The association between gestational impaired glucose tolerance and hyperglycemic markers: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT), and laboratory and clinical hyperglycemic markers. METHODS: A prospective study in Holon between 2017 and 2019. Women with a singleton term delivery and one abnormal value in their last three oral glucose tolerance test measurements (OGTTs; GIGT group, n = 60) were compared with control women with normal glucose challenge test (GCT) and/or OGTT measurements (n = 60). Primary outcomes were elevated cord-blood C-peptide (>90th percentile), maternal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), abnormal HbA1c (>5.7%), and neonatal skinfold thickness. Secondary outcomes included large for gestational age (LGA). RESULTS: Women in the GIGT group were older (33.3 ± 5.3 vs 31.1 ± 4.8 years; P = 0.019), and had a higher rate of LGA (26.7% vs 6.7%; P = 0.005), macrosomia (13.3% vs 0%; P = 0.006), elevated C-peptide (16.7% vs 1.7%, P = 0.008), and abnormal HbA1c (13.3% vs 0%, P = 0.006). Skinfold thickness was also significantly higher in the GIGT group. HbA1c (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 10.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-91.91; P = 0.033) and GIGT (aOR, 11.43; 95% CI, 1.78-73.39; P = 0.01) were independently associated with LGA. CONCLUSION: Women with GIGT on OGTT demonstrated "hyperglycemic characteristics" relative to those with normal GCT and/or OGTT.

Pregnancy outcomes in association with placental histopathology in pregnancies complicated by macrosomia in diabetic vs. non-diabetic women.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare pregnancy outcomes in association with placental pathology in pregnancies complicated by macrosomia in diabetic vs. non-diabetic women. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnancies complicated by macrosomia (≥4000gr) were included. Pregnancy and delivery characteristics, neonatal outcomes and placental histopathology reports were compared between macrosomia in diabetic [pre-gestational or Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)] women (diabetic-macrosomia group) vs. non-diabetic women (non-diabetic macrosomia group). Adverse neonatal outcome was defined as ≥1 neonatal complications. Multivariate analysis was used to identify independent associations with adverse neonatal outcome. RESULTS: The diabetic macrosomia group (n = 160) was characterized by higher maternal age (p = 0.002), Body Mass Index (BMI) (p < 0.001), and smoking (p = 0.03), and lower gestational age at delivery (p = 0.001). The diabetic-macrosomia group had higher rates of scheduled Cesarean deliveries (CDs) (58.9 % vs23.7 %,p < 0.001) while the non-diabetic macrosomia group (n = 214) had higher rates of emergent CDs (76.3 % vs.40.7 %,p < 0.001), perineal tears (p = 0.027) and Post Partum Hemorrhage (PPH) (p = 0.006). Placentas from the non-diabetic macrosomia group were characterized by higher rates of maternal and fetal inflammatory response lesions (p < 0.001). Except for higher jaundice rate in the diabetic macrosomia group (p < 0.001), none of the other neonatal outcomes including shoulder dystocia differed between the groups. In multivariate analysis GA < 37 weeks (aOR = 1.4,95 %,CI-1.2-3.9), and emergent CDs (aOR = 1.7,95 %,CI-1.4-4.1) but not diabetes (aOR = 1.1,95 %,CI-0.7-3.9) were associated with adverse neonatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Despite major differences in maternal demographics, mode of delivery, maternal morbidity, and placental characteristics- adverse neonatal outcome did not differ between macrosomia in diabetic vs. non-diabetic women and was high in both groups. Clinicians should be aware of the high rate of adverse neonatal outcome in macrosomic fetuses, even in the absence of diabetes mellitus.

Comparison between Three Methods of Fetal Weight Estimation during the Active Stage of Labor Performed by Residents: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of ultrasonographic, calculated, and clinical methods for the estimation of fetal weight (EFW) performed during active labor by residents. METHODS: Parturients in active labor underwent prospectively EFW by 3 methods: ultrasonographic, clinical, and calculated (extrapolating EFW from a previous scan). Three different blinded residents evaluated each woman. Background variables were examined for their effect on the accuracy of each method. Comparison of the methods for the detection of macrosomia and small for gestational age (SGA) was also performed. RESULTS: Among the 405 women recruited, the rates of accuracy of ultrasonographic, clinical, and calculated EFW (within ±10%) was 72.5, 74.3, and 71.1%, respectively. The correlation coefficient between the methods and actual birth weight (ABW) were 0.702-0.611 (using 7 Hadlock formulas), 0.649, and 0.622, respectively (all p < 0.001). By logistic regression, epidural analgesia was associated with higher and second stage of labor with lower accuracy of ultrasonographic EFW. For the detection of macrosomia, clinical (p < 0.001) and calculated EFWs (p = 0.035) were superior to ultrasonographic EFW. For the detection of SGA, ultrasonographic EFW was superior to calculated (p < 0.001) and clinical (p < 0.001) EFWs. CONCLUSION: All 3 methods performed by residents during labor correlated well with ABW. Clinical and calculated EFWs were superior for macrosomia detection, whereas ultrasonographic EFW was superior for SGA detection.

Pregnancy outcome and placental pathology in emergent cesarean deliveries for non-reassuring fetal heart rate in laboring versus non-laboring women.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to correlate between pregnancy outcome and placental pathology in emergent cesarean deliveries (ECD) for non-reassuring-fetal-heart-rate (NRFHR) performed in women in their active phase of labor versus those performed in non-laboring women. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. Data were reviewed for all pregnancies necessitating ECD for NRFHR between January 2009 and December 2013. Maternal outcome, neonatal outcome, and placental pathology parameters were compared between ECDs performed during active phase of labor and those performed before the active phase of labor (non-labor group). RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 661 ECDs were performed due to NRFHR. Compared with the active labor group (n = 335), the non-labor group (n = 326) had more pre-eclampsia (p = 0.033), small for gestational age (SGA) (p = 0.016), and preterm labor (p < 0.001). Worse composite neonatal outcome was observed in the non-labor group compared with the active labor group, p < 0.001. By a stepwise logistic regression model, non-labor was independently associated with adverse neonatal outcome (1.88 OR CI; 1.19-2.96, p = 0.007). Placental inflammatory lesions were more common in the active labor group (p= 0.043), and abnormal cord insertions were more common in the non-labor group (p = 0.002) as well as placental weight <10th% (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Higher rate of pregnancy complications, abnormal cord insertion, smaller placentas, and worse neonatal outcome are associated with ECD for NRFHR when performed before the phase of active labor.

Intraoperative findings, placental assessment and neonatal outcome in emergent cesarean deliveries for non-reassuring fetal heart rate.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate between intraoperative findings, placental histopathology and neonatal outcome in emergent cesarean deliveries (ECD) for non-reassuring fetal heart rate (NRFHR). STUDY DESIGN: Data on ECD for NRFHR were reviewed for labor, documented intraoperative findings, neonatal outcome parameters and placental histopathology reports. Results were compared between those with and without intraoperative findings. Placental lesions were classified to those related to maternal underperfusion or fetal thrombo-occlusive disease, and those related to maternal (MIR) and fetal (FIR) inflammatory responses. Neonatal outcome consisted of low Apgar score (≤7 at 5 min), cord blood pH<7.0, and evidence of respiratory distress, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, transfusion, ventilation, seizure, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, phototherapy, or death. RESULTS: Intraoperative findings were observed in 49.5% of 543 women, mostly cord complications (77%). Placental lesions were more common in those without intraoperative findings as compared to those with intraoperative findings: placental lesions related to maternal under-perfusion, vascular lesions, 9.1% vs. 4.1%, p=0.024, and villous changes, 39.2% vs. 30.7%, p=0.047, lesions consistent with fetal thrombo-occlusive disease, 13.6% vs. 7.4%, p=0.024, and inflammatory lesions, MIR and FIR, p=0.033, p=0.001, respectively. By using multivariate logistic regression analysis, adverse neonatal outcome was found to be dependent on maternal age, gestational age, preeclampsia placental weight <10th%, and MIR. CONCLUSION: NRFHR necessitating ECD may originate from different underlying mechanisms. In about half, the insult is probably acute and can be identified intraoperatively. In the remaining half, underlying placental compromise may be involved.

The effect of a program to shorten the decision-to-delivery interval for emergent cesarean section on maternal and neonatal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of a departmental program designed to shorten the decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) for emergency cesarean section (ECS) for nonreassuring fetal heart rate (NRFHR) on maternal and neonatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A protocol for managing ECS that included documenting precise time-intervals, identification of delaying obstacles and debriefing of each case, was implemented from March 2011. All women who delivered by ECS for NRFHR, as the only indication were included. Detailed information regarding DDI, maternal intraoperative and postoperative complications, and neonatal early outcomes were compared before (period-P1) (-27 months) and after (period 2) (+27 months) program implementation. RESULTS: During 54 months of study, 593 ECS DDI were included. Mean DDI decreased at period 2 (12.3 ± 3.8 min, n = 301) compared with period 1 (21.7 ± 9.1 min, n = 292), P < .001. Rate of cord pH ≤7.1 and 5 min Apgar score ≤7 decreased at period 2 compared with period 1, P = .016 and P = .031, respectively. Worse composite neonatal outcome decreased at period 2 compared with period 1, 15.6% vs 32.2%, respectively, P ≥ .001. Composite maternal outcome did not differ between the groups. Worse neonatal outcome was dependent on time period (period 1), odds ratio, 2.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-3.55; P = .004 and on gestational age at delivery, odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.76; P < .001. CONCLUSION: Introduction of a management protocol to shorten DDI in ECS for NRFHR was associated with improved early neonatal outcome without change in maternal complications.