American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Our purpose was to identify what anesthetic method is safer for women with a placenta previa. ⋯ In women with placenta previa, general anesthesia increased intraoperative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion. Regional anesthesia appears to be a safe alternative.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Jun 1999
Case ReportsPelvic arterial embolization for control of obstetric hemorrhage: a five-year experience.
Obstetric hemorrhage is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and death. Postpartum hemorrhage that cannot be controlled by local measures has traditionally been managed by bilateral uterine artery or hypogastric artery ligation. These techniques have a high failure rate, often resulting in hysterectomy. In contrast, endovascular embolization techniques have a success rate of >90%. An additional benefit of the latter procedure is that fertility is maintained. We report our experience at Stanford University Medical Center in which this technique was used in 6 cases within the past 5 years. ⋯ Uterine artery embolization is a superior first-line alternative to surgery for control of obstetric hemorrhage. Use of transcatheter occlusion balloons before embolization allows timely control of bleeding and permits complete embolization of the uterine arteries and hemostasis. Given the improved ultrasonography techniques, diagnosis of some potential high-risk conditions for postpartum hemorrhage, such as placenta previa or accreta, can be made prenatally. The patient can then be prepared with prophylactic placement of arterial catheters, and rapid occlusion of these vessels can be achieved if necessary.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Jun 1999
Early risk assessment of severe preeclampsia: admission battery of symptoms and laboratory tests to predict likelihood of subsequent significant maternal morbidity.
This study was undertaken to investigate the utility of an admission battery of findings and laboratory data in the discrimination of patients with severe preeclampsia with or without HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet count) syndrome at high risk for development of significant maternal morbidity. ⋯ The presence of nausea and vomiting, epigastric pain, or both in association with admission laboratory values that are in excess of the cutoffs for lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and uric acid concentrations or for all 6 tests is predictive of high risk of morbidity for the patient with severe preeclampsia. These factors are independent of and additive with the rising maternal risk associated with decreasing platelet count.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Jun 1999
Effects of obstetrician characteristics on cesarean delivery rates. A community hospital experience.
Despite a decrease in the overall cesarean delivery rate at Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center in Chicago, a wide range of variation existed among individual obstetricians' rates. This study evaluated obstetricians' characteristics to determine whether they affected cesarean delivery rates. ⋯ Cesarean delivery rates can safely be reduced. Certain individual obstetrician characteristics influence cesarean delivery rates. Obstetricians' commitment facilitates lowering of cesarean delivery rates.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Jun 1999
Risk factors for abruptio placentae and eclampsia: analysis of 445 consecutively managed women with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Our purpose was to characterize the clinical presentation or laboratory variables predictive of either abruptio placentae or eclampsia in women with severe preeclampsia. ⋯ Quantitative proteinuria and degree of blood pressure elevation were not predictive of either abruptio placentae or eclampsia, as has previously been suggested. The greatest morbidity associated with eclampsia occurred in women with preterm gestations not receiving medical attention.