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Biomedical subjects

L Marpeau

Publications and source records attributed to L Marpeau.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Evaluation of clinical competence in gynecology obstetrics: an innovative approach using the Objective Structured Clinical Examination].

OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of medical student clinical competence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology using Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Development of OSCE with definition of an assessment of subject, choice of clinical stations sampling, identification of components of clinical competence to be evaluated, the level of performance required, development of specification table, editing of OSCE presentation page and assessment of praticability and results exploitation. RESULTS: Eleven station stimuli with simulated patient participation were carried out, 2 stations with a mannequin model and 1 questionnaire station. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests OSCE feasibility for Obstetrics and Gynaecology during the initial course of education presents adequate psychometric characteristics. This gold standard can no longer be overlooked and should be considered as a useful tool to assess medical student competence. Nevertheless, OSCE remains to be further evaluated in France.

Clinical Competence↗

[Missed diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to search for the reasons why the diagnosis of post-partum hemorrhage may be missed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the files 5,517 vaginal delivery patients cared for in our Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit at the Rouen University Hospital between January 1, 1997 and September 30, 1999. Among these patients, 90 (1.63%) developed anemia during the post-partum period with a 10-point fall in the hematocrit from the pre-delivery level, which corresponds to a 1 liter loss of blood, but for whom no diagnosis of hemorrhage was made. We compared this group with the population of patients who had had a diagnosis of hemorrhage. The chi-squared or Fischer's exact text were used where appropriate to compare means and calculate z. RESULTS: Significant risk factors were: primiparity, anemia before delivery, labor induction, locorregional anesthesia, use of ocytocin, long labor with a long active phase, fever during labor, episiotomy and prolonged delay between delivery and onset of suture. CONCLUSIONS: Missed diagnosis appeared to be related to use of visual assessment to determine the degree of bleeding, a very mediocre indicator, particularly when no means of blood collection or quantification is used. In addition, factors having an impact on the development of hemorrhage should be revisited with particular attention given to primiparous patients.

Anemia↗

[Influence of the type of breech presentation on delivery in selected primiparous women at term].

OBJECTIVE: Study the effect of the type of breech presentation on the prognosis of delivery in selected primiparous women at term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 146 breech presentations seen between January 1, 1993 and December 12, 1999 in our unit. We limited our study to primiparous mothers at term (> or = 37 weeks gestation) who had had a normal single fetus pregnancy and who had accepted a trial of labor. We analyzed the mode of labor termination, and maternal, fetal, ovular, obstetrical and neonatal features by type of breech presentation and by type of delivery. We collected data by manual search of the patients' registered files (AUDIPOG). The chi-squared and Fisher's tests were used as appropriate for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Spontaneous vaginal delivery was achieved in 10.3% of the cases and non-spontaneous vaginal delivery in 56.2%. Cesarean section during labor was required in 33.5%. There was no significant difference between frank breech presentation (27.4%) and incomplete breech presentation (72.6%). Maternal, fetal, ovular, obstetrical and neonatal features were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike data reported by others, our series did not demonstrate any significant feature predictive of obstetrical and neonatal prognosis irrespective of the type of breech presentation in selected primiparous women at term who had had a normal pregnancy.

Adult↗

Leuprorelin depot 3.75 mg versus lynestrenol in the preoperative treatment of symptomatic uterine myomas: a multicentre randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist leuprorelin and progestin lynestrenol, given prior to surgical treatment of symptomatic uterine myomas, on the pre-operative symptoms, tolerance, and operative blood loss. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-six women were randomly selected to receive, during 16 weeks, either monthly subcutaneous injections of leuprorelin 3.75 mg sustained release (n=33) or lynestrenol 5 mg two tabs per day (5th to the 25th menstrual cycle) (n=23). RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analysis of the main efficacy criterion, namely ultrasonographic reduction of myoma(s) diameter, showed a significant difference in favour of leuprorelin (P=0.02) with a mean decrease of 26.5+/-4.5% (n=29) as opposed to 7.3+/-5% in the lynestrenol group (n=17). Clinical improvement was satisfactory in both groups. Hematocrit decrease between the preoperative value and the value measured 48 h postoperatively was significantly lower in the leuprorelin group than in the lynestrenol one (P=0.02) (for hemoglobin: P=0.07). CONCLUSION: Leuprorelin was more effective than lynestrenol because of its more intense antigonadotropic activity. The tolerance was good, reflecting each drug mechanism of action.

Adult↗

[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↗

[Inherited thrombophilia and pregnancy].

Inherited thrombophilia include deficiences of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S, and the factor V Leiden mutation, the prothrombin gene variant, and homozygosity for the thermolabile variant of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). The incidence of thromboembolism events during pregnancy and postpartum period among women with thrombophilia is not well known and depends on the prethrombotic state resulting from the interaction of the underlying thrombophilic defect(s), history of congenital thrombophilia, and additional risk factors. In that way, many patients with congenital thrombophilia will require antenatal thromboprophylaxis, the timing of which will depend on the patient's history and thrombophilic disorders. Low molecular weight heparin appeared to be a safe alternative to unfractionated heparin for both the fetus and the mother during the pregnancy. Case-control studies have recently demonstrated that serious obstetrical complications i. e severe preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, intrauterine growth restriction, and stillbirth were frequently associated with inherited thrombophilia. Controlled trials are now urgently needed to determine the possible potential benefits of anticoagulant therapy in pregnancy outcome. Finally, there is no evidence to support routine screening for congenital thrombophilia during pregnancy.

Antithrombin III Deficiency↗

[Grand prematurity, risk of neuropsychic handicaps and neuroprotection].

Increased survival of very preterm infants and extremely preterm infants does not imply an increase in neurodevelopmental sequelae. However, preterm infants remain at high risk of severe cerebral palsy with neuromotor dysfunction and mental retardation. Necrotic or hemorrhagic lesions occurring in the periventricular ring of telencephalic white matter are the most threatening events for the developing brain of these infants. Recent progress in neuroepidemiology, developmental neurobiology and imaging methods has made it possible to revisit the pathophysiology of brain lesions on a multifactorial basis. Treatment and early detection of infections is a priority. Neuroprotective agents capable of arresting neuron cell death (antagonists of the excitotoxic cascade, free-radical antagonists, proinflammatory cytokine antagonists, growth factors) are new strategies for the prevention of cerebral palsy.

Brain Diseases↗

[Waldmann disease and pregnancy].

Waldman disease, also called intestinal lymphangiectasis, is a protein-loosing enteropathy caused by anomalous intestinal lymphatic canals. The condition is transmitted by autosomal dominant inheritance. Diet therapy including medium chain triglycerides improves the disease course. The condition occurs in early childhood. We report a case observed in a pregnant woman with intestinal lymphangiectasis. She delivered a full-term infant and experienced no major complications.

Adult↗

[Sonographic findings of acardiac twin in the first trimester of pregnancy].

Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion (TRAP) sequence, or the acardiac anomaly, is a rare complication of monozygotic twins, that occurs in approximately 1 in 35,000 births. In the first trimester, once the diagnosis of monochorionic twins is made, particularly if one embryo shows abnormal development or generalized edema, the TRAP sequence must be considered. Moreover, malformations reported in the perfused twin are often severe. Diagnosis is confirmed by using Doppler ultrasound which demonstrated the presence of retrograde perfusion in the umbilical cord of the abnormal twin. The more complete the body form is, the more similarity the vascular relationships have to the pattern found in a full-term fetus. Final outcome and treatment decisions can be determined based on hemodynamic criteria. We report a case of a misdiagnosed TRAP sequence with no structural malformations detected by ultrasonography at 12 weeks of gestation.

Adult↗

[Endometrial imaging].

The diagnostic value of endovaginal sonography in benign or malignant endometrial pathology is high, increased by sonohysterography. Sonohysterography is useful in the diagnosis of endometrial thickness and to determine further investigations. MRI is accurate in the uterine adenomyosis diagnosis and is the imaging modality of choice for the preoperative endometrial cancer staging.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗

[Management of cholestasis in pregnancy].

DIAGNOSIS: Pruritus in a pregnant women with healthy skin is suggestive of gravid cholestasis. The diagnosis can only be retained after ruling out viral or drug-induced hepatitis or gallbladder disease. The best markers are maternal serum transaminase and bile acid levels. FETAL RISK: The perinatal consequences of gravid cholestasis are minimal if reasonable premature delivery is accepted. THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS: Ursodesoxycholic acid is an interesting therapeutic option if pruritus is untolerable or if the diagnosis is made early in pregnancy. Injection of vitamin K prevents coagulation disorders.

Cholestasis↗

Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein is not a useful biological marker of pregnancy outcome.

The aim of our study was to determine if the amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level could be a useful predictive biochemical marker of pregnancy outcome. Amniotic fluid AFP measurement was prospectively carried out over a three-year period. After excluding factors susceptible to modifying AFP measurements, 587 subjects with gestational age between 14 and 20 weeks were selected to compare the amniotic fluid AFP mean levels depending on the occurrence of an adverse outcome. No significant associations between amniotic fluid AFP level and poor pregnancy outcome, i.e. pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, premature rupture of fetal membranes, fetal growth retardation and placental abnormalities were observed. The routine measurement of amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein during an amniocentesis procedure was not considered useful in predicting pregnancy complications.

Adult↗

Small for gestational age infant in association with maternal prothrombin gene variant (nt 20210A).

Most of disproportionate infants born small for gestational age (SGA) have an history of placental dysfunction with no explained cause. We report a case of an unexplained SGA infant with placental infarctions and thrombosis. Maternal thrombophilic disorder tests revealed that the patient was heterozygous for the A20210 prothrombin gene variant a newly identified thrombotic risk factor. It may be suggest that prothrombin gene variant, as factor V Leiden, could be a genetic risk factor for placental insufficiency.

Adult↗

Newborn shoulder width: a prospective study of 2222 consecutive measurements.

OBJECTIVES: To relate maternal and infant characteristics to newborn shoulder width and to evaluate the predictive value of newborn shoulder width measurement in cases of shoulder dystocia. DESIGN: Newborn shoulder width 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 2222 newborn shoulder width measurements were performed and 22 cases of true shoulder dystocia occurred during the study period. METHODS: Newborn shoulder width 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 curve was constructed to evaluate newborn shoulder width as a test for predicting shoulder dystocia. RESULTS: The mean newborn shoulder width was 122.06 mm (10.50 SD). Stepwise multiple regression showed that newborn shoulder width 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 newborn shoulder width measurement with a low false positive rate (< 10%) in association with a high sensitivity rate. Therefore, newborn shoulder width measurement > or = 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 negative predictive value of 99.01% for shoulder dystocia prediction. Nevertheless, birthweight > or = 4000 g should have a better predictive value retrospectively for shoulder dystocia. CONCLUSIONS: Newborn shoulder width measurement, which is strongly correlated with birthweight, still remains a poor predictor for shoulder dystocia, even when this evaluation is correct antenatally.

Adult↗

Fetal lactic dehydrogenase variation in normal pregnancy and in cases of severe intra-uterine growth restriction.

Physiological and pathological fetal levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), including its five different iso-enzymes are still poorly known. Our objectives were to compare total LDH levels and its five iso-enzymes between a control group of healthy fetuses and a group of fetuses with severe intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), and to determine the biochemical associations and the prognostic value of elevated LDH activity in fetuses with IUGR. Total LDH levels, haematologic values and liver enzyme activities were measured in 108 healthy fetuses from 17 to 37 weeks of gestation and in 44 fetuses with severe IUGR. Total fetal LDH in plasma from the healthy fetuses were constant throughout pregnancy (mean (SD)= 305.09 (46.97)). Total LDH values in plasma significantly increased in cases of IUGR (p=0.003), and the degree of increase was significantly correlated with fetal erythroblastosis (n =44, r=0.80, p<0.001). LDH 5 significantly decreased in the IUGR group (p=0.03). Total LDH values strictly above 400 IU/l (a value equal to the mean+2 SD in the healthy fetus group) were found to be significantly associated with thrombocytopenia (p<0.001), erythroblastosis (p=0.008) and an increase in AST value (p=0.03). These results suggest that the fetal LDH value in plasma is a useful biological marker for severe chronic distress.

Case-Control Studies↗