Decreased neonatal pain response after vaginal-operative delivery with Kiwi OmniCup versus metal ventouse.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal delivery, especially operative assisted vaginal delivery, seems to be a major stressor for the neonate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stress response after metal cup versus Kiwi Omnicup® ventouse delivery. METHODS: The study was a secondary observational analysis of data from a former prospective randomised placebo controlled multicentre study on the analgesic effect of acetaminophen in neonates after operative vaginal delivery and took place at three Swiss tertiary hospitals. Healthy pregnant women ≥35 weeks of gestation with an estimated fetal birth weight above 2000 g were recruited after admission to the labour ward. Pain reaction was analysed by pain expression score EDIN scale (Échelle Douleur Inconfort Nouveau-Né, neonatal pain and discomfort scale) directly after delivery. For measurement of the biochemical stress response, salivary cortisol as well as the Bernese Pain Scale of Newborns (BPSN) were evaluated before and after an acute pain stimulus (the standard heel prick for metabolic testing (Guthrie test)) at 48-72 h. RESULTS: Infants born by vaginal operative delivery displayed a lower pain response after plastic cup than metal cup ventouse delivery (p < 0.001), but the pain response was generally lower than expected and they recovered fully within 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal pain response is slightly reduced after use of Kiwi OmniCup® versus metal cup ventouse. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial was registered under under NCT00488540 on 19th June 2007.

[Prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia and tethered cord - a case report and review of the literature]. / Pränataldiagnose einer Diastematomyelie und "tethered cord" - ein Fallbericht mit Literaturübersicht.

Diastematomyelia is a rare form of occult spinal dysraphism. It is characterized by longitudinal clefting and separating of the spinal cord by a bony or fibrous spur. Diastematomyelia is associated with other anomalies, i. e. spina bifida, scoliosis, visceral malformations or anomalies of the overlying skin. Prenatal diagnosis is based on fetal ultrasound supplemented by fetal MRI. We present a case of diastematomyelia and prenatal diagnosis in the 23rd gestational week using routine ultrasound scanning and confirmation by fetal MRI. After vaginal delivery at term, the child's development is normal. Prenatal diagnosis of isolated diastematomyelia is challenging. Management and prognosis are still controversial as only few cases have been reported. Affected fetuses might benefit from early diagnosis enabling surgical intervention before the development of neurological sequelae.

Prenatal diagnosis of an infratentorial subdural hemorrhage: case report.

We report a case of a prenatally diagnosed infratentorial subdural hemorrhage. The hematoma located in the posterior cerebral fossa was detected by conventional ultrasound at 24 weeks of gestation. Intrauterine magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis. Autopsy of the fetus revealed a well-circumscribed subdural hematoma. The prenatal findings of intracranial bleeding located in the posterior fossa and the prognosis of such cases are discussed.

[Ultrasound indications of fetal chromosome abnormalities in the 2nd trimester]. / Sonographische Hinweiszeichen auf fetale Chromosomenstörungen im zweiten Trimenon.

The most common fetal chromosomal disorders have structural abnormalities, which can be detected during second trimester ultrasound examination. Major malformations, also known as hardmarkers, when single or in combination, should raise the suspicion for a specific syndrome. But it is known, that even more subtile findings can increase the background risk based on the maternal age, especially for Down syndrome. A combination of these so called "soft-markers" can be used for second trimester screening in a high and low risk population. Here were report on the sonographic features of the common chromosomal anomalies and their significance in prenatal diagnosis.

Efficacy and safety of intravenously administered iron sucrose with and without adjuvant recombinant human erythropoietin for the treatment of resistant iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and safety of intravenously administered iron sucrose with versus without adjuvant recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of gestational iron-deficiency anemia resistant to therapy with orally administered iron alone. STUDY DESIGN: Forty patients with gestational iron-deficiency anemia were randomly assigned to receive intravenously iron sucrose plus recombinant human erythropoietin or iron sucrose alone twice weekly. Target hemoglobin value was 11.0 g/dL. Efficacy measures were reticulocyte count, increase in hematocrit, and time to target hemoglobin level (treatment duration in weeks and need for continued therapy after 4 weeks). RESULTS: Both regimens were effective, but with adjuvant recombinant human erythropoietin the reticulocyte counts were higher from day 4 (P<.01), increases in hematocrit were greater from day 11 (P <.01), and the median duration of therapy was shorter (18 vs 25 days), with more patients reaching the target hemoglobin level by 4 weeks of treatment (n = 19 vs. n = 15). The groups did not differ with respect to maternal-fetal safety parameters. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant recombinant human erythropoietin safely enhanced the efficacy of iron sucrose in the treatment of gestational iron-deficiency anemia resistant to orally administered iron alone.

Umbilical cord blood collection before placental delivery during cesarean delivery increases cord blood volume and nucleated cell number available for transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether umbilical cord blood collection during cesarean delivery can be improved by collecting cord blood before delivery of the placenta. STUDY DESIGN: Patients undergoing cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to cord blood collection before or after placental delivery. Closed sterile collection systems were used for blood sampling. Cord blood characteristics and maternal outcome parameters were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total number of 40 patients were available for analysis. No differences in maternal and neonatal characteristics were found. A larger amount of cord blood volume (mean +/- SEM, 93 +/- 7.5 vs 66 +/- 6.6 mL; P =.013) and total nucleated cell number (11.1 +/- 1.2 vs 7.4 +/- 0.8 x 10(8) cells; P =.026) was obtained in the samples collected before compared with those collected after placental delivery. Similarly, there was a trend toward higher total CD34(+) cell number in samples collected in situ (30.0 +/- 6.0 vs 17.4 +/- 2.4 x 10(5) cells; P =.076). Estimated intraoperative blood loss, difference between prepartum and postpartum hemoglobin values, operating time, and puerperal infection rates were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: If a cesarean delivery is performed, cord blood sampling is more efficacious if performed before delivery of the placenta. This collection method seems beneficial and safe and might therefore be preferably used for related, as well as unrelated, cord blood stem cell banking and transplantation.

Induction of fetal hemoglobin synthesis with recombinant human erythropoietin in anemic patients with heterozygous beta-thalassemia during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) increases fetal hemoglobin synthesis in nonpregnant thalassaemic patients. We used rhEPO in 4 pregnant patients with heterozygous beta-thalassemia and anemia to study its effect on erythropoiesis, F cell production, and HbF synthesis. METHODS: Patients were treated with a combination therapy of rhEPO and iron. The effect on HbF synthesis was assessed by the percentage of F reticulocytes, F cells, and total HbF, erythropietis by reticulocyte count, and hemoglobin measurements and iron status by ferritin levels, transferrin saturation, and percentage of hypochromic red cells. RESULTS: RhEPO caused an increase of F reticulocytes (1.5 to 10.5 fold), F cells (5.0 to 7.7 fold), and HbF (1.4 to 2.2 fold). All patients showed an increase of young, immature reticulocytes and had elevated reticulocytes at the end of therapy. Hemoglobin increased with a range from 0.3 to 1.5 g/dL. Transferrin saturation and ferritin levels were normal at the end of the study. There was an increase of the percentage of hypochromic red cells, indicating functional iron deficiency after rhEPO administration despite supplemental iron. CONCLUSIONS: RhEPO stimulates both HbF synthesis and erythropoiesis in pregnant patients with heterozygous beta-thalassemia and anemia. Since it is known that high HbF levels ameliorate thalassemia symptoms in nonpregnant patients, use of rhEPO for the treatment of severe anemia in thalassaemic patients during pregnancy might be further evaluated.