Neuromuscular blocking agents, used to arrest fetal motion for invasive intrauterine procedures, may cause temporary fetal heart rate changes. After 21 invasive procedures using either pancuronium bromide or vecuronium bromide, post-procedure fetal heart rate tracings were retrospectively compared. Pancuronium was associated with an increased fetal heart rate and decreased beat-to-beat variability for 2.5 hours after its use, whereas vecuronium caused no fetal heart rate changes. Vecuronium bromide offers advantages over pancuronium, because the decreased effect on the fetal heart allows better assessment of fetal well-being immediately following invasive intrauterine procedures.

Anemia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Observations on the sonographic measurement of cervical length and the risk of premature birth.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence that sonographic measurement of cervical length may be a useful predictor of the risk of spontaneous premature birth. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the measurement of cervical length in a high-risk population at 24 weeks gestation, or the relative change over 24-28 weeks gestation, is more accurate in predicting the risk of spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks gestation. METHODS: Over a 4-year period from 1993-1996, 443 patients with a singleton pregnancy who were at increased risk of preterm birth were studied by serial endovaginal sonography performed at 24 and 28 weeks gestation. RESULTS: There was a positive association between a short cervix and increased risk of preterm birth (F = 13.3, P < .0001). The variable with the highest predictive value for preterm birth was the cervical length at 24 weeks gestation. Changes over time did not substantially improve the predictive accuracy for spontaneous preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a short cervix as determined by endovaginal sonography has a significant association with preterm birth in a high-risk obstetric population. Measurements taken at 24 weeks gestation are most accurate in assessing this risk, and serial observations of the cervix over time have less accuracy for predicting preterm birth.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sterile preparation of the external auditory canal with povidone-iodine.

Sterile preparation of the external auditory canal is usually not undertaken, although the external auditory canal provides surgical access for several procedures involving the tympanic membrane, middle ear, and vesibule. This is due to the rarity of postoperative wound infections, as well as difficulty in sterilizing the external auditory canal. Four antiseptic solutions commonly used for operative preparation were tested to determine thrir potential for sterilizing the external auditory canal. Povidone-iodine solution was effective in sterilizing 90% of the external auditory canals of children and adults. This simple technique may find clinical use in surgical procedures involving the external auditory canal.

Acetone↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of an oral rinse on experimental gingivitis plaque formation, and formed plaque.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Dental Plaque↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fetal ovarian torsion appearing as a solid abdominal mass.

Fetal and neonatal ovarian cysts can be small asymptomatic lucencies or large symptomatic echocomplex masses that can cause intestinal obstruction and peritonitis. Solid masses are the most rare form of ovarian cysts. A fetus, anatomically unremarkable at 16 weeks' development, was found at 35 weeks to have a 5 x 5 cm solid mass. After delivery a laparotomy was performed, and a torsed ovary measuring 8 x 7 cm was removed. The infant did well after the procedure. Over 400 cases of perinatal ovarian cysts have been reported in the literature. Only 1% of these are purely echodense. When a fetal abdominal mass is present, separate from bowels and kidneys, a torsed ovary should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Management of the pregnancy and infant may be guided by the fetus or neonate's symptoms.

Adult↗