Is there a role for antenatal corticosteroids in term infants before elective cesarean section?

Abstract Objective Cesarean section (CS) delivery, especially without previous labor, is associated with worse neonatal respiratory outcomes. Some studies comparing neonatal outcomes between term infants exposed and not exposed to antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) before elective CS revealed that ACS appears to decrease the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), transient tachypnea of the neonate (TTN), admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the length of stay in the NICU. Methods The present retrospective cohort study aimed to compare neonatal outcomes in infants born trough term elective CS exposed and not exposed to ACS. Outcomes included neonatal morbidity at birth, neonatal respiratory morbidity, and general neonatal morbidity. Maternal demographic characteristics and obstetric data were analyzed as possible confounders. Results A total of 334 newborns met the inclusion criteria. One third of the population study (n=129; 38.6%) received ACS. The present study found that the likelihood for RDS (odds ratio [OR]=1.250; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.454-3.442), transient TTN (OR=1.,623; 95%CI: 0.556-4.739), and NIUC admission (OR=2.155; 95%CI: 0.474-9.788) was higher in the ACS exposed group, although with no statistical significance. When adjusting for gestational age and arterial hypertension, the likelihood for RDS (OR=0,732; 95%CI: 0.240-2.232), TTN (OR=0.959; 95%CI: 0.297--3.091), and NIUC admission (OR=0,852; 95%CI: 0.161-4.520) become lower in the ACS exposed group. Conclusion Our findings highlight the known association between CS-related respiratory morbidity and gestational age, supporting recent guidelines that advocate postponing elective CSs until 39 weeks of gestational age.

Factores de riesgo asociados a traumatismo al nacimiento / Risk factors for birth injuries

Objective. To identify risk factors associated with birth trauma. Setting. Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Secretaría de Salud. Design. Case-control, prolective study. Patients. There were 129 cases and 134 controls. Measures. We recorded the following variables: a) maternal and delivery: age, weight, height, prenatal care, pre-existing disease or gestational disease, mode of delivery, anesthetic management during labor, use of external maneuvers or forceps; b) newborn: birth weight, gestational age, academic degree of attendant physician at delivery, and type of birth injury. Results. The independent risk factors associated to birth injury were: for ecchymoses; general anesthesia (OR 13.7, 95% CI - 3 - 62.6), breech presentation (OR 6.4, 95% IC 95% = 1.4 - 27.9) and gestational age < 32 weeks (OR 6.4, 95% CI = 1.3 - 31.1); for lacerations, vaginal dystocic delivery or cesarean section (OR 19, 95% CI = 4.4 - 81.1) and use of external maneuvers (OR 5.6, 95% CI = 1.5 - 21.6); for cephalhematoma maternal height < 1.54 m (OR 7.4, 95% CI = 2.3 - 23.7) and external maneuvers (OR 7.2, 95% CI = 2.3 - 23.7); for caput succedaneum, external maneuvers (OR 3.4, 95% CI = 1.5-7.7) and maternal age < 19 or > 36 years (OR 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4 - 6.4). Conclusions. Risk factors associated with birth injuries identified in this study involved maternal conditions, neonatal conditions and mechanism of delivery.

Objetivo. Identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a lesiones originadas durante el nacimiento en recién nacidos. Lugar. Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", SS. Diseño. Casos y controles, prolectivo. Pacientes. 129 casos y 134 controles. Mediciones. Las variables estudiadas fueron, a) maternas y del parto: edad, peso, talla, control prenatal, enfermedad previa o durante el embarazo, características del trabajo de parto, tipo de anestesia, aplicación de maniobras externas, uso de fórceps; b) en el recién nacido: peso al nacer, edad gestacional, grado académico del médico que atendió el nacimiento y tipo de lesión. Resultados. Los factores que se asociaron en forma independiente a la presentación de traumatismo al nacimiento fueron para equimosis: anestesia general (RM 13.7, IC 95% = 3 - 62.6), presentación pélvica (RM 6.4, IC 95% = 1.4 - 27.9 y edad gestacional < 32 semanas (RM 6.4, IC 95% =1.3 - 31.1); para laceración, nacimiento vaginal distócico o cesárea (RM 19, IC 95% = 4.4 - 81.1), y maniobras externas (RM 5.6, IC 95% = 1.5 - 21.6); para cefalohematoma talla materna < 1.54 m (RM 7.4, IC 95% = 2.3 - 23.7) y maniobras externas (RM 7.2, IC 95% = 2.2 - 23.7); para caput succedaneum maniobras externas (RM 3.4, IC 95% = 1.5 - 7.7) y edad materna < 19 o > 36 años (RM 3.0, IC 95% = 1.4 - 6.4). Conclusiones. Los factores de riesgo asociados a lesiones durante el nacimiento identificados en este estudio involucran tanto características maternas como del recién nacido y de la atención del parto.

A study of microbial flora of conjunctival sac in newborns

During the period from July to August 1987, the microbial flora in conjunctival sac of 93 newborns (186 eyes: normal vaginal delivery) and 19 newborns (38 eyes: cesarean section delivery) in nursery of Ewha Womans University Hospital were investigated for isolation and identification of bacteria on delivery day and on two days after birth. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of 186 eyes (normal vaginal delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 40 eyes (21.5%) on delivery day and in 64 eyes (34.4%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species shown in 10 eyes (5.4%) on delivery day and in 10 eyes (5.4%) on two days after birth. 2. Of 38 eyes (cesarean section delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 2 eyes (5.3%) on delivery day and in 20 eyes (52.6%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was shown 2 eyes (5.3%) on two days after birth. 3. Several kinds of bacterial species were isolated in normal vaginal delivery and cesarean section delivery. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus were isolated.