Childbirth and puerperium during the COVID-19 pandemic: patient experience and frequency of prematurity / Parto y puerperio durante la pandemia por COVID-19: experiencia de las pacientes y frecuencia de prematuridad

Objetivo: Evaluar la percepción de las madres que tuvieron su parto durante la pandemia COVID en relación a la obligación de no recibir visitas en su puerperio, y cuantificar la frecuencia de prematuridad que otros centros del mundo mostraron que se redujo durante la pandemia. Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo con encuestas realizadas entre el 1 de septiembre y el 31 diciembre 2020, y análisis de estadísticas locales de la Unidad de Maternidad y Neonatología. Resultados: Sobre el 90% de las madres que contestaron la encuesta afirmó haber descansado mejor y preferir un retorno a las visitas con horarios reducidos. La frecuencia de prematuridad se redujo significativamente en nuestra institución (8,08% entre 2014 y 2019 vs. 1,6% en 2020). Conclusiones: La mayoría de las puérperas prefiere un horario reducido para visitas en el posparto. Este hallazgo y la caída en la frecuencia de prematuridad obligan a reflexionar sobre nuestro cuidado prenatal actual.

Objective: To evaluate the perception of mothers who gave birth during the COVID pandemic in relation to the obligation not to receive visits during the puerperium, and to quantify the frequency of prematurity that other centers in the world showed decreased during the pandemic. Method: Retrospective observational study with surveys conducted between September 1st and December 31, 2020, and analysis of local statistics from the Maternity and Neonatal Unit. Results: Over 90% of the mothers who answered the survey stated that they had rested better and preferred a return to visits with reduced hours. The frequency of prematurity was signficantly reduced in our institution ((8.08% between 2014 and 2019 vs 1.6% in 2020). Conclusions: Most postpartum women prefer a reduced schedule for pospartum visits. This finding and the drop in the frequency of prematurity force us to reflect on our current prenatal care.

Third trimester suppression in low-risk pregnancy in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic / Supresión de la visita de tercer trimestre en embarazo de bajo riesgo en la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2

Resumen Objetivo: La pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 ha obligado a una reorganización de las visitas presenciales, y por ese motivo se han minimizado hasta el punto de reconsiderar la realización de la visita del tercer trimestre. Nuestro centro suprimió dicha visita obstétrica y obtuvo datos propios para comparar los resultados perinatales logrados con dicho manejo. Método: Se realizó un estudio de cohortes retrospectivo, en marzo de 2020, con una cohorte con visita presencial única en la semana 40 de gestación (122 gestantes) frente a una cohorte con seguimiento convencional con visita presencial en la semana 36 de gestación (162 gestantes). Se evaluaron la restricción del crecimiento fetal, la edad gestacional al nacimiento, el peso neonatal y las tasas de inducciones, partos eutócicos y cesáreas urgentes en trabajo de parto. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias leves en la tasa de nuliparidad (p < 0,04), sin hallarlas en el resto de las variables maternas. No hubo diferencias entre las dos cohortes en los resultados neonatales. Conclusiones: No hay diferencias entre los resultados materno-fetales obtenidos en gestantes con seguimiento gestacional con restricción de la visita del tercer trimestre respecto del seguimiento tradicional, excepto en el diagnóstico de las alteraciones de la estática fetal al término de la gestación.

Abstract Objective: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced a reorganization of face-to-face visits, for this reason they have been minimized to the point of reconsidering the completion of the third trimester visit. Our center eliminated the performance of this obstetric visit and obtained its own data to compare the perinatal results obtained with such management. Method: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in March 2020, with a cohort with a single face-to-face visit at 40th week of gestation (122 pregnant women), versus a cohort with conventional follow-up with face-to-face visit at 36th week of gestation (162 pregnant women). The following were evaluated fetal growth restriction, gestational age at birth, neonatal weight, rate of inductions, of eutocic deliveries, and of urgent cesarean sections in labor. Results: Slight differences were found in the nulliparity rate (p < 0.04), without finding them in the rest of the maternal variables. There were no differences between the two cohorts in neonatal outcomes. Conclusions: There were no differences between the maternal-fetal results obtained in pregnant women with gestational follow-up with restriction of the third trimester visit compared to traditional follow-up, except in the diagnosis of alterations in fetal statics at the end of pregnancy.

Facility preparedness for an obstetric unit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 infection has placed health systems under unprecedented strain and foresight for preparedness is the key factor to avert disaster. Every facility that provides obstetric service needs a certain level of preparedness to be able to handle at least Covid-suspect pregnant women awaiting test reports, who need to be managed as Covid-positive patients till reports are available. Thus, these facilities need to have triage areas and Covid-suspect labour rooms. Healthcare facilities can have designated areas for Covid-positive patients or have referral linkages with designated Covid-positive hospitals. Preparation includes structural reorganization with setting up a Covid-suspect and Covid-positive facility in adequate space, as well as extensive training of staff about infection control practices and rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE). A systematic approach involving five essential steps of making standard operating procedures, infrastructural reorganization for a triage area and a Covid-suspect labour ward, procurement of PPE, managing the personnel and instituting appropriate infection control practices can ensure uninterrupted services to patients without compromising the safety of healthcare providers.

From the trenches: inpatient management of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has become a pandemic. It has quickly swept across the globe, leaving many clinicians to care for infected patients with limited information about the disease and best practices for care. Our goal is to share our experiences of caring for pregnant and postpartum women with novel coronavirus disease 2019 in New York, which is the coronavirus disease 2019 epicenter in the United States, and review current guidelines. We offer a guide, focusing on inpatient management, including testing policies, admission criteria, medical management, care for the decompensating patient, and practical tips for inpatient antepartum service management.

False-negative testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: consideration in obstetrical care.

Because the obstetrical population seems to have a high proportion of asymptomatic patients who are carriers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, universal testing has been proposed as a strategy to risk-stratify all obstetrical admissions and guide infection prevention protocols. Here, we describe a case of a critically ill obstetrical patient with all the clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 and 3 false-negative results of nasopharyngeal swabs for molecular testing. We review and discuss the uncertain clinical characteristics of current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 molecular testing and the implications of false-negative results in the obstetrical population.

Consolidation of obstetric services in a public health emergency.

Though much of routine healthcare pauses in a public health emergency, childbirth continues uninterrupted. Crises like COVID-19 put incredible strains on healthcare systems and require strategic planning, flexible adaptability, clear communication, and judicious resource allocation. Experiences from obstetric units affected by COVID-19 highlight the importance of developing new teams and workflows to ensure patient and healthcare worker safety. Additionally, adapting a strategy that combines units and staff from different areas and hospitals can allow for synergistic opportunities to provision care appropriately to manage a structure and workforce at maximum capacity.

A hospital challenge: experience of a gynecology team in the comprehensive management of patients COVID 19 / Desafío hospitalario: experiencia de un equipo de ginecología en el manejo integral de pacientes COVID 19

INTRODUCCIÓN: La infección por el coronavirus SARS-CoV2 (COVID 19), causal de la pandemia actual, ha significado a nivel mundial la hospitalización simultánea de múltiples pacientes poniendo a prueba la infraestructura hospitalaria y la capacidad de reacción del personal de salud. Una de las estrategias para el manejo es la reconversión de camas y servicios clínicos. OBJETIVOS: presentar experiencia de un equipo ginecológico en el manejo integral de pacientes no gineco-obstétricas con COVID 19, durante el mes de junio de 2020 en un hospital público de la Región Metropolitana. MÉTODOS: Estudio de corte transversal observacional, descriptivo. Se consideró el total de pacientes adultos hombres y mujeres sin patología gineco-obstétrica con COVID 19 ingresados al puerperio del Hospital Santiago Oriente, obteniéndose datos clínicos y demográficos a través del registro interno de la unidad y del sistema de información de red asistencial. RESULTADOS: Ingresaron 82 pacientes, 32 mujeres y 50 hombres, promedio de edad 64. El promedio de días de hospitalización fue 5, con diagnóstico de ingreso principal neumonía viral por COVID-19. Las comorbilidades frecuentes fueron hipertensión arterial sistémica y diabetes mellitus. La complicación más frecuente fue el tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo. Hubo una alta cobertura de entrega de información vía telefónica a familiares. De los 82 ingresos, 54 pacientes egresaron a su domicilio. El resto a otras unidades dentro de la institución, centros de menor complejidad o residencias sanitarias. Una paciente sexo femenino de 75 años fallece a causa de descompensación de patologias de base secundario a neumonia por Staphylococus aereus. En ella, se descarta la infección por COVID 19 dado tres exámenes por reacción de polimerasa en cadena negativos realizado antes y durante su hospitalización. CONCLUSIONES: Esta experiencia constituyó un desafío para todo el equipo de salud gineco-obstétrico, considerando que nos enfrentamos a otro tipo de pacientes y a una patología nueva. Los resultados médicos son promisorios, la experiencia humana y sentido de trabajo en equipo fue extraordinario.

INTRODUCTION: The infection by the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus (COVID 19), the cause of the current pandemic we are experiencing, has meant the simultaneous hospitalization of many patients worldwide, putting the hospital infrastructure and the reaction capacity of health personnel to the test. One of the management strategies is the reconversion of clinical services. OBJECTIVES: present the experience of a gynecological team in the comprehensive management of non-gyneco-obstetric patients with COVID 19, during the month of June 2020 in a public hospital in the Metropolitan Region. METHODS: descriptive, observational cross-sectional study. The total number of patients admitted to the ex-puerperium of the Santiago Oriente Hospital was considered, obtaining clinical and demographic data through the unit's internal registry and the healthcare network information system. RESULTS: 82 patients were admitted, 32 women and 50 men, average age 64. The average number of days of hospitalization was 5, with the main admission diagnosis being viral pneumonia due to COVID-19. Frequent comorbidities were systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The most frequent complication was acute pulmonary thromboembolism. There was a high coverage of the delivery of information via telephone to relatives. Of the 82 admissions, 54 patients were discharged home and the rest to other units within the institution, less complex centers or health residences. One 75 years old female patient dies from concomitant pathologies, and she wasn't positive for COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: This experience was a challenge for the entire gynecological-obstetric health team, considering that we are facing other types of patients and a new pathology. The medical results are promising, the human experience and sense of teamwork was extraordinary.

Practice observed in managing gynaecological problems in post-menopausal women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The way in which gynaecology services are provided in the UK has drastically changed within a short space of time due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Gynaecologists are not considered front-line staff in the treatment of the novel coronavirus unlike our intensive care or accident and emergency colleagues. However, the impact this is having on those with chronic problems is significant, and the morbidity associated with missed malignancies could be problematic. This article summarises the strategies developed at King's College Hospital to remodel services to best provide optimum treatment to patients in this new era.

Obstetrical Unit Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: OUR Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the response of labor and delivery (L&D) units in the United States to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and determine how institutional characteristics and regional disease prevalence affect viral testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically through the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine e-mail database (n = 584 distinct practices) and social media between April 14 and 23, 2020. Participants were recruited through "snowballing." A single representative was asked to respond on behalf of each L&D unit. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Multivariable regression was performed to explore characteristics associated with universal testing and PPE usage. RESULTS: A total of 301 surveys (estimated 51.5% response rate) was analyzed representing 48 states and two territories. Obstetrical units included academic (31%), community teaching (45%) and nonteaching hospitals (24%). Sixteen percent of respondents were from states with high prevalence, defined as higher "deaths per million" rates compared with the national average. Universal laboratory testing for admissions was reported for 40% (119/297) of units. After adjusting for covariates, universal testing was more common in academic institutions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-2.42) and high prevalence states (aOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.37-5.28). When delivering asymptomatic patients, full PPE (including N95 mask) was recommended for vaginal deliveries in 33% and for cesarean delivery in 38% of responding institutions. N95 mask use during asymptomatic vaginal deliveries remained more likely in high prevalence states (aOR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.29-5.09) and less likely in hospitals with universal testing (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24-0.73). CONCLUSION: Universal laboratory testing for COVID-19 is more common at academic institutions and in states with high disease prevalence. Centers with universal testing were less likely to recommend N95 masks for asymptomatic vaginal deliveries, suggesting that viral testing can play a role in guiding efficient PPE use. KEY POINTS: · Heterogeneity is seen in institutional recommendations for viral testing and PPE.. · Universal laboratory testing for COVID-19 is more common at academic centers.. · N95 mask use during vaginal deliveries is less likely in places with universal testing..

Managing an obstetrics and gynaecology department in time of COVID pandemic: safety and efficacy first at Foch hospital.

Obstetrics and Gynecology department in France were not ready for the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, but ingenuity and dedication of personnel allowed to perform safely and avoid nocomial transmission of COVID.