Furosemide for postpartum blood pressure control in patients with hypertensive disorders.

Objective: diuretics have the potential to reduce intravascular volume, decrease blood pressure The aim of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of furosemide in postpartum patients with pre-eclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Data was extracted from the record of patients who delivered between 2017 and 2020 and had chronic hypertension or, chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, or pre-eclampsia. Patients who received intravenous furosemide in the postpartum period were compared to those who did not. The groups were also analyzed for fetal growth restriction, and pregnancy outcomes comparing those who did receive furosemide and those who did not. Results: The furosemide group had a statistically significant longer postpartum length of stay (p < 0.0001), required more antihypertensive medications (p < 0.0001), medication increases (p < 0.0001), and emergent blood pressure treatment (p < 0.0001), than the group who did not. There was no difference between groups in hospital readmission, or fetal growth restriction. Conclusion: The postpartum length of stay and rates of readmission were not decreased in the group treated with intravenous furosemide. Future prospective studies that control for pregnancy comorbidities and severity of preeclampsia are needed to determine furosemide's effect on the volume status of the postpartum pre-eclamptic patient and determine its role in the treatment of these women.

Adrenal Hemorrhage: A Review.

Importance: Adrenal hemorrhage in pregnancy is rare. The prevalence of pregnant patients whose pregnancies are complicated by preeclampsia or eclampsia is hypothesized to be slightly higher than the 0.4% to 1.1% occurrence rate in the nonpregnant population. However, the mortality rate of adrenal hemorrhage is reportedly as high as 15%. Therefore, it is critical for obstetric providers to have basic knowledge on the presentation, diagnosis, and management of adrenal hemorrhage in the pregnant population so that prompt diagnosis can be made. Objective: This review highlights incidence, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, management, and complications of adrenal hemorrhage in the peripartum period. Evidence Acquisition: A literature search was undertaken by our research university librarian using the search engines of PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE (Medline items removed). The search terms used included "adrenal hemorrhage" OR "adrenal gland hemorrhage" AND "pregnancy" OR "maternal." The search was limited to articles in English, and the years searched were from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. Results: There were 130 abstracts identified, and 30 of the articles were ultimately used as the basis for this review. Presenting signs and symptoms of adrenal hemorrhage were typically abdominal, back, and flank pain. Diagnosis was typically made with ultrasound and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging without contrast for confirmation. Management options include conservative management versus surgical management with adrenalectomy or interventional radiology embolization in the unstable patient. For patients with evidence of adrenal insufficiency, steroid replacement was used. Most patients with adrenal hemorrhage in the literature had unilateral adrenal hemorrhage; however, several cases of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage have been reported. Patients with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage were more likely to require steroids for adrenal insufficiency. There are no known contraindications to vaginal delivery in this group of patients, and patients who were managed conservatively were often able to continue the pregnancy to term. Conclusions: Early recognition and management are integral in decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with adrenal hemorrhage. Relevance Statement: This is an evidence-based review of adrenal hemorrhage in pregnancy and how to diagnose and manage a pregnancy complicated by adrenal hemorrhage.

Pregnancy-Related Stroke: A Review.

Importance: The maternal risk of strokes in the United States is approximately 30/100,000 pregnancies, and strokes are the eighth leading cause of maternal death. Because of the relationship between stroke and significant neurological disability/maternal death, obstetrical health care providers must be able to identify, evaluate, diagnosis, and treat these women. Evidence Acquisition: PubMed was searched using the search terms "stroke" OR "cerebrovascular accident" OR "intracranial hemorrhage" AND "pregnancy complications" OR "risk factors" OR "management" OR "outcome." The search was limited to the English language and was restricted to articles from 2000 to 2020. Results: There were 319 abstracts identified, and 90 of the articles were ultimately used as the basis of this review. Presenting stroke signs and symptoms include headache, composite neurologic defects, seizures, and/or visual changes. Diagnosis is typically made with computed tomography scan using abdominal shielding or magnetic resonance imaging without contrast. Management options for an ischemic stroke include reperfusion therapy with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator catheter-based thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy. Hemorrhagic strokes are treated similarly to strokes outside of pregnancy, and that treatment is based on the severity and location of the hemorrhage. Conclusions and Relevance: Early recognition and management are integral in decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with a stroke in pregnancy. Relevance Statement: This study was an evidence-based review of stroke in pregnancy and how to diagnose and mange a pregnancy complicated by a stroke.

Management of Critically Ill Pregnant Patients with COVID-19 Infection in a Rural State.

OBJECTIVE: There is limited data on the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy. Arkansas saw an increase in COVID-19 cases in June 2020. The first critically ill pregnant patient was admitted to our institution on May 21st, 2020. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes in critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19 at a single tertiary care center who received remdesivir and convalescent plasma (CCP). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective observational review of critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19 who received remdesivir and CCP. This study was approved by the institutional review board (#261354). RESULTS: Seven pregnant patients with COVID-19 were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). All received remdesivir and CCP. Six received dexamethasone. The median ICU length of stay (LOS) was 8 days (range 3-17). Patient 1 had multi-organ failure requiring vasopressors, renal dialysis, and had an intrauterine fetal demise. Patients 4 and 6 required mechanical ventilation, were delivered for respiratory distress and were extubated at 2 and 1 days postpartum, respectively. The only common risk factor was obesity. There were no adverse events noted with remdesivir or CCP. CONCLUSION: There is little data regarding the use of remdesivir or CCP for the treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women. In our cohort, these were well tolerated with no adverse events. Previously reported median ICU LOS in critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19 was 8 days (range 4-15).1 Our study found a similar ICU LOS (8 days; range 3-17). Patient 1 did not receive remdesivir or CCP until transport to our facility on hospital day 3. Excluding patient 1, median ICU LOS was 6.5 days (range 3-9). Our institution's treatment of pregnant women with critical illness with remdesivir, CCP and dexamethasone combined with delivery in select cases has thus far had good outcomes. KEY POINTS: · Combined therapy: remdesivir, CCP, dexamethasone.. · Remdesivir, CCP and dexamethasone was effective in treating critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19.. · No adverse events were associated with combined therapy.. · Delivery improved respiratory status..

Spontaneous Renal Rupture During Pregnancy: A Contemporary Literature Review and Guide to Management.

IMPORTANCE: Spontaneous renal rupture is a rare pregnancy complication, which requires a high index of suspicion for a timely diagnosis to prevent a poor maternal or fetal outcome. OBJECTIVE: This review highlights risk factors, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and complications of spontaneous renal rupture in pregnancy. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search was carried out by research librarians using the PubMed and Web of Science search engines at 2 universities. Fifty cases of spontaneous renal rupture in pregnancy were identified and are the basis of this review. RESULTS: The first case of spontaneous renal rupture in pregnancy was reported in 1947. Rupture occurs more commonly on the right side and during the third trimester. Pain was a reported symptom in every case reviewed. Treatment usually consists of stent or nephrostomy tube placement. Conservative management has been reported. CONCLUSIONS: When diagnosed early and managed appropriately, maternal and fetal outcomes are favorable. Preterm delivery is the most common complication. RELEVANCE: Our aim is to increase the awareness of spontaneous renal rupture in pregnancy and its associated complications in order to improve an accurate diagnosis and maternal and fetal outcomes.