Herniated Nucleus Pulposus during Pregnancy / 대한주산의학회잡지

A herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) during pregnancy has been a rare occurrence with a reported incidence of 1:10,000 case. It is hard to diagnose because of the potentially hazardous effect of ionizing radiation to the fetus when complaining back pain during pregnancy. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide safe and useful modality and in general, back pain usually respond readily to conservative treatment. Cauda equina syndrome or severe and/or progressive neurologic deficit is a medical emergency that necessitates prompt surgery during pregnancy. She admitted at 31 weeks gestation for sudden development of right leg paresthesia and ankle motor weakness, an MRI showing compression on right nerve root at the level of L5~S1. After 4 weeks treated with bed rest and analgesics, we delivered by cesarean section and laminectomy at the same time. We have experienced a pregnancy with HNP, so report of this case with brief review of literature.

Perinatal Outcomes of Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome according to Clinical Stage based on Sonographic findings / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: After classifing the twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) according to clinical stage by Quintero, we reviewed effectiveness and usefulness of clinical stage by Quintero in diagnosis and treatment of TTTS. METHODS: Twelve cases (16%) were diagnosed as TTTS among 75 examples (31.3%) of monochorionic twin pregnancy out of 240 cases of twin pregnancy born in our hospital between Mach 2000 and June 2004. For TTTS, the clinical stage was decided at the time of initial diagnosis, and any changes of it were observed according to the developments of pregnancy. Neonate was regarded as alive when 5 minutes Apgar score was above 7 after birth. Also we observed the vascular anastomosis of placenta, and classified the method of treatments and its results according to each clinical stage. RESULTS: Two cases were classified into the clinical stage 1 through 4 each, and 4 cases in the clinical stage 5. The higher the clinical stage, the shorter the duration between diagnosis and delivery (p<0.05). In cases of both survivors, compared to no survivors, the interval between diagnosis and delivery were long (p<0.05). In the clinical stage 4 and 5, we found many cases that didn't have placental vascular anastomosis between artery and artery, and in this case, there revealed poor perinatal outcomes. For 4 cases that fell in the clinical stage 1 and 2 and 4, we performed amnioreduction and for one case in the clinical stage 2, we did amnioseptostomy at the same time. In 4 cases with amnioreduction or amnioseptostomy, survival rate was 38%. CONCLUSION: The clinical classification system of TTTS by ultrasound would be helpful for planning treatments and also for predicting the outcomes.

A Clinical Study in Pregnant Women Over the Age of 35 / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: Although pregnancy in women who are 35 years old or more is considered a high risk pregnancy, it has occurred more frequently in recent years. The aim of our study was to evaluate the course of delivery and perinatal outcomes in women who are 35 years old or more. METHOD: We have compared 765 cases of the elderly gravida over the age of 35 at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mokpo, Catholic Hospital, from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 1999, with 800 cases of randomly chosen young pregnant women during the same period. RESULTS: There were 765 cases of the elderly gravida among total 8285 deliveries and the incidence of the elderly gravida for 3 years was 9.2%. The rate of elderly gravida was increased from 8.2% in 1997 to 10.0% in 1999. 46.9% were in the age group of 35 to 36 years. The incidence of primigravida was 13.9%. 93.6% of total cases was vertex presentation breech presentation was 5.2%, and transverse lie was 1.2%. The percentage of preterm pregnancy was 9.5% in elderly gravida, and 4.0% in control group. post-term pregnancy was 2.0% in elderly gravida, and 1.0% in control group.The rate of cesarean section was 48.8%, compared with 26.7% in the control group. Among the indications of cesarean section, the highest incidence was previous cesarean section (40.0%) and elderly primigravida (18.0%), fetal distress (10.7%), cephalopelvic disproportion (7.5%), and abnormal presentation (6.7%). Concerning the prenatal complications, the incidence of hypertensive disorder was 4.3%, and 2.6% in control group. The incidence of low birth weight and macrosomia were 8.9%, 8.8% in elderly gravida, and 5.5%, and 9.3% in control group. The incidence of IUFD was 3.1% in elderly gravida, and 0.63% in control group. Male-to-female sex ratios were 1.12:1 in elderly gravida, 1:1.16 in elderly primigravida, 1.17:1 in elderly multi gravida, and 1.20:1 in control group. CONCLUSION: The rate of elderly gravida increased in recent years, and the cesarean rate was higher compared with the control group. But there was no difference in perinatal mortality. The reasons for increasing rate of cesarean delivery may be due to physician and patient concern over pregnancy outcome in older women. Therefore it is necessary to exert more attention to pregnancies in those over the age of 35.

The Course of Delivery and Perinatal Outcomes for Postterm Pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate of course of delivery & perinatal outcomes for postterm pregnancy compared with fullterm pregnancy. METHODS: This study included 360 cases of postterm pregnancy out of 16,992 cases delivered at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1997. 16,143 cases of full term deliveries of 38 to 42 gestational weeks conducted in same period were used as the control group. Postterm pregnancy was defined as a pregnancy that it exceeds 295 days calculated from first day of the last menstrual period. RESULTS: The incidence of postterm pregnancy was 2.13% with the highest incidence occurring in the 26 ~30 years age group. This study group was significantly different from the control group in the incidence of fetal distress (10.28% vs. 2.20%), large fetus (10.83% vs. 6.95%), perinatal death (1.67% vs. 0.27%). CONCLUSIONS: Adverse perinatal outcomes were increased markedly as the gestational weeks to be prolonged. Therefore, careful prenatal care, accurate determination of delivery date is very important.