Comparative study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral Mifepristone versus intracervical Dinoprostone gel for induction of labour and their effects on fetomaternal outcome

Background: Mifepristone and Dinoprostone are used in inducing labour in pregnancy by acting as cervical ripening drugs. A randomized case control study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and fetomaternal outcome of induction of labour with oral Mifepristone and intracervical Dinoprostone gel was done.Methods: About 300 patients were included after taking informed consent. 150 patients were placed in each group A and B. In group A patients received 200 mg oral Mifepristone tablet and in group B 0.5 mg Dinoprostone gel was given intracervically and 2nd dose was repeated after 6 hours later if adequate uterine contractions were not achieved. A detailed analysis was carried out in both groups regarding efficacy and safety of drugs in terms of necessity of augmentation of labour with oxytocin, induction to delivery interval, fetal outcome in terms of NICU admission.Results: 59.33% cases in Mifepristone group and 72% case in Dinoprostone group required augmentation with oxytocin. Mean induction delivery interval in Mifepristone group in primigravida was 17.998±1.128 hrs and mean induction delievery interval in multigravida was 11.648±1.112 hours. 88% cases in mifipristone group and 80% cases in Dinoprostone group delivered vaginally. NICU admission was 1.33% in Mifepristone group and 2.66% in PGE2 gel group.Conclusions: Mifepristone when compared with intracervical Dinoprostone gel, acts as a better cervical ripening agent and requires lesser need for Oxytocin augmentation. Though, mean induction delivery interval was more with Mifepistone, the incidence of successful vaginal delivery was higher as compared to Dinoprostone.

The effect and safety of placental blood drainage as a part of active management of third stage of labour in spontaneous vaginal delivery

Background: In placental cord drainage facilitates placental delivery in both vaginal and caesarean section deliveries. The present study was done to evaluate the effect and safety of placental blood drainage as a part of active management of third stage of labour to reduce the duration and blood loss during third stage of labour.Methods: The study was conducted in department of Obstetrics and, SN Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India on 400 term pregnant women, with single live intrauterine fetus in cephalic presentation, without any complication. They were randomly divided into to study and control group. Study group: It comprised of 200 Gynaecology cases, underwent active management of third stage of labour with placental blood drainage. Control group: It comprised of 200 cases, underwent active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL) alone. Duration and blood loss during third stage were noted.Results: The mean duration of third stage of labour was 3.61±0.972mins in study group and 8.15±1.711mins in control group. The mean blood loss during third stage of labour was 168.14±76.703ml and 287.40±85.808ml in study and control group respectively.Conclusions: Duration of third stage, blood loss during third stage, and hemoglobin deference between pre and post-delivery were reduced significantly in study group than control group.

Term Pregnancy in an Achondroplastic Dwarf: A Case Report.

Achondroplasia is a rare disorder occurring in 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 40,000 live births. However, it is the commonest disorder among more than 100 different types of dwarfism. It is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait but most cases (80%) are due to mutations of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). These individuals have normal mental and sexual development and life-span may also be normal. However, problems such as pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, respiratory compromise, contracted pelvis necessitating lower-segment cesarean section, prematurity and fetal wastage, etc., have been reported. General anesthesia is preferred to regional anesthesia because of spinal abnormalities. The aim of this report is to describe the surgical management of these patients discussing the surgical consideration and emphasizing the difficulties encountered. Such a patient is considered high-risk in terms of anesthesia and obstetric outcome. A case of achondroplasia with pregnancy is reported. A 28-year-old achondroplastic parturient underwent cesarean section under general anesthesia for contracted pelvis. We did not encounter problems related to cesarean section. The most important point is the careful preoperative assessment. Anesthesia plan should be specified to individual basis.

Assessment of Cesarean Section Scar Strength: Still A Challenge.

Objective: To assess the integrity (strength) of cesarean scar of uterus during interval period (nonpregnant state) by ultrasonography (USG), hysterography and hysteroscopy and their correlation. Material and methods: The study was conducted in the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Dept. of Radiology, SN Medical College, Agra. Three hundred nonpregnant women with cesarean section in past were recruited to undergo USG, hysterography and hysteroscopy along with proper history and other routine examination. The thickness and appearance of anterior uterine wall especially at scar area was noted down during investigations. Results: The mean scar thickness was more (11.59 ± 1.33 mm) in women with only one cesarean section in comparison of women having more than one cesarean section (9.08 ± 9.2 mm). Healthy abdominal scar healed with primary intention correlated with good uterine strength. More breaking on hysterography was associated with thin scar on USG. When scar area was found irregular and wide on hysteroscopy the thickness of scar was less on USG also. Conclusion: A prospective idea of uterine scar strength can be obtained by careful history taking, local examination of abdominal scar as well as p/v findings along with USG, hysterography and hysteroscopy in nonpregnant women. If findings are suggestive of weak scar, a lady can be counsel for planned cesarean section in her future pregnancy in spite of trial for vaginal birth after cesarean. Accordingly, if she can afford further risk and cesarean section, she should become pregnant otherwise should avoid further confinement in future.

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Actim Partus (A Rapid Bedside Test) in the Prediction of Preterm Labor.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of bedside test kits (Actim partus kit) based on detection of phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1(PIGFBP-1) in cervical secretions in predicting preterm delivery. Material and methods: Patients presenting with symptoms of preterm labor between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation were recruited. PIGFBP-1 bedside tests (Actim partus test) were performed. Managing obstetricians and patients were blinded to the PIGFBP-1 results. Tocolysis and steroid therapy were administered to all the recruited patients. Outcome data were collected after delivery. Results: Fifty patients were recruited into the study, the median [± standard deviation [SD] gestational age at delivery was 34.12 weeks (± 2.1 weeks) and 37.14 weeks (± 2.8 weeks), patient testing positive and negative for Actim partus test, respectively. A positive result was associated with significantly reduced admission-to-delivery interval. The median admission-to-delivery interval was 3.25 days in the group with positive PIGFBP-1 results while 6.97 days with a PIGFBP-1 result (p < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Actim partus test is 72.22%, 90.6% 81.25% and 85.29%, respectively. Conclusion: Actim partus (IGFBP-1) tests are effective adjuvant bedside test kits for the prediction of preterm delivery in patients presenting with signs or symptoms of preterm labor. High negative predictive values have great value in avoiding unnecessary interventions.

Comparative study of misoprostol vs dinoprostone for induction of labour.

Various methods of induction of labour may be associated with risk and complications. Therefore, this study has been undertaken to compare the safety and efficacy of intra-vaginal misoprostol (PGE1 analogue) with intra-cervical dinoprostone (PGE2) in progress and induction of labour, the maternal side effects and the foetal outcome. 40 pregnant women aged between 16-35 years with indication of induction of labour participated in the study. Twenty patients (control) were administered 0.5 mg dinoprostone intra-cervically, 12 hourly while 20 patients (study group) were given misoprostol 100 microg, 4 hourly, intravaginally. The mean induction of labour initiation interval was 2.08 +/- 1.46 hours in study group and 2.21 +/- 1.20 hours in dinoprostone group. The Induction delivery interval was 6.92 +/- 4.01 hours in misoprostol group and 12.54 +/- 7.73 in dinoprostone group, whereas vaginal route of delivery was 95% in misoprostol group and 85% in dinoprostone group. Average dosages required were 1.55 +/- 1.02 in misoprostol group and 1.30 +/- 0.46 in dinoprostone group. All these result were statistically significant. Very few maternal side effects were reported in study group. There was no significant difference in foetal out come in either group. Therefore, it can be concluded that misoprostol is easy to administer and is cheap, effective, safe and convenient drug for induction of labour.

The clinical risk index of babies (CRIB) score in India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of clinical risk index of babies (CRIB score) in predicting neonatal mortality in extremely preterm neonates, compared to birth weight and gestation. METHODS: 97 preterm neonates with gestational age less than 31 weeks or birth weight less than or equal to 1500 g were enrolled for the prospective longitudinal study. Relevant neonatal data was recorded. Blood gas analysis results and the maximum and the minimum FiO2 required by babies in first 12 hours of life were noted. Mortality was taken as death while the baby was in nursery. The prediction of mortality by birth weight, gestational age and CRIB score was done using the Logistic model, and expressed as area under the ROC curve. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve for birth weight, gestational age and CRIB score was almost the same, the areas being 0.829, 0.819 and 0.823 respectively. Hence CRIB score did not fare better than birth weight and gestational age in predicting neonatal mortality. CONCLUSION: The CRIB score did not improve on the ability of birth weight and gestational age to predict neonatal mortality in the study.