Prenatal Diagnosis of Agenesis of Ductus Venosus: A Retrospective Study of Anatomic Variants, Associated Anomalies and Impact on Postnatal Outcome.

PURPOSE: To assess the anatomic variants, associated anomalies and postnatal outcome of fetuses with a prenatally diagnosed agenesis of ductus venosus (ADV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 119 cases with agenesis of ductus venosus diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound in two tertiary referral centers from 2006 to 2014. The type and location of the umbilical venous drainage site was noted. Charts were reviewed for associated structural or chromosomal anomalies, pregnancy outcome and postnatal course. RESULTS: In 24 cases (20.2 %) ADV was an isolated finding, while 95 cases (79.8 %) had associated anomalies. We identified 84 cases (70.6 %) with intrahepatic and 35 cases (29.4 %) with extrahepatic drainage of the umbilical vein. 58.8 % of neonates were alive at follow-up. There was no statistical association between drainage site and associated anomalies or outcome. Postnatal outcome was determined by the presence and severity of associated anomalies. There was no adverse outcome in the isolated group related to ADV. Overall, there were 6 persistent portosystemic shunts, 3 of them with a spontaneous closure, and one total agenesis of the portal venous system with lethal outcome. CONCLUSION: Postnatal outcome in cases with ADV mainly depends on the presence of associated anomalies. In isolated cases the prognosis is generally good, but neonates with a prenatally diagnosed portosystemic shunt should be followed until its occlusion. Portal venous system agenesis is rare but should be ruled out on prenatal ultrasound.

Filariasis of the axilla in a patient returning from travel abroad: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The term filariasis comprises a group of parasitic infections caused by helminths belonging to different genera in the superfamily Filaroidea. The human parasites occur mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but filariae are also found in temperate climates, where they can infect wild and domestic animals. Humans are rarely infected by these zoonotic parasites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 55-year-old patient presented with a new-onset, subcutaneous, non-tender palpable mass in the right axilla. Ultrasonography showed a 1.3-cm, solid, singular encapsulated node. Sonography of the breast on both sides, axilla and lymphatic drainage on the left side, lymphatic drainage on the right side, and mammography on both sides were without pathological findings. The node was excised under local anesthesia as the patient refused minimal invasive biopsy. RESULTS: On histopathological examination, the tail of a parasite of the group of filariae was found. The patient revealed that she had stayed in Africa and Malaysia for professional reasons. 6 months before the time of diagnosis, she had also suffered from a fever and poor general condition after a trip abroad. The patient was referred for further treatment to the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the University of Dusseldorf, where a treatment with ivermectin was conducted on the basis of positive staining with antibodies against filariae. CONCLUSION: Our case demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between breast center, pathology, and other specialties such as microbiology and tropical medicine.

Early postpartum hysterectomy: incidence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors of early postpartum hysterectomy at the University Hospital in Vienna. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: General Hospital Vienna, a tertiary referral center. POPULATION: All 15,858 women who gave birth between 1st January 2003 and 31st December 2008. METHODS: Analysis of all cases of early postpartum hysterectomy using data from the clinical documentation system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Postpartum hysterectomy done during or within 24 hours of birth. RESULTS: The incidence of early postpartum hysterectomy was 1.39/1,000. Abnormally adherent placenta was the most common cause for hysterectomy followed by uterine atony and uterine rupture. There were no maternal deaths. Abnormal placentation, increased blood loss and lower gestational age were significant risk factors in women undergoing hysterectomy. The newborns of these women had a lower birthweight, significantly lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes and were more often transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). An additional analysis in a sample of women with uterine atony identified age as risk factor for hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Abnormal placentation, increased blood loss, low gestational age and maternal age are risk factors for early postpartum hysterectomy.