The Cesarean Scar of Pregnancy: Ultrasound Findings and Expectant Management Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The nomenclature has evolved from low implantation to cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and criteria are recommended for identification and management. Management guidelines include pregnancy termination due to life-threatening complications. This article applies ultrasound (US) parameters recommended by the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in women who were expectantly managed. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnancies were identified between March 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020. Inclusion criteria were women with CSP or low implantation identified on US. Studies were reviewed for niche, smallest myometrial thickness (SMT), and location of basalis blinded to clinical data. Clinical outcomes, pregnancy outcome, need for intervention, hysterectomy, transfusion, pathologic findings, and morbidities were obtained by chart review. RESULTS: Of 101 pregnancies with low implantation, 43 met the SMFM criteria at < 10 weeks and 28 at 10 to 14 weeks. At < 10 weeks, SMFM criteria identified 45out of 76 women; of these 13 required hysterectomy; there were 6 who required hysterectomy but did not meet the SMFM criteria. At 10 to < 14 weeks, SMFM criteria identified 28 out of 42 women; of these 15 required hysterectomy. US parameters yielded significant differences in women requiring hysterectomy, at < 10 weeks and 10 to < 14 weeks' gestational age epochs, but the sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of these US parameters have limitations in identifying invasion to determine management. Of the 101 pregnancies, 46 (46%) failed < 20 weeks, 16 (35%) required medical/surgical management including 6 hysterectomies, and 30 (65%) required no intervention. There were 55 pregnancies (55%) that progressed beyond 20 weeks. Of these, 16 required hysterectomy (29%) while 39 (71%) did not. In the overall cohort of 101, 22 (21.8%) required hysterectomy and an additional16 (15.8%) required some type of intervention, while 66.7% required no intervention. CONCLUSION: SMFM US criteria for CSP have limitations for discerning clinical management due to lack of discriminatory threshold. KEY POINTS: · The SMFM US criteria for CSP at <10 or <14 weeks have limitations for clinical management.. · The sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound findings limit the utility for management. · The SMT of <1 mm is more discriminating than <3 mm for hysterectomy..

Fetal heart rate tracings associated with eclamptic seizures.

BACKGROUND: Although there is a well-known association between fetal bradycardia and maternal eclampsia, the characteristics of fetal heart rate tracings after an eclamptic seizure have not previously been thoroughly described. Fetal heart rate changes are thought to be related to maternal lactic acidemia caused by vasospasm and uterine hyperactivity leading to placental hypoperfusion and fetal hypoxia. The decision to intervene in the case of an abnormal fetal heart rate tracing after an eclamptic seizure is often difficult; however, maternal resuscitation should be the primary focus. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify and characterize fetal heart rate changes associated with a maternal eclamptic seizure. Moreover, we sought to document subsequent obstetrical management following these seizures complicated by fetal heart rate decelerations. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of fetal heart rate tracings associated with eclampsia during a 13-year period at a single institution. Eclampsia was diagnosed following the 2013 Executive Summary of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria. Tracings were independently reviewed and classified by 3 physicians using the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Criteria. Hospital records were reviewed to ascertain obstetrical management after the eclamptic seizure. RESULTS: A total of 107 women were diagnosed with eclampsia from January 2009 to December 2021. Of these women, 31 experienced 34 intrapartum seizures during which time electronic fetal heart rate monitoring was ongoing. During the 34 seizures, fetal heart rate decelerations were documented in 79% of cases. The mean duration of bradycardia was 5.80±2.98 minutes with a range of 2 to 15 minutes. Fetal heart decelerations occurred, on average, 2.7±1.6 minutes after the onset of the eclamptic seizure. In half of the fetuses with fetal heart rate changes, fetal tachycardia followed, and in 48% of cases, there was minimal variability noted. As a result of the fetal heart rate tracings and clinical findings, 4 women underwent an emergent cesarean delivery, including 2 that were diagnosed with placental abruption. In this cohort, there were 4 cases of abruption. The mean duration from the seizure to delivery was 299±353 minutes. The mean neonatal cord pH was 7.20±0.11 with a mean base excess of -8.6±4.4 mmol/L. There was no perinatal death. CONCLUSION: After an eclamptic seizure, 79% of fetuses demonstrated prolonged decelerations, and half of the fetuses developed fetal tachycardia after recovery from the episode of bradycardia. Despite these periods of fetal heart rate decelerations associated with eclampsia, prioritization of maternal support and stabilization resulted in a favorable perinatal outcome without immediate operative intervention in more than two-thirds of cases.

The effect of normal saline on renal function and electrolytes in women with preeclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: Due to a nationwide shortage of Ringer's lactate, normal saline became the intravenous fluid of choice at our institution in May 2018. Recent studies have shown that the administration of normal saline in critically ill patients may have adverse renal effects. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the renal function effects; if any, of normal saline administered to women with preeclampsia receiving magnesium sulfate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of women identified with preeclampsia with severe features, requiring magnesium sulfate prophylaxis. The amount of normal saline administered was calculated and a basic metabolic panel was surveyed 12 h after initiation of magnesium sulfate prophylaxis. Laboratory analytes were examined according to the volume of intravenous normal saline received, including a comparison to those women who did not receive normal saline, to determine the impact of parameters after 12 h of magnesium sulfate prophylaxis. RESULTS: From May 2018 to November 2018, a total of 233 patients receiving magnesium sulfate were identified, 184 of which had received intravenous normal saline. No differences were identified at 12 h in serum chloride or creatinine between those patients who received intravenous normal saline and those who did not. This finding persisted when serum chloride and creatinine were analyzed across quartiles of normal saline received. Interestingly, serum calcium was found to decrease with increasing serum magnesium (p < .001). This association was also dependent upon the amount of intravenous fluids received (p < .001) when controlling for serum magnesium. CONCLUSION: Renal function indices were preserved despite the introduction of normal saline with oxytocin into routine practice. No dose-response relationship was identified when serum chloride and creatinine were analyzed across quartiles of normal saline received. Interestingly, serum calcium levels were noted to decline with both the amount of intravenous fluid received as well as with increasing serum magnesium levels.

Transvaginal Color Mapping Ultrasound in the First Trimester Predicts Placenta Accreta Spectrum: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound (US) prediction of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in the first trimester may be aided by postprocessing mechanisms employing color pixel quantification near the bladder-uterine serosal interface. Our objective was to create a postprocessing algorithm of color images to identify findings associated with PAS and compare quantification to sonologist impression in prospectively obtained cine US images. METHODS: Transverse transvaginal (TV) US color cines obtained in the first trimester as part of a prospective study were reviewed. Investigators blinded to clinical outcomes reviewed anonymized cines that were archived and labeled the bladder-uterine serosal interface. Color pixels within 2 cm of the defined bladder-uterine serosal interface were ascertained using a Python-based plugin in the Horos open-source DICOM viewer. A sonologist classified the findings as suspicious for invasion, indeterminate, or normal. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Cochran-Armitage trend test, and calculation of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Fifty-four studies met inclusion criteria. Of those, six (11%) required hysterectomy with pathologic confirmation of PAS. Women requiring hysterectomy had a significantly higher color Doppler pixel area than those not requiring hysterectomy (P = .0205). A significant trend was identified in the sonologist impression of invasion (P = .0003). ROC's comparing sonologist impression to Doppler color imaging areas were comparable (P = .054). CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler mapping in the first trimester showed an increase in color pixel area near the bladder-uterine serosal interface in women requiring cesarean hysterectomy with histologically confirmed PAS at time of delivery, compared to women without hysterectomy or pathologic evidence of PAS.

Predicting Placenta Accreta Spectrum: Validation of the Placenta Accreta Index.

OBJECTIVES: The placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) incidence has risen substantially over the past century, paralleling a rise in cesarean delivery (CD) rates. Prenatal diagnosis of PAS improves maternal outcomes. The Placenta Accreta Index (PAI) is a standardized approach to prenatal diagnosis of PAS incorporating clinical risk and ultrasound (US) findings suggestive of placental invasion. We sought to validate the PAI for prediction of PAS in pregnancies with prior CD. METHODS: This work was a retrospective cohort study of pregnancies with 1 or more prior CDs that received a US diagnosis of placenta previa or low-lying placenta in the third trimester. Images of third-trimester US with a complete placental evaluation were read by 2 blinded physicians, and the PAI was applied. Surgical outcomes and pathologic findings were reviewed. Placenta accreta spectrum was diagnosed if clinical evidence of invasion was seen at time of delivery or if any placental invasion was identified histologically. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics criteria were used. RESULTS: A total of 194 women met inclusion criteria. Cesarean hysterectomy was performed in 92 (47%), CD in 97 (50%), and vaginal delivery in 5 (3%). Of those who underwent hysterectomy, PAS was histologically confirmed in 79 (85%) pregnancies. Of the remaining 13 who underwent hysterectomy, all met International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade 1 clinical criteria for PAS. With a threshold of greater than 4, the PAI has a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 77%, positive predictive value of 72%, and negative predictive value of 90% for PAS diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporaneous application of the PAI, a standardized approach to US diagnosis, is useful in the prenatal prediction of PAS.

Cholestasis: A Prospective Study of Perinatal Outcomes and Time to Symptom Improvement.

OBJECTIVE: Although intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) remains poorly understood, there are several perinatal complications associated with this condition. This study aimed to examine perinatal outcomes of women with ICP, evaluate outcomes according to severity of disease, and monitor time to symptom improvement following diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: It involves a prospective, observational study of women with ICP at a single institution. Women with new-onset pruritus without rash were referred to a high-risk obstetrics clinic and evaluated with fasting total bile acids (TBA). Laboratory-confirmed ICP was defined as fasting TBA ≥10 µmol/L. Following diagnosis, a standardized protocol was utilized, including treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Perinatal outcomes were compared amongst those with and without ICP, and to the general population. Women with ICP were further analyzed based on maximum TBA: 10 to 39, 40 to 99, and ≥100 µmol/L. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze time to symptom improvement. RESULTS: A total of 404 patients were evaluated and 212 (52%) were diagnosed with ICP. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 34.1 ± 3.3 weeks. When comparing those with ICP to those not confirmed, and to the general population, there were no differences in age, parity, mode of delivery, preeclampsia, or stillbirth (p > 0.05). Preterm birth was significantly associated with ICP (p < 0.01). This relationship was significant across increasing severity of TBA (p < 0.01) and persisted when examining rates of spontaneous preterm birth (p < 0.01). All women with fasting TBA ≥40 µmol/L delivered preterm due to premature rupture of membranes or spontaneous labor. Time to symptom improvement after diagnosis was over 2 weeks on average; however, this time increased with worsening severity of disease. CONCLUSION: Despite treatment with UDCA, women with ICP are at increased risk for spontaneous preterm birth, and this risk significantly increased with severity of disease. Although not significant, a trend exists between increasing time to symptom improvement and worsening severity of disease. KEY POINTS: · Preterm birth is significantly increased in patients diagnosed with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.. · The risk of preterm birth in women with ICP increases across increasing strata of disease.. · Following initiation of treatment in patients with ICP, symptom improvement takes more than 2 weeks..

Factors Associated with Postpartum Loss to Follow-Up and Detectable Viremia After Delivery Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV.

Pregnant women living with HIV are at risk for loss to follow-up and viral rebound after delivery. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women with HIV who delivered at Parkland Hospital, Dallas, to identify factors associated with postpartum loss to HIV care 1 year after delivery. Logistic regression was used to identify factors predicting loss to follow-up. For a subset of women, we compared odds of viremia detectable at delivery and postpartum among women with higher versus lower pill burden regimens. We included 604 women with HIV who delivered between 2005 and 2015. Three hundred ninety-one (65%) women completed at least one visit with an HIV provider within 1 year of delivery. The follow-up rate among black, non-Hispanic women was 65%; 57% for white, non-Hispanic women; and 78% for Hispanic women. Women without follow-up presented for prenatal care later (17 vs. 11 weeks, p < 0.001), and were less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy at initial prenatal visit (29% vs. 49%, p < 0.001). Factors predicting loss to follow-up in multivariate analysis included low-level viremia at delivery [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.73-4.71] and failure to return for a postpartum visit (aOR = 3.19, 95% CI = 2.07-4.94). High antiretroviral pill burden (≥6 pills daily) was associated with viremia (>1000 copies/mL) at the first prenatal visit (OR = 8.7, 95% CI = 4.6-16.6) through 1 year postpartum (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.2-4.4). Viremia at delivery, failure to return for a postpartum visit, and high pill burden during pregnancy are predictors of postpartum loss to HIV care.