Effect of tranexamic acid in prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in elective caesarean delivery: a randomized controlled study

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage is the ugly ghost that most obstetricians believe because many cases unpredicted and may be associated with rapid patient deterioration that may lead mortality or developing serious long-term morbidities. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of slowly intravenous administration of tranexamic acid in prevention and decline the severity of postpartum hemorrhage immediately prior to elective caesarean section.Methods: A double blinded, randomized, case control trial carried out at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Egypt from May 2017 to April 2018. This study was conducted on 500 full term pregnant women underwent elective caesarean section. The patients were divided randomly into: Group A (study group) included 250 patients received tranexamic acid 1gm slowly iv over 2 minutes at least 10 minutes before operation started and Group B (control group) included 250 patients that received placebo (normal saline NaCl 0.9%).Results: Incidence of PPH in group A and group B were (4.4% and 6.8) respectively, 1.2% in group A and 2.8% in group B had severe degree of PPH. Amount of blood loss immediately after placental delivery up to first 6 hours postoperative was statistically significant increase in placebo group than tranexamic acid group with p value <0.001.Conclusions: Tranexamic acid administration few minutes prior to elective cesarean section was effective in reducing the incidence and severity of PPH and decreased the use of additional uterotonic drugs and additional surgical interventions.

Further evidence of psychological factors underlying choice of elective cesarean delivery (ECD) by primigravidae

Objective: Requests for elective cesarean delivery (ECD) have increased in Iran. While some sociodemographic and fear-related factors have been linked with this choice, psychological factors such as self-esteem, stress, and health beliefs are under-researched. Methods: A total of 342 primigravidae (mean age = 25 years) completed questionnaires covering psychological dimensions such as self-esteem, perceived stress, marital relationship quality, perceived social support, and relevant health-related beliefs. Results: Of the sample, 214 (62.6%) chose to undergo ECD rather than vaginal delivery (VD). This choice was associated with lower self-esteem, greater perceived stress, belief in higher susceptibility to problematic birth and barriers to an easy birth, along with lower perceived severity of ECD, fewer perceived benefits from VD, lower self-efficacy and a lower feeling of preparedness. No differences were found for marital relationship quality or perceived social support. Conclusions: The pattern suggests that various psychological factors such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, and perceived stress underpin the decision by primigravidae to have an ECD.

Neonatal outcome of vertex-vertex and vertex-nonvertex second twin according to the mode of delivery / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to estimate the success rate of vaginal delivery after trial of labor (TOL) and to analyze the neonatal outcome of vertex-vertex (V-V) and vertex-nonvertex (V-NV) second twin according to the mode of delivery. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of V-V and V-NV twin delivered between December 1996 and February 2006. The patients were classified as TOL group and elective cesarean delivery (ECD) group to compare of the neonatal morbidity and mortality in second twin. Neonatal morbidity included intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and birth trauma. Student t-test, Mann-Whtiney U test, Pearson's chi-square, and Fisher's exact were performed for the comparison of the neonatal outcome in second twin according to the groups. RESULTS: There are 349 eligible cases within given period. The proportions of TOL and ECD were 49% (n=170) and 51% (n=179), respectively. The success rates of vaginal delivery after TOL were 75% (n=93) in V-V twin and 70% (n=32) in V-NV twin. There were no significant differences in the neonatal outcome between TOL and ECD group. Additionally there were no significant differences in the neonatal outcome between cesarean delivery after the failure of TOL (n=45) and ECD group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TOL in V-V and V-NV twin may be a safe method and can reduce the rate of ECD without adverse effect on neonatal outcome of second twin unless there are other obstetrical indications for cesarean delivery.