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PubMed2003

The role of the brachioradialis H reflex in the management and prognosis of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy.

The H reflex was investigated to determine if it can be useful in the prognosis of obstetrical brachial plexus palsies. The H reflex is an electrically stimulated monosynaptic or oligosynaptic response which can be recorded in peripheral nerves in all muscles of infants up to approximately two years of age. It is essentially the electrophysiologic counterpart of the deep tendon reflex, and its presence indicates intact afferent and efferent axons at the particular spinal segment. Our objectives were to document the Brachioradialis H (Br H) reflex latency and amplitude in normal upper extremities of infants, to evaluate the presence or absence of the Br H reflex in obstetrical palsy neonates and infants between one and seven months of age and to determine if this test was a valid predictor of final clinical outcome. A prospective study of 109 patients was performed to measure the Br H reflex in the affected and the contralateral normal limb. The results from the abnormal limb were compared to the final clinical decision made by nine months for or against surgical intervention. In the normal limbs, a Br H latency of 10.7 +/- 0.8 msec was determined with an amplitude of 1.2 +/- 1.2 mV. The chi 2 analysis in infants from one month to seven months old revealed a strong relationship between an absent Br H reflex and little or no clinical improvement (p < 0.0001), with a sensitivity for predicting poor outcome of 85.7%. The odds ratio (with a 95% confidence interval) of a child with an absent Br H reflex not significantly improving by nine months was 8.4 times higher than if the Br H reflex was present. The false positive rate was 42% however, indicating that a significant number of patients improved clinically, despite having a nonrecordable Br H reflex at age seven months or less. The low false negative rate of 14.3% suggested that in the presence of a Br H reflex, the majority of patients recover. Therefore, the presence of the Br H reflex is a helpful test in the prognostication of good recovery in obstetrical upper plexus palsy patients.

Birth Injuries↗
PubMed1993

[Apple-Macintosh compatible software for documentation, management and evaluation of ultrasound findings in obstetrics].

The advantage of using a computer to automate routine calculations and print out charts of the obstetrical ultrasound examination is obvious. This report describes a software designed to simplify the documentation and analysis of ultrasound data in obstetrics. The system is easy to use, even for persons with little computer knowledge. The programme was written in FoxBase+/Mac (Fox Software, Inc., USA). FoxBase+/Mac takes full advantage of the easy-to-learn, easy-to-use Macintosh interface and is also very fast. Another advantage of this software is that it can be used in teaching. Non-experienced examinators can double-check the correctness of their scanning planes by observing the ultrasound pictures with the markers indicating the right measurement sites and the lists of standard values of biometrical parameters for the corresponding gestational age on the screen. In routine obstetrical ultrasound examinations it takes less than 5 min to enter the foetal biometry data and print out reports. These reports are informative and easy to interpret.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prophylactic and emergent arterial catheterization for selective embolization in obstetric hemorrhage.

Treatment of obstetric hemorrhage by the selective embolization of damaged pelvic vessels under fluoroscopy holds promise as an alternative to surgical intervention. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of selective embolization is often compromised by its use in emergent settings following the failure of primary operative approaches. Therefore we compared the efficacy of prophylactic versus emergent catheter placement for selective embolization in nine patients with or at risk for obstetric hemorrhage. In four patients with acute obstetric hemorrhage catheterization and embolization was carried out following the failure of initial medical and surgical approaches. In five patients determined to be at risk for intrapartum hemorrhage based on sonographic findings, catheters were inserted into the hypogastric vessels prior to elective cesarean delivery. Three of these five patients subsequently required selective embolization. In comparison to patients undergoing selective embolization following prophylactic catheter placement, patients in the emergent group all had a coagulopathy at the time of embolization, sustained substantially greater blood loss, and had an increased rate of postpartum complications. Finally, there was a significant reduction in total embolization time and therefore in radiation exposure in patients undergoing prophylactic catheter placement prior to selective embolization. These data support the conclusion that in patients determined to be at risk for intrapartum or postpartum hemorrhage the prophylactic placement of catheters allows for selective embolization in a hemodynamically intact patient with stable coagulation indices, theoretically reducing the risk of maternal morbidity and possibly mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Computer-assisted documentation and recording of findings of obstetrical ultrasound findings].

Since 1976 on our department obstetrical reports are generated and stored by computer. This kind of documentation has been also introduced for obstetrical ultrasound investigations. One year ago the part of our database for storing and recording the results of obstetrical ultrasound examinations was changed according to new purposes. This system was designed to support diagnosis of pathological findings and to arrange the results more clearly. Immediately after the investigation the results are entered in a terminal (3278 IBM). Our database is a CICS (Customer Information Computer System) application of the WAMIS (Wiener Allgemeines Medizinisches Informationssystem) from the IMC (Institut für Medizinische Computerdokumentation). The results of the investigation are printed after storage in the data base. The screen and the obtained print-out are divided into several sections according to medical purposes. Since the results of fetal measurement are displayed graphically, fetal growth and the change of normal or abnormal findings can be judged immediately. The new layout of the hardcopy of the results of our ultrasound investigations improves diagnosis of pathological findings. Each examinator is forced to visualize fetal organs, signs of fetal vitality and to perform standardized measurement. Therefore, the possibility to find pathological alteration is improved especially if the investigator is less experienced.

Computers↗
PubMed2000

Obstetric conditions and erythropoietin levels.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate and compare erythropoietin levels as related to obstetric conditions, including acute and chronic bleeding, preeclampsia, and multiple gestations. STUDY DESIGN: During April 1999 all women in the labor and delivery unit with delivery expected to occur within 24 to 72 hours of admission had erythropoietin and hematocrit values obtained. First-trimester hematocrit values, obstetric problems, medications, and history of vaginal bleeding were obtained from patient interview, examination, and the prenatal record. Statistics were analyzed by the Student t test and chi(2). RESULTS: During a 1-month period, 302 consecutive women were divided into 5 groups on the basis of obstetric events. Group 1 consisted of women with normal, uncomplicated term singleton gestations (n = 230); group 2, women with acute vaginal bleeding (n = 10); group 3, women with chronic vaginal bleeding (n = 29); group 4, women with multiple gestations (n = 13); and group 5, women with preeclampsia (n = 16). The mean erythropoietin level in group 1 (20. 2 +/- 10.3 mU/mL) was significantly different from values in the other 4 groups (group 2, 74.2 +/- 29.2 mU/mL; group 3, 65.0 +/- 33.0 mU/mL; group 4, 34.8 +/- 16.8 mU/mL; group 5, 43.4 +/- 11.4 mU/mL; P <.001). The admission hematocrit for group 1 (0.369 +/- 0.029) was significantly greater than for groups 2 and 3 (group 2, 0.323 +/- 0. 024; group 3, 0.321 +/- 0.023; P <.001) and significantly lower than for group 5 (0.384 +/- 0.022; P <.05). CONCLUSION: The maternal serum erythropoietin level varies depending on the events occurring during gestation. Acute and chronic bleeding, multiple gestations, and preeclampsia are all associated with various serum erythropoietin levels.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of the centrifuged and Gram-stained smear, urinalysis, and reagent strip testing to detect asymptomatic bacteriuria in obstetric patients.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the efficacy of the centrifuged and Gram-stained smear with the efficacy of both urinalysis and reagent strip testing for nitrites and leukocyte esterase in detecting asymptomatic bacteriuria in obstetric patients. STUDY DESIGN: A midstream urine specimen was evaluated in 528 patients either at the initial prenatal visit or at a visit because of possible preterm labor. Separate aliquots were tested by centrifugation (with a Cytospin Cytocentrifuge; Shandon, Inc, Pittsburgh, Pa) with Gram stain, by microscopic urinalysis for the presence of moderate to large numbers of bacteria or >10 leukocytes per high-power field, and by reagent strips for the presence of nitrites or leukocyte esterase activity. Results were compared with those of a quantitative urine culture obtained with blood and MacConkey agar plates. RESULTS: Thirty-six women (6.8%) had urine cultures showing 100,000 colony-forming units of a uropathogen per milliliter. The sensitivity and specificity of testing by centrifugation and Gram stain were 100% and 7.7%, respectively. Urinalysis and dipstick testing offered a sensitivity of 80.6% and 47.2%, respectively, with a specificity of 71.5% and 80.3%. No combination of tests, in series or in parallel, offered improved specificity over urinalysis alone. CONCLUSIONS: Centrifugation with Gram stain of a urine specimen offers excellent sensitivity but very poor specificity compared with microscopic urinalysis for the detection of asymptomatic bacteriuria and is not an acceptable screening test in an obstetric population. The false-negative rates of urinalysis (19.4%) and reagent strip testing (52.8%) preclude these from being excellent screening tests for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Given the potential sequelae of undiagnosed asymptomatic bacteriuria in an obstetric population, we conclude that urine cultures should be used for all pregnant patients to detect asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Obstetric outcome in post-term pregnancies: time for reappraisal in clinical management.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of pregnancy in post-term cases compared with term cases in a well defined population receiving modern obstetric care. METHODS: We utilized the population-based birth registry data of the Kuopio University Hospital (1990-2000) to investigate pregnancy outcome in 1,678 post-term singleton pregnancies. The general obstetric population (n=22,712) was used as a reference group in logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall frequency of post-term pregnancies was 6.9% and the incidence of post-term pregnancies was found to be increased in obese, primiparous, and smoking women, whereas in women with chronic diseases and obstetric risks deliveries were induced earlier. The risks of macrosomia, maternal complications, and operative deliveries were increased in post-term pregnancies. Post-term infants experienced meconium passage (21.2% versus 12.8%) (p<0.01) and intrapartum asphyxia (3.4% versus 2.1%) (p<0.01) significantly more often than the controls. However, the stillbirth rate was low, probably due to careful monitoring of these pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Although high-risk pregnancies were not allowed to come post-term, postmaturity per se is a moderate risk state compromising fetal well-being with regard to meconium passage and acid-base status at birth. We conclude that simple antenatal monitoring beyond 42 weeks reduces perinatal mortality but is inefficient in reducing meconium-stained liquor seen with increasing gestation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Early teenage obstetrics at Waikato Hospital.

New Zealand has the second highest published teenage pregnancy rate in the world. Different papers have shown adverse obstetric outcome for teenage mothers. The aim of this study was to compare the obstetric parameters, such as birth weight, gestation at birth, Apgar scores, breech delivery, caesarean sections, instrumental deliveries, incidences of birth defects, twins, and gestational hypertension/pre-eclampsia of early teenage mothers with the rest of the population. The data were obtained from the perinatal information management system (PIMS) at Waikato Hospital for the period 1994 to 1996. The data were statistically analysed. There were 306 women in the early teenage group (17 years and younger) and 206 randomly selected women in the control group who were 18 years or older. In the early teen group more than 92% of women were primiparous, whereas in the control group most women were multiparous. The analyses detected no differences in the two groups in the parameters studied except increased incidence of ventouse delivery in the early teenage group (P = 0.004). This was surprising because, older and parous women are supposed to have better outcomes. Hence there was no evidence from this study of any of obstetric risk factors associated with early teenage pregnancy. Also, race did not affect the means of birth weights, gestational age at birth and Apgar scores. Adjustment for race and parity differences did not change the conclusions apart from making the difference in incidence of ventouse delivery less significant (P = 0.067 when adjusted for parity differences).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Emergency obstetric admissions: late referrals, misdiagnoses and consequences.

This is a prospective study that examined the nature of emergency obstetric admissions in a Nigerian university hospital in association with such factors as late referrals and misdiagnoses and their contribution to maternal and perinatal morbidity/mortality. The study comprised 144 consecutive emergency obstetric admissions to the hospital over a 6.5-month period. An incidence of 13.6% emergency admissions was recorded. Despite the proximity of the hospital to the parturients, most of them laboured in substandard facilities within the community. Referrals to the university hospital were made only after prolonged delay and onset of complications. Obstetric haemorrhage (24.6%) was the most common cause for referral followed by labour disorders (19%) and hypertensive disorders (8.4%). Thirteen maternal deaths occurred, giving a maternal mortality ratio of 6.2%, while perinatal mortality rate was 461 per 1000 births. Twelve of the maternal deaths were in women living within 5 km of the hospital. There was a caesarean section rate of 50.9%, a 4.8% incidence of diagnostic laparotomy, a 9% incidence of emergency hysterectomy and 44% of emergency blood transfusions. Misdiagnoses of clinical conditions were made by the referring centres in 68% of cases, which contributed to the high maternal morbidity and mortality. Patient attitude was the main cause of non-use of teaching hospital facilities (fear of operation in 32% of cases, dissuasive advice from friends in 27.4% and negative staff attitude in 7%). A need for and type of programme that will promote increased utilisation of modern maternal health services in the community are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Poor obstetric performance of teenagers: is it age- or quality of care-related?

We studied prospectively the effect of antenatal care on the obstetric performance of teenagers seen at a university teaching hospital over a 14-month period. When the obstetric complications among the teenagers were compared to their older counterpart, there were significantly higher complication rates, especially anaemia, preterm delivery, low birth weight and neonatal admission. After controlling for utilisation of antenatal care, significant differences were observed only in the incidence of low birth weight babies. In conclusion, this study has shown that the poor obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancy is related to non-utilisation of prenatal care rather than their biological age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Gynecologic-obstetric changes after loss of massive excess weight following bariatric surgery.

A clinical study was undertaken to assess gynecologic-obstetric changes in morbidly obese women who lost greater than or equal to 50% of their excess weight with bariatric surgery. The 138 females (109 of reproductive age), age 35 +/- 9 SD yr, weighed 124 +/- 23 kg before surgery and 79 +/- 13 kg after weight loss had stabilized. Menstrual irregularities were present in 40.4% of premenopausal patients preoperatively; after massive weight loss, cycles were abnormal in 4.6% (p less than 0.001). Infertility problems were present preoperatively in 29.3% Of these, nine tried to conceive after weight loss and were successful. During past pregnancies, medical complications were frequent (hypertension 26.7%, pre-eclampsia 12.8%, diabetes 7.0%, and deep vein thrombosis 7.0%). After weight-loss stabilization, these obstetric complications did not occur. Incidence of urinary stress incontinence decreased from 61.2% to 11.6% (p less than 0.001). Gynecologic-obstetric changes tended to normalize after loss of massive body weight.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Depressive symptoms among pregnant women screened in obstetrics settings.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of depressive symptomatology during pregnancy when seen in obstetric settings, the extent of treatment in this population, and specific risk factors associated with mood symptoms in pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 3472 pregnant women age 18 and older were screened while waiting for their prenatal care visits in 10 obstetrics clinics using a brief (10 minute) screening questionnaire. This screen measured demographics, tobacco and alcohol (TWEAK problem alcohol use screening measure), and depression measures, including the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D), use of antidepressant medications, past history of depression, and current treatment (i.e., medications, psychotherapy, or counseling) for depression. RESULTS: Of women screened, 20% (n = 689) scored above the cutoff score on the CES-D, and only 13.8% of those women reported receiving any formal treatment for depression. Past history of depression, poorer overall health, greater alcohol use consequences, smoking, being unmarried, unemployment, and lower educational attainment were significantly associated with symptoms of depression during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that a substantial number of pregnant women screened in obstetrics settings have significant symptoms of depression, and most of them are not being monitored in treatment during this vulnerable time. This information may be used to justify and streamline systematic screening for depression in clinical encounters with pregnant women as a first step in determining which women may require further treatment for their mood symptoms. As elevations in depressive symptomatology have been associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes, further study of the impact of psychiatric treatment in gravid women is essential.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Streptococcal puerperal sepsis and obstetric infections: a historical perspective.

The streptococcus, responsible for inestimable morbidity and mortality among parturient women since the 16th century, is no longer a significant cause of puerperal infection. Although the problem of the group A streptococcus in obstetrics has abated, the obstetrician is now confronted with the group B streptococcus, which is a major cause of fetal, neonatal, and maternal morbidity and mortality. Some historical insight into the infectious disease problems encountered by obstetric practitioners during the last four centuries allows comparison and contrast between the historic scourge of childbed fever and present day obstetric infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

Obstetric and perinatal outcome of pregnancies after intrauterine insemination.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the obstetric and perinatal outcome of pregnancies after intrauterine insemination (IUI) with the partner's spermatozoa combined with ovarian stimulation. Information concerning the antenatal care and obstetric and perinatal outcome of IUI pregnancies (n = 111), spontaneous (n = 333) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) (n = 333) was obtained from the Finnish Medical Birth Register (MBR). The multiple birth rate in the IUI group was 17% (19/111). Significantly less antenatal care was required by the IUI group than the IVF group. The frequency of Caesarean section was 25% for IUI singletons and 58% for IUI multiples, similar to the other groups. The mean (SD) gestational age for IUI singletons at birth was 39.5 (1.8) weeks, with a mean birth weight of 3285 (575) g, compared with 3448 (600) g in non-assisted singletons (P < 0.05). For IUI multiples the mean gestational age at birth was 36.0 (2.8) weeks and the mean birth weight was 2449 (678) g. The incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight or low Apgar scores and the need for neonatal care were similar in all groups. One case of major malformation and two perinatal deaths were recorded in the IUI group. In conclusion, IUI treatment did not appear to increase obstetric or perinatal risks compared with matched spontaneous or IVF pregnancies. Most problems were associated with patient characteristics and multiple pregnancy. Reduction of the high incidence of multiple pregnancies after assisted reproductive technology is essential to improve its outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Fertility following ligation of internal iliac arteries for life-threatening obstetric haemorrhage: case report.

Bilateral ligation of internal iliac (hypogastric) arteries (BIL) is a life-saving operation in cases of massive obstetric haemorrhage. This operation preserves reproductive function as opposed to the more commonly performed emergency hysterectomy in such situations. We report on effectiveness and future fertility in 12 women who had internal iliac ligation to control severe obstetric haemorrhage: in 10 out of the 12 women, BIL was successful. Of the two women who subsequently needed emergency hysterectomy, one woman died of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Of the eight women we were able to follow-up to assess reproductive performance, two did not desire future fertility. Three had subsequent pregnancies (50%), of whom two proceeded to term. We conclude that BIL is a safe and effective procedure for treating life-threatening obstetric haemorrhage with preservation of future fertility. This technique should be performed more often when indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Obstetric and perinatal outcome and preliminary results of development of children born after in vitro maturation of oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Careful follow-up of children born after in vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocytes is essential because the technique is still very new. METHODS: Obstetric and perinatal data were collected from all deliveries after IVM treatment during 1999-2004. The growth and development of IVM children was assessed at 6, 12 and 24 months using Muenchener Funktionelle Entwicklungs Diagnostik and Bayley Scales of Infants. RESULTS: In total, 43 women [age 31.2 +/- 3.9 (mean +/- SD) years] gave birth to 40 singleton infants and three sets of twins (multiple rate 7.0%). Obstetric complications occurred in 15 pregnancies (35%). The mean birthweight of singleton infants was 3550 +/- 441 g and that of twins 2622 +/- 194 g. The rate of preterm birth infants was 5% in singletons. No perinatal deaths occurred. At the age of 12 months, eight children (19%) expressed minor developmental problems and one girl was found to have optical glioma. At 2 years of age, neuropsychological development was within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The obstetric and perinatal outcome was good, and the mean birthweight of the infants was normal. Minor developmental delay was overexpressed at 12 months, but the development of the children was normal at 2 years.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypothesis on the role of sub-clinical bacteria of the endometrium (bacteria endometrialis) in gynaecological and obstetric enigmas.

Unexplained infertility, recurrent abortion, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome, premature labour, placental insufficiency and pre-eclampsia are examples of common obstetric and gynaecological problems that frequently defy adequate explanation. Bacterial vaginosis, a non-inflammatory condition, is associated with premature labour, but antibiotics administered topically provide less effective prophylaxis than those administered orally. This would indicate that bacterial vaginosis might be a marker for significant genital tract bacteria, but some pathology is dependent on micro-organisms ascending out of reach of topical antibiotics. The author was led to consider the hypothesis that micro-organisms, possibly those associated with bacterial vaginosis, surreptitiously inhabit the uterine cavity (bacteria endometrialis) where they are culprits of some common gynaecological and obstetric enigmas. The objective of this review is to provide an initial theoretical examination of this hypothesis. Bacteria in the endometrium have been associated with infertility. Antiphospholipids have been linked to recurrent miscarriage and pre-eclampsia and with infections including Mycoplasma. Pre-eclampsia might be explained by an exaggerated host response to intrauterine micro-organisms or bacterial toxins. The hypothesis that one common factor, bacteria endometrialis, could provide a plausible explanation for a variety of obstetric and gynaecological mysteries is particularly intriguing. There is sufficient evidence to justify further investigation.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1996

Obstetric triage: selected clinical management strategies by nurse-midwives in an academic tertiary facility.

Within the perinatal literature, there are few reports regarding obstetric triage. The documented use of advanced practice nurses performing obstetric triage is noted in some centers. The article documents the use of nurse-midwives in performing obstetric triage in an academic tertiary facility. Selected clinical scenarios are presented, and clinical management skills are delineated.

Academic Medical Centers↗