The nightmare of obstetricians - the placenta accreta spectrum in primiparous pregnant women.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of PAS is increasing day by day as a life-threatening condition. The purpose of the present study was to determine the factors affecting PAS formation in primiparous pregnant women and to define possible risk factors for the mother and the baby. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bursa Yüksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, department of obstetrics and gynecology, Bursa, Turkey, between June 2016 and December 2020. A total of 58,895 patients were included in the study. After the exclusion criteria, the study was continued with 27 primiparous PAS and 54 non-primiparous PAS patients. The primary purpose is to evaluate PAS risk factors. The secondary aim is to examine maternal and neonatal characteristics. RESULTS: When the parameters that are significant in terms of PAS risk factors were analyzed by Logistic Regression Analysis, it was found that the increase in age also increased the development of PAS 1.552 times (95% CI: 1.236-1.948) and a history of abortion was 7.928. times (95% CI: 1.408-44.654) and 11,007 times (95% CI: 2.059-58.832) with history of myomectomy; postoperative HB values (p < 0.001), an estimated amount of bleeding (p < 0.001), need for transfusion (p = 0.002), and use of drains ( < 0.001) were statistically significant different between two groups. When the neonatal results between patients with and without PAS were examined, birth weight (p < 0.001) and gestational week ( < 0.001) were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: PAS does not occur only in multiparous patients who have a history of previous cesarean section. It may also occur in primiparous patients and is a life-threatening condition.

Risk factors for relaparotomy after cesarean delivery and related maternal near-miss event due to bleeding.

Aim: To define the risk factors for relaparotomy after cesarean delivery (RLACD) and related maternal near-miss event due to bleeding.Methods: In this retrospective descriptive case-control study, women who underwent RLACD (n = 46) only for bleeding between 2012 and 2017 were reviewed. Factors that could predict relaparotomy and related near-miss event were evaluated. Maternal characteristics, laboratory findings and surgical features were compared with a control group (n = 230) that included noncomplicated cesarean deliveries (CD). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors for relaparotomy.Results: RLACD for bleeding was required in 0.26% of patients and the incidence increased gradually over years (0.16% in 2013 versus 0.44% in 2017). Mean interval between CD and subsequent relaparotomy was 15.7 ± 3.2 hours. The sources of bleeding in descending order of frequency included; uterine fundus and placental bed (39.1%), cervix (21.7%), undetermined (17.3%), superior epigastric artery (13%), superficial epigastric artery (8.1%). Longer duration of CD (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) 1.82, 95% CI 1.02-2.53), increased number of prior CDs (aOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.09-5.78), preeclampsia (aOR 3.48, 95% CI 1.21-7.19) were found to be independent risk indicators for RLACD. Moreover, longer duration of interval between CD and relaparotomy (p = .005), longer relaparotomy duration (p = .012) and greater drop in hemoglobin level (p = .001) were found to be the predictors of maternal near-miss event.Conclusions: Patients with identified risk factors should be managed properly in order to prevent relaparotomy and near-miss event after CD. Also, urgent decision of surgical intervention might reduce the risk of maternal near-miss event.

Prenatal diagnosis of Seckel syndrome at 21 weeks' gestation and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The Seckel syndrome is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder that characterized severe pre- and post-natal growth restriction, microcephaly and a bird-like fetal head appearance. A few clinical reports revealed prenatal sonographic findings in the literature. CASE: A 29-year-old, Turkish, gravid 3, para 2, woman was referred to our center for further evaluation of a suspicion of microcephaly at 21 weeks' gestation. The couple was third degree consanguineous. Detailed 2- and 3-dimensional sonography scan revealed a bird-headed appearance, prominent eyes with hypotelorism, a severe microcephaly (bi-parietal diameter and head circumference were both < 1. Percentile for 21 weeks' gestation), a beaked nose, and increased nuchal fold thickness measurement (> 95th percentile), low-set and prominent ears. All sonographic findings suggested Seckel syndrome and the couple elected termination of pregnancy in the present case. SUMMARY: Seckel syndrome should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of severe microcephaly, accompanied by fetal growth restriction. 3D ultrasound is a useful adjuvant to routine 2D sonography for prenatal diagnosis of the syndrome and can delineate abnormal fetal head appearance (a bird-headed profile).

Relationship between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and morbidly adherent placenta.

Objective Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) is a clinical condition the prevalance of which is steadily increasing. It is described as the invasion of the placenta into the uterine wall through the myometrium and beyond. Several studies have shown that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) increases the invasion capability of tumor cells and placental cells. In our study, we investigated the expression of ICAM-1 in MAP cases. Methods This is a prospective case-control study. Eighty-nine patients who were diagnosed with MAP and 96 patients, without adherent placenta, as a control group were included in the study. ICAM-1 staining was examined by immuno-histochemical staining in placental samples. Results Of the 89 patients in the MAP group, 72 (80.8%) showed positive staining, while 26 (27%) did so in the control group. ICAM-1 positive staining in the MAP group was statistically significantly higher (P=0.03). Conclusion This is the first study investigating the relationship between MAP and ICAM-1 in the literature. In our study, we showed that ICAM-1 expression increased in the MAP group.

Relationship between vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and morbidly adherent placenta.

INTRODUCTION: Morbidly adherent placenta is a clinical condition of which prevalance is steadily increasing. It is described as the invasion of the placenta into the uterine wall through the myometrium and beyond. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 is a calcium independent transmembrane glycoprotein. Several studies have shown that vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 increases invasion in tumor cells. In our study we investigated the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 which has been shown to increase invasion in various tumors in morbidly adherent placenta cases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a prospective case-control study. Eighty-four patients who were diagnosed with morbidly adherent placenta and 96 patients without any risk factors as a control group were included in the study. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 staining was examined by immune-histochemical staining in placental samples. RESULTS: The patients included in the study were similar in terms of demographic characteristics. Of the 84 patients in the morbidly adherent placenta group, 65 (74.7%) showed positive staining. This number was 39 (40.6%) in the control group. Staining in morbidly adherent placenta group was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: The etiology of morbidly adherent placenta is still a clinically unknown condition. This study is the first study on this field in the literature. In our study, we showed that vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression increased in morbidly adherent placenta group. Although the entire pathogenesis is not explained this can be considered as a step for understanding this subject.

Adolescent pregnancies: complications, birth outcomes and the possible solutions.

OBJECTIVES: In this study we aim to evaluate antenatal, perinatal and postnatal outcomes and complications of adolescent pregnancies, as well as to discuss the social and psychological consequences of these pregnancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compare a total of 243 pregnant women at age 14-18 years to a vast control group at age 19-36 who all delivered at Bursa Yüksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital between years 2005-2014. RESULTS: Antenatal care (folic acid supplementation, pre-conception counseling) was significantly higher in adolescent pregnancy group. Unplanned pregnancy rate was significantly higher in in study group (p < 0.001). Preterm delivery (before 37th week) ratio was statistically higher in pregnancy complications. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent pregnancy is a social entity which should be regulated and prevented by legal measures. Planned pregnancies should be promoted and the public should be educated and informed about the Hazards of adolescent pregnancies. Press institutions, public broadcasting services support the efforts to decrease adolescent pregnancies.

Is there any role of prolidase enzyme activity in the etiology of preeclampsia?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a relationship between preeclampsia and prolidase enzyme activity. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 41 pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 31 healthy pregnant women as control group was selected at Harran University Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The prolidase enzyme activity was analyzed in maternal and umbilical cord plasma, amniotic fluid and placental and umbilical cord tissues by Chinard method in addition to maternal serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT). RESULTS: A significant relationship was found between plasma prolidase activity (635 ± 83 U/L) (p = 0.007), umbilical cord plasma prolidase activity (610 ± 90 U/L) (p = 0.013), amniotic fluid prolidase activity (558 ± 100 U/L) (p = 0.001), umbilical cord tissue prolidase activity (4248 ± 1675 U/gr protein) (p = 0.013) and placental tissue prolidase activity (2116 ± 601 U/gr protein) (p = 0.001) in preeclamptic group when compared to healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSION: There is a strong correlation between prolidase enzyme activity and preeclampsia. Prolidase enzyme activity may play a role in preeclampsia.

Ultrasound guidance during hysteroscopic myomectomy in G1 and G2 Submucous Myomas: for a safer one step surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Hysteroscopic myomectomy is the gold standard method for treatment of submucous fibroids. Hysteroscopic myomectomy techniques for removal of submucous fibroids still have controversies. In this study we aimed to describe usefulness of ultrasound guidance in hysteroscopic myomectomy for a safe and effective removal of submucous G1 and G2 fibroids. STUDY DESIGN: This is a multicentre study. 64 symptomatic patients with submucous fibroid underwent ultrasound guided hysteroscopic myomectomy. First we excised intrauterine dome of fibroid until reaching the level of cavity wall by the method of resectoscopic (electrosurgical resection using a loop electrode) slicing. Next remnant intramural node was squeezed by uterine contractions induced. After we had excised the intrauterine dome of fibroid by slicing method, we formed cavitation for the intramural part (newly raised myoma dome). The cavity was filled with distension solution and we evaluated the margins of the uterus and the margins of the myoma by sonographically. Then the myoma was excised under ultrasonographic guidance by transabdominal probe. We obtained a regular uterine cavity. RESULTS: Mean operation time was 42±7min. Mean Mannitol volume was 4.3±1.7l and the mean intraoperational fluid deficit was 500ml. Not in any case uterine perforation was occurred. All fibroids removed totally. In 8 (19%) cases intrauterine synechiae detected and all these synechiaes were incised by a scissor during hysteroscopy. CONCLUSION: There is still no single technique proven to be unequivocally superior to the others for treating fibroids with intramural development (G1-G2). Ultrasound guided hysteroscopy seems to be an effective and safe method for resection of G1 and G2 fibroids.

Population-based cervical screening outcomes in Turkey over a period of approximately nine and a half years with emphasis on results for women aged 30-34.

PURPOSE: To appraise the frequency of cervical cytological abnormalities in a population at normal risk via analysing the archive records of cytology for the period of approximately 9,5 years, comparing them with patient demographic charecteristics, and discuss the results for women under age of 35. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32,578 cases of Pap smears were retrieved and analysed from our archive included the Pap tests performed between January 2001 and April 2010 at the Early Cancer Screening, Diagnosing and Education Center by the consent of three pathologists via utilizing the Bethesda System Criteria 2001 and the results were compared with some demographical characteristics. RESULTS: Our rate of the cervical cytological abnormality was 1.83%, with ASCUS in 1.18%, LSIL in 0.39, HSIL in 0.16%, AGUS in 0.07%, squamous cell carcinoma in 0.02%, and adenoarcinoma in 0.006%. Cytological abnormalities were detected mostly in those with higher age, lower parity, and premenopausal period whereas the smoking status was without influence. Bacterial vaginosis (5.6%) was the most frequent infectious finding (Candida albicans 2.7%; Actinomyces sp. 1.3%; and Trichomonas vaginalis 0.2%) detected on the smears. The rate of abnormal cervical cytology was 9.5% among the women aged between 30-34. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of the cervical abnormalities by means of the regular cervical cancer screening programmes is useful to attenuate the incidence, mortality, and morbidity of cervical cancer. Our prevalence of the cytological abnormalities was much lower than the one in Western populations in general but very similar to those reported from other Islamic countries that may be explained by the conservative lifestyle and the lower prevalence of HPV in Turkey. A remarkable rate of abnormal cervical cytology of women aged 30-34 was pointed out in the present study.

Hysteroscopic assessment of postmenopausal endometrial thickening.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial thickness is measured by transvaginal sonography and thickening indicates an increased risk of malignancy or other pathology (hyperplasia or polyp) in the postmenopausal period. The main screening methods for the uterine cavity are dilatation and curettage, and hysteroscopy. We sought to correlate hysteroscopic and pathological findings in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with sonographically thickened endometrium (> 5 mm) in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study involved case records of 197 women who have thickened (> 5 mm) endometrium in the postmenopausal period. All these women underwent hysteroscopy with diagnostic dilatation and curettage between January 2012 and January 2013 at the Bursa Zübeyde Hanim Maternity Hospital. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive values and p value of hysteroscopy were calculated. Dilatation and curettage was set as the gold standard. RESULTS: For the evaluation of postmenopausal thickened endometrium, hysteroscopy revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value as 76.4%, 76.9%, 73.1%, 79.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopy is a fast and accurate technique in evaluation of the intrauterine space occupying lesions (polyp, fibroid) but only moderate for endometrial hyperplasia. Hysteroscopic view combined with direct biopsy could be a gold standard for endometrial assessment.

Assessment of thickened endometrium in tamoxifen therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to evaluate role of hysteroscopy in thickened endometrium (>5 mm) associated with tamoxifen therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed dilatation and curettage (D&C) and hysteroscopic biopsy to patients for evaluation of thickened endometrium in tamoxifen therapy. One hundred and nine asymptomatic patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer treated with tamoxifen 20 mg daily. We performed hysteroscopic biopsy or D&C to patients who have thickened endometrium at transvaginal sonography. We correlate pathology report results of D&C and hysteroscopic biopsy. RESULTS: Fifty-nine of 103 patients have thickened endometrium.Thirty-five of 59 patients diagnosed with D&C (19 inactive endometrium, 15 endometrial polyp, 1 endometrial hyperplasia). D&C couldn't get material 24 of these patients. Hysteroscopic biopsy diagnosed endometrial polyp 11 (45.8%) of these patients. CONCLUSION: We can state that D&C does not seem accurate enough for detection of intrauterin pathologies in thickened endometrium associated with tamoxifen therapy. We therefore believe it is reasonable to perform hysteroscopic biopsy in asymptomatic tamoxifen treated patients who have thickened endometrium.

Study on potential role of apolipoprotein E in recurrent pregnancy loss.

The role of apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphisms in the etiology of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is not clearly understood. We evaluated this polymorphism in unexplained pregnancy losses in a group of Turkish women. In our prospective case-control study, 45 well-characterized RPL cases were examined for their Apo E genotypes, based on restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragments. The observed genotypes were compared with those obtained from equal number matched controls. We observed similar Apo E genotypes and E2, E3 and E4 allele frequency distribution among RPL patients and controls. The allele frequencies obtained in patients and controls, respectively, were as follows: E2=8 (9%) and 12 (13.4%) (P=0.342), E3=66 (73.3%) and 60 (66.6%) (P=0.328) and E4=16 (17.7%) and 18 (20%) (P=0.703). Our data did not support the association of Apo E gene polymorphisms with RPL as reported by previous studies. We endorse adequate characterization of RPL cases and adequate sample size prior to addressing such studies.