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Biomedical subjects

F Goffinet

Publications and source records attributed to F Goffinet.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Which tocolytics should be used in 2001?].

Beta-mimetics are the gold standard tocolytic treatment but raise several problems. Despite their recognized efficacy in prolonging pregnancy, the neonatal benefit remains to be proven. There are several contraindications and frequent adverse effects, with a risk of fatal maternal accidents. The lack of reliable criteria for the prediction of preterm birth leads to giving unnecessary treatments to two-thirds of the patients. In this context, obstetrical practices have tended to prefer tocolytics which, with the same efficacy, would have fewer side effects than beta-mimetics and which would not raise a risk of severe complications. Calcium-channel blockers belonging to the dihydropyridin family and ocytocin antagonists would appear to meet the new requirements. In randomized trials versus beta-mimetics, they have been found to have a comparable effect in prolonging pregnancy by 48 hours. Tolerance is better than with beta-mimetics and treatment interruption due to side effects can be avoided. Finally, a meta-analysis of trials comparing calcium inhibitors versus beta-mimetics demonstrated a decrease in respiratory distress syndrome in the neonates and a reduction in the number of transfers to neonatal intensive care. The data accumulated on these new compounds would appear to suggest that they should be used as the first line treatment and not as an alternative to beta-mimetics. Other compounds including NO donors and cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors are under evaluation.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

[Ovarian cysts and pregnancy].

FREQUENCY AND HISTOLOGY: In the first trimester of pregnancy, ovarian cysts are often functional without complications. After 16 weeks of gestation, frequency of ovarian cyst is reported between 0.5 and 3.0%. Histological results are identical to those observed in non pregnant women between 15 and 44 years, essentially dermoid cysts and functional cysts. Frequency of ovarian cancer is reported between 1 out of 15,000 and 1 out of 32,000 pregnancies. A surgical intervention is necessary if suspect signs are observed at ultrasonographic examination. RISK OF COMPLICATIONS: Almost all unilocular cyst with a diameter < 5 cm and persistent in second and third trimester are not associated with complications and are regressive during pregnancy; in this cases, abstention seems warranted. Conclusions are similar for dermoid cysts with diameter < 6 cm and without malignant criteria but there are a few studies on theses topics. No prospective studies are available to assess the risk of cancer or complications for cyst with diameter > 6 cm without malignant criteria. MANAGEMENT: Evacuation by puncture is not well evaluated and is not recommended during pregnancy. If an intervention is decided, laparoscopy is warranted until 16-17 weeks. After 17 weeks, laparotomy is the most evaluated method. OBSTETRICAL CONSEQUENCES: They are uncommon and caesarean section is warranted only if a cyst in the pelvis will obstruct labour. During caesarean section, removal of a cyst should be performed.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of the Bishop score, ultrasonographically measured cervical length, and fetal fibronectin assay in predicting time until delivery and type of delivery at term.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare the Bishop score, fetal fibronectin assays, and ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length to determine the best markers for time until spontaneous labor at term and risk of cesarean delivery, especially for the indication of lack of progress of dilatation. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study included 128 singleton vertex pregnancies with no clinical evidence of membrane rupture or regular contractions and a prenatal consultation between 39 weeks 4 days' gestation and 40 weeks 3 days' gestation. We successively assayed for fetal fibronectin, determined the Bishop score, and measured cervical length by transvaginal ultrasonography. The end points were the percentage of patients with a spontaneous onset of labor in the week after these tests and the type of delivery. RESULTS: The spontaneous onset of labor within a 7-day period was closely associated with a Bishop score > or = 6 and with a cervical length < or = 26 mm but not with a positive result of the fetal fibronectin assay. On the other hand, vaginal delivery was significantly associated with the fibronectin assay result but not with either the Bishop score or cervical length. CONCLUSIONS: The Bishop score and ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length are valuable for predicting the onset of spontaneous labor within 7 days (when these assessments are performed close to term), whereas the fetal fibronectin assay is useful for evaluating the risk of cesarean delivery. These tests thus provide different physiologic data that are useful for different purposes.

Adult↗

Dating biometry during the first trimester: accuracy of an every-day practice.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the accuracy of an every-day practice for assessing gestational age by ultrasound measurement of the greatest embryonic length (GEL). DESIGN: This retrospective study used measurements taken during the first trimester. SUBJECTS: We considered all births in this hospital between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1994 from pregnancies that began by an in-vitro fertilization procedure (IVF). We examined 143 consecutive files, containing 257 measurements made by 72 different operators. METHODS: The precision of seven embryo growth curves was compared. We calculated for each curve its ability to predict (95% prediction interval) the date the pregnancy began, using these dated pregnancies. RESULT: For GEL measurements between 3 and 80 mm, which includes most of our population, Robinson and Wisser (2) were the most appropriate curves. The 95% prediction interval was 9.5 and 10.2 days respectively. CONCLUSION: Dating pregnancies in every-day practice with GEL is nearly as accurate as prospective studies with only one or two scanners.

Adult↗

Prenatal diagnosis of a subdural hematoma associated with reverse flow in the middle cerebral artery: case report and literature review.

To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a subdural hematoma, related to fetal autoimmune thrombocytopenia, diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound. The underlying etiology was hidden maternal autoimmune thrombocytopenia. This disease, which is as serious as alloimmune thrombocytopenia, causes severe fetal thrombocytopenia, which carries with it a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage and recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. Only 14 cases of fetal subdural hematomas have been reported in the literature. The etiologies of these cases were principally traumatic, or due to disorders of hemostasis. Their prognoses were generally poor, with 50% resulting in fetal death in utero and the remaining 50% demonstrating post-natal sequelae. The presence of reverse flow in the middle cerebral artery is rare and its association with a subdural hematoma unusual. Abnormalities found on cerebral Doppler studies indicate an adaptive response to a fetal condition for which the prognosis is then very poor. Monitoring fetuses at risk for hemorrhage by ultrasound imaging and Doppler studies enables us to detect indicators of a worsening prognosis before the ultrasound appearance of morphological hemorrhage. The development of intracranial hemorrhage raises difficult management issues during the index pregnancy and in subsequent pregnancies.

Adult↗

External cephalic version with epidural anaesthesia after failure of a first trial with beta-mimetics.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy, tolerance, and cost of external version under epidural anaesthesia and beta-mimetic tocolysis after the failure of an initial attempt with tocolysis alone. DESIGN: Prospective open study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight women with breech presentation at around 36 weeks of gestation and an attempted external cephalic version under salbutamol that failed, who consented to try a second attempt under epidural anaesthesia. RESULTS: The overall success rate under epidural anaesthesia was 39.7% (27/68), and complications occurred in two cases. The total cost of attempting external version was higher than the cost of expectant management. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of external cephalic version under epidural reduces the rate of caesarean sections associated with breech presentation, but its relative safety remains in question. Moreover, our economic analysis discourages the hope of lowered costs suggested by earlier reports that this technique is more expensive than expectant management, except in institutions with a policy of systematic caesarean sections when version fails.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

[Newborn shoulder width: physiological variations and predictive value for shoulder dystocia].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine maternal and infant characteristics affecting newborn shoulder width (NSW) and to evaluate the predictive value of NSW measurement in cases of shoulder dystocia. DESIGN: NSW was systematically measured at birth during a period of 18 months. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Saint-Antoine University Hospital (Paris-France). POPULATION: A total of 2.222 NSW measurements were performed and 22 cases of true shoulder dystocia occurred during the study period. METHODS: NSW measurements were reviewed and correlated with maternal age, parity, nonpregnant weight, weight gain during pregnancy, height, race, fasting glucose and one hour glucose levels, gestational age, birthweight and sex of the neonate. A Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate NSW as a test for predicting shoulder dystocia. RESULTS: The mean NSW was 122.06 mm +/-0.50 SD. Stepwise multiple regression showed that NSW was significantly associated with birthweight (p<0.001), parity (p = 0.04), and nonpregnant weight (p = 0.04). We estimated that the best cut-off for shoulder dystocia prediction was a NSW measurement with a low false positive rate (<10%) in association with a high sensitivity rate. Therefore, NSW measurement above or equal to 140 mm was selected. This measurement should have a low sensitivity of 27.27%, a specificity of 91.82%, a positive predictive value of 4.02%, and a predictive negative value of 99.01% for shoulder dystocia prediction. Nevertheless, birthweight above or equal to 4000 g should retrospectively have a better predictive value for shoulder dystocia. CONCLUSIONS: NSW measurement, which is strongly correlated with birth weight, still remains a poor predictor for shoulder dystocia, even when this evaluation is correct antenatally.

Anthropometry↗

[Repetition of corticoid treatment for fetal lung maturation: clinical and experimental scientific data].

Before 34 weeks, one course of antenatal corticosteroids significantly decreases neonatal mortality and morbidity. Courses are repeated every week, because of their alleged loss of efficiency after 7 days, although the relative benefits and risks of repeated courses are poorly known. Data from the literature suggest that improvement in lung function after repeated courses depends on the reduction of the treatment/birth interval and not on the rise in the cumulative dose. These benefits must be balanced against the risk of decreased birth weight induced by repeated courses. Because of their effect on fetal growth, weekly courses of corticosteroids should no longer be given systematically. In clinical practice, pregnancies at high risk of preterm delivery must be reassessed every week before prescribing a new course. Both better understanding of treatment duration of corticosteroids and randomized controlled trials comparing one and multiple courses are needed to improve antenatal management of neonatal respiratory stress syndrome.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Thickness of the lower uterine segment: its influence in the management of patients with previous cesarean sections.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how ultrasound measurement of the lower uterine segment affects the decision about delivery for patients with previous cesarean sections (CS) and what are the consequences on cesarean section rates and uterine rupture or dehiscence. DESIGN: Prospective open study. PATIENTS: 198 patients: all women with a previous CS who gave birth in our department during 1995 and 1996 to an infant with a gestational age of at least 36 weeks and who underwent ultrasound measurement of their lower uterine segment (95-96 study group), compared with a similar population from 1989 to 1994 whose measurements were not provided to the treating obstetrician. RESULTS: Among the patients with one previous CS, the vaginal delivery rate did not differ significantly during the two periods (70.3% for the 89-94 study period vs. 67.9% for the 95-96 study period, P=0.53), but the 95-96 study group experienced a significant increase in the rate of elective CS, compensated by a reduction in the rate of emergency CS (6.3% and 23.4%, respectively, for the 89-94 study period vs. 11.9% and 20.1% for the 95-96 study period, P=0.01). There was a very significant increase in the rate of vaginal delivery for the 95-96 study period among patients with two previous CS (26.7% vs. 8.0% for the 89-95 study period, P=0.01). The lower uterine segment was significantly thicker among women with a trial of labor than among those with an elective CS (4.5+/-1.4 mm compared with 3.8 +/- 1.5 mm; P=0.006); and the trial of labor group contained significantly fewer women with a lower uterine segment measurement less than 3.5 mm than did the elective CS group (24.0% compared with 56.6%; P<0.001). Two patients (0.8%) were found to have a defect of the uterine scar, a rate significantly lower than that observed in the early group (3.9%, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound measurement of the lower uterine segment can increase the safe use of trial of labor, because it provides an additional element for assessing the risk of uterine rupture.

Adult↗