MSS abnormality was abnormal triple test result (58%). Overall culture success rate was 98.8%. Chromosomal abnormality was detected in 215 (3.6%) of the 6052 cytogenetic results (74.9% numerical, 25.1% structural). Most frequent numerical chromosomal abnormality was trisomy 21 (61.9%). Clinically insignificant polymorphisms were the most frequent structural changes (n = 571). Most frequent polymorphism was increase in heterochromatin region in the 1st chromosome (n = 158). Advanced maternal age had a positive predictive value of 5.2%. Among the MSS tests, the combined test had the highest positive predictive value (5.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, abnormal MSS (and among these, abnormal triple test result) was the most frequent indication for amniocentesis. Our overall culture success rate was 98.8%. Frequency of major chromosomal abnormality was 3.2% and trisomy 21 was the most frequent abnormality.

Bishop score versus ultrasound of the cervix before induction of labor for prolonged pregnancy: which one is better for prediction of cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVES: To find an effective way to predict Cesarean section (CS) before induction of labor. METHODS: Nulliparous women at ≥ 41 weeks of pregnancy were enrolled in the study. Bishop score (BS), cervical length (CL), posterior cervical angle (PCA), quantification of the cervical stromal echogenicity by tissue histograms and opening of the internal cervical os (funnelling) were recorded. The vaginal delivery and CS groups were then compared in terms of the clinical and ultrasonographic cervical findings. RESULTS: BS, CL, PCA and funnelling were the significant predictors of CS, whereas no such relationship existed for the quantitative echogenicity of the cervical stroma. Although the difference was not statistically significant, the area under the curve was higher for the BS than that for sonographic CL and PCA in the prediction of all CSs. The best cut-off values to predict CS for BS, CL and PCA were <5, >27 mm and <98°, respectively. Combination of all three parameters had a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 82% for the prediction of CS. CONCLUSIONS: In nulliparous women with prolonged pregnancy, the BS predicts the need for CS better than the ultrasonographic assessment of the cervix.

Aberrant right subclavian artery in Down syndrome fetuses.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) in trisomic and normal fetuses during the routine detailed ultrasonography in the second trimester and to evaluate the potential value of ARSA as an ultrasonographic marker for trisomy 21. METHODS: The presence of normal brachicephalic trunk/or ARSA was confirmed in all pregnant women undergoing second trimester detailed fetal anomaly screening beyond 16th week of pregnancy. Amniocentesis following genetic councelling was recommended to all women having either any positive ultrasonographic marker including ARSA or a positive biochemical screening test (triple test) result. RESULTS: During the 17-month period, 2081 patients were screened, and 23 patients with ARSA (1,1%) and 20 patients with trisomy 21 were detected. Of those 20 patients with trisomy 21, ARSA was detected in seven (%35). On the other hand, 30.4% of the fetuses with ARSA had also trisomy 21. The positive and negative likelihood ratios of ARSA for trisomy 21 were 45.08 and 0.65, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the ARSA in combination with other ultrasound signs increased the risk for trisomy 21 by factor of 45, but the independent ability of ARSA as an isolated marker to predict fetal Trisomy 21 is unclear.

Incomplete healing of the uterine incision after cesarean section: is it preventable by intraoperative digital dilatation of the internal cervical ostium?.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It was the aim of this study to determine if intraoperative digital dilatation of the closed internal cervical ostium affects the healing of the uterine scar after a cesarean section (CS). METHODS: In this randomized, prospective study, 94 term pregnant patients who elected to have a CS were assigned to two groups: intraoperative digital dilatation of the internal cervical ostium (group I, n = 48) or no dilatation (group II, n = 46). Vaginal ultrasound was used to check the integrity of the cesarean scar at the uterine incision site 40-42 days after the operation. We calculated the healing ratio based on ultrasonographic results and compared the groups as to the amount of incomplete healing. RESULTS: The frequency of abnormal scarring was significantly higher in group II (14.3 vs. 40.6%; p < 0.05). The mean healing ratio was significantly higher in group I (0.95 ± 0.12) than in group II (0.87 ± 0.1; p < 0.05). In the multiple logistic regression model, digital dilatation remained the most significant factor affecting abnormal scar formation (odds ratio = 7.7). CONCLUSION: Digital dilatation of a closed cervix in elective CS might lower the incidence of abnormal scarring of the uterine incision.

Incomplete healing of the uterine incision after caesarean section: Is it preventable?

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether a change in suturing technique might affect the healing of the uterine scar after caesarean section (CS). STUDY DESIGN: In this randomised prospective study, 78 term pregnant patients delivered by CS were allocated to two different suturing techniques either including or excluding the endometrial layer. The integrity of the uterine incision was checked by ultrasound 40-42 days after the operation. Any deviation from the full thickness apposition of the anterior uterine wall (with the ratio: [anterior wall thickness/(anterior wall thickness+height of the wedge shaped defect)]<1) was considered to represent incomplete healing. Both groups were then compared in terms of the frequency of incomplete healing. Chi square and Student's t-test were used where appropriate. A logistic regression model was used to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: The frequency of incomplete healing was significantly lower in the group treated by full thickness suturing (44.7% versus 68.8%); (OR: 2.718; CI: 1.016-7.268). Similarly the mean values for the incomplete healing ratio were 0.77+/-0.17 and 0.86+/-0.17 (p = 0.03) in split and full thickness groups, respectively. After adjusting for other confounding factors the suture technique still remained as a significant determinant of the incisional healing (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: By selecting full thickness suturing technique one may significantly lower the incidence of incomplete healing of the uterine incision after CS.

Cardiac rhabdomyoma with tuberous sclerosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyomas are the most common benign cardiac neoplasms occurring in the fetus and neonate, with most of them identified within the first year of life. Cardiac rhabdomyomas are frequently associated with tuberous sclerorosis. CASE: A 25-year-old, pregnant woman with no remarkable personal or family history was referred to us for a suspected fetal cardiac anomaly. Ultrasonographic examination of the fetus revealed multiple solid masses consistent with rhabdomyoma in the ventricular septum and ventricular wall. No other anomalies could be detected. Postnatal echocardiography confirmed the presence of cardiac rhabdomyoma, and periventricular subependymal multiple hamartomas were diagnosed by postnatal magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSION: When fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma is diagnosed, careful evaluation of other fetal structures, including brain and renal parenchyma, should be performed to search for signs of tuberous sclerosis.