Intrapartum fever complicated with maternal bacteremia: prevalence, bacteriology, and risk factors.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence, microbial profile, and clinical risk factors of maternal bacteremia associated with intrapartum fever (IPF). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study, in a single tertiary university-affiliated medical center between 2012 and 2018. Demographic and labor characteristics of women, who delivered at term (37+0/7-41+6/7) and developed bacteremia following IPF were compared to a control group of women with IPF but without bacteremia. RESULTS: During the study period there were 86,590 deliveries in our center. Of them, 2074 women (2.4%) were diagnosed with IPF, of them, for 2052 women (98.93%) the blood maternal cultures were available. In 26 patients (1.25%) maternal bacteremia was diagnosed. A lower rate of epidural anesthesia (84.6% vs 95.9%, p = 0.02) and a higher rate of antibiotics prophylaxis treatment prior to the onset of fever (30.8%.vs 12.1%, p = 0.006) were observed in patients who developed maternal bacteremia in comparison to those who have not. Maternal hyperpyrexia developed after initiation of antibiotics or without epidural anesthesia remained significantly associated with maternal bacteremia after applying a multivariate analysis, (Odds Ratio 3.14 95% CI 1.27-7.14, p = 0.009; 4.76 95% CI 1.35-12.5, p = 0.006; respectively). CONCLUSION: Maternal fever developing after initiation of antibiotics or without epidural is associated with maternal bacteremia.

Is vaginal birth after cesarean section a risk factor for obstetric anal sphincter injury?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether women undergoing their first vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean section (secundiparous) are at increased risk for obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) compared with primiparous women. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 85 428 women who delivered vaginally over a 10-year period in a single tertiary medical center. Incidence of OASI, risk factors, and clinical characteristics were compared between primiparous women who delivered vaginally and secundiparous women who underwent their first vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between VBAC and OASI. RESULTS: Overall, 36 250 primiparous and 1602 secundiparous women were enrolled, 309 of whom had OASI. The rates of OASI were similar among secundiparous women who had VBAC and primiparous women who underwent vaginal delivery (15 [0.94%] vs 294 [0.81%], P = 0.58). The proportions of third- and fourth-degree tears were also similar among secundiparous and primiparous women who experienced OASI (87% vs 91.5%, and 13% vs 8.5%, respectively, P = 0.68). Furthermore, the rates of OASI were similar in both study groups, although secundiparous women who underwent VBAC had higher rates of birth weights exceeding 3500 g (414 [25.8%] vs 8284 [22.8%], P = 0.016), and higher rates of vacuum-assisted deliveries (338 [21%] vs 6224 [17.2%], P < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis failed to establish a statistically significant association between VBAC and OASI (odds ratio 0.672, 95% confidence interval 0.281-1.61, P = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: No increased risk for OASI was found in secundiparous women who underwent VBAC compared with primiparous women at their first vaginal birth.

Risk factors for relaparotomy after a cesarean delivery: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Relaparotomy following a cesarean delivery (CD) is an infrequent complication, with inconsistency regarding risk factors and indications for its occurrence. We therefore aimed to determine risk factors and indications for a relaparotomy following a CD at a single large tertiary center. METHODS: A retrospective case-control single-center study (2013-2023). We identified all women who had a relaparotomy up to six weeks following a CD (study group). Maternal characteristics, obstetrical and surgical data were compared to a control group in a 1:2 ratio. Controls were women with a CD before and immediately after each case in the study group, who did not undergo a relaparotomy. Included were CDs occurring after 24 gestational weeks. CD performed at different centers and indications for repeat surgery unrelated to the primary surgery (e.g., appendicitis) were excluded. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 131,268 women delivered at our institution. Of them, 28,280 (21.5%) had a CD, and 130 patients (0.46%) underwent a relaparotomy. Relaparotomies following a CD occurred during the first 24 h, the first week, and beyond the first week, in 59.2%, 33.1%, and 7.7% of cases, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, relaparotomy was significantly associated with Mullerian anomalies (aOR 3.33, 95%CI 1.08-10.24, p = 0.036); uterine fibroids (aOR 3.17, 95%CI 1.11-9.05,p = 0.031); multiple pregnancy (aOR 4.1, 95%CI 1.43-11.79,p = 0.009); hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 3.46, 95%CI 1.29-9.3,p = 0.014); CD during the second stage of labor (aOR 2.54, 95%CI 1.15-5.88, p = 0.029); complications during CD (aOR 1.62, 95%CI 1.09-3.21,p = 0.045); and excessive bleeding during CD or implementation of bleeding control measures (use of tranexamic acid, a hemostatic agent, or a surgical drain) (aOR 2.23, 95%CI 1.29-4.12,p = 0.012). Indications for relaparotomy differed depending on the time elapsed from the CD, with suspected intra-abdominal bleeding (36.1%) emerging as the primary indication within the initial 24 h. CONCLUSION: We detected several pregnancy, intrapartum, and intra-operative risk factors for the need for relaparotomy following a CD. Practitioners may utilize these findings to proactively identify women at risk, thereby potentially reducing their associated morbidity.

The association between indications for cesarean delivery and surgery time.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine risk factors for prolonged surgery time of cesarean delivery (CD). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single tertiary university-affiliated medical center (2011-2022). The study group consisted of all women who underwent CD that lasted >90 min (representing the 95th percentile of CD length in our cohort). Data were compared with CDs with an operation time of <90 min. Demographic, obstetric, and surgical characteristics, as well as indications for surgery and urgency (in labor vs. elective surgery), were compared. RESULTS: Overall, during the study period, 31 660 CDs were performed in our center. Of them, 1397 (4.4%) lasted >90 min. After applying a multivariate analysis, abnormal placentation (relative risk [RR] 1.5 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-1.8]), previous uterine scar (RR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.5-3.0]), general anesthesia (RR, 3.5 [95% CI, 2.9-4.4]) and preterm delivery (RR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.78-2.4]) were found to be associated with prolonged surgical time. CD due to malpresentation (RR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.46-0.7]), multiple gestations (RR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.6-0.9]), and patient request (RR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.38-0.84]) were found to be protective factors. CONCLUSION: The main risk factors associated with additional surgery time in CD are general anesthesia, abnormal placentation, previous uterine scar, and preterm delivery.

Risk factors for maternal complications following uterine rupture: a 12-year single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To determine maternal outcomes and risk factors for composite maternal morbidity following uterine rupture during pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all women diagnosed with uterine rupture during pregnancy, between 2011 and 2023, at a single-center. Patients with partial uterine rupture or dehiscence were excluded. We compared women who had composite maternal morbidity following uterine rupture to those without. Composite maternal morbidity was defined as any of the following: maternal death; hysterectomy; severe postpartum hemorrhage; disseminated intravascular coagulation; injury to adjacent organs; admission to the intensive care unit; or the need for relaparotomy. The primary outcome was risk factors associated with composite maternal morbidity following uterine rupture. The secondary outcome was the incidence of maternal and neonatal complications following uterine rupture. RESULTS: During the study period, 147,037 women delivered. Of them, 120 were diagnosed with uterine rupture. Among these, 44 (36.7%) had composite maternal morbidity. There were no cases of maternal death and two cases of neonatal death (1.7%); packed cell transfusion was the major contributor to maternal morbidity [occurring in 36 patients (30%)]. Patients with composite maternal morbidity, compared to those without, were characterized by: increased maternal age (34.7 vs. 32.8 years, p = 0.03); lower gestational age at delivery (35 + 5 vs. 38 + 1 weeks, p = 0.01); a higher rate of unscarred uteri (22.7% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.01); and rupture occurring outside the lower uterine segment (52.3% vs. 10.5%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Uterine rupture entails increased risk for several adverse maternal outcomes, though possibly more favorable than previously described. Numerous risk factors for composite maternal morbidity following rupture exist and should be carefully assessed in these patients.

Is Grand Multiparity an Independent Risk Factor for Blood Transfusion?

The relation between grand multiparity and poor pregnancy outcome, especially postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusion, has displayed inconsistent findings. Some studies have identified an increased maternal and neonatal morbidity, but the more recent literature is less clear about the risks. The objective of the study is to determine the association of grand multiparity with postpartum blood transfusion. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single tertiary university-affiliated medical center between 2011 and 2019. All women were categorized into one of three groups based on the number of previous deliveries: (a) nulliparous (no previous delivery), (b) multiparous (1-4 previous deliveries), and (c) grand multiparous (≥ 5 previous deliveries). We compared the demographic, clinical, and pregnancy outcomes of the study groups. The primary outcome was the need for red blood cell transfusion during the index admission. During the study period, there were 87,343 deliveries in our center. Among the study population, 36,777 (42.1%) were nulliparous, 49,072 (56.1%) were multipara, and 1494 (1.7%) were grand multiparous. Overall, 1602 women (1.8%) were treated with RBC transfusion. Cesarean delivery, macrosomia, preterm delivery, multiple gestations, antenatal anemia, thrombocytopenia, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), and prolonged second or third stage of labor were more prevalent among women who were treated with RBC transfusion. After controlling for potential confounders, including maternal age, preterm delivery, IUFD, mode of delivery, and antenatal thrombocytopenia, grand multiparity was found to be an independent protective factor for RBC transfusion (RR = 0.2 (0.007-0.56). After controlling for cofounders, grand multiparity alone is not associated with postpartum blood transfusion.

Perinatal outcomes following uterine rupture during a trial of labor after cesarean: A 12-year single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: To determine perinatal outcomes following uterine rupture during a trial of labor after one previous cesarean delivery (CD) at term. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study examining perinatal outcomes in women with term singleton pregnancies with one prior CD, who underwent a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) and were diagnosed with uterine rupture, between 2011 and 2022. The primary outcome was a composite maternal outcome, and the secondary outcome was a composite neonatal outcome. Additionally, we compared perinatal outcomes between patients receiving oxytocin during labor with those who did not. RESULTS: Overall, 6873 women attempted a TOLAC, and 116 were diagnosed with uterine rupture. Among them, 63 (54.3%) met the inclusion criteria, and 18 (28%) had the maternal composite outcome, with no cases of maternal death. Sixteen cases (25.4%) had the composite neonatal outcome, with one case (1.6%) of perinatal death. No differences were noted between women receiving oxytocin and those not receiving oxytocin in the rates of maternal composite (35.7% vs 26.5%, P = 0.502, respectively) or neonatal composite outcomes (21.4% vs 26.5%, P = 0.699). CONCLUSION: Uterine rupture during a TOLAC entails increased risk for myriad adverse outcomes for the mother and neonate, though possibly more favorable than previously described. Oxytocin use does not affect these risks.

The Association between Advanced Maternal Age and the Manifestations of Preeclampsia with Severe Features.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the association between advanced maternal age and the clinical manifestations as well as laboratory parameters of preeclampsia with severe features. This study included 452 patients who were diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features. The clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with preeclampsia with severe features aged ≥40 years old (study group) were compared to those of patients aged <40 years old (control group). Multivariant analysis was applied to assess the association between advanced maternal age and the manifestations of preeclampsia with severe features, adjusting for the variables that exhibited significant differences between the study and control groups. The multivariate analysis revealed that a maternal age of ≥40 years old was an independent risk factor for acute kidney injury (OR = 2.5, CI = 1.2-4.9, p = 0.011) and for new-onset postpartum preeclampsia (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.0-5.6, p = 0.046). Conversely, a maternal age ≥ 40 years old was associated with a reduced risk of HELLP syndrome (OR = 0.4, CI = 0.2-0.9, p = 0.018) and thrombocytopenia (OR = 0.5, CI = 0.3-0.9, p = 0.016) compared to that of the patients < 40 years of age. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that maternal age is significantly associated with the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters of preeclampsia with severe features, highlighting the importance of age-specific management.

Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies in Women with Placenta-Mediated Complications Delivered at >34 Weeks of Gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies among pregnant women with placenta-mediated complications delivered at >340/7 weeks of gestation. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective observational study conducted between 2017 and 2022. Inclusion criteria included pregnant or post-partum women, >18 years, diagnosed with any of the following placenta-mediated complications and delivered at >340/7 weeks of gestation: small-for-gestational-age neonate (SGA ≤ 5th percentile according to local birthweight charts), preeclampsia with severe features, and placental abruption. The primary outcome was the prevalence of positive aPL antibodies: Lupus anticoagulant, Anticardiolipin, or Anti-ß2glycoprotein1. RESULTS: Overall, 431 women met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 378(87.7%) had an SGA neonate, 30 had preeclampsia with severe features (7%), 23 had placental abruption (5.3%), and 21 patients had multiple diagnoses(4.9%). The prevalence of aPL antibodies in the cohort was 4.9% and was comparable between the three subgroups (SGA-3.9%; PET with severe features-3.3%; and placental abruption-13% (p = 0.17)). CONCLUSION: aPL antibodies prevalence in women with placenta-mediated complications > 34 weeks of gestation was 4.9%, with comparable prevalence rates among the three subgroups. Future prospective studies are needed to delineate the need for treatment in those who tested positive for aPL antibodies and do not meet Anti-Phospholipid Antibody Syndrome clinical criteria.

Assessment of uterine contractions in labor and delivery.

Normal labor and delivery are dependent on the presence of regular and effective contractions of the uterine myometrium. The mechanisms responsible for the initiation and maintenance of adequate and synchronized uterine activity that are necessary for labor and delivery result from a complex interplay of hormonal, mechanical, and electrical factors that have not yet been fully elucidated. Monitoring uterine activity during term labor and in suspected preterm labor is an important component of obstetrical care because cases of inadequate and excessive uterine activity can be associated with substantial maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Inadequate labor progress is a common challenge encountered in intrapartum care, with labor dystocia being the most common indication for cesarean deliveries performed during labor. Hereafter, an accurate assessment of uterine activity during labor can assist in the management of protracted labor by diagnosing inadequate uterine activity and facilitating the titration of uterotonic medications before a trial of labor is prematurely terminated. Conversely, the ability to diagnose unwanted or excessive uterine activity is also critical in cases of threatened preterm labor, tachysystole, or patients undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean delivery. Knowledge of uterine activity in these cases may guide the use of tocolytic medications or raise suspicion of uterine rupture. Current diagnostic capabilities are less than optimal, hindering the medical management of term and preterm labor. Currently, different methods exist for evaluating uterine activity during labor, including manual palpation, external tocodynamometry, intrauterine pressure monitoring, and electrical uterine myometrial activity tracing. Legacy uterine monitoring techniques have advantages and limitations. External tocodynamometry is the most widespread tool in clinical use owing to its noninvasive nature and its ability to time contractions against the fetal heart rate monitor. However, it does not provide information regarding the strength of uterine contractions and is limited by signal loss with maternal movements. Conversely, the intrauterine pressure catheter quantifies the strength of uterine contractions; however, its use is limited by its invasiveness, risk for complications, and limited additive value in all but few clinical scenarios. New monitoring methods are being used, such as electrical uterine monitoring, which is noninvasive and does not require ruptured membranes. Electrical uterine monitoring has yet to be incorporated into common clinical practice because of lack of access to this technology, its high cost, and the need for appropriate training of clinical staff. Further work needs to be done to increase the accessibility and implementation of this technique by experts, and further research is needed to implement new practical and useful methods. This review describes current clinical tools for uterine activity assessment during labor and discusses their advantages and shortcomings. The review also summarizes current knowledge regarding novel technologies for monitoring uterine contractions that are not yet in widespread use, but are promising and could help improve our understanding of the physiology of labor, delivery, and preterm labor, and ultimately enhance patient care.

The association between increased subjective sensation of fetal movements and pregnancy outcome-a prospective cohort and a retrospective comparative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine pregnancy outcomes in women with subjective sensation of increased fetal movements (IFM). METHODS: A prospective cohort study of women after 20 weeks of gestation who were referred with subjective sensation of IFM (April 2018-April 2019) for assessment. Pregnancy outcome was compared to pregnancies with a normal sensation of fetal movements all through pregnancy who underwent obstetrical assessment at term (37-41 weeks of gestation) matched by maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI in a 1:2 ratio. RESULTS: Overall, out of 28,028 women referred to the maternity ward during the study period, 153 (0.54%) presented due to subjective sensation of IFM. The latter mainly occurred during the 3rd trimester (89.5%). Primiparity was significantly more prevalent in the study group (75.5% vs. 51.5%, p = .002). The study group had increased rates of operative vaginal deliveries and cesarean section (CS) due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate (15.1% vs. 8.7%, p = .048). Multivariate regression analysis showed that IFM was not associated with NRFHR affecting the mode of delivery (OR 1.1, CI 0.55 - 2.19), opposed to other variables such as primiparity (OR 11.08, CI 3.21-38.28) and induction of labor (OR 2.46, CI 1.18-5.15). There were no differences in the rates of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, 5 min Apgar score, birth weight, or rates of large/small for gestational-age newborns. CONCLUSION: Subjective sensation of IFM is not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Does surgeon seniority affect adhesion assessment at cesarean delivery? A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Intraabdominal adhesions may develop following cesarean delivery and are considered a major concern. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of surgeon seniority in evaluating intraabdominal adhesions at cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study to estimate interrater reliability between surgeons was conducted. Women who underwent cesarean delivery (January-July 2021) in a single tertiary university-affiliated medical center were included. Blinded questionnaires assessing adhesions were completed by the surgeons. Questions were limited to 4 main anatomic sites and 3 possible categories of adhesion (each site was scored between 0 and 2; the sum score range was 0-8). The surgeons were ranked by increasing seniority (1-4) as: (1) junior residents (less than half of residency completed), (2) senior residents (more than half of residency completed), (3) young attending physicians (attending physicians for <10 years), and (4) senior attendings (attending physicians for >10 years). The weighted percentage of agreement was calculated between the 2 surgeons assessing the same adhesions. Scoring differences between the 2 surgeons (senior vs less senior) were also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 96 pairs of surgeons were included in the study. The sum interrater reliability found in the weighted agreement tests between surgeons was 0.918 (confidence interval, 0.898-0.938). When scoring differences between surgeons (senior vs less senior) were calculated, nonsignificant difference was found (mean sum score difference of 0.09 with a standard deviation of 1.03 in favor of the more experienced surgeon). CONCLUSION: Surgeon seniority does not affect subjective scoring of adhesion reports.

Pregnancy: The Impact of Maternal Nutrition on Intrauterine Fetal Growth.

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Estimating predictors of severity of group A Streptococcus infection in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical characteristics of pregnancy associated group A streptococcus (GAS) infection and predictors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of culture-proven pregnancy-related GAS infections in tertiary hospital Electronic medical records were reviewed, for cases of cultures positive GAS that were identified between January 2008 and July 2021. A GAS infection was defined by the isolation of the pathogen from a sterile liquid or tissue site. Blood and urine cultures were obtained from all patients with peripartum hyperpyrexia (fever >38 °C). Medical Personnel screening included cultures of the throat, rectum, and skin lesions (if present). In cases of hemodynamic instability patients were transferred ad hoc to ICU, according to the obstetrician and intensivist judgment. RESULTS: Of the 143,750 who delivered during the study period, 66 (0.04%) were diagnosed as having a pregnancy associated GAS infection. Of these, 57 patients presented postpartum, and represented the study cohort. The most common presenting signs and symptoms among puerperal GAS, were postpartum pyrexia (72%), abdominal pain (33%), and tachycardia (>100 bpm, 22%). 12 women (21.0%) developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS. Predictors for STSS and ICU admission were: antibiotic administration >24 h from presentation postpartum, tachycardia, and a C-reactive protein level >200 mg/L. Women that received antibiotic prophylaxis during labor had a significantly lower rate of STSS (0 vs 10, 22.7%; p = .04). CONCLUSION: Deferral of medical intervention >24 h from the first registered abnormal sign had the most important impact on deterioration of women with invasive puerperal GAS. Antibiotic prophylaxis during labor in women with GAS may reduce associated complications.

High Incidence of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries among Immigrant Women of Asian Ethnicity.

(1) Background: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) may complicate vaginal deliveries. The aim of the present study was to explore the incidence and clinical characteristics of OASI among Asian women living in a Western country compared to local Caucasian women. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 380 women diagnosed with OASI, following singleton vaginal deliveries, during a 10-year period (January 2011 to December 2020). Exclusion criteria: age < 18 years, stillbirth, and breech presentation. Demographic, clinical, and obstetrical data were obtained, and a comparison between Asian and Caucasian women was performed. (3) Results: There were 35 cases of OASI among 997 women of Asian ethnicity compared to 345 cases of OASI among 86,250 Caucasian women (3.5% vs. 0.4%, respectively, p < 0.001). Asian women endured a significantly higher rate of fourth-degree OASI (17.1%) even though they bore smaller newborns (3318 g vs. 3501 g, p = 0.004), and birth weights rarely exceeded 3800 g (2.8% vs. 25.8%, p < 0.001). Asian ethnicity was also associated with a significantly higher risk for blood transfusion following OASI and a lower tendency for postpartum follow up. (4) Conclusions: Immigrant women of Asian ethnicity had a nine-fold higher rate of OASI, much higher than previously reported. Furthermore, Asian women had higher rates of fourth-degree OASI.

Average maternal hemoglobin decline after first elective cesarean section compared to higher order cesarean sections.

INTRODUCTION: Lower uterine segment scarring after cesarean section can decrease intraoperative bleeding during subsequent surgery. We examined whether first elective cesarean section is associated with greater average blood loss compared to repeated surgery. METHODS: Decrease in maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit after surgery was retrospectively compared between three study groups, women in their first, second and third or more cesarean section. Surgery length and need for blood transfusion were also compared. RESULTS: Out of 9401 cases reviewed between January 2010 November 2020, 3917 had a first cesarean section, 3159 s cesarean section and 2325 had a third or more cesarean section. Hemoglobin and hematocrit drops were highest after first cesarean section (1.1 vs 1.0 vs 1.0 mg/dL, P < 0.001 and 3.3 vs 3.0, vs 2.9%, P < 0.001, respectively). Surgery length was significantly longer and more patients after third cesarean section required blood transfusions (2.5% vs 1.4% vs. 0.8%, P < 0.001). First cesarean section, younger age and BMI >35 were associated with increased hemoglobin drop in univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although repeated cesarean section is associated with longer surgery and higher need for blood transfusion, average hemoglobin drop after first cesarean section is higher. Scarring of the lower uterine segment can explain this paradoxical finding.

Air travel during pregnancy and the risk of venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and air travel independently increase the risk of venous thrombosis. However, there is a lack of data regarding the added risk, if at all, of thrombosis after air travel during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the potential added risk of venous thromboembolism among pregnant women who traveled by air. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational retrospective study using data from 452,663 live births between the years 2010 to 2019. The study group consisted of women who flew during pregnancy. Data of pregnant women who flew during pregnancy were compared with that of pregnant women who did not fly during pregnancy. The primary outcome was venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. A case of venous thromboembolism was deemed related to air travel only if it occurred up to 8 weeks after the return flight (exposure time). Propensity score weighting Poisson regression was calculated to assess the effect and to control selection biases. Risk per day was calculated. RESULTS: Overall, 421,125 live births were included. Of those cases, 33,674 (8%) had traveled by air during pregnancy (study group), and 387,451 (92%) did not (control group). There were 6 cases of venous thromboembolism after a flight that occurred during the exposure time of 8 weeks and 285 cases of venous thromboembolism in the control group (0.05% vs 0.07%; P=.158). When the propensity weighting Poisson regression was calculated as risk per day, there was a significantly increased risk between the study and control groups (0.00031% vs 0.00022%; hazard ratio, 1.406; P=.005). CONCLUSION: The overall risk of venous thromboembolism after air travel is low; however, our study found that the risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy is increased by air traveling.

Venous thromboembolism during pregnancy: Trends, incidence, and risk patterns in a large cohort population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors for pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted using data from 452 176 live births between the years 2010 and 2019. The study group consisted of women who were diagnosed with VTE during pregnancy or the postpartum period. The exclusion criteria included women who purchased anticoagulant drugs during pregnancy or postpartum. The hazard ratios (HRs) of VTE per week of each trimester and the postpartum period were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 421 125 live births were included in the study. Among the study population, 302 cases (0.71 cases/1000 pregnancies) were diagnosed with VTE during pregnancy and postpartum. The overall rates of diagnosis did not change significantly during the study period but followed a declining trend in the postpartum period. The highest risk of VTE was found to be during the third trimester (HR 0.002% per week, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0016-0.0023), while the lowest rate was during the postpartum period (HR 0.0007% per week, 95% CI 0.0004-0.0011). CONCLUSION: Pregnancy and the puerperium are well-established risk factors for VTE. The present study demonstrates a declining trend in the risk and incidence of VTE during the postpartum period, which can be explained by a liberal and effective VTE prevention policy.

Substantial Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury during Vacuum Assisted Delivery: An Obstetrical Issue or Device Related?

BACKGROUND: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) might be associated with long-term urinary and anorectal morbidities. The aim of the study was to investigate the risk factors and clinical implications of OASIS associated with vacuum-assisted deliveries versus normal vaginal deliveries. METHODS: A series of 413 consecutive OASIS cases were retrospectively analyzed. A comparison was made between OASIS cases diagnosed following vacuum-assisted deliveries versus OASIS cases diagnosed following normal vaginal deliveries. Multivariable analysis was used to study the association between vacuum-assisted deliveries and superficial (3A and 3B) versus deep (3C and 4) perineal tears. RESULTS: The study population comprised 88,123 singleton vaginal deliveries. Diagnosis of OASIS was made in 413 women (0.47% of the total cohort), 379 (91.8%) of whom had third-degree tears and 34 (8.2%) of whom had fourth-degree tears. Among the 7410 vacuum-assisted deliveries, 102 (1.37%) had OASIS, whereas, among the 80,713 normal vaginal deliveries, only 311 (0.39%) had OASIS. In a multivariate analysis, only vacuum-assisted delivery was found to be associated with a significant risk of deeper (3C or 4) perineal tears (OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.02-2.91; p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Vacuum-assisted instrumental intervention is a significant risk factor for OASIS and especially for deeper tears, independent of other maternal and obstetric risk factors.