Clinical chorioamnionitis and histologic placental inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rate of histologic chorioamnionitis in the presence of diagnosed clinical chorioamnionitis and determine whether clinical markers of maternal and neonatal infection are associated with histologic chorioamnionitis. METHODS: We identified singleton pregnancies from 1996 in which discharge diagnoses included clinical chorioamnionitis and reviewed maternal and neonatal records for clinical evidence of chorioamnionitis and suspected or confirmed neonatal infections. Placentas were examined for acute histologic chorioamnionitis. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine pregnancies with the discharge diagnosis of maternal clinical chorioamnionitis were included. Eighty-six (61.9%) had the clinical diagnosis supported by histologic chorioamnionitis. Histologic chorioamnionitis was associated with an earlier gestational age at delivery (35.7+/-6.5 weeks versus 38.6+/-2.9 weeks, P = .002), lower epidural usage (72.1% versus 92.5%, P = .004), less internal monitoring (47.7% versus 75.5%, P = .001), and possible neonatal sepsis (60.5% versus 35.8%, P = .005). For 19 of 71 (26.8%) infants with possible neonatal sepsis, placentas did not show histologic chorioamnionitis. CONCLUSION: Clinical chorioamnionitis and possible neonatal infection were not supported by histologic evidence for infection in 38.1% and 26.8% of cases, respectively, suggesting other noninflammatory causes of signs and symptoms.

Relationship of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia to blood pressure during pregnancy.

The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between insulin resistance and blood pressure during pregnancy and to determine to what extent insulin resistance is related to the subsequent development of pregnancy-induced hypertension. The study population consisted of 292 women who had serum insulin, glucose and insulin-glucose ratios determined at 26-28 weeks gestation in a fasting state and 1 hr after a 50-g oral glucose challenge. These were compared with blood pressures at 26-28 weeks gestation and in the late third trimester. A statistically significant correlation exists overall between (1) blood pressure at 26-28 weeks gestation and both fasting insulin and insulin-glucose ratios, as well as (2) systolic blood pressure at term and fasting insulin levels. However, when controlled for confounding variables including body mass index, race and age, no statistically significant relationship remained. The metabolic variables in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension were not statistically different from the normotensive patients. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are not major determinants of blood pressure during pregnancy.

Analysis of repeat cesarean delivery indications: implications of heterogeneity.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the relative contributions and characteristics of various subgroups of patients to the overall repeat cesarean delivery rate and to determine modifiable practice patterns that might lead to fewer repeat cesarean deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: Hospital records of all women with a previous cesarean section who were delivered between Jan. 1 and June 30, 1994, at St. Peter's Medical Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey, were reviewed. Four groups were identified: (1) elective repeat cesarean, (2) "indicated" repeat cesarean, (3) failed vaginal birth after cesarean, and (4) successful vaginal birth after cesarean. Descriptive and outcome data were collected. RESULTS: There were 406 patients, 376 of whom had complete records available for review. Of these, 235 had a repeat cesarean delivery because of the following reasons: elective (107, 45%), "indicated" (56, 24%), and failed vaginal birth after cesarean (72, 31%). The remaining 141 patients had a vaginal birth after cesarean. Patients with private or health maintenance organization insurance were nearly seven times more likely to have a repeat cesarean delivery as an elective procedure as compared with Medicaid or self-pay patients (odds ratio 6.88, 95% confidence interval 2.33 to 20.38). The failed vaginal birth after cesarean group was characterized by more frequent inductions of labor, less use of amniotomy, and very early epidural placement. CONCLUSIONS: Examination of patient characteristics is required to identify population-specific strategies to reduce repeat cesarean delivery rates. Modifiable practice patterns exist that may lead to interventions to reduce repeat cesarean delivery rates.

Comparison of the effects of meperidine and nalbuphine on intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of meperidine and nalbuphine on intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings using computer analysis. METHODS: We studied 28 women with uncomplicated pregnancies in early labor at term with reactive FHR tracings. The women were randomized to receive either meperidine 50 mg or nalbuphine 10 mg intravenously on request. One-hour FHR recordings were obtained before and immediately after administration of the medications. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the FHR characteristics of the two groups during the pre-treatment period. Nalbuphine significantly decreased the number of accelerations of 10 beats per minute (17 versus 4, P = .003) and 15 beats per minute (10 versus 1.5, P = .001), time spent in episodes of high variation (35.5 versus 10 minutes, P = .004), long-term variation (47 versus 29.8 milliseconds, P = .002), and short-term variation (8.4 versus 6.4 milliseconds, P = .03). Meperidine had no significant effect on any FHR characteristic. CONCLUSION: In the early intrapartum period of normal term pregnancies and at commonly used dosages, nalbuphine had a significant effect on FHR tracings, whereas meperidine had no effect, as determined by computer analysis.

Patterns of illicit drug use at the time of labor in a private and public hospital.

The majority of prevalence data on perinatal substance abuse describe low socioeconomic patient populations. This study of illicit drug use at the time of labor was done to identify patterns of drug use in both private and nonprivate patients. Anonymous urine samples were collected from 1000 patients, 500 admitted in labor to a private hospital and 500 admitted to a public hospital. All samples were screened for cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids, and amphetamines. A positive result of screening for any drug was detected in 8.2% of patients. More positive results of screening for any drug were found in nonprivate patients (11.4%) than private patients (5%), with nonprivate patients significantly more likely to test positive for cocaine or cannabinoids or both. Black patients contributed 64.5% of the positive tests for cocaine, significantly more than white (17.6%) or Hispanic patients (17.6%), whereas white patients contributed significantly more positive tests for cannabinoids (85%) than black (5.4%) or Hispanic patients (7.1%). Assessment of patterns of perinatal drug use in communities will support appropriate allocation of resources and targeting of patient and provider education.

Preventing preterm birth in twin gestation: home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support.

In this investigation, 45 women with twin gestations in four centers were randomly assigned to either daily home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support (19) or an education group (26). Patients in the home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support group monitored uterine activity twice daily, transmitted the data each day, and had 24 hour-a-day access to nursing support. Education patients were counseled regarding the common signs and symptoms of preterm labor. Both groups had scheduled prenatal visits at least every 2 weeks. Sixteen (62%) of the education group and 14 (74%) of the home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support group developed preterm labor, values that were not significantly different. Of the monitored group who experienced preterm labor, all 14 were dilated 3 cm or less at diagnosis of the first preterm labor, compared with ten of 16 in the education group (P = .01; one-tailed Fisher test). The mean cervical dilatation at the first preterm labor episode in the group receiving daily monitoring and contact (1.6 cm) was significantly less (P = .01) than that in the education group (2.9 cm). Thus, fewer preterm births were recorded in the home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support group and significantly fewer patients delivered because of failed tocolysis (P = .03).

Home uterine activity monitoring is associated with a reduction in preterm birth.

The value of home uterine activity monitoring plus perinatal nursing support in the prevention of preterm birth among high-risk patients has been demonstrated by several studies. Other reports with less stringent guidelines and less intensive nursing contact have questioned the contribution of home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support to a preterm birth prevention program. In this large, prospective, randomized multicenter study, patients were assigned to receive either daily monitoring and nursing contact or a preterm birth prevention program including intensive education and more frequent prenatal visits. Among the monitored patients, there was a significant increase in early detection of preterm labor (2 cm or less), successful tocolysis, and prolongation of pregnancy to term. Thirty-one percent of these diagnoses of preterm labor resulted from evaluation of increased uterine activity without associated patient-perceived symptoms. We conclude that a program of daily uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support results in earlier diagnosis of preterm labor and subsequently more effective tocolysis.

Management of preterm labor patients at home: does daily uterine activity monitoring and nursing support make a difference?

Daily home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support were compared with standard care in managing patients with recurrent preterm labor during the current pregnancy in an effort to reduce preterm birth. Sixty-seven successfully treated preterm labor patients were randomly assigned in this multicenter study to daily home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support or to a standard-care group. Recurrent preterm labor occurred in 15 (45%) of monitored patients and 19 (56%) of standard-care patients. The risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks) for patients with recurrent preterm labor was significantly reduced (P = .025) in the monitored group (seven, or 47%) compared with the standard-care group (16, or 84%). The relative risk of delivering because of failed tocolysis was 2.8 for the standard-care group versus the monitored group. There were no patients in the monitored group who delivered at the first recurrence of preterm labor for failed tocolysis. The data suggest that home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support are helpful in achieving term birth through earlier detection and treatment of recurrent preterm labor.

Uterine activity compared with symptomatology in the detection of preterm labor.

The relative contribution of uterine activity obtained by home monitoring with a guard ring tocodynamometer compared with seven specific signs and symptoms reported during patient/nurse contact as an aid in detecting preterm labor has not been studied. In this prospective, multicenter study, patients at risk for developing early labor who were randomized to receive home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support were assessed. The initiator of provider contact (uterine activity detected on routine transmission, patient-perceived signs and symptoms of preterm labor during perinatal nurse contact, or both) resulting in a diagnosis of preterm labor was recorded. Contraction data were then analyzed for an association with preterm labor. There was a strong association of increased uterine activity (four or more contractions per hour) on a repeat monitoring strip with preterm labor (P less than .001). Among patients diagnosed with preterm labor, 31% had increased uterine activity detected on a routine transmission without patient-reported signs and symptoms, compared with 24% who were diagnosed as the result of patient-reported symptoms without increased uterine activity. Daily objective uterine activity data alone have greater incremental value over and above other signs and symptoms as an aid to the physician in diagnosing preterm labor.

The contribution of symptomatology and/or uterine activity to the incidence of unscheduled visits.

Home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support have been shown to be associated with a decrease in preterm births with no increase in the number of unscheduled patient visits. This prospective, randomized multicenter study compared the frequency of unscheduled visits in patients receiving home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support with that of patients receiving education regarding the detection and reporting of preterm labor symptomatology. The contribution of patient-reported signs and symptoms versus objective uterine activity data to unscheduled visits is assessed. The overall frequency of unscheduled visits was similar in both groups. In the home uterine activity monitoring and perinatal nursing support group, the contributions of uterine activity versus signs and symptoms to the diagnosis of preterm labor were equal, with 36% of patients diagnosed with preterm labor sent to the physician for increased uterine activity and 36% for signs and symptoms. The sensitivity for the group receiving monitoring and nursing support in detecting preterm labor was 93%. The majority of false-positive visits were associated with patient symptoms. These data show that this combination service does not lead to a clinically significant increase in unscheduled visits. Further, the visits resulting from the combination service provide a sensitive predictive method to aid physicians in detecting early labor.

Relationship of uterine contractility to preterm labor.

An increased uterine contraction rate is associated with preterm labor. The contraction rate in individual patients, however, has not been evaluated critically as to its predictive value in forecasting early labor. In this randomized multicenter study, 105 patients at high risk for preterm delivery monitored their contraction rate at home on a daily basis. An analysis was conducted to determine the association of at least four contractions per hour on a routine strip followed by at least four contractions per hour on a repeat tracing with subsequent preterm labor. Using this threshold, 70% of the patients were correctly classified. This contraction rate resulted in a sensitivity of 57%, a specificity of 80%, a positive predictive value of 72%, and a negative predictive value of 68%. A threshold rate of at least four contractions per hour on a remonitor strip identifies a patient at increased risk for preterm labor (P = .003).

Evaluation of a perinatal grief support team.

An analysis of the effects of intervention from a perinatal grief support team was begun in 1982. Seventy-eight women experiencing stillbirth or early perinatal death were randomly assigned to either the grief support team's protocol of care or to the control group who received routine hospital care. Assessment was carried out on 34 participants, 16 from the control group and 18 from the treatment, 6 months after delivery. A three-part self-administered, self-rating grief index questionnaire was used. There was no statistical difference on overall grief scores between the two matched groups. The treatment group reported significantly lower scores than the control group on the two grief subscales of anger-hostility and physical symptoms. Women who reported more life changes before the perinatal death tended to have fewer problems with the symptomatology of grief. Social support was an important variable in explaining grief symptomatology. Women reporting low levels of social support who were in the treatment group had significantly lower mean scores on the grief subscales of anger-hostility, somatic experience, physical symptoms, and problems with vigor.

The rationale for supportive care after perinatal death.

Parents experiencing perinatal death have health care needs beyond the physical needs of the postpartum woman. Health care providers must direct their attention to the emotional needs of the couple. Parents can be offered the opportunity to participate in decisions regarding their care and thereby regain a sense of control over a situation that frequently produces frustration and anger. Appropriate care, offered within a variety of structures, will more likely be provided when the health care professional addresses the needs of the grieving couple in an open, sensitive manner.