New Doppler index for prediction of perinatal brain damage in growth-restricted and hypoxic fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the new vascular score, hypoxia index (HI), in the prediction of sonographically detected structural brain lesions in neonates within the first week after delivery of growth-restricted fetuses. METHODS: This prospective study included 29 growth-restricted fetuses delivered between 31 and 40 gestational weeks. Doppler umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) resistance indices (RI) were recorded at 48-h intervals for at least 2 weeks before delivery. The cerebroumbilical ratio (C/U ratio = MCA-RI/UA-RI) and the HI (the sum of the daily reductions in C/U ratio, i.e. percentage below the cut-off value of 1, over the period of observation) were calculated. After delivery, neonatal outcome was evaluated according to obstetric parameters and ultrasound examinations of the brain. Doppler indices, C/U ratio and HI, as well as neonatal clinical and biochemical parameters, were tested as potential predictors of brain lesions using the C4.5 data-mining algorithm. RESULTS: Neonatal brain lesions were detected in 13 growth-restricted fetuses. Of all the parameters tested by the C4.5 data-mining algorithm, only HI was identified as a predictor of neonatal brain lesions. HI also showed better correlation with neonatal biochemical parameters, such as umbilical venous partial pressure of oxygen and umbilical venous pH, compared with the C/U ratio. CONCLUSIONS: HI, which takes into account cumulative oxygen deficit, could significantly improve the prediction of a poor neurological outcome in pregnancies complicated by growth restriction and hypoxia.

Cervical incompetence: the use of selective and emergency cerclage.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective case series was performed in order to assess pregnancy outcome of women with tentative diagnosis of cervical incompetence undergoing selective and emergency cervical cerclage. METHODS: Women recruited in this case series were divided into two groups. The selective group (n = 13) was chosen among pregnant women with a history suggestive of cervical incompetence, but no clinical evidence of threatened miscarriage. The definition of cervical incompetence was dilatation of internal cervical os with shortening of the cervix less than 25 mm and "funnelling" of 25% and more, found on the ultrasound examination of the cervix. The emergency group (n = 12) had clinical symptoms of threatened miscarriage. After exclusion of infection and in the absence of uterine activity they were counseled and offered cerclage. RESULTS: After cervical cerclage all women were treated in the same way as per our clinical protocol and monitored until delivery. The median gestational age at delivery was 36 weeks (19-39) in the selective group and 33 weeks (22-38) in the emergency group. This difference is not statistically significant. There was 1 miscarriage (8%), 5 pre-term deliveries (38%) and 7 term deliveries (54%) in the selective group; and 4 miscarriages (33%), 3 pre-term deliveries (25%) and 5 term deliveries (42%) in the emergency group. Total neonatal survival was 19/20 (95%) if pregnancy exceeded 24 weeks, making perinatal mortality 5%. There was no differences between selective and emergency groups (1 of 12 in selective vs. 0 of 8 in emergency). CONCLUSION: Overall, it can be concluded that both selective and emergency cerclage may have some benefits in patients with cervical incompetence. However, in the absence of a randomized-controlled study, these beneficial effects described cannot be considered as proved.