Evaluation of classic and novel ultrasound signs of placenta accreta spectrum.

OBJECTIVES: Improvement in the antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) would allow preparation for delivery in a referral center, leading to decreased maternal morbidity and mortality. Our objectives were to assess the performance of classic ultrasound signs and to determine the value of novel ultrasound signs in the detection of PAS. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of women with second-trimester placenta previa who underwent third-trimester transvaginal ultrasound and all women with PAS in seven medical centers. A retrospective image review for signs of PAS was conducted by three maternal-fetal medicine physicians. Classic signs of PAS were defined as placental lacunae, bladder-wall interruption, myometrial thinning and subplacental hypervascularity. Novel signs were defined as small placental lacunae, irregular placenta-myometrium interface (PMI), vascular PMI, non-tapered placental edge and placental bulge towards the bladder. PAS was diagnosed based on difficulty in removing the placenta or pathological examination of the placenta. Multivariate regression analysis was performed and receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) curves were generated to assess the performance of combined novel signs, combined classic signs and a model combining classic and novel signs. RESULTS: A total of 385 cases with placenta previa were included, of which 55 had PAS (28 had placenta accreta, 11 had placenta increta and 16 had placenta percreta). The areas under the ROC curves for classic markers, novel markers and a model combining classic and novel markers for the detection of PAS were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.75-0.88), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.90) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.94), respectively. A model combining classic and novel signs performed better than did the classic or novel markers individually (P = 0.03). An increasing number of signs was associated with a greater likelihood of PAS. With the presence of 0, 1, 2 and ≥ 3 classic ultrasound signs, PAS was present in 5%, 24%, 57% and 94% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have confirmed the value of classic ultrasound signs of PAS. The use of novel ultrasound signs in combination with classic signs improved the detection of PAS. These findings have clinical implications for the detection of PAS and may help guide the obstetric management of patients diagnosed with these placental disorders. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Pregnancy and postpartum outcomes in a universally tested population for SARS-CoV-2 in New York City: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe differences in outcomes between pregnant women with and without coronavirus dsease 2019 (COVID-19). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of pregnant women consecutively admitted for delivery, and universally tested via nasopharyngeal (NP) swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. All infants of mothers with COVID-19 underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing. SETTING: Three New York City hospitals. POPULATION: Pregnant women >20 weeks of gestation admitted for delivery. METHODS: Data were stratified by SARS-CoV-2 result and symptomatic status, and were summarised using parametric and nonparametric tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and outcomes of maternal COVID-19, obstetric outcomes, neonatal SARS-CoV-2, placental pathology. RESULTS: Of 675 women admitted for delivery, 10.4% were positive for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 78.6% were asymptomatic. We observed differences in sociodemographics and comorbidities among women with symptomatic COVID-10 versus asymptomatic COVID-19 versus no COVID-19. Caesarean delivery rates were 46.7% in symptomatic COVID-19, 45.5% in asymptomatic COVID-19 and 30.9% in women without COVID-19 (P = 0.044). Postpartum complications (fever, hypoxia, readmission) occurred in 12.9% of women with COVID-19 versus 4.5% of women without COVID-19 (P < 0.001). No woman required mechanical ventilation, and no maternal deaths occurred. Among 71 infants tested, none were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Placental pathology demonstrated increased frequency of fetal vascular malperfusion, indicative of thrombi in fetal vessels, in women with COVID-19 versus women without COVID-19 (48.3% versus 11.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among pregnant women with COVID-19 at delivery, we observed increased caesarean delivery rates and increased frequency of maternal complications in the postpartum period. Additionally, intraplacental thrombi may have maternal and fetal implications for COVID-19 remote from delivery. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: COVID-19 at delivery: more caesarean deliveries, postpartum complications and intraplacental thrombi.

Endocervical hyaluronan and ultrasound-indicated cerclage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether, at the time of ultrasound-indicated cerclage, the endocervical concentration of hyaluronan (HA), 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP-27) and/or interleukin-8 (IL-8) would predict pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Endocervical samples, obtained from 40 women undergoing ultrasound-indicated cerclage at 15 + 3 to 25 + 0 weeks' gestation, were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HA, HSP-27 and IL-8. All subjects had a cervical length of < 1.5 cm or dramatic cervical length change on serial endovaginal ultrasound, no uterine contractions or tenderness, no fever and intact membranes and underwent a modified Shirodkar cerclage. RESULTS: The median HA level was 10.0 ng/mL in the 12 women who delivered at < 37 weeks' gestation as opposed to 39.7 ng/mL in the 28 women delivering at 37-41 weeks (P = 0.017). Median HSP-27 and IL-8 concentrations were not significantly different in these groups. CONCLUSION: A higher endocervical HA level at the time of ultrasound-indicated cerclage is associated with a longer interval before birth.

Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of fetal biometry.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of ultrasound measurements of fetal biometric parameters. METHODS: We assessed the intraobserver and the interobserver agreement in measurements of fetal biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC), head circumference (HC) and femur length (FL) on 122 singleton pregnancies. Patients were each examined twice by the first sonographer to determine the intraobserver reliability of measurements of fetal biometry. Subsequently, during the same ultrasound examination, a second blinded sonographer measured fetal biometric parameters to assess interobserver reliability. The consensus between and among observers was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (intra-CC) and interclass correlation coefficient (inter-CC) and the reliability coefficients (RC, alpha) for the four biometric measurements. A value > 0.75 was considered a reliable consensus for the intra-CC and inter-CC. A Bland and Altman plot was also created for the fetal biometric parameters to assess the repeatability of the measurements. RESULTS: Reliable consensus was observed for both the intra-CC and inter-CC and RC for all four biometric parameters. The intra-CC with the 95% CI and RC for the BPD, AC, HC and FL were as follows: 0.996 (0.995, 0.997), alpha 0.998; 0.994 (0.992, 0.996), alpha 0.997; 0.996 (0.994, 0.997), alpha 0.998; and 0.994 (0.992, 0.996), alpha 0.997, respectively. Similarly, the inter-CC with the 95% CI and RC for the same parameters were as follows: 0.995 (0.993, 0.997), alpha 0.998; 0.980 (0.971, 0.990), alpha 0.990; 0.994 (0.992, 0.996), alpha 0.997; and 0.990 (0.985,0.993), alpha 0.995, respectively. The Bland and Altman plots demonstrated a high degree of repeatability of BPD, AC, HC, and FL measurements. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of ultrasound measurements of fetal biometry are highly reliable.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome: an update.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome leads to high rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality due to its poorly understood etiology and difficult diagnosing and treatment. Current therapies are suboptimal and have not been tested through randomized controlled trials. Parent counseling at the time of diagnosis includes informing on poor chance of double survival, relatively high chance of long term neurologic handicap, almost certain prematurity, and the probability of cesarean delivery. Improvement in therapies awaits a better scientific understanding of the etiology of this condition.

Alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

For the fetuses who are at risk for antenatal or postnatal sequelae from AIT, prevention and treatment are now possible. This requires the attention of the obstetrician to factors in the patient's history and early referral to a center experienced in the diagnosis and management of fetal AIT.

Twin pregnancy.

Recent advances regarding twin pregnancies have focused on several problems, including the detection and definition of risk in relation to chorionicity, the management of a pregnancy with a single anomalous fetus, the prediction of prognosis and the management of twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and the detection of preterm labor. These questions will be considered in this review.

Intrauterine sling: a complication of the stuck twin syndrome.

Stuck twin syndrome usually presents with polyhydramnios in the recipient sac and severe oligohydramnios in the donor sac. The donor is displaced against the uterine wall and remains adherent in that position. We present a case in which the diagnosis was more complicated, owing to the suspension of the stuck twin by a sling within the sac of the recipient. A monochorionic diamnionic twin gestation was complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome at 18 weeks of gestation. In our example, the stuck twin was suspended by a sling from the placenta. The sling band represented the intertwin membrane that was folded upon itself. Amniotic fluid from the recipient twin was present in three dimensions around the stuck twin, except for the sling band. The suspension of the stuck twin by a sling within the amniotic fluid of the recipient is an unusual manifestation of the stuck twin syndrome.

Prenatal diagnosis of gastrointestinal anomalies with ultrasound. What have we learned?

The use of routine obstetric ultrasound has been shown to accurately diagnose fetal gastrointestinal anomalies, both during and after the midtrimester. These are among the most accurately diagnosed of all anomalies, comprising 5-7% of all fetal anomalies. From a review of the literature it is clear that the use of routine ultrasound allows: (1) the detection of multiple anomalies that are often present and affect outcome significantly, (2) preparation for delivery at a tertiary center where neonatal surgical experience will allow optimal outcome, and (3) decisions about mode and timing of delivery in cases where this is important, i.e., cases of omphalocele and gastroschisis.

How accurate is fetal biometry in the assessment of fetal age?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess the accuracy of fetal biometry in the midtrimester of pregnancy in the assignment of fetal age. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 152 singleton, 67 twin, and 19 triplet gestations resulting from in vitro fertilization with ultrasonographic fetal biometry from 14 to 22 weeks made up the study population. A gestational age prediction equation was derived from singletons with the use of stepwise linear regression. This equation was compared with 38 previously published equations and then applied to the twin and triplet populations. RESULTS: Head circumference was the best predictor of gestational age (random error [SD] 3.77 days). Addition of abdominal circumference and femur length to head circumference improved the accuracy of the dating equation (random error 3.35 days). Most dating formulas had systematic errors of <1 week. The systematic error was -0.32 day for averaging the singleton-based predictions for twins and -1.26 days for triplets. CONCLUSIONS: Gestational age assessment with the use of fetal biometry from 14 to 22 weeks is accurate for singleton, twin, and triplet gestations.

Changes in survival of twins delivered after twin-twin transfusion syndrome versus preterm singletons over the calendar years 1970-1994.

OBJECTIVE: The use of serial amniotic fluid volume reduction for the treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) became available about 1986 and may account for a recent increase in survival of TTTS twins. To determine whether the increase in survival has been due to advances in neonatal care rather than the advent of amnioreduction, the current study evaluated whether increases in survival of preterm TTTS twins were greater than increases in survival of preterm singletons from studies before 1986 compared to studies after 1986. METHODS: Medline literature search identified all reported cases of TTTS and all reports of severely preterm neonatal survival. Studies were divided into groups according to gestational age at birth (27 weeks) and midyear of each study (1986). Comparison was performed of the increase in survival from pre-1986 studies to post-1986 studies between preterm singletons and TTTS twins. RESULTS: When comparing studies from before 1986 to after 1986, there was no difference in the increase in survival between preterm (>27 weeks) TTTS twins (67-92%) and preterm (>27 weeks) singletons (79-91%) (p = NS). When comparing studies from before 1986 to after 1986, there was a greater increase in survival among severely preterm (

The rate of severe preeclampsia is increased in triplet as compared to twin gestations.

The objective of this study was to determine if the rate of preeclampsia is increased in triplet as compared to twin gestations. Fifty-three triplet pregnancies between 1986 and 1993 at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center were reviewed. These were matched for maternal age, parity, and race to twin gestations (N = 53) from the same population. Severe preeclampsia was defined by standard criteria. Student's t-test, Fisher exact test, and Chi-square were used for statistical analysis. The rate of severe preeclampsia was increased significantly in the triplet group 12 of 53 (22.6%) as compared with the twin group 3 of 53 (5.7%) (OR = 4.9, 95% CI 1.2-23.5, p = 0.02). The rate of overall preeclampsia was not significantly different in the triplet 18 of 53 (33.96%) or twin 12 of 53 (22.6%) groups. In this retrospective, case-controlled study, the rate of severe pre-eclampsia was significantly increased in triplet gestations as compared to twins although the overall rate of preeclampsia was not. This information may be useful in counseling patients with high order multifetal gestations.

The impact of routine obstetric ultrasonographic screening in a low-risk population.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to develop a framework for evaluating the current controversy regarding routine obstetric ultrasonography in a population of low-risk pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was performed for all low-risk pregnancies from a single obstetric practice during 1990 to 1994, to determine the accuracy of screening ultrasonography for fetal anomalies. All patients received a routine ultrasonographic examination at 18 to 20 weeks' gestation. Neonatal records for all patients were evaluated for the presence of both major and minor anomalies. The data were analyzed with attention to the classification of anomalies (all anomalies vs major anomalies, detectable vs nondetectable). RESULTS: A total of 860 fetuses in 854 pregnancies were evaluated. Anomalies were present in 5.35% (46/860); these were major anomalies in 1.16% (10/860) and minor anomalies in 4.19% (36/860). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of all anomalies were 8.7%, 99.9%, 80%, and 95.7%, respectively. However, if only major anomalies detectable by ultrasonography are included, these values become 75%, 100%, 100%, and 99.9%, respectively. There was one false-positive diagnosis not affecting outcome, a small ventriculoseptal cardiac defect. Postnatal ascertainment of anomalies was excellent, as determined by an incidence of ventriculoseptal defects of 1 in 120. CONCLUSION: Distinguishing between major and minor anomalies and between ultrasonographically detectable versus nondetectable anomalies is essential in the evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of screening ultrasonography. Any comparisons of studies examining the effectiveness of prenatal screening for congenital anomalies with ultrasonography should use the same outcome: major anomalies identifiable by ultrasonography.

Fetal seizures: further observations.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports of ultrasonographically diagnosed seizure activity in utero have described fetuses with obvious, gross, tonic-clonic movements of trunk and extremities. CASES: Three fetuses with akinesia deformation sequence are described: two with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and one with Pena-Shokeir syndrome. Each was demonstrated by serial real-time ultrasound examinations to have joint contractures, absent fetal breathing motions, and lack of gross movements other than sonographically evident subtle seizure activity. CONCLUSION: Fetal seizure activity can be subtle when seen in the presence of fetal anomalies that limit joint movement. The prognosis remains poor.