Validation of a modified obstetric comorbidity index for prediction of postpartum adverse events including fetal morbidity - a retrospective cohort study from Qatar.

BACKGROUND: The Obstetric Comorbidity Index (OBCMI) is an internationally validated scoring system for maternal risk factors intended to reliably predict the occurrence of severe maternal morbidity (SMM). This retrospective cohort study applied the OBCMI to pregnant women in Qatar to validate its performance in predicting SMM and cumulative fetal morbidity. METHODS: Data from 1000 women who delivered in July 2021 in a large tertiary centre was extracted from medical records. The OBCMI index included maternal demographics, pre-existing comorbidities, and various current pregnancy risk factors such as hypertension, including preeclampsia, intrauterine fetal death, prolonged rupture of membranes and unbooked pregnancies. SMM was based on the ACOG consensus definition, and the cumulative fetal morbidity (CFM) included fetal distress in labour, low APGAR and umbilical artery (UA) pH, admission to neonatal intensive care (NICU), and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). A c-statistic or area under curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the ability of OBCMI to predict SMM and CFM. RESULTS: The median OBCMI score for the cohort was 1 (interquartile range- 0 to 2); 50% of women scored 0, while 85% (n = 842) had a score ranging from 0 to 2. Ten women (1%) scored ≥ 7; the highest score was 10. The incidence of SMM was 13%. According to the modified scoring system, the mean OBCMI score in those who developed SMM was 2.18 (± 2.20) compared to a mean of 1.04 (± 1.40) in those who did not (median 1, IQR:1-3 versus median 0, IQR: 0-2; p < 0.001). The incidence of CFM was 11.3%. The incidence of low APGAR score, HIE and NICU admission was nearly 1 in 1000. Around 5% of the babies had fetal distress in labour and low UA pH. For every 1 unit increase in OBCMI score, the odds of SMM increased by 44% (OR 1.44 95% CI 1.30-1.59; p < 0.001; AUC 0.66), and CFM increased by 28% (OR 1.28 95% CI 1.15-1.42; p < 0.001; AUC 0.61). A cut-off score of 4 had a high specificity (> 90%); 1 in 4 and 1 in 6 women with OBCMI score ≥ 4 developed SMM and CFM, respectively. CONCLUSION: The OBCMI performed moderately well in predicting SMM in pregnant women of Qatar and can be effectively used as a risk assessment tool to red-flag high-risk cases so that appropriate and timely multidisciplinary care can be initiated to reduce SMM and maternal mortality. The index is also helpful in predicting fetal morbidity; however, further prospective studies are required to validate OBCMI for CFM.

Bariatric surgery and reproduction-implications for gynecology and obstetrics.

As the rates of obesity continue to rise across the world, there has been an increasing resort to bariatric surgery amongst the options for treatment. Through the reproductive lifespan, between menarche and menopause, women might benefit from this surgical intervention, which may have a bearing on other aspects of their health. The consequences of bariatric surgery have been reported and evaluated from various perspectives in obstetrics and gynecology. Fertility and sexuality are enhanced, but not all gynecological diseases are ameliorated. There are also psychological and behavioral sequelae to be cognizant of. With multi-disciplinary and responsive care, most post-bariatric pregnancies have satisfactory outcomes. The effects of bariatric surgery on the babies conceived thereafter remains a subject of interest, whereas the possible effect on the climacteric is speculative.

Small Bowel Injury During Peritoneal Entry at Cesarean Section: A Five-Year Case Series.

Introduction Small bowel injury during peritoneal entry may occur unexpectedly at cesarean section (CS) and may present unexpected management problems and prolonged postoperative hospital stay. Methods This was an observational study of patients who sustained inadvertent injuries compared to those who did not. Both study and control patients had the same number of previous cesarean sections. Findings In this study population, the frequency of small bowel injury during peritoneal entry was 0.0003/10,000 cesarean sections. The majority comprised serosal trauma (7/10) and tended to occur in females who had had two or more CS. Compared to patients with a similar number of previous cesarean sections, patients who sustained small bowel injuries in the index cesarean section were twice as likely to have had adhesiolysis of flimsy or dense lesions in the immediate preceding procedure. Conclusion Bowel injury during peritoneal entry at cesarean section is rare but may be frequently encountered in maternity units with high-volume CS rates.

The intraoperative use of internal iliac artery balloon catheters in cesarean deliveries for abnormal invasive placentation: A 3-year retrospective cohort review in Doha, Qatar.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal invasive placentation leads to massive intraoperative hemorrhage and maternal morbidity. This study aimed to assess the impact of the preoperative use of internal iliac artery balloon occlusion (IIABO) catheters in patients who had a cesarean delivery (CD) for invasive placentation, commonly known as the placenta accreta spectrum. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed 67 pregnancies complicated by abnormal invasive placenta and confirmed intraoperatively. Preoperative planned placement of IIABO was performed in 33 women who underwent elective CD. Senior Obstetricians with the necessary expertise performed all CDs. The primary outcome measures were: intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion requirement, duration of surgery and the need for hemostatic measures. Univariate comparison between the groups and regression analysis of the primary outcome and controlling for confounders, were performed. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups with intraoperative hemorrhage volume of above 3000 mL (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.94 [no-IIABO group as the reference]; p = 0.895) and the median duration of surgery (median 107, interquartile range [IQR] 80-135 vs. median 96, IQR 75-121; p = 0.3508). More than 40% of the IIABO group required intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells above six units (14 [42.4%] vs. 10 [29.4%]; p = 0.357]), and 30% required additional postoperative transfusion (10 [30.3%] vs. 8 [23.5%]; p = 0.706]), although not statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the difference remained nonsignificant after covariate adjustment (adjusted OR 0.585, p = 0.456). Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in fewer cases (seven [21.1%]) in the IIABO group than in the no-IIABO group (10 [29.4%]), although this difference was not significant (unadjusted OR 0.65, p = 0.442). CONCLUSIONS: The placement of IIABO catheters is an invasive procedure, which consumes time and resources. Its value as a means of reducing intraoperative blood loss or preserving the uterus in patients with abnormal placental adherence appears questionable. In this cohort study, there was no statistical difference in blood loss, and the need for other steps to control hemorrhage between women with and without IIABO catheters.

A Quantitative Evaluation of Evidence-Based Beliefs and Implementation Among Community Pharmacists: Findings and Impact from United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: The flux of pharmaceutical data can have a negative impact on the complexity of a pharmacist's decision-making process, which will demand an extensive evaluation from healthcare providers trying to choose the most suitable therapeutic plans for their patients. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to assess the beliefs and implementations of community pharmacists in the UAE regarding evidence-based practice (EBP) and to explore the significant factors governing their EBP. SETTING: Community pharmacies in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, UAE. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over six months between December 2017 and June 2018. Community pharmacists who had three months' professional experience or more and were registered with one of three regulatory bodies (Ministry of Health, Health Authority Abu Dhabi, or Dubai Health Authority) were interviewed by three trained final-year pharmacy students. Face-to-face interviews were then carried out and a structured questionnaire was used. METRICS: The average beliefs score was 36% (95% CI: [34%, 39%]) compared to an implementation score of 35% (95% CI: [33%, 37%]). RESULTS: A total of 505 subjects participated in the study and completed the entire questionnaire. On average, participants scored higher in beliefs score than implementation score. The results of the statistical modelling showed that younger, female, higher-position pharmacists with more experience and with low percentages of full-time working, and graduates from international/regional universities were more likely to believe in and implement the concept of EBP. CONCLUSION: A gap was identified between the beliefs and implementation of EBP. Developing educational EBP courses in undergraduate pharmacy curricula is of high importance, not only to increase knowledge levels but also to encourage commitment in those pharmacists to strive for professionalism and to support the provided patient care with evidence.