American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Oct 2015
Review Meta AnalysisVaginal progesterone for maintenance tocolysis: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized trials.
We sought to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance tocolysis with vaginal progesterone compared to control (placebo or no treatment) in singleton gestations with arrested preterm labor (PTL) in a metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. ⋯ Maintenance tocolysis with vaginal progesterone is associated with prevention of PTB, significant prolongation of pregnancy, and lower neonatal sepsis. However, given the frequent lack of blinding and the generally poor quality of the trials, we do not currently suggest a change in clinical care of women with arrested PTL. We suggest instead well-designed placebo-controlled randomized trials to confirm the findings of our metaanalysis.
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Given the association between risk of cerebral palsy and children born to obese women, the study aim was to estimate whether maternal obesity is associated with reduced effectiveness of conventional antenatal magnesium sulfate dosing for the prevention of cerebral palsy and death. ⋯ Among women receiving antenatal neuroprotective magnesium sulfate, maternal obesity is not associated with an increased risk of having a child with cerebral palsy or death.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Oct 2015
Comparative StudyOutcomes in twin pregnancies reduced to singleton pregnancies compared with ongoing twin pregnancies.
Multifetal pregnancy reduction has been shown to improve outcomes in triplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies. The data for fetal reduction of twin pregnancies are limited. The purpose of this study was to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes in ongoing twin pregnancies compared with twin pregnancies reduced to singletons. ⋯ Fetal reduction of twin pregnancies decreases the risk of late preterm birth and birthweight less than the 10% but not the risks of more severe complications such as early preterm birth or birthweight less than the 5%.
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Placental pathology can be useful in a variety of ways including immediate diagnosis of important conditions affecting the mother or infant, identifying conditions that are likely to recur in subsequent pregnancies, separating clinical syndromes into distinct pathological phenotypes for further investigation, and uncovering the underlying cause of unexpected adverse outcomes. Classification of placental lesions has evolved from being a purely descriptive exercise through a stage in which the major pathophysiological processes such as disorders of maternal implantation and the amniotic fluid infection syndrome were first described to a recently proposed comprehensive classification system that includes all of the major maternal and fetal vascular and infectious and idiopathic/immune inflammatory processes (Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group). Implementation of this unified system with reproducible grading and staging should help establish evidence-based recommendations for placental submission and facilitate progress in studying the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of obstetric disorders with an underlying placental etiology.
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Oct 2015
Cost-effectiveness of transvaginal ultrasound cervical length screening in singletons without a prior preterm birth: an update.
We sought to reevaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) cervical length (CL) screening in singleton pregnancies without prior spontaneous preterm birth. ⋯ Despite the reduced incidence and efficacy used in this model, universal TVU CL continues to be cost-effective when compared to routine care in singletons without prior preterm birth.