A randomized controlled trial comparing two types of retractors at caesarean delivery.

The aim of this study was to determine if the use of a self-retaining, symmetrical retractor (OB/Mobius®) during caesarean delivery is associated with differences in post-operative pain experience. Consenting women undergoing caesarean delivery were randomly assigned to OB/Mobius® versus conventional retraction instruments. Women were blinded to retractor type and filled out surgical pain surveys each post-operative day. Additional outcome variables were collected through a provider survey and chart review. Of the 154 randomised women, 144 completed the study. There was no difference in the symmetry, quality or intensity of postoperative pain based on the method of retraction. The OB/Mobius® retractor did not confer an improvement in the quality or intensity of post-caesarean discomfort in the first three days following delivery. Nor did the groups differ in operative times, blood loss or pain medication usage. However, the retractor may offer improved visualisation and retraction in obese women. Impact statement Use of a plastic sheath self-retaining retractor has been minimally studied in caesarean deliveries. Recently it was found that the use of such a retractor reduced wound infection, but another study in obese women did not show improved rates of infection (Hinkson et al. 2016 ; Scolari Childress et al. 2016 ). The study of sheath self-retaining retractors to decrease post-operative pain has not been reported previously. This study offers an investigation into a generalisable population of parturients who undergo caesarean delivery and if the primary use of a self-retaining retractor versus sole use of traditional hand-held retractors decreased post-operative pain while in the hospital. Although this study did not show an improvement in post-operative pain, provider experience reports demonstrated some improvement in visualisation, particularly in the obese population with the use of this novel retractor, thus making it an option for providers who do caesarean deliveries without an assistant and find hand-held retractors inadequate.

Multistate Collaboration to Confidentially Review Unanticipated Perinatal Outcomes: Lessons Learned.

This commentary describes the development of The Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network's Confidential Review and Improvement Board and its lessons learned from reviewing cases of unanticipated perinatal outcomes between 2010 and 2013. The Confidential Review and Improvement Board is a multistate mechanism for rigorous and confidential case review of unanticipated perinatal outcomes among unaffiliated academic medical centers, community hospitals, and home birth midwives. We performed semistructured interviews with key individuals participating in the Confidential Review and Improvement Board since its inception and used inductive content analysis to analyze 22 consecutive case reviews. The Confidential Review and Improvement Board's case reviews involved five key clinical situations: second stage of labor management with neonatal depression, obstetric hemorrhage, uterine rupture, fetal demise, and maternal sepsis. A recurrent theme was failure to differentiate maternal from fetal heart rate associated with the birth of severely compromised newborns. Analysis of the Confidential Review and Improvement Board cases revealed opportunities for improvement in the following categories: 1) timely application of best practice, 2) documentation, and 3) communication. The Confidential Review and Improvement Board's evidence-based recommendations centered on strengthening multidisciplinary training through simulation, improving documentation and communication systems, and developing and implementing guidelines with appropriate tools. The Confidential Review and Improvement Board demonstrates that collaboration among unaffiliated rural perinatal providers--who are often direct market competitors--is possible and catalyzes regional improvement efforts.

Intensity and unpleasantness of pain following vaginal and cesarean delivery: a prospective evaluation.

BACKGROUND: To date, most studies evaluating pain associated with cesarean birth have focused on delivery procedures or postoperative pain control methods rather than on the nature or severity of the pain experience of women, despite the increasing incidence and maternal requests for cesarean delivery. The objective in this study was to evaluate sensory, affective, and laterality aspects of pain after cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery. METHODS: A prospective cohort study using a seven-item visual analog scale assessed pain at rest and with activity, and the unpleasantness and location of pain on postpartum days 1 and 2. Chart review identified demographic and clinical factors influencing pain. Multivariable regression and propensity score analyses were used to evaluate patient-level outcomes. RESULTS: Of 126 consenting women, 48 underwent cesarean delivery and 78 had vaginal delivery. No statistically significant differences in pain at rest and pain unpleasantness were found between groups on postpartum day 1, but women undergoing cesarean delivery reported more pain with activity than those who had a vaginal delivery (p < 0.0002). On postpartum day 2, cesarean delivery women reported significantly more pain when compared with those with a vaginal delivery (p < 0.04), and more cesarean delivery women reported lateralized pain (p < 0.0001). In multivariate regression analyses, cesarean delivery was the most significant predictor of activity-related pain on postpartum day 1 (p < 0.00001), followed by current substance abuse (p < 0.01). Women undergoing cesarean delivery required twice the dosage of analgesics on postpartum day 1 and four times greater amounts on postpartum day 2 relative to those with a vaginal delivery (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean delivery was associated with higher levels of pain, more unpleasant pain, more lateralized pain, and greater narcotic use than vaginal delivery. Evaluation of factors associated with postpartum pain can help practitioners to counsel women better about their delivery alternatives and can promote improved management of women undergoing both types of delivery experiences.

Why VBAC in Northern New England is still viable: the Northern New England perinatal quality improvement network.

Under the strong leadership of Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists and the support of the tertiary care centers serving the region, Northern New England (NNE) initiated a collaborative project to improve the availability and safety of trial of labor after cesarean delivery. The project involved over 250 individuals from over 30 organizations and resulted in a strong regional guideline that has been implemented by institutions across the nation. The availability of trial of labor after cesarean in NNE has increased. The work led to the creation of the NNE Perinatal Quality Improvement Network, whose work has improved regional outcomes.

Newborn care and safety: the black box of obstetric practices and residency training.

Certain causes of newborn mortality such as sudden unexpected infant death, which includes sleep-related infant death and sudden unexplained infant death syndrome, are potentially preventable. Obstetricians are uniquely positioned to counsel new parents about safe practices regarding newborn sleep, feeding, and transportation. Patients often do not develop a relationship with their pediatricians until the neonate has been discharged, and the newborn period is a time of particular vulnerability. Newborn safety should be routinely taught in obstetric curricula, and the American College/Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) should partner to disseminate updated literature and guidelines to health care providers regarding newborn safety. Current guidelines from the Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Sudden Infant Syndrome are summarized in this article.

Mifepristone versus laminaria: a randomized controlled trial of cervical ripening in midtrimester termination.

BACKGROUND: Mifepristone was compared with laminaria for cervical ripening in second-trimester induction of labor (IOL). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a randomized, controlled, open-label study of women undergoing second-trimester IOL for fetal demise, aneuploidy or anomalies at a single tertiary care center from January 2004 to May 2006. Main outcome measures were induction-to-delivery time and pain with cervical ripening. RESULTS: Of 50 eligible women, 37 were enrolled in the study, of whom 33 completed the study: 16 were randomized to laminaria and 17 to mifepristone. Induction-to-delivery time was significantly shorter in the mifepristone arm (mean=10 h vs. 16 h, p=.01; median=7.5 h vs. 13.4 h, p=.01). Pain with cervical ripening was also significantly less in the mifepristone group than in the laminaria group (median=1 vs. 6 on an 11-point visual analogue scale, p<.001). Maternal age, parity, gestational age, fetal demise prior to induction, need for postpartum curettage, blood loss, pain during induction, delivery and at the time of discharge were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Mifepristone shortens the induction-to-delivery time and decreases pain with cervical ripening when compared with laminaria for second-trimester induction.

Clinical impact of systematic genetic sonogram screening in a low-risk population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical impact of a genetic sonogram (GS) on a population at low risk for trisomy 21 (T21). STUDY DESIGN: A GS evaluating common major and minor markers was created and prospectively applied to consecutive women at 15-20 weeks' gestation presenting for routine ultrasound and at low T21 risk. Prenatal diagnosis (PND) referral occurred if 1 major marker, 2 minor markers, major malformation or choroid plexus cysts (CPCs) were seen. Neonatal outcomes were determined by chart review for neonates born at our institution and by letter for those born elsewhere. Using an ultrasound database, a similar population was identified prior to study inception and the GS retrospectively applied. PND referrals in both periods were confirmed by chart review. The rates of isolated minor marker (IMM), positive GS and PND referrals were compared using chi2 analysis. RESULTS: IMM detection was unchanged (43 of 434, 10.1%) in the study vs. (23 of 243, 9.5%) control group. Excluding CPCs, 6 of 18 (33.3%) subjects of vs. 2 of 28 (7.1%) controls with IMM were referred for prenatal diagnosis (p < 0.03). The frequency of positive GS was unchanged: 14 of 434 (3.2%) subjects vs. 5 of 243 (2.1%) controls. CONCLUSION: Currently no prospectively studied, effective ultrasound models exist for screening low-risk populations at 15-20 weeks. A GS with clear criteria for counseling on an increased T21 risk decreased inappropriate referrals without increasing positive screens.

Pathologic uterine ring associated with fetal head trauma and subsequent cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Pathologic uterine rings, also called Bandl's ring, are historically associated with obstructed labor and good neonatal outcomes. CASE: Two cases are presented involving a pathologic uterine ring identified at cesarean delivery, which led to fetal cranial trauma. At delivery, pathologic uterine rings were found to encompass the heads of both fetuses, with gross features of traumatic head deformity. Radiologic studies demonstrated intracranial hemorrhage predating delivery. Both infants developed cerebral palsy, which was initially attributed to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy from delivery despite normal umbilical arterial pH. Further investigation linked the intracranial bleeding to compressive trauma from the uterine rings. CONCLUSION: Although rare, pathologic uterine rings may cause traumatic cranial deformity and subsequent cerebral palsy.

Potentially avoidable maternity complications: an indicator of access to prenatal and primary care during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: We identified Potentially Avoidable Maternity Complications (PAMCs). Used with hospital discharge data, PAMCs may indicate lack of prenatal care access. METHODS: A research team of two obstetrician/gynecologists and three health services researchers developed the PAMC indicator, which was verified by external review. AIM 1 used the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey, with prenatal care information and 8,661 pregnancy hospitalizations, to examine associations between prenatal care, risk factors, and PAMCs. AIM 2 used the 1997 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), with 895,259 pregnancy-related hospitalizations, to examine PAMC risks for groups likely to have prenatal care access problems. RESULTS: In AIM 1, adequate prenatal care reduced PAMC risks by 57% (p < .01). Compared to nonsmokers, the odds of a PAMC for smokers were 86% higher (p < .01). Cocaine use increased PAMC risk notably (odds ratio 3.35, p < .0001). In the multivariate analyses of AIM 2, African Americans, the uninsured, and Medicaid beneficiaries had high PAMC risks (all p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest adequate prenatal care may reduce PAMC risks. Results for groups with less prenatal care access were consistent with previous research using less refined indicators, such as low birth weight. PAMCs improve on earlier measures, and readily permit adjustments for mothers' ages and comorbidities.