Outcome of pregnancies with first-trimester increased nuchal translucency and cystic hygroma in a tertiary maternity hospital in United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of pregnancies with first-trimester increased nuchal translucency and cystic hygromas. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study of 132 pregnancies with first-trimester increased nuchal translucency and cystic hygromas, between January 2015 to December 2018 at Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Fetal karyotyping, detailed ultrasound at 18-22 weeks and fetal echocardiography were offered to all women. Adverse outcomes included miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death, termination of pregnancy, neonatal death and structural abnormalities. RESULTS: Of the 132 pregnancies, 13 had NT > 95th percentile, 89 had NT ≥3 mm and 30 had cystic hygroma. Among 13 pregnancies with NT > 95th centile, 7.6% had abnormal karyotype. Among 89 pregnancies with NT ≥3 mm, 29.2% had abnormal karyotype, 13.4% miscarriage, 7.8% underwent TOP, 5.6% intrauterine fetal death, 1.1% neonatal death and 14.6% had structural abnormalities. Among 30 pregnancies with cystic hygroma, 40% had abnormal karyotype, 20% miscarriage, 13.3% TOP, 13.3% intrauterine fetal death, 6.6% had neonatal death and 20% had structural abnormalities. CONCLUSION: In our study, karyotype abnormalities increased with increasing nuchal translucency with highest risk in fetuses with cystic hygromas. Increased nuchal translucency was associated with adverse pregnancy outcome, which was higher in the group with NT≥6 mm and cystic hygromas.

Outcome of multiple cesarean sections in a tertiary maternity hospital in the United Arab Emirates: A retrospective analysis.

TITLE: Outcome of multiple cesarean sections in a tertiary maternity hospital in the United Arab Emirates. OBJECTIVE: To describe the operative outcomes, clinical findings, maternal morbidity and neonatal outcome associated with increasing numbers of cesarean deliveries. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. POPULATION: The study cohort was 1008 women giving birth by cesarean section who had previously undergone one or more cesarean sections, who had a singleton pregnancy, and who were not in labor. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken over the one-year period from January 2016 to December 2016. Women were divided into five groups according to number of previous cesarean sections. The first group comprised of women who had one previous cesarean section, the second group women who had two previous cesarean sections, the third group consequently three previous cesarean sections and the fourth group four previous cesarean sections, whereas in the fifth group women had previously five or more previous cesarean sections. The maternal and neonatal outcomes of the groups were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The risks of placenta previa, placenta accreta, uterine dehiscence or rupture, postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusion, bladder injury, lengths of operative time and hospital stay, and number of admissions to the high dependency unit increased with increasing numbers of previous cesarean sections. Women with five or more previous cesarean sections had a 10-fold increased risk of placenta previa (odds ratio [OR], 9.8; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 3.3-28.6), a 27 - fold increased risk of placenta accreta (OR, 26.5; 95 % CI, 4.2-166.3), and an 11-fold increased risk of uterine dehiscence or rupture (OR, 11.3; 95 % CI, 1.8-70.8). DISCUSSION: The results of our study indicate that serious maternal morbidity increases with increasing numbers of previous cesarean sections. Women planning large families should consider the risks of repeat cesarean sections when contemplating elective primary cesarean delivery or attempted vaginal birth after one previous cesarean section.