A survey of current clinical practice of chorionic villus sampling.

OBJECTIVE: The number of invasive procedures (chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis) for fetal testing is decreasing because of the availability of non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) leading to a centralisation of prenatal diagnostic services to accredited fetal medicine centres. A new survey was conducted 10 years after the previous one to update the current clinical practice among clinicians who regularly perform CVS. METHOD: Consultants from 32 centres in the United Kingdom were invited to take part in an online survey evaluating: The total number of CVS procedures carried out in the unit in a typical week, the preferred route (transabdominal [TA] vs transcervical [TC]), technique (use of local anaesthetic [LA] and needle technique). RESULTS: Response rate was 96.9%; TA was the preferred route (96.8%) in all centres except one. Single-needle technique is used exclusively in half the centres (51.6%). LA is used by most operators (90.3%) before the procedure. Three centres did not routinely use LA for CVS. CONCLUSIONS: Operators across the United Kingdom almost exclusively use the TA route for CVS with single-needle technique in 51.6% of cases. The use of LA prior to CVS is a very common practice in the United Kingdom.

Negative ßhCG and Molar Pregnancy: The Hook Effect.

Molar pregnancy, included in gestational trophoblastic disease, is a benign pathology with ability to metastasize, usually occurring with excessively high ßhCG levels. Clinical scenario is usually a woman in extremes of reproductive age presenting with amenorrhoea, pain and vaginal blood loss; signs derived from high ßhCG levels may be present (hyperthyroidism, hyperemesis). Diagnosis is based on a positive pregnancy test - usually a qualitative urinary test. The limitation of this test results from its inability to become positive in presence of markedly high levels of ßhCG, saturating the antigens used - known as the 'hook effect'. With the widespread use of gynaecological ultrasound cases of molar pregnancy have been diagnosed in timely fashion. We describe a case referred as a degenerating fibroid, with a negative urinary pregnancy test. Transvaginal ultrasound was highly suggestive of molar pregnancy, which was confirmed with a quantitative ßhCG test, allowing for timely treatment. The importance of a high index of suspicion for this pathology is tremendous to avoid the devastating consequences of a delayed diagnosis.

A gravidez molar, incluída na doença gestacional do trofoblasto, é uma patologia benigna com capacidade de metastização, cursando com níveis excessivamente elevados de ßhCG. O quadro clínico traduz-se por amenorreia, dor e perda de sangue vaginal numa mulher frequentemente no extremo da idade reprodutiva, podendo estar presentes sinais decorrentes dos níveis de ßhCG (hipertiroidismo, hiperemese). O diagnóstico é histológico, e suspeitado por um teste de gravidez positivo, sendo normalmente realizado um teste urinário qualitativo. A limitação deste advém da incapacidade de se tornar positivo na presença de níveis exageradamente altos de ßhCG, que satura os antigénios utilizados ­ 'efeito hook'. Com a ecografia ginecológica os casos de gravidez molar têm sido diagnosticados mais atempadamente. Descrevemos um caso referenciado como um mioma degenerescente, com teste de gravidez urinário negativo. A ecografia transvaginal realizada foi altamente sugestiva de gravidez molar, confirmada com um teste quantitativo de ßhCG e permitindo tratamento atempado. A importância de um elevado índice de suspeição para esta patologia é fulcral para evitar as consequências devastadoras de um diagnóstico tardio.

Breech Presentation: Vaginal Versus Cesarean Delivery, Which Intervention Leads to the Best Outcomes?

INTRODUCTION: The best route of delivery for the term breech fetus is still controversial. We aim to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between vaginal and cesarean term breech deliveries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicentric retrospective cohort study of singleton term breech fetuses delivered vaginally or by elective cesarean section from January 2012 - October 2014. Primary outcomes were maternal and neonatal morbidity or mortality. RESULTS: Sixty five breech fetuses delivered vaginally were compared to 1262 delivered by elective cesarean. Nulliparous women were more common in the elective cesarean group (69.3% vs 24.6%; p < 0.0001). Gestational age at birth was significantly lower in the vaginal delivery group (38 ± 1 weeks vs 39 ± 0.8 weeks; p = 0.0029) as was birth weight (2928 ± 48.4 g vs 3168 ± 11.3 g; p < 0.0001). Apgar scores below seven on the first and fifth minutes were more likely in the vaginal delivery group (1st minute: 18.5% vs 5.9%; p = 0.0006; OR 3.6 [1.9 - 7.0]; 5th minute: 3.1% vs 0.2%; p = 0.0133; OR 20.0 [2.8 - 144.4]), as was fetal trauma (3.1% vs 0.3%: p = 0.031; OR 9.9 [1.8-55.6]). Neither group had cases of fetal acidemia. Admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, maternal postpartum hemorrhage and the incidence of other obstetric complications were similar between groups. DISCUSSION: Although vaginal breech delivery was associated with lower Apgar scores and higher incidence of fetal trauma, overall rates of such events were low. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and maternal outcomes were similar. CONCLUSION: Both delivery routes seem equally valid, neither posing high maternal or neonatal complications' incidence.

Introdução: A melhor via de parto do feto pélvico de termo ainda é controversa. Pretendemos comparar desfechos maternos e neonatais entre partos vaginais e cesarianas de fetos pélvicos de termo. Material e Métodos: Estudo de coorte, multicêntrico e retrospetivo, incluindo gestações de feto único de termo, em apresentação pélvica, que terminaram em parto vaginal ou cesariana eletiva entre janeiro de 2012 e outubro de 2014. Os desfechos primários foram a morbilidade e mortalidade maternas e neonatais. Resultados: Sessenta e cinco partos vaginais foram comparados com 1262 cesarianas eletivas. As nulíparas foram mais frequentes no grupo das cesarianas (69,3% vs 24,6%; p < 0,0001). A idade gestacional foi inferior nos partos vaginais (38 ± 1 semanas vs 39 ± 0,8 semanas; p = 0,0029), verificando-se o mesmo para o peso ao nascer (2928 ± 48,4 g vs 3168 ± 11,3 g; p < 0,0001). Índices de Apgar < 7 foram mais frequentes nos partos vaginais (1º minuto: 18,5% vs 5,9%; p = 0,0006; OR 3,6 [1,9 - 7,0]; 5º minuto: 3,1% vs 0,2%; p = 0,0133; OR 20,0 [2,8 - 144,4]). Verificou-se também uma maior incidência de traumatismo fetal neste grupo (3,1% vs 0,3%; p = 0,031; OR 9,9 [1,8 - 55,6]). Nenhum grupo teve casos de acidemia fetal. As taxas de internamento na unidade de cuidados intensivos neonatais, de hemorragia materna pós-parto ou de outras complicações obstétricas foram idênticas. Discussão: O parto vaginal associou-se a índices de Apgar inferiores e a uma maior incidência de traumatismo fetal, com taxas globalmente baixas. Não se verificaram diferenças nas taxas de internamento neonatal nem nos desfechos maternos. Conclusão: Ambas as vias de parto parecem adequadas, nenhuma condicionando incidências elevadas de complicações maternas ou neonatais.