How to identify patients who require aortic vascular control in placenta accreta spectrum disorders?

BACKGROUND: The placenta accreta spectrum disorder may lead to severe complications. Helpful interventions to prevent placenta accreta spectrum bleeding include vascular control procedures in the aorta or pelvic vessels. Although these procedures are related to lower intraoperative bleeding, they are associated with complications, so the possibility of selecting patients at highest risk of bleeding while avoiding vascular procedures for all cases is attractive. OBJECTIVE: We describe an intraoperative staging protocol whose objective is to identify the need to use vascular control procedures in patients with placenta accreta spectrum. We also describe the results of its application in a placenta accreta spectrum referral hospital. STUDY DESIGN: This descriptive, retrospective study included patients with suspected prenatal placenta accreta spectrum treated at a referral center for placenta accreta spectrum between April 2016 and June 2020. The use of the resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta allowed the prevention and treatment of excessive bleeding; its application was performed according to 3 approaches: (1) presurgical use in all placenta accreta spectrum patients (Group 1), (2) according to the prenatal placenta accreta spectrum topography (Group 2), and (3) according to the "intraoperative staging" (Group 3). In addition, the frequency of use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta and the clinical results in the management of placenta accreta spectrum were described in the 3 groups. RESULTS: Seventy patients underwent surgery for a prenatal suspicion of placenta accreta spectrum. Of these, 16 underwent intraoperative staging (Group 3); in 20 cases, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta was used based on the prenatal imaging topographic classification (Group 2), and in the remaining 34 patients (Group 1), it was always used before the laparotomy. The frequency of use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta was progressively lower in Groups 1 (32 patients, 94.1% of cases), 2 (11 patients, 75% of cases), and 3 (4 patients, 25% of cases). Similarly, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta went from being applied predominantly before the laparotomy (all cases in Group 1) to being applied after intraoperative staging (all cases in Group 3). The percentage of endovascular devices applied but not used, decreased from 23.5% in Group 1 to 0% in Group 3. Complications related to the resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta were seen in 4 patients (2 women in Group 1, and 1 woman each in Groups 2 and 3). CONCLUSION: The "intraoperative staging" of placenta accreta spectrum allows the optimization of the use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta, which decreases the frequency of its use without increasing the volume of blood loss.

A multidisciplinary approach and implementation of a specialized hemorrhage control team improves outcomes for placenta accreta spectrum.

INTRODUCTION: The main complication of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is massive bleeding. Endoarterial occlusion techniques have been incorporated into the management of this pathology. Our aim was to examine the endovascular practice patterns among PAS patients treated during a 9-year period in a low-middle income country in which an interdisciplinary group's technical skills were improved with the creation of a PAS team. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study including all PAS patients treated from December 2011 to November 2020 was performed. We compared the clinical results obtained according to the type of endovascular device used (group 1, internal iliac artery occlusion balloons; group 2, resuscitative endovascular balloons of the aorta; group 3, no arterial balloons due to low risk of bleeding) and according to the year in which they were attended (reflects the PAS team level of experience). A fourth group of comparisons included the woman diagnosed during a cesarean delivery and treated in a nonprotocolized way. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were included. The amount of blood loss decreased annually, with a median of 2,500 mL in 2014 (when endovascular occlusion balloons were used in all patients) and 1,394 mL in 2020 (when only 38.5% of the patients required arterial balloons). Group 3 patients (n = 16) had the lowest bleeding volume (1,245 mL) and operative time (173 minutes) of the entire population studied. Group 2 patients (n = 46) had a bleeding volume (mean, 1,700 mL) and transfusions frequency (34.8%) slightly lower than group 1 patients (n = 30) (mean of 2,000 mL and 50%, respectively). They also had lower hysterectomy frequency (63% vs. 76.7% in group 1) and surgical time (205 minutes vs. 275 in group 1) despite a similar frequency of confirmed PAS and S2 compromise. CONCLUSION: Endovascular techniques used for bleeding control in PAS patients are less necessary as interdisciplinary groups improve their surgical and teamwork skills. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic care management, level III.

Placenta accreta: importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the Colombian hospital setting.

Introduction: The management of patients with placenta accreta (PA) poses a challenge to health services. Although it may lead to devastating complications, its low incidence limits the development of expertize in all obstetric centers. We evaluated the results obtained from a multidisciplinary approach in patients with PA in a Latin American hospital.Methods: The study included patients with prenatal suspicion or intraoperative diagnosis of PA, before and after initiating a set of interdisciplinary and institutional interventions, with the aim of achieving better outcomes.Results: From December 2011 to December 2017, 62 patients with prenatally or intraoperatively suspected PA underwent surgery. The first 30 women (Group A), admitted until April 2016 and before any changes in the management protocol, had a longer hospital stay and surgery time, higher newborn hospitalization, and greater use of general anesthesia, compared to the 20 patients from Group B, who were admitted during the last 20 months of the observation period. A total of 12 women with late and intraoperative diagnosis, under no institutional protocol, showed greater blood loss and more frequent red blood cell transfusions.Conclusions: The expertize of the multidisciplinary team responsible for managing women with PA is associated with better clinical outcomes.

Impact of nonpneumatic antishock garment in the management of patients with hypoperfusion due to massive postpartum hemorrhage.

Objective: The objective of this article was to compare hemodynamic and perfusion parameters as well as the clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) who received treatment with a nonpneumatic antishock garment (NASG) as part of an intervention package, with a group of patients in similar conditions who did not receive an NASG.Methods: This observational study analyzed a historic cohort of 154 patients with PPH, secondary hypovolemic shock and signs of hypoperfusion who were admitted to this institution from 2012 to 2015. Group 1 (n= 77) was managed with NASG and Group 2 (n = 77) received interventions other than NASG. Hypoperfusion markers and maternal outcomes were compared in both groups.Results: Of 154 patients included in the analysis, 36.4% required a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) to achieve hemorrhage control, 98.2% of whom belonged to Group 2 and 1.8% to Group 1 (p = .001). The use of blood products was more common in Group 2 (p < .001), as was the administration of vasoactive agents. The mean number of days of hospitalization at the Obstetric High Dependency Unit (OHDU) was significantly lower in Group 1 and reached a statistically significant p value. Only two cases of maternal death occurred in Group 2.Discussion: The use of NASG in the management of PPH is a cost-effective strategy for patients with severe shock and signs of hypoperfusion and is optimal in a limited-resource scenario. In this study, the use of NASG was related to better outcomes in a statistically significant manner with better results regarding maternal outcomes such as uterine preservation and decreased transfusion requirements and hospital days.Conclusions: NASG, associated with the use of uterotonic agents and other strategies for PPH control, is a safe tool that helps reduce morbimortality in critically ill patients with PPH.

Quiloperitoneo espontáneo en el embarazo / Spontaneous chyloperitoneum in pregnancy

Introducción. El quiloperitoneo consiste en la presencia de fluido linfático en la cavidad intraabdominal, complicación poco descrita en el embarazo y cuyas repercusiones no están bien establecidas.Reporte de caso. Se presenta el caso de una mujer gestante con embarazo de 36,5 semanas, sin comorbilidades, hospitalizada por presentar cifras tensionales elevadas asociadas a síntomas de encefalopatía hipertensiva y bradicardia fetal sostenida; se le practicó una cesárea urgente en la cual se evidenció corioperitoneo incidental. La tomografía computarizada abdominal de control no demostró alteraciones.Discusión. Se descartaron las principales causas del quiloperitoneo, las cuales son neoplasia maligna y trauma. Se consideró que se trataba de un quiloperitoneo espontáneo posiblemente relacionado con la congestión pélvica propia del embarazo, por vasodilatación secundaria al influjo hormonal, aumento de la presión intraabdominal y contribución del volumen ascítico por la preeclampsia, que genera ruptura traumática de los vasos linfáticos.Conclusión. La ascitis quilosa es una entidad poco frecuente que puede verse asociada con el embarazo. Es fundamental el criterio acertado del ginecoobstetra para determinar tempranamente la etiología

Introduction: Chyloperitoneum consists of the presence of a lymphatic fluid in the intra-abdominal cavity, a complication little described during pregnancy, and whose repercussions are not well established.Case report: A pregnant woman with a pregnancy of 36.5 weeks, without comorbidities, is hospitalized in the context of high blood pressure levels associated with symptoms of hypertensive encephalopathy and sustained fetal bradycardia, leading to an emergent cesarean section where incidental chorioperitoneum was evidenced. Posterior abdominal CT control showed no alterations.Discussion: The main associated etiologies (malignancy and trauma) were ruled out. It is considered a presentation of spontaneous chyloperitoneum that could be related to the pelvic congestion of pregnancy due to: vasodilatation secondary to hormonal influence, increased intra-abdominal pressure and contribution of ascites due to preeclampsia, generating traumatic rupture of lymphatic vessels.Conclusion: Chylous ascites is a rare entity that can be associated with pregnancy. It is essential that gynecologist and obstetrician correctly approach these patients to determine the etiology early

Encefalopatía de Wernicke secundario a hiperémesis gravídica: la importancia del diagnóstico temprano / Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum: importance of early diagnosis

RESUMEN Introducción: La hiperémesis gravídica (HG) es una condición frecuente en el embarazo, que puede resultar en complicaciones potencialmente letales como la encefalopatía de Wernicke (EW), síndrome que al ser reconocido y tratado tardíamente puede traducirse en una alta morbi-mortalidad materna y fetal. Objetivo: Describir el primer caso de EW secundario a HG en Colombia y realizar una revisión de la literatura publicada sobre su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Materiales y métodos: Se describe un caso de EW secundario a HG en el que se brindó un manejo interdisciplinario. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura con los términos "encefalopatía de Wernicke", "hiperémesis gravídica" y "embarazo" incluyendo reportes de casos, series de casos, artículos de revisión, investigaciones originales o cartas al editor en inglés, español y francés, en donde se analizaron el método y tiempo del diagnóstico, pauta de tratamiento y estado funcional final. Resultados: Se incluyeron 69 publicaciones y se identificaron 89 casos. En 23 de ellos se presentó pérdida gestacional, sólo en el 12,4% de los casos se reportó el nivel de tiamina, de los cuales en el 90% se encontraba disminuido y de los casos en donde se reportó estado funcional final en el 5,9% la gestante falleció. Conclusión: La EW secundaria a HG es una complicación potencialmente letal. Debe sospecharse ante cualquier alteración neurológica e historia de emesis persistente. El diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno interdisciplinario son fundamentales para disminuir el riesgo de secuelas que limitan la capacidad funcional con alto impacto en la calidad de vida.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a frequent condition in pregnancy, which can result in potentially lethal complications such as Wernicke encephalopathy (WE), a syndrome that can be translated into a high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality if it is recognized and treated late. Objective: To describe the first case of WE due to HG in Colombia and to review the published literature about its diagnosis and treatment. Materials and methods: We describe a case of WE due to HG with an interdisciplinary approach. A review of the literature was performed with the terms "Wernicke's encephalopathy", "hyperemesis gravidarum" and "pregnancy" including case reports, case series, review articles, original investigations or letters to the editor in English, Spanish and French, where the method and time of the diagnosis, treatment regimen and sequelae were analyzed. Results: Sixty-nine publications were included and 89 cases were identified. In 23 of them had a gestational loss, only in 12.4% of the cases the thiamine level was reported, in which 90% was diminished and in the cases where the final functional status was reported in 5.9% of the pregnant woman died. Conclusion: WE due to HG is a potentially lethal complication. In any neurological disturbance and history of persistent emesis it should be suspected. Timely interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment are essential to reduce the risk of sequelae that limit functional capacity with a high impact on quality of life.

Serologic evidence of human and swine influenza in Mayan persons.

Antibodies against influenza viruses were detected in 115 serum samples from indigenous Mayan persons from Kochol, Yucatan. Seropositivity rates were 26.9% to A/Bayern/7/95, 40.8% to A/Sydney/5/97, 1.7% to A/Swine/Wisconsin/238/97, and 79.1% to A/Swine/Minnesota/593/99. This report is the first in Mexico of the prevalence of antibodies to swine influenza virus in humans.