Prognostic factors of poor surgical outcome after clitoral reconstruction in women with female genital mutilation/cutting.

BACKGROUND: Complications of surgical clitoral reconstruction for female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) are a rare occurrence, but there has been reports of patients experiencing chronic pain or clitoral burial. AIM: This study aims to assess which factors are predictive of the occurrence of surgical complications in women who had surgical reconstruction for FGM/C (type 1, 2, or 3). METHODS: This monocentric retrospective study was conducted among patients who underwent clitoral reconstruction after FGM/C from January 2016 to March 2020. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from the medical records. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the occurrence of chronic pain (defined as occurrence or persistence of any clitoral pain >3 months after surgery), and the secondary outcome was the occurrence of clitoral burial. RESULTS: A total of 87 women were included in the analysis. Univariate analysis indicated significantly higher rates of a history of physical abuse in the group of women who experienced chronic pain after surgery (4 [100%] vs 2 [37.1%], P = .049). Patients with clitoral burial were significantly younger than the rest of the sample in univariate analysis (median [IQR], 29.6 years [24.6-30.2] vs 33.8 [28.2-37.9]; P = .049). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Surgical treatment of women who underwent FGM/C should include the entire history of the patient and especially a record of experiencing physical abuse. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study stands out for its originality, the extensive sample size gathered over nearly 4 years, the surgical clitoral reconstructions conducted by an experienced surgeon, and the minimal amount of missing data. However, because the occurrence of these complications was rare, the number of patients in the subgroups was extremely low, preventing a valid multivariate analysis to be conducted. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that women with a history of physical abuse could be at greater risk for chronic pain after surgery and that younger women tend to experience more clitoral burial.

Association between social vulnerability profiles, prenatal care use and pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating social vulnerability is a challenging task. Indeed, former studies demonstrated an association between geographical social deprivation indicators, administrative indicators, and poor pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between social vulnerability profiles, prenatal care use (PCU) and poor pregnancy outcomes (Preterm birth (PTB: <37 gestational weeks (GW)), small for gestational age (SGA), stillbirth, medical abortion, and late miscarriage). METHODS: Retrospective single center study between January 2020 and December 2021. A total of 7643 women who delivered a singleton after 14 GW in a tertiary care maternity unit were included. Multiple component analysis (MCA) was used to assess the associations between the following social vulnerabilities: social isolation, poor or insecure housing conditions, not work-related household income, absence of standard health insurance, recent immigration, linguistic barrier, history of violence, severe dependency, psychologic vulnerability, addictions, and psychiatric disease. Hierarchical clustering on principal component (HCPC) from the MCA was used to classify patients into similar social vulnerability profiles. Associations between social vulnerability profiles and poor pregnancy outcomes were tested using multiple logistic regression or Poisson regression when appropriate. RESULTS: The HCPC analysis revealed 5 different social vulnerability profiles. Profile 1 included the lowest rates of vulnerability and was used as a reference. After adjustment for maternal characteristics and medical factors, profiles 2 to 5 were independently associated with inadequate PCU (highest risk for profile 5, aOR = 3.14, 95%CI[2.33-4.18]), PTB (highest risk for profile 2, aOR = 4.64, 95%CI[3.80-5.66]) and SGA status (highest risk for profile 5, aOR = 1.60, 95%CI[1.20-2.10]). Profile 2 was the only profile associated with late miscarriage (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 7.39, 95%CI[4.17-13.19]). Profiles 2 and 4 were independently associated with stillbirth (highest association for profile 2 (aIRR = 10.9, 95%CI[6.11-19.99]) and medical abortion (highest association for profile 2 (aIRR = 12.65, 95%CI[5.96-28.49]). CONCLUSIONS: This study unveiled 5 clinically relevant social vulnerability profiles with different risk levels of inadequate PCU and poor pregnancy outcomes. A personalized patient management according to their profile could offer better pregnancy management and reduce adverse outcomes.

Use of pregnancy personalised follow-up in case of maternal social vulnerability to reduce prematurity and neonatal morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Social deprivation is a major risk factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Yet, there is few studies evaluating interventions aiming at reducing the impact of social vulnerability on pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcomes between patients that received personalized pregnancy follow-up (PPFU) to address social vulnerability versus standard care. METHODS: Retrospective comparative cohort in a single institution between 2020 and 2021. A total of 3958 women with social vulnerability that delivered a singleton after 14 gestational weeks were included, within which 686 patients had a PPFU. Social vulnerability was defined by the presence of at least one of the following characteristics: social isolation, poor or insecure housing conditions, no work-related household income, and absence of standard health insurance (these four variables were combined as a social deprivation index (SDI)), recent immigration (< 12 month), interpersonal violence during pregnancy, being handicaped or minor, addiction during pregnancy. Maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were compared between patients that received PPFU versus standard care. The associations between poor pregnancy outcomes (premature birth before 37 gestational weeks (GW), premature birth before 34 GW, small for gestational age (SGA) and PPFU were tested using multivariate logistic regression and propensity score matching. RESULTS: After adjustment on SDI, maternal age, parity, body mass index, maternal origin and both high medical and obstetrical risk level before pregnancy, PPFU was an independent protective factor of premature birth before 37 gestational weeks (GW) (aOR = 0.63, 95%CI[0.46-0.86]). The result was similar for premature birth before 34 GW (aOR = 0.53, 95%CI [0.34-0.79]). There was no association between PPFU and SGA (aOR = 1.06, 95%CI [0.86 - 1.30]). Propensity score adjusted (PSa) OR for PPFU using the same variables unveiled similar results, PSaOR = 0.63, 95%CI[0.46-0.86] for premature birth before 37 GW, PSaOR = 0.52, 95%CI [0.34-0.78] for premature birth before 34 GW and PSaOR = 1.07, 95%CI [0.86 - 1.33] for SGA. CONCLUSIONS: This work suggests that PPFU improves pregnancy outcomes and emphasizes that the detection of social vulnerability during pregnancy is a major health issue.

Trial of labour versus elective caesarean delivery for estimated large for gestational age foetuses after prior caesarean delivery: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Lower rates of successful trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) in association with fetal macrosomia were previously reported. This study aimed to compare TOLAC to elective caesarean delivery (CD) in women with estimated fetal weight large for gestational age (eLGA) and a prior CD. Primary outcome was to analyse the mode of delivery in case of TOLAC. Secondary outcome was to compare maternal and foetal morbidity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, multicentric, cohort study in five maternity units between January and December 2020. Inclusion criteria were: women with a single prior CD and eLGA or neonatal weight > 90th percentile with singleton pregnancy and gestational age ≥ 37 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: rate of vaginal delivery, maternal and fetal morbidity including: shoulder dystocia, neonatal hospitalization, fetal trauma, neonatal acidosis, uterine rupture, 3rd and 4th perineal tears, post-partum hemorrhage, and a need for blood transfusion. RESULTS: Four hundred forty women met inclusion criteria, including 235 (53.4%) eLGA. 170 (72.3%) had a TOLAC (study group) and 65 (27.7%) an elective CD (control). 117 (68.82%) TOLAC had a vaginal delivery. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the rates of: postpartum haemorrhage, transfusion, Apgar score, neonatal hospitalization, and foetal trauma. Cord lactate was higher in the case of TOLAC (3.2 vs 2.2, p < 0.001). Median fetal weight was 3815 g (3597-4085) vs. 3865 g (3659-4168): p = 0.068 in the study vs. controls group respectively. CONCLUSION: TOLAC for eLGA fetuses is legitimate because there is no difference in maternal-fetal morbidity, and the CD rate is acceptable.

Association between maternal social vulnerability and cesarean delivery: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Although social vulnerability has been correlated to adverse obstetrical outcomes, its definition as well as its correlation to mode of delivery vary between different studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between maternal social vulnerabilities and cesarean section with the inclusion of a wide range of social vulnerability characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: The current study is a retrospective single center cohort study in a tertiary care maternity unit between January 2020 and December 2021. All women who delivered after 24 gestational weeks were included. Multiple component analysis (MCA) grouped vulnerability characteristics in three independent vulnerability axes, named after their clinical relevance as administrative, psychological, and dependency axis. Multiple logistic regression was performed, controlling for obstetrical, medical factors as well as the Robson classification. RESULTS: In total, 7707 patients were identified. After adjustment for the aforementioned factors, a statistically significant association was shown between administrative vulnerability index and cesarean section before labor or during labor respectively (aOR 1.48 [1.23 - 1.78] and aOR 1.46 [OR 1.23 - 1.73]). In contrast, no significant correlation was found for the psychological vulnerability index (aOR 1.09 [0.86 - 1.38] and aOR 0.99 [0.78 - 1.25]) or the dependency vulnerability index (aOR 0.98 [0.76 - 1.26] and aOR 0.85 [0.64 - 1.12]). CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides new insight into the correlation between social vulnerabilities and the risk of cesarean section. It demonstrates that administrative vulnerability is an independent risk factor of cesarean delivery. These patients should be identified and offered an adapted pregnancy monitoring in order to reduce cesarean section rates.

Cervical ripening for a singleton fetus in breech prensentation at term: Comparison between mechanical and pharmaceutical methods.

Although various international professional societies currently recommend trial of vaginal delivery of term fetuses in breech presentation, the question of the method of cervical ripening, when necessary, remains open. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of two methods of cervical ripening for delivery of a singleton fetus in breech presentation at term: a mechanical method (balloon catheter) and a pharmaceutical method (prostaglandins). STUDY DESIGN: This two-center retrospective study reviewed records from 2014 through 2019 in two French maternity units with two different cervical ripening methods for fetuses in breech presentation. The study included all women with cervical ripening for a medical indication with a live singleton fetus in breech presentation ≥ 37 weeks, with an unfavorable cervix. The group treated with a mechanical method was compared with the group receiving a pharmaceutical method. The cesarean delivery rate was the principal outcome, and maternal and neonatal morbidity the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: We included 74 women, 19 with mechanical cervical ripening, and 55 with pharmaceutical treatment. The cesarean rate was 57.9% in the balloon catheter group and 40% in the prostaglandin group (P = 0.097) (crude OR =2.06, 95% CI [0.72 - 5.94]; adjusted OR = 2.88, 95% confidence interval [0.52-15.96]), and the postpartum hemorrhage rates 21.1% and 1.8% respectively (P = 0.008). Neonatal morbidity did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Although the cesarean rate and neonatal morbidity and mortality did not differ significantly between these two methods of cervical ripening, our study lacked power.

Term prelabor rupture of membranes: Foley catheter versus dinoprostone as ripening agent.

INTRODUCTION: Term prelabor rupture of membranes (TPROM) occurs in approximately 8 % of pregnancies. This condition regularly requires medical intervention such as induction of labor. The actual data concerning cervical ripening in case of TPROM does not favor any of the available techniques. This is the first study comparing dinoprostone versus Foley catheter for cervical ripening in TPROM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective before-after study. We enrolled all the patients with confirmed TPROM after 37 weeks of gestation (WG) who required cervical ripening. Women were included if they had a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation, with unfavorable cervix (Bishop ≤ 6). Patients were excluded if they had a previous uterine surgery, a multiple pregnancy, contraindication to vaginal delivery, spontaneous labor or favorable cervix (Bishop > 6). During the first period (2015), the protocol of cervical ripening involved dinoprostone (prostaglandins E2) by vaginal administration (vaginal gel or pessary). During the second period (2016-2017), the protocol of cervical ripening involved Foley catheter (FC). The primary outcome was the rate of cesarean section. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-eight patients were included for the analysis: 131 in the first period (dinoprostone group) and 107 in the second period (foley catheter group). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the mode of delivery (cesarean section: 206 % vs 13 %, p = 016). Concerning tolerance, the were no difference in the rates of postpartum hemorrhage, maternal per-partum fever and endometrisis. Neonatal outcomes were similar between the two groups. The induction to delivery interval was lower with dinoprostone (20,3 h versus 26,0 h, p = 0001). The mean duration of labor was also significantly different (6,9 h for dinoprostone group versus 8,7 h for FC group, p = 001). CONCLUSION: Cervical ripening in case of TPROM after 37 W G with Foley catheter seems to be a safe technique with similar outcomes to prostaglandins regarding the mode of delivery.