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Biomedical subjects

D Farine

Publications and source records attributed to D Farine.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Maternal colonization with group B Streptococcus and prelabor rupture of membranes at term: the role of induction of labor. TermPROM Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine the effect of induction of labor on neonatal infection if mothers are group B streptococci positive and have prelabor rupture of membranes at term. STUDY DESIGN: In the TermPROM study 5041 women were randomized to induction with intravenous oxytocin, induction with vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel, or expectant management with induction, if needed. Of these, 4834 women had vaginal or introital swabs for group B streptococci taken at entry. We used logistic regression to test for effects of treatment within group B streptococci subgroups. RESULTS: Group B streptococci were predictive of neonatal infection for the induction with vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel and expectant groups but not for the induction with oxytocin group. For women positive for group B streptococci the rates of neonatal infection were 2.5% for the induction with oxytocin group and > 8% for all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of labor with intravenous oxytocin may be preferable for group B streptococci-positive women with prelabor rupture of membranes at term.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

Failed trial of vacuum or forceps--maternal and fetal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with a failed trial of instrumental delivery with that of proceeding directly to cesarean section during the second stage of labor. STUDY DESIGN: All second-stage cesarean deliveries between January 1986 and December 1992 in a tertiary care teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Specific maternal and neonatal outcome parameters were studied to compare the failed instrumental group with the direct-to-cesarean section group. RESULTS: Of 29,457 live births at > 37 weeks' gestation, 401 women had a cesarean section performed in the second stage of labor. There were 326 cases in which cesarean section was performed directly during the second stage of labor and 75 women who had a failed attempt of instrumental delivery (forceps 33, vacuum 25, both 17) before cesarean delivery was done. The three instrumental groups and the direct-to-cesarean section group did not differ in any of the outcome variables for either mother or newborn. CONCLUSIONS: Failed instrumental delivery performed as a trial of forceps and/or vacuum in a setting where a cesarean section can follow promptly is not associated with increased morbidity of either mother or baby.

Cesarean Section↗

Isolated ductal closure in utero diagnosed by fetal echocardiography.

In utero isolated ductal closure is uncommon and can lead to fetal hydrops and death if not recognized. Five fetuses were diagnosed prenatally by echocardiography. The reasons for referral were hydrops (2), cardiomegaly (1), polyhydramnios and choroid plexus cyst (1), and polyhydramnios and teratoma of the neck (1). Gestational age was median 32, range 18-41 weeks. Two mothers received indomethacin for polyhydramnios, with the echocardiogram performed 5 and 3 days after the last dose. Three had a negative history of drug ingestion. Fetal echocardiograms showed absent flow in the ductus arteriosus, dilated right ventricle with decreased function, and mild or moderate tricuspid and pulmonary insufficiency in all. The left ventricle was hypercontractile, with significantly increased left ventricular stroke output when compared to the right. Four fetuses were delivered by cesarean section and had an uneventful course. One fetus died shortly after birth due to airway obstruction from a large teratoma. Autopsy showed ductal constriction. Postnatal echocardiograms showed absent ductal flow and dilated right ventricle. On follow-up, survivors remained asymptomatic with cardiac size returning to normal. Premature closure of the ductus arteriosus should be considered in hydrops of unknown etiology, right ventricular dysfunction, and following indomethacin therapy. Urgent delivery results in an excellent prognosis.

Adult↗

Women's evaluations of induction of labor versus expectant management for prelabor rupture of the membranes at term. TermPROM Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Induction of labor has become common practice in many Western countries, but few studies have assessed women's views. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted at 72 hospitals in six countries. Five thousand forty-one women meeting eligibility criteria, with no contraindications for induction of labor or expectant management, were randomly assigned to four groups: induction with intravenous oxytocin, induction with vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel, or expectant management followed by induction with either oxytocin or with prostaglandin E2 gel if complications developed. The three main outcome measures were evaluations of the treatment received, perceived control during childbirth, and evaluations of the experience of trial participation. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 81.9 percent of the sample. No significant differences occurred between the two induction groups. Compared with the expectant management groups, induced women were less likely to report there was nothing they liked about their treatment and less likely to report that the treatment caused additional worry. No between-group differences occurred in experienced control during childbirth. Women in the induction groups were more likely to be willing to participate in the study again and to feel reassured. CONCLUSIONS: Women's preferences should be considered when making decisions about their method of management when membranes rupture before labor. Obtaining participants' views is both feasible and worthwhile when evaluating forms of medical care.

Adult↗

Induction of labor compared with expectant management for prelabor rupture of the membranes at term. TERMPROM Study Group.

BACKGROUND: As the interval between rupture of the fetal membranes at term and delivery increases, so may the risk of fetal and maternal infection. It is not known whether inducing labor will reduce this risk or whether one method of induction is better then another. METHODS: We studied 5041 women with prelabor rupture of the membranes at term. The women were randomly assigned to induction of labor with intravenous oxytocin; induction of labor with vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel; or expectant management for up to four days, with labor induced with either intravenous oxytocin or vaginal prostaglandin E2 gel if complications developed. The primary outcome was neonatal infection. Secondary outcomes were the need for cesarean section and women's evaluations of their treatment. RESULTS: The rates of neonatal infection and cesarean section were not significantly different among the study groups. The rates of neonatal infection were 2.0 percent for the induction-with-oxytocin group, 3.0 percent for the induction-with-prostaglandin group, 2.8 percent for the expectant-management (oxytocin) group, and 2.7 percent for the expectant-management (prostaglandin) group. The rates of cesarean section ranged from 9.6 to 10.9 percent. Clinical chorioamnionitis was less likely to develop in the women in the induction-with-oxytocin group than in those in the expectant-management (oxytocin) group (4.0 percent vs. 8.6 percent, P<0.001), as was postpartum fever (1.9 percent vs. 3.6 percent, P=0.008). Women in the induction groups were less likely to say they liked "nothing" about their treatment than those in the expectant-management groups. CONCLUSIONS: In women with prelabor rupture of the membranes at term, induction of labor with oxytocin or prostaglandin E2 and expectant management result in similar rates of neonatal infection and cesarean section. Induction of labor with intravenous oxytocin results in a lower risk of maternal infection than does expectant management. Women view induction of labor more positively than expectant management.

Adult↗

External cephalic version. Does it have a role in modern obstetric practice?

External cephalic version (ECV) for breech presentation at term substantially reduces the incidence of breech birth and cesarean section. Appropriate counseling and surveillance is important to ensure an acceptably low complication rate and reduce potential for litigation. Even a high success rate for ECV only minimally reduces the overall cesarean section rate.

Breech Presentation↗

Impact of increasing carbohydrate intolerance on maternal-fetal outcomes in 3637 women without gestational diabetes. The Toronto Tri-Hospital Gestational Diabetes Project.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess maternal-fetal outcomes in patients with increasing carbohydrate intolerance not meeting the current criteria for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective analytic cohort study in which nondiabetic women aged > or = 24 years, receiving prenatal care in three Toronto teaching hospitals, were eligible for enrollment. A glucose challenge test and an oral glucose tolerance test were administered at 26 and 28 weeks' gestation, respectively; risk factors for unfavorable maternal-fetal outcomes were recorded. Caregivers and patients were blinded to glucose values except when test results met the current criteria for gestational diabetes. RESULTS: Of 4274 patients screened, 3836 (90%) continued to the diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test. The study cohort was formed by the 3637 (95%) patients without gestational diabetes, carrying singleton fetuses. Increasing carbohydrate intolerance in women without overt gestational diabetes was associated with a significantly increased incidence of cesarean sections, preeclampsia, macrosomia, and need for phototherapy, as well as an increased length of maternal and neonatal hospital stay. Multivariate analysis showed that increasing carbohydrate intolerance is an independent predictor for various unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: Increasing maternal carbohydrate intolerance in pregnant women without gestational diabetes is associated with a graded increase in adverse maternal-fetal outcomes.

Adult↗

High delivery intervention rates in nulliparous women over age 35.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of maternal age and parity on obstetric interventions and pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 35,140 deliveries including 4268 parturients aged 35 years or more (1985-1992). Obstetrical interventions and outcome were analyzed in relation to age and parity. RESULTS: Nulliparous women aged 35 years or more had a 2-fold increase in cesarean delivery rate over younger nulliparae, and 50% more cesarean deliveries than the multiparae aged 35 years or more. Similar trends were observed in preterm labor, labor induction, breech presentation, and instrumental delivery. Higher risk was encountered in neonatal 1 min Apgar scores < 3, and in admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit. There were no differences in all parameters between women over age 40 and women aged 35-40 years. The perinatal mortality was not increased and was similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nulliparae aged more than 35 years are at increased risk for interventions and cesarean sections. However, women aged 35-40 have a similar risk as women aged over 40 years.

Adult↗

Impact of time since last meal on the gestational glucose challenge test. The Toronto Tri-Hospital Gestational Diabetes Project.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of time since the last meal on the glucose challenge test and to find cut points that are most likely to predict the outcome of the oral glucose tolerance test in patients screened for gestational diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective analytic cohort study was carried out at the University of Toronto Perinatal Complex. A 50 gm glucose load was given at 26 weeks' gestation and the time since previous meal ingestion was recorded. At 28 weeks' gestation a 100 gm oral glucose tolerance test was administered. A total of 4274 eligible patients were screened. RESULTS: Time since the last meal had a marked effect on mean plasma glucose. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis with National Diabetes Data Group criteria to interpret the oral glucose tolerance allowed the selection of the most efficient cut points for the glucose challenge test on the basis of time since the last meal. These cut points were 8.2, 7.9, and 8.3 mmol/L for elapsed postprandial times of < 2, 2 to 3, and > 3 hours, respectively. With this change from the current threshold of 7.8 mmol/L the number of patients with a positive screening test dropped from 18.5% to 13.7%. There was an increase in positive predictive value from 14.4% to 18.7%. The rate of patient misclassification fell from 18.0% to 13.1%. CONCLUSION: We suggest that screening strategies for detection of gestational diabetes be reconsidered, to account for the impact of variable postprandial status on the test results.

Adult↗

The premature infant: anesthesia for cesarean delivery.

The influence of anesthetic technique (general [GA] versus epidural [EPI]) on neonatal outcome was assessed for singleton infants of gestational age 32 wk or less, delivered by cesarean section. Neonates were identified from a prospectively collected perinatal database from 1986 to 1991. The independent effect of anesthetic technique on low 1-min Apgar scores after controlling for other risk factors was assessed by ordinal logistic regression. Among the 509 infants studied, 30% had Apgar scores of 0 to 3 at 1 min and 5.9% at 5 min. Among infants delivered with GA, 46.4% had low 1-min and 10.1% had low 5-min Apgar scores as compared to 22.0% and 3.8% for EPI. GA as compared to EPI was associated with higher risk of low (0-3) 1-min score after controlling for confounding factors (relative odds = 2.92, [1.99, 4.27 95% confidence intervals]). Other factors significantly related to low 1-min Apgar scores included malpresentation, maternal diabetes, primiparity, low gestational age, and associated neonatal outcomes (presence of respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage). When there is a choice to be made in cesarean delivery of the premature infant, EPI is associated with higher 1- and 5-min Apgar scores compared to GA.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗

Absent end-diastolic flow velocity waveforms in the umbilical artery--the subsequent pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the recurrence risk, course, and outcome of subsequent pregnancies in women with absent umbilical end-diastolic velocity. STUDY DESIGN: Absent umbilical end-diastolic velocity was detected in 88 women. Sixteen of them were prospectively followed up in their 19 subsequent pregnancies. These pregnancies were compared with their index pregnancies. RESULTS: The index pregnancy was invariably complicated with a perinatal mortality of 56%, growth restriction in 94% (15/16), and prematurity in 100% (75% < 32 weeks' gestation). In contrast, the outcome of the subsequent pregnancies was much better, and 74% (14/19) were uncomplicated. No perinatal deaths occurred, and none were delivered before 32 weeks' gestation. Absent umbilical end-diastolic velocity recurred in only two pregnancies, both of which were complicated. Six women had autoantibodies; these accounted for 80% (4/5) of subsequent complicated pregnancies. CONCLUSION: After an index pregnancy with absent umbilical end-diastolic velocity, subsequent pregnancies had favorable outcomes. Recurrence of absent umbilical end-diastolic velocity was low. The absence of autoantibodies and normal Doppler studies were associated with improved outcome.

Adult↗

Congenital aortic stenosis and pregnancy--a reappraisal.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant patients with congenital aortic stenosis without previous valvular replacement. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 25 pregnancies in 13 patients delivered at our centers from September 1976 to September 1992 was undertaken. RESULTS: Five (38%) patients had associated congenital heart lesions, three (23%) had severe stenosis (echocardiographically estimated valve area < or = 0.7 cm2), two had prior open aortic valve commissurotomy, and one had balloon valvuloplasty during pregnancy. There were no maternal deaths. Of the 25 pregnancies, five (20%) resulted in therapeutic abortions. There was no perinatal mortality, preterm labor, or increased incidence of pregnancy complications or fetal growth retardation in the remaining 20 pregnancies. One infant (5%) had congenital heart disease. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy outcome is generally satisfactory in patients with congenital aortic stenosis.

Adolescent↗

Cardiac electromechanical dissociation in the hypoxic fetal sheep may have clinical implications.

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to determine the sequence of fetal cardiac electrical and mechanical events associated with acute hypoxic acidemia and to correlate those events with terminal fetal heart rate patterns preceding fetal death. STUDY DESIGN: Eight acutely catheterized fetal sheep were rendered hypoxic by placental embolization with microspheres until fetal death occurred. The fetal electrocardiogram, Doppler cardiogram, left ventricular and aortic pressures, and fetal heart rate were continuously recorded. RESULTS: All eight fetuses showed a terminal bradycardia consisting of two phases: an initial phase of falling ventricular pressures, culminating in mechanical asystole, and a subsequent phase after asystole during which the electrocardiographic signal persisted for an average duration of 15.2 +/- 8.7 minutes (range 3.1 to 32.4) and triggered a Hewlett-Packard 8040A monitor to show a heart rate pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The phenomenon of cardiac electromechanical dissociation may be occurring during similar terminal bradycardias that are observed in human labor and explains the delivery of a fresh stillbirth in spite of the recording of an electrocardiographic signal from a scalp electrode.

Animals↗

What is a low-lying placenta?

Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed in 127 women thought to have placenta previa. In all cases of complete previa, placental location was confirmed at cesarean section. Where the placenta was situated in the lower segment of the uterus but did not cover the cervical os the distance from the placental edge to the internal cervical os was measured. This distance was analyzed in relation to the route of delivery. No patient with a placental edge greater than 2 cm from the internal cervical os required cesarean section for the indication of placenta previa, whereas seven of eight patients with a distance of less than or equal to 2 cm underwent cesarean section because of bleeding characteristic of a placenta previa. These preliminary results suggest that transvaginal ultrasonography measurement may indicate the optimal delivery route and make the traditional classification of placenta previa obsolete.

Cesarean Section↗

Can the nonstress test predict congenital sepsis?

The possible role of the nonstress test (NST) in the prediction of congenital sepsis in pregnancies complicated by prolonged premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) was investigated in a retrospective controlled study. Thirteen NSTs performed within 24 hours of the delivery of infants with congenital sepsis were coded, blinded, and mixed with an equal number of blinded NSTs derived from randomly selected patients matched for gestational age with PROM but without neonatal or maternal infection. Eleven of 13 infants with congenital sepsis had a reactive NST, and two had a nonreactive test. Among the controls, there were also 11 reactive and two nonreactive NSTs. The sensitivity and specificity of the NST in predicting congenital sepsis in patients with PROM were 15.4% and 84.6%, respectively. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 50%. Our results suggest that the NST is not a useful tool for prediction of congenital sepsis.

Case-Control Studies↗

Transvaginal Doppler assessment of the fetal cerebral circulation.

Blood flow velocity waveforms were recorded by pulsed Doppler examination of the fetal internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries using the established transabdominal route as well as a new transvaginal approach. Fourteen normal controls and 11 pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation were studied. Satisfactory recordings were obtained in all 25 cases. There was a good correlation (R2 = 0.98) between pulsatility index (PI) values obtained transabdominally and transvaginally. The PI in the middle cerebral artery was significantly higher than in the internal carotid artery in both normal and growth-retarded fetuses. Pulsatility in both cerebral vessels was significantly decreased in growth-retarded fetuses when compared with normal controls. The transvaginal route, which produces a coronal section of the fetal brain, allows better distinction between the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries. Furthermore, signals of equal quality are obtained from vessels in both cerebral hemispheres. Transvaginal scanning of the fetal cerebral arteries is a feasible technique offering an alternative to transabdominal scanning when the latter is hampered by technical difficulties.

Abdomen↗

Epidural anesthesia, episiotomy, and obstetric laceration.

The relationships among epidural anesthesia, forceps use, parity, episiotomy, and laceration were studied in 9493 uncomplicated vertex deliveries of spontaneous onset and normal course. The use of epidural anesthesia was not associated with an increased incidence or severity of birth-canal trauma. Episiotomy was associated with a decreased rate of perineal laceration, but an overall increase in the rate of perineal trauma. The trauma that did occur with episiotomies was four times more likely to be major than that when no episiotomy was performed.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗