The effect of uterine artery ligation in patients with central placenta pevia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Placenta previa is major obstetric surgical risk as it is associated with higher percentage of intraoperative and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), increased requirement of blood transfusion and further surgical procedures. The current study aimed to evaluate uterine artery ligation prior to uterine incision as a procedure to minimize blood loss during cesarean section in patients with central placenta previa. METHODS: One hundred and four patients diagnosed with central placenta previa antenatally and planned to have elective caesarean section were recruited from the antenatal clinic at Minia Maternity University hospital. Patients were randomly allocated into either ligation group or control group. RESULTS: Both groups were similar regarding demographic features and preoperative risk factors for bleeding. The intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the ligation group as compared with the control group (569.3 ± 202.1 mL vs. 805.1 ± 224.5 mL respectively, p = 0.002). There was a significant increase in the requirement for blood transfusion in the control group as compared with the ligation group (786 ± 83 mL vs. 755 ± 56 mL respectively, p = 0.03) Three cases in the control group required further surgical interventions to control intraoperative bleeding, while no cases in the ligation required further surgical techniques and that was statistically significant (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Uterine artery ligation prior to uterine incision may be a helpful procedure to minimize intraoperative and postpartum blood loss in cases with central placenta previa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02002026 - December 8, 2013.

Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis: efficacy and safety.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hysteroscopic adhesiolysis in patients with intrauterine adhesions (IUAs). SETTING: Minia Maternity University Hospital, Egypt. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS: This study included 61 patients presented with infertility (primary or secondary) or recurrent pregnancy losses caused by IUAs. INTERVENTION(S): The adhesions were divided by semi-rigid scissors introduced under direct vision through hysteroscopy. Three months later, second-look hysteroscopy was performed. PRIMARY OUTCOME PARAMETERS: Primary outcome parameters were reproductive parameters (pregnancy rate, duration of pregnancies, life births rate, time lag between the intervention and diagnosis of pregnancy). SECONDARY OUTCOME PARAMETERS: Secondary outcome parameters were the changes in post-operative menstrual pattern, number and duration of intervention and type of intra- and post-operative complications. RESULT(S): Pregnancy rate changed from 18 to 65.5 %, while live birth rate improved from 14.7 to 36 %. The mean time until the first conception was 10.2 months (range 2-60 months) after the operation. There was significant negative correlation between the degree of IUAs and the improvement in reproductive performance. Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis significantly improved menstrual pattern in 60.7 % of patients complaining of hypomenorrhea or amenorrhea. (p = 0.0017). The average operative time was 29 ± 10.2 (10-52) min and the hospital stay was 12.5 ± 2.1 (9-24) h. Uterine perforation occurred on 3 (4.9 %), and cervical laceration occurred in one case (1.6 %). CONCLUSION(S): Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis of IUAs is safe and effective in terms of reproductive outcome. The outcome is significantly affected by degree of intrauterine adhesions rather than the main complaint before the procedure.

Screening pregnant women in a high-risk population with WHO-2013 or NICE diagnostic criteria does not affect the prevalence of gestational diabetes.

There are currently several diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes (GDM). Both the WHO -2013 and NICE diagnose GDM based on a single step 75 g OGT; however; each uses different glucose thresholds. Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of GDM using the NICE criteria (GDM-N) is lower than that using the WHO-2013 criteria (GDM-W). Qatar has national diabetes in pregnancy program in which all pregnant women undergo OGTT screening using the WHO-2013 criteria. This study aims to define the prevalence of GDM using both criteria in a high-risk population. This retrospective study included 2000 women who underwent a 75 g (OGTT) between Jan 2016 and Apr 2016 and excluded patients with known pre-conception diabetes, multiple pregnancy, and those who did not complete the OGTT. We then classified the women into GDM-W positive, GDM-N positive but GDM-W negative, and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) population. A total of 1481 women (74%) had NGT using the NICE or the WHO-2013 criteria. The number of patients who met both criteria was 279 subjects (14%) with a good agreement (Kappa coefficient 0.67, p < 0.001). The NICE and the WHO-2013 criteria were discordant in 240 subjects (12% of the cohort); 6.7% met the WHO -2013 criteria only and only 5.3% met the NICE criteria. The frequency of pre-eclampsia, pre-term delivery, Caesarean-section, LGA and neonatal ICU admissions were significantly increased in the GDM-W group. However, the GDM-N positive but GDM-W negative had no increased risk of maternal or fetal complications apart from pregnancy-induced hypertension. The WHO-2013 and the NICE criteria classified a similar proportion of pregnant women, 21.5% and 20.1%, respectively, as having GDM; however, they were concordant in only 14% of the cases. Women who are GDM-N positive but GDM-W negative are not at increased risk of maternal and fetal pregnancy complications, except for pregnancy-induced hypertension. As the NICE criteria are more specific to the UK population, we would recommend the use of the WHO-2013 criteria to diagnose GDM in the MENA region and possibly other regions that do not have the same set-up as the UK.

Metformin-treated-GDM has lower risk of macrosomia compared to diet-treated GDM- a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) has undergone several revisions. The broad adoption of the 2013 WHO criteria for hyperglycemia in pregnancy has increased the prevalence of GDM with no apparent benefit on pregnancy outcomes. The study aims to investigate the pregnancy outcomes in women with GDM diagnosed based on the WHO criteria compared to a control group; the impact of other confounders; and the difference in outcomes between GDM women who needed pharmacotherapy (GDM-T) and those who did not (GDM-D).Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that included GDM women compared to normoglycemic controls between March 2015 and December 2016 in the Women's Hospital, Qatar.Results: The study included 2221 women; of which 1420 were normoglycemic, and 801 were GDM (358 GDM-D and 443 GDM-T). At conception, GDM women were older (mean age 32.5 ± 5.4 versus 29.6 ± 5.6 years, p<.001) and had higher prepregnancy BMI (mean BMI 32.2 ± 6.2 versus 28.2 ± 6.1 kg/m2, p<.01) compared to the controls, respectively. After correction for age, prepregnancy weight, and gestational weight gain (GWG); women with GDM had a higher risk of preterm labor (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.32-2.23), large for gestational age (GA) (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.22-2.29), neonatal ICU admission (OR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.15-2.13), and neonatal hypoglycemia (OR: 3.22; 95% CI: 2.06-5.03). At conception, GDM-T women were older (mean age 33.3 ± 5.0 versus 31.5 ± 5.7 years, p<.001) and had higher BMI (mean BMI 32.9 ± 6.3 versus 231.2 ± 6.0 kg/m2, p=.01) compared to GDM-D, respectively. Metformin was used in 90.7% of the GDM-T women. Women in the GDM-T group had lower GWG/week compared to GDM-D (-0.01 ± 0.7 versus 0.21 ± 0.5 kg/week; p<.001). After correcting for age, prepregnancy weight and GWG; GDM-T had a higher risk of preterm labor (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.20-2.22), and C-section (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.02-1.85) and reduced risk of macrosomia (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32-0.96) and neonatal hypoglycemia (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.28-0.82).Conclusion: In addition to hyperglycemia, the adverse effects of GDM on pregnancy outcomes are multifactorial and includes maternal age, maternal obesity, and gestational weight gain. Treatment with metformin reduces maternal weight gain, the risk of macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycemia compared to diet alone.

Prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy in Qatar, using universal screening.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes first detected during pregnancy is currently divided into gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM)- most of which are type 2 DM (T2DM). This study aims to define the prevalence and outcomes of diabetes first detected in pregnancy based on 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)using the recent WHO/IADPSG guidelines in a high-risk population. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included all patients who underwent a 75 g (OGTT) between Jan 2016 and Apr 2016 and excluded patients with known pre-conception diabetes. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy among the 2000 patients who fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria was 24.0% (95% CI 22.1-25.9) of which T2DM was 2.5% (95% CI 1.9-3.3), and GDM was 21.5% (95% CI 19.7-23.3). The prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy was similar among the different ethnic groups. The T2DM group was older (mean age in years was 34 ±5.7 vs 31.7±5.7 vs 29.7 ±5.7, p<0.001); and has a higher mean BMI (32.4±6.4 kg/m2 vs 31.7±6.2 kg/m2 vs 29.7± 6.2 kg/m2, p< 0.01) than the GDM and the non-DM groups, respectively. The frequency of pre-eclampsia, pre-term delivery, Caesarean-section, macrosomia, LGA and neonatal ICU admissions were significantly higher in the T2DM group compared to GDM and non-DM groups. CONCLUSION: Diabetes first detected in pregnancy is equally prevalent among the various ethnic groups residing in Qatar. Newly detected T2DM carries a higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes; stressing the importance of proper classification of cases of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy.