American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTransvaginal cervical length scans to prevent prematurity in twins: a randomized controlled trial.
Twin pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality primarily due to spontaneous preterm deliveries. The mean gestational age for delivery is 35.3 weeks and twins account for 23% of preterm births <32 weeks. A number of strategies have been proposed to prevent preterm deliveries: tocolytics, bed rest, hospitalization, home uterine activity monitoring, cerclage, and most recently, progesterone. Unfortunately, none have proven effective. Recent metaanalyses and reviews suggest that transvaginal cervical length (TVCL) ultrasound in the second trimester is a powerful predictor of preterm birth among asymptomatic women. Indeed, TVCL has the highest positive and negative predictive values for determining the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery in twin pregnancies. It follows that TVCL assessment may allow identification of a subset of twin pregnancies that re better candidates for interventions intended to prevent prematurity. ⋯ The overall mean length of gestation and the percentage of women delivering <35 weeks did not differ between twin gestations managed with TVCL and digital exams monthly from 16-28 weeks with a standard algorithm for activity restriction and cerclage and controls who had monthly digital cervical examinations but no routine TVCL. Routine second-trimester transvaginal ultrasound assessment of cervical length is not associated with improved outcomes when incorporated into the standard management of otherwise low-risk twin pregnancies.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 2016
Vaginal progesterone to prevent preterm birth in pregnant women with a sonographic short cervix: clinical and public health implications.
Vaginal progesterone administration to women with a sonographic short cervix is an efficacious and safe intervention used to prevent preterm birth and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The clinical and public health implications of this approach in the United States have been critically appraised and compared to other therapeutic interventions in obstetrics. Vaginal progesterone administration to women with a transvaginal sonographic cervical length (CL) ≤25 mm before 25 weeks of gestation is associated with a significant and substantial reduction of the risk for preterm birth from <28 to <35 weeks of gestation, respiratory distress syndrome, composite neonatal morbidity and mortality, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Several cost-effectiveness and decision analyses have shown that the combination of universal transvaginal CL screening and vaginal progesterone administration to women with a short cervix is a cost-effective intervention that prevents preterm birth and associated perinatal morbidity and mortality. Universal assessment of CL and treatment with vaginal progesterone for singleton gestations in the United States would result in an annual reduction of approximately 30,000 preterm births before 34 weeks of gestation and of 17,500 cases of major neonatal morbidity or neonatal mortality. In summary, there is compelling evidence to recommend universal transvaginal CL screening at 18-24 weeks of gestation in women with a singleton gestation and to offer vaginal progesterone to those with a CL ≤25 mm, regardless of the history of spontaneous preterm birth, with the goal of preventing preterm birth and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 2016
Severe placental abruption: clinical definition and associations with maternal complications.
Placental abruption traditionally is defined as the premature separation of the implanted placenta before the delivery of the fetus. The existing clinical criteria of severity rely exclusively on fetal (fetal distress or fetal death) and maternal complications without consideration of neonatal or preterm delivery-related complications. However, two-thirds of abruption cases are accompanied by fetal or neonatal complications, including preterm delivery. A clinically meaningful classification for abruption therefore should include not only maternal complications but also adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes that include intrauterine growth restriction and preterm delivery. ⋯ Severe abruption was associated with a distinctively higher morbidity risk profile compared with the other 2 groups. The clinical characteristics and morbidity profile of mild abruption were more similar to those of women without an abruption. These findings suggest that the definition of severe placental abruption based on the proposed specific criteria is clinically relevant and may facilitate epidemiologic and genetic research.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 2016
Surgical site infection following hysterectomy: adjusted rankings in a regional collaborative.
Surgical site infection after abdominal hysterectomy (defined as open and laparoscopic) will be a metric used to rank and penalize hospitals in the Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction program. Hospitals whose Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction score places them in the bottom quartile will lose 1% of reimbursement from the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services. ⋯ After adjusting for patient-related factors and site variation, more than 40% of hospitals will change quartile rank with respect to deep surgical site infection. Identifying a quartile of hospitals that are statistically different from others was not feasible in our collaborative because only 2 of 12 hospitals were outliers. These findings suggest that under the Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction program, many hospitals will be unjustly penalized.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy of midtrimester short cervix interventions is conditional on intraamniotic inflammation.
Midtrimester ultrasound is a valuable method for identifying asymptomatic women at risk for spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD). However, response to various treatments (cerclage, progestogen) has been variable in the clinical setting. It remains unclear how other biomarkers may be used to guide intervention strategies. ⋯ Cerclage placement or administration of 17OHP-C therapy for midtrimester short cervix for PTD prevention appears beneficial only in the subset of patients with high inflammation. Knowledge of the amniotic fluid inflammatory status may aid in guiding the appropriate therapy for women presenting with midtrimester short cervix who are at increased risk of PTD.