ABSTRACT
Background: Doppler flow velocimetry of the umbilical and fetal cerebral circulation is a non-invasive modality used to access the fetal well-being. Doppler is comparatively more specific and is potentially a useful tool in predicting adverse perinatal outcome in high risk cases. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI), umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA-PI) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) doppler indices in assessment of fetal well-being. To document neonatal outcome in preeclamptic women with doppler changes.Methods: A retrospective observational study of term preeclamptic women with clinical IUGR admitting in labour room of RLJ Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. All these women underwent Doppler study and were followed up till delivery.Results: A total 89 term preeclamptic women, 47.19% women had normal delivery, 52.81% lower segment caesarean section. 74.16 % delivered babies required NICU (neonatal ICU) care, 51.69 % babies had a longer duration of NICU care (more than 5 days). The perinatal complications like respiratory distress 8.99% low birth weight 39.33%, meconium stained 10.11%, still born 4.49% and perinatal asphyxia (6.06%). Women with abnormal MCA-PI 46.07% of cases, UA-PI in 40.45% and CPR 57.30%.Conclusions: It was observed that all three parameters CPR, MCA-PI and UA-PI when taken into account together are good utilities in predicting perinatal outcome.
ABSTRACT
Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a disorder of unknown cause in which initial left ventricular systolic dysfunction and symptoms of heart failure occur between the last month of pregnancy and the first 5 months postpartum. PPCM remains a diagnosis of exclusion. There have been numerous proposed causes including hormonal abnormalities, inflammation, viral pathogens, autoimmune response, and genetic predisposition. Aim of study was to study the clinical profile, risk factors, and the management along with obstetric and perinatal outcome, in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy.Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on the antenatal women of age group of 18 years to 40 years, admitted in the labour ward of R. L. Jalapa hospital who presented with heart failure in last month of pregnancy till 5 months postpartum, without previously having a heart disease over the 5 year period, January 20 15 to December 2019.Results: Majority of the patients (15/18) presented with complaints of exertional dyspnoea. Mean LVEF at the time of diagnosis was 38.39%. There were 5 (27%) maternal mortality and all of them had global hypokinesia on echocardiography and presented in NYHA class III and IV. Two (11%) out of eighteen patients had intrauterine death, and all the patients who had IUFD belonged to class IV. Four babies (22.22%) had intrauterine growth restriction.Conclusions: The present study came to conclusion that in rural tertiary center, maternal outcome and prognosis was poor as patients presenting to us were majority of them in cardiogenic shock and lower LVEF in terminal stages. The associated risk factors were preeclampsia, anemia and multiple gestation which could also contribute to the poor prognosis which was noticed in the study. Early recognition of the disease is of paramount importance as the clinical manifestations can conceal and can lead to high morbidity and mortality especially within 3 months postpartum.
ABSTRACT
Background: Adolescent pregnancy is a serious health and social problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the obstetrical and perinatal outcomes of nulliparous adolescent pregnancies in a tertiary care centre in rural India.Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted between April 2017 and March 2018.Adolescent primigravidae completing 28 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancy were included in the study group. Primigravidae aged between 20 and 25 years were taken as a control group. The factors under study included obstetric complications and neonatal outcomes. The association was considered significant at P-value <0.05.Results: 450 women were included in the study group and 460 to the control group. The incidence of adolescent pregnancy was 18.3% during the study period. The adolescent mothers had a significantly higher incidence of preeclampsia (12.8 % vs 8.4 %; p = 0.03), eclampsia (3.5% vs 1.5%; p = 0.01), preterm delivery (18.6% vs 10.8%; p = 0.0009), low birth weight (39.1 % vs 24.2 %; p = 0.00001),very low birth weight babies (13.7 % vs 8.7 %; p = 0.01) compared to control group. There was higher proportion of NICU admissions in adolescent group (20.8% vs 12.3 %; p = 0.0005) compared to control group. No significant difference was found regarding postpartum complications and still birth.Conclusions: Adolescent pregnancy is associated with poorer feto-maternal outcomes. Regular antenatal visits, adequate nutritional supplementation and early detection of high-risk factors may contribute in decreasing the obstetric risk of childbirth in adolescent mothers.
ABSTRACT
Background: Caesarean section is one of the most common procedures performed. Recent studies found that surgical-site infection (SSI) was the most common healthcare-associated infection. Authors hypothesized that optimization of preoperative skin antisepsis may decrease postoperative infections. The objective was to establish the efficacy of chlorhexidine-based antiseptic protocol versus povidone-iodine protocol in reducing SSI for patients undergoing caesarean deliveries.Methods: This is a randomized prospective study conducted from April 2017 to September 2017 at a tertiary care center in India. Women who underwent caesarean sections were allocated into either group. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to have the surgical site painted with chlorhexidine-alcohol preparation or painted with a solution of 10% povidone-iodine and then with surgical spirit. The outcomes were any SSI occurring within a week or during the 30 day follow up period of the surgery including any of: superficial or deep surgical site infection, or endometritis, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions.Results: A total of 560 subjects (273 in the chlorhexidine group and 287 in the iodine group) qualified for the study. The number of surgical-site infection was significantly lower in the chlorhexidine group than in the iodine group (6.95% vs. 14.28%; P=0.005). Chlorhexidine–alcohol was significantly more protective than iodine-alcohol against both superficial incisional infections (5.49% vs. 10.10%, P=0.03) and deep incisional infections (1.46% vs. 4.18%, P=0.04).Conclusions: This study highlighted that Chlorhexidine-alcohol provided superior skin antisepsis in comparison to povidone iodine-alcohol.
ABSTRACT
An 18-month-old with idiopathic opsomyoclonus, refractory to therapy with ACTH, corticosteroids, and clonazepam received plasmapheresis along with oral corticosteroids and azathioprine. The subject improved dramatically following this treatment. Anticerebellar antibodies were detected from the plasma in this patient and in a two and a half year-old girl with cerebellar ataxia secondary to an adrenal ganglioneuroma.