Prevention of stillbirth: impact of two-stage screening for vasa previa.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a two-stage ultrasound screening strategy for detection of vasa previa and to estimate the potential impact of screening on prevention of stillbirth. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of data from prospective screening for vasa previa in singleton pregnancies, undertaken at the Fetal Medicine Unit at Medway Maritime Hospital, UK, between 2012 and 2018. Women booked for prenatal care and delivery in our hospital had routine ultrasound examinations at 11-13 and 20-22 weeks' gestation. Those with velamentous cord insertion at the inferior part of the placenta at the first-trimester scan and those with low-lying placenta at the second-trimester scan were classified as high-risk for vasa previa and had transvaginal sonography searching specifically for vasa previa, at the time of the 20-22-week scan. The management and outcome of cases with suspected vasa previa is described. We excluded cases of miscarriage or termination at < 24 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: The study population of 26 830 singleton pregnancies included 21 (0.08%; 1 in 1278) with vasa previa. In all cases of vasa previa, the diagnosis was made at the 20-22-week scan and confirmed postnatally by gross and histological examination of the placenta. At the 11-13-week scan, cord insertion was classified as central in 25 071 (93.4%) cases, marginal in 1680 (6.3%), and velamentous in 79 (0.3%). In 16 (76.2%) of the 21 cases of vasa previa, cord insertion at the first-trimester scan was classified as velamentous at the inferior part of the placenta, in two cases (9.5%) as marginal and in three cases (14.3%) as central. The 21 cases of vasa previa were managed on an outpatient basis with serial scans for measurement of cervical length and elective Cesarean section at 34 weeks' gestation; all babies were liveborn but there was one neonatal death. In the study population, there were 83 stillbirths, none of which had evidence of vasa previa on postnatal examination. On the assumption that, if we had not diagnosed prenatally all 21 cases of vasa previa in our population, half of these cases would have resulted in stillbirth, then the potential impact of screening is prevention of 10.6% (10/94) of stillbirths. CONCLUSION: A two-stage strategy of screening for vasa previa can be incorporated into routine clinical practice, and such a strategy could potentially reduce the rate of stillbirth. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Procedure-related risk of miscarriage following chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the procedure-related risks of miscarriage following chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis in a large unselected screened population, and to determine whether these risks are consistent with those reported in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study carried out on data obtained from a large fetal medicine unit in the UK between January 2009 and May 2018. We included all women with singleton pregnancy who booked for pregnancy care at our unit before 20 weeks' gestation, after excluding those with multiple pregnancy, major fetal defect, pregnancy termination and loss to follow-up. We estimated the risk of miscarriage in women who underwent a CVS or amniocentesis as well as in those who did not have an invasive procedure. The procedure-related risk of miscarriage was estimated as risk difference (95% CI) between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to derive odds ratios (95% CI) and determine which maternal and pregnancy characteristics provided a significant contribution in the prediction of miscarriage and whether CVS or amniocentesis provided a significant independent contribution. RESULTS: During the study period, 45 120 singleton pregnancies were booked for pregnancy care at our hospital, of which 1546 had an invasive procedure. We excluded 1429 (3.2%) pregnancies due to fetal defects, termination of pregnancy or missing outcomes. Of the 43 691 pregnancies included in the study population, 861 underwent CVS and 375 amniocentesis. In pregnancies that underwent CVS, the risk of miscarriage was 1.5% (13/861), compared with 1.2% (476/39 152) in pregnancies that had first-trimester combined screening and did not have an invasive procedure (P = 0.437). In pregnancies that underwent an amniocentesis, the risk of miscarriage was 0.8% (3/375), compared with 1.2% (491/42 463) in those that did not undergo an invasive procedure (P = 0.520). Univariate and multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that there was no significant contribution in the prediction of the risk of miscarriage from CVS (P = 0.399 and P = 0.592, respectively) or amniocentesis (P = 0.543 and P = 0.550, respectively). The risk of procedure-related loss attributed to CVS was 0.29% (95% CI, -0.53 to 1.12%) and that following amniocentesis was -0.36% (95% CI, -1.26 to 0.55%), which was not significantly different from the risk in women who did not have any procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure-related risks of miscarriage following CVS and amniocentesis in our study are considerably lower than those currently quoted and are consistent with the estimates of such risks reported by systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Maternal and neonatal complications of fetal macrosomia: cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risks of maternal and neonatal complications in pregnancies with macrosomia. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a large maternity unit in the UK between January 2009 and December 2016. The incidence of maternal and neonatal complications in pregnancies with macrosomia, defined as birth weight (BW) > 4000 g, and in those with severe macrosomia, defined as BW > 4500 g, was compared with that in pregnancies with normal BW (2500-4000 g). Regression analysis was performed to determine odds ratios (ORs) for complications in macrosomic pregnancies compared to those with normal BW. RESULTS: The study population of 35 548 pregnancies included 4522 (12.7%) with macrosomia, of which 643 (1.8%) had severe macrosomia, and 31 026 (87.3%) with normal BW. In the macrosomia group, the adjusted OR was 3.1 (95% CI, 2.6-3.6) for Cesarean section for failure to progress, 2.4 (95% CI, 2.0-3.0) for severe postpartum hemorrhage, 2.3 (95% CI, 1.9-2.8) for obstetric anal sphincter injury, 10.4 (95% CI, 8.6-12.6) for shoulder dystocia, 28.5 (95% CI, 8.9-90.7) for obstetric brachial plexus injury, 32.3 (95% CI, 3.8-278.2) for birth fractures and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.2-8.8) for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The respective values in pregnancies with severe macrosomia were 4.3 (95% CI, 3.1-6.1), 2.9 (95% CI, 1.9-4.4), 3.1 (95% CI, 1.9-5.1), 28.7 (95% CI, 20.8-39.8), 73.9 (95% CI, 15.1-363.2), 87.2 (95% CI, 7.7-985.0) and 13.8 (95% CI, 5.2-36.8). CONCLUSION: Macrosomia is associated with serious adverse perinatal outcomes. This study provides accurate estimates of risks to aid in pregnancy management. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Complicaciones maternas y neonatales de la macrosomía fetal: estudio de cohorte OBJETIVO: Estimar los riesgos de complicaciones maternas y neonatales en embarazos con macrosomía. METHODS: Este fue un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo realizado en una unidad de maternidad de gran tamaño en el Reino Unido entre enero de 2009 y diciembre de 2016. La incidencia de complicaciones maternas y neonatales en los embarazos con macrosomía, definida como peso al nacer (PN) >4000 g, y en los embarazos con macrosomía grave, definida como PN >4500 g, se comparó con la de los embarazos con PN normal (2500-4000 g). Se realizó un análisis de regresión para determinar las razones de momios (RM) para las complicaciones en los embarazos macrosómicos en comparación con los que tenían un PN normal. RESULTADOS: La población estudiada de 35 548 embarazos incluyó 4522 (12,7%) casos con macrosomía, 643 (1,8%) con macrosomía grave y 31 026 (87,3%) con PN normal. En el grupo de macrosomía, la RM ajustada fue de 3,1 (IC 95%: 2,6-3,6) para la cesárea por no progresar, 2,4 (IC 95%: 2,0-3,0) para hemorragia posparto grave, 2,3 (IC 95%: 1,9-2,8) para la lesión obstétrica del esfínter anal, 10.4 (IC 95%, 8.6-12.6) para la distocia de hombro, 28.5 (IC 95%, 8.9-90.7) para la lesión obstétrica del plexo braquial, 32.3 (IC 95%, 3.8-278.2) para las fracturas de nacimiento y 4.4 (IC 95%, 2.2-8.8) para la encefalopatía hipóxica-isquémica. Los valores respectivos en los embarazos con macrosomía grave fueron 4,3 (IC 95%: 3,1-6,1), 2,9 (IC 95%: 1,9-4,4), 3,1 (IC 95%: 1,9-5,1), 28,7 (IC 95%: 20,8-39,8), 73,9 (IC 95%: 15,1-363,2), 87,2 (IC 95%: 7,7-985,0) y 13,8 (IC 95%: 5,2-36,8). CONCLUSIÓN: La macrosomía se asocia con resultados perinatales adversos graves. Este estudio proporciona estimaciones precisas de los riesgos para ayudar en el cuidado del embarazo.

Maternal and neonatal complications of fetal macrosomia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine accurate estimates of risks of maternal and neonatal complications in pregnancies with fetal macrosomia by performing a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. METHODS: A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library was performed to identify relevant studies reporting on maternal and/or neonatal complications in pregnancies with macrosomia having a birth weight (BW) > 4000 g and/or those with birth weight > 4500 g. Prospective and retrospective cohort and population-based studies that provided data regarding both cases and controls were included. Maternal outcomes assessed were emergency Cesarean section (CS), postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS). Neonatal outcomes assessed were shoulder dystocia, obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) and birth fractures. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was used to estimate weighted pooled estimates of summary statistics (odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI) for each complication, according to birth weight. Heterogeneity between studies was estimated using Cochran's Q, I2 statistic and funnel plots. RESULTS: Seventeen studies reporting data on maternal and/or neonatal complications in pregnancy with macrosomia were included. In pregnancies with macrosomia having a BW > 4000 g, there was an increased risk of the maternal complications: emergency CS, PPH and OASIS, which had OR (95% CI) of 1.98 (1.80-2.18), 2.05 (1.90-2.22) and 1.91 (1.56-2.33), respectively. The corresponding values for pregnancies with BW > 4500 g were: 2.55 (2.33-2.78), 3.15 (2.14-4.63) and 2.56 (1.97-3.32). Similarly, in pregnancies with a BW > 4000 g, there was an increased risk of the neonatal complications: shoulder dystocia, OBPI and birth fractures, which had OR (95% CI) of 9.54 (6.76-13.46), 11.03 (7.06-17.23) and 6.43 (3.67-11.28), respectively. The corresponding values for pregnancies with a BW > 4500 g were: 15.64 (11.31-21.64), 19.87 (12.19-32.40) and 8.16 (2.75-24.23). CONCLUSION: Macrosomia is associated with serious maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. This study provides accurate estimates of these risks, which can be used for decisions on pregnancy management. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Complicaciones maternas y neonatales de la macrosomía fetal: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis OBJETIVO: Determinar estimaciones precisas de los riesgos de complicaciones maternas y neonatales en embarazos con macrosomía fetal mediante la realización de una revisión sistemática de la literatura y un metaanálisis. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda en MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL y The Cochrane Library para identificar estudios relevantes que informaron sobre complicaciones maternas y/o neonatales en embarazos con macrosomía con un peso al nacer (PN) >4000 g y/o aquellos con un peso al nacer >4500 g. Se incluyeron estudios de cohortes prospectivos y retrospectivos y estudios basados en la población que proporcionaron datos con respecto a los casos y controles. Las medidas maternas de resultados evaluadas fueron la cesárea de urgencia (CU), la hemorragia posparto (HPP) y la lesión obstétrica del esfínter anal (LOEA). Los resultados neonatales evaluados fueron distocia de hombro, lesión obstétrica del plexo braquial (LOPB) y fracturas de nacimiento. Se utilizó un metaanálisis con un modelo de efectos aleatorios para estimar las estimaciones agrupadas ponderadas de los estadísticos resumen (razones de momios [RM] y IC del 95%) para cada complicación, según el peso al nacer. La heterogeneidad entre estudios se estimó mediante la prueba estadística Q de Cochran, la prueba estadística I2 y gráficos de embudo. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 17 estudios que reportaron datos sobre las complicaciones maternas y/o neonatales en embarazos con macrosomía. En aquellos con un PN >4000 g, hubo un mayor riesgo de complicaciones maternas: CU, HPP y LOEA de urgencia, que tuvieron una RM (IC 95%) de 1,98 (1,80-2,18), 2,05 (1,90-2,22) y 1,91 (1,56-2,33), respectivamente. Los valores correspondientes para los embarazos con PN >4500 g fueron: 2,55 (2,33-2,78), 3,15 (2,14-4,63) y 2,56 (1,97-3,32). De manera similar, en los embarazos con un PN >4000 g, hubo un mayor riesgo de complicaciones neonatales: distocia de hombro, LOEA y fracturas de nacimiento, que tuvieron una RM (IC 95%) de 9,54 (6,76-13,46), 11,03 (7,06-17,23) y 6,43 (3,67-11,28), respectivamente. Los valores correspondientes para los embarazos con un PN >4500 g fueron: 15,64 (11,31-21,64), 19,87 (12,19-32,40) y 8,16 (2,75-24,23). CONCLUSIÓN: La macrosomía se asocia con resultados adversos maternos y neonatales graves. Este estudio proporciona estimaciones precisas de estos riesgos, que pueden utilizarse para tomar decisiones sobre el cuidado del embarazo.

Pain assessment during outpatient hysteroscopy using room temperature versus warm normal saline solution as a distention medium - a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of warm normal saline distention solution versus a standard, room-temperature normal saline as distention medium for pain relief during outpatient hysteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized case-placebo controlled study was conducted in tertiary care centre - Central Clinical Hospital of Ministry of Interior and Administration. Study group consisted of 100 women referred for outpatient hysteroscopy between January 2015 and July 2015. Every patient, who was referred for an office hysteroscopy, was offered to participate in the study to receive a sterile, 0.9% normal saline warmed up to 36°C as distention medium. Control group were women receiving sterile, room temperature of 25°C, 0.9% normal saline solution as a distention medium. No pre-medication nor analgesia were used. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for one-dimensional pain assessment. Women were asked to mark a VAS score before, during, and five and 15 minutes following the procedure. RESULTS: Median VAS scores during and directly after the anaesthesia-free hysteroscopy were no different between two groups. (p = 0.554 and p = 0.121, respectively). There were also no differences in the procedure time between groups (p = 0.845). CONCLUSIONS: Warm normal saline distention solution does not reduce the pain during and at the end of the outpatient hysteroscopy. The effect does not depend on the age of women, menopausal status, parity or type of outpatient hysteroscopy (operative or diagnostic).

Procedure-related risk of miscarriage following amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate procedure-related risks of miscarriage following amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) based on a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis. METHODS: A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL and The Cochrane Library (2000-2014) was performed to review relevant citations reporting procedure-related complications of amniocentesis and CVS. Only studies reporting data on more than 1000 procedures were included in this review to minimize the effect of bias from smaller studies. Heterogeneity between studies was estimated using Cochran's Q, the I(2) statistic and Egger bias. Meta-analysis of proportions was used to derive weighted pooled estimates for the risk of miscarriage before 24 weeks' gestation. Incidence-rate difference meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled procedure-related risks. RESULTS: The weighted pooled risks of miscarriage following invasive procedures were estimated from analysis of controlled studies including 324 losses in 42 716 women who underwent amniocentesis and 207 losses in 8899 women who underwent CVS. The risk of miscarriage prior to 24 weeks in women who underwent amniocentesis and CVS was 0.81% (95% CI, 0.58-1.08%) and 2.18% (95% CI, 1.61-2.82%), respectively. The background rates of miscarriage in women from the control group that did not undergo any procedures were 0.67% (95% CI, 0.46-0.91%) for amniocentesis and 1.79% (95% CI, 0.61-3.58%) for CVS. The weighted pooled procedure-related risks of miscarriage for amniocentesis and CVS were 0.11% (95% CI, -0.04 to 0.26%) and 0.22% (95% CI, -0.71 to 1.16%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The procedure-related risks of miscarriage following amniocentesis and CVS are much lower than are currently quoted.

Accuracy and diagnostic value of outpatient hysteroscopy for malign and benign disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate accuracy of the outpatient hysteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 494 women who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy after administration ofnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents with the 3.2 mm hysteroscope. Normal saline solution was used as the distension medium. All women were discharged in good general condition afterwards. RESULTS: In cases of abnormal uterine bleeding, there was no apparent pathology found in 112 cases (83.6%). Detection rate (DR) of endometrial polyps was 88.7% with false positive rate (FPR) of 4.6%. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 82.7% with negative predictive value (NPV) of 93.1%. Detection rate (DR) of the submucosal fibroids was 57.7%. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 57.7% with negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.0%. Endometrial cancer was confirmed in ten cases (2.0%), being suspected in eight cases during the procedure. DR in case of the endometrial cancer was 80.0% with FPR of 0.4%. PPV was 66.7% with NPV) of 99.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient hysteroscopy seems to be an effective and accurate diagnostic tool.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: screening by biophysical and biochemical markers at 11-13 weeks.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the performance of screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH) by a combination of maternal factors and various biophysical and biochemical markers at 11-13 weeks' gestation. METHODS: This was a case-control study of 26 cases of early PE, 90 of late PE, 85 of GH and 201 unaffected controls. Maternal history was recorded, the uterine artery with the lowest pulsatility index (L-PI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured and stored plasma and serum were analyzed for placental growth factor (PlGF), inhibin-A, activin-A, tumor necrosis factor receptor-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, pentraxin-3 and P-selectin. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that significant prediction for early PE was provided by maternal factors, MAP, uterine artery L-PI and serum PlGF. Significant prediction of late PE was provided by maternal factors, MAP, uterine artery L-PI, PlGF, activin-A and P-selectin. For GH significant prediction was provided by maternal factors, MAP, uterine artery L-PI and activin-A. In screening by a combination of maternal factors, biophysical and biochemical markers the estimated detection rates, at a 5% false-positive rate, were 88.5% (95% CI, 69.8-97.4%) for early PE, 46.7% (95% CI, 36.1-57.5%) for late PE and 35.3% (95% CI, 25.2-46.4%) for GH. CONCLUSION: Combined biophysical and biochemical testing at 11-13 weeks could effectively identify women at high risk for subsequent development of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

[Initial analysis of chocolate cysts operated on by laparoscopy]. / Wstepna analiza torbieli czekoladowych operowanych laparoskopowo.

53 women with an ovarian chocolate cyst were operated in a laparoscopy. A histopathological examination showed 60.4% of endometriomas and 39.6% of hemorrhagic lutein cysts. The average age of patients with endometriomas was 33.9 while of the ones with hemorrhagic lutein cysts was 28.6. The operated patients, who were under 35 years old, could be divided into halves, one half of them had endometriomas while the other half had hemorrhagic lutein cysts. However, endometriomas appeared significantly more often in the group of operated patients who were older than 35 years old.