Role of global sphericity index in evaluation of fetal cardiac remodeling in late onset fetal growth restriction and small for gestational age fetuses.

INTRODUCTION: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) fetuses develop cardiovascular remodeling and dysfunction and, in this process, heart first compensates by changing its shape from ellipsoid to spherical and then cardiac dysfunction follows. Our aim was to evaluate global sphericity index (GSI) after 32 weeks of gestation to evaluate this change in cardiac shape and correlate GSI changes associated with fetal growth abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted at 32-38 weeks of gestation. Women were classified into three groups-Appropriate for gestational age (AGA), small for gestational age (SGA), late onset FGR (LO FGR) and GSI was measured and perinatal outcome studied. RESULTS: Out of 217 women, 131 were of AGA, 31 were SGA, 55 were of late onset FGR. SGA and late onset FGR groups had low GSI compared to AGA group. There was no significant difference in mean GSI between late onset FGR and SGA groups. Neonatal morbidity, adverse perinatal outcomes did not significantly differ with GSI in SGA and late onset FGR groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that late gestation small fetuses develop early stages of cardiovascular remodeling as shown by GSI changes. These changes were independent of Doppler changes. This supports the concept that atleast a proportion of them are not constitutionally small but are true forms of FGR.

Retrospective study comparing outcomes of multimodal epidural and erector spinae catheter pain protocols after pectus surgery.

INTRODUCTION: There are no optimal postoperative analgesia regimens for Nuss procedures. We compared the effectiveness of thoracic epidurals (EPI) and novel ambulatory erector spinae plane (ESP) catheters as part of multimodal pain protocols after Nuss surgery. METHODS: Data on demographics, comorbidities, perioperative details, length of stay (LOS), in hospital and post discharge pain/opioid use, side effects, and emergency department (ED) visits were collected retrospectively in children who underwent Nuss repair with EPI (N = 114) and ESP protocols (N = 97). Association of the group with length of stay (LOS), in hospital opioid use (intravenous morphine equivalents (MEq)/kg over postoperative day (POD) 0-2), and oral opioid use beyond POD7 was analyzed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) with propensity scores, followed by multivariable regression. RESULTS: Groups had similar demographics. Compared to EPI, ESP had longer block time and higher rate of ketamine and dexmedetomidine use. LOS for ESP was 2 days IQR (2, 2) compared to 3 days IQR (3, 4) for EPI (p < 0.01). Compared to EPI, ESP group had higher opioid use (in MEq/kg) intraoperatively (0.32 (IQR 0.27, 0.36) vs. 0.28 (0.24, 0.32); p < 0.01) but lower opioid use on POD 0 (0.09 (IQR 0.04, 0.17) vs. 0.11 (0.08, 0.17); p = 0.03) and POD2 (0.00 (IQR 0.00, 0.00) vs. 0.04 (0.00, 0.06) ; p < 0.01). ESP group also had lower total in hospital opioid use (0.57 (IQR 0.42, 0.73) vs.0.82 (0.71, 0.91); p < 0.01), and shorter duration of post discharge opioid use (6 days (IQR 5,8) vs. 9 days (IQR 7,12) (p < 0.01). After IPTW adjustment, ESP continued to be associated with shorter LOS (difference -1.20, 95% CI: -1.38, -1.01, p < 0.01) and decreased odds for opioid use beyond POD7 (OR 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.24); p < 0.01). However, total in hospital opioid use in MEq/kg (POD0-2) was now similar between groups (difference -0.02 (95% CI: -0.09, -0.04); p = 0.50). The EPI group had higher incidence of emesis (29% v 4%, p < 0.01), while ESP had higher catheter malfunction rates (23% v 0%; p < 0.01) but both groups had comparable ED visits/readmissions. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Compared to EPI, multimodal ambulatory ESP protocol decreased LOS and postoperative opioid use, with comparable ED visits/readmissions. Disadvantages included higher postoperative pain scores, longer block times and higher catheter leakage/malfunction. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Grisel's syndrome: a case report on this rare pediatric disease and its anesthetic challenges.

BACKGROUND: Grisel's syndrome is a non-traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation associated with inflammatory conditions of the head and neck, which occurs primarily in children. Increased flexibility of the ligaments during inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of the subluxation between the axis and atlas. The potential sequelae may be severe, and early diagnosis and treatment of Grisel's syndrome can prevent tragic outcomes. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of torticollis in an 8-year-old child. She had a two-week history of a streptococcal throat infection. The patient was treated with several different methods of conservative care, including muscle relaxation, cervical halter traction, and Halo application. However, the torticollis persisted. The patient then required surgical correction involving cervical spine fusion. She had no complications and experienced no reoccurrence of the torticollis to date. CONCLUSION: Grisel's syndrome is a pathology for which conservative management is successful in most cases. Cases requiring surgical intervention are rarely documented in the literature. Our case is significant, as in spite of aggressive conservative management, the patient required surgical correction. Patients requiring surgical management of Grisel's syndrome may require additional anesthetic exposure for diagnostic interventions like magnetic resonance imaging or neck manipulations for closed reduction. We discuss the features of Grisel's syndrome and specific anesthetic management considerations for procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging, application of cervical traction, and surgical correction of torticollis.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism-Based Noninvasive Prenatal Testing: Experience in India.

INTRODUCTION: Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has revolutionized prenatal screening for chromosomal aneuploidies in some countries. Its implementation has been sporadic in developing countries. Given the genetic variation of the people in different countries, we evaluated the performance of the SNP-based NIPT in India . MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Panorama™ NIPT was performed in 516 pregnancies, which had tested intermediate-to-high risk on conventional first and second trimester screening. Results were confirmed either by invasive diagnostic testing or by clinical evaluation after birth. RESULTS: Of 511 samples analyzed, results were obtained in 499 (97.7%). Of these, 480 (98.2%) were low risk and 19 were high risk. A sensitivity of 100% was obtained for detection of trisomies 21, 18, 13 and sex chromosomal abnormalities. The specificity ranged from 99.3 to 100% for abnormalities tested. Taken together, the positive predictive value for trisomies 21, 18, 13 and monosomy X was 85.7%. The average fetal fraction was 8.2%, which is lower than the average observed elsewhere. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of detailed experience with NIPT in India and demonstrates comparable performance in all aspects of testing to the results elsewhere.

Impact of antepartum diagnostic amnioinfusion on targeted ultrasound imaging of pregnancies presenting with severe oligo- and anhydramnios: An analysis of 61 cases.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective our study was to assess the role of diagnostic antepartum amnioinfusion on the yield from targeted ultrasounds performed in pregnancies with severe oligo- and anhydramnios. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective and descriptive study, conducted in the fetal medicine units of two private tertiary care referral centers in south India. The details of all the cases of diagnostic amnioinfusion performed at these two centers from January 2009 to June 2016 were collected and analyzed. Inclusion criteria were pregnancies between 17 and 26 weeks of gestational age with severe oligo- or anhydramnios. Pregnancies with obvious preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) were excluded. The primary outcome measure was the improvement in diagnostic information pertaining to cause of severe oligo- and anhydramnios, and the nature of such anomalies. RESULTS: A total of 61 cases of were identified. The median gestational age at performance of the procedure was 22 weeks [IQR, 19.5-23]. The mean volume of normal saline infused was 314±54ml. A significant increase in the single vertical pocket (SVP) was observed following the procedure (pre-procedure SVP=0.6±0.9cm, post procedure SVP=3.4±1.7; paired t test, p<0.001). In 37 cases (37/61, 60.7%), there were no pre-procedure ultrasound findings. There was significant overall detection of abnormalities post procedure (mean pre-procedure findings=0.39±0.49, mean post procedure findings=1.59±1.24; paired t test, p<0.001). The most frequent group of anomalies/abnormalities were renal (36/61, 59%), followed by PPROM (13/61, 21.3%) and finally fetal growth restriction (11/61, 18%). CONCLUSION(S): Antepartum amnioinfusion is a valuable ancillary technique in prenatal diagnosis as it increases the diagnostic yield from pregnancies presenting with severe oligo- and anhydramnios.

Unguarded tricuspid orifice---a rare cause of fetal right atrial dilatation with characteristic color doppler sign: Case report with review of literature.

The anatomic causes for fetal right atrial dilatation with tricuspid regurgitation include Ebstein anomaly, tricuspid dysplasia, unguarded tricuspid orifice, and Uhl anomaly. Unguarded tricuspid orifice is characterized by complete or partial agenesis of the tricuspid valvular and subvalvular structures. It is commonly associated with pulmonary atresia. Its prenatal diagnosis is usually associated with unfavorable prognosis. We present a prenatally diagnosed case of fetal unguarded tricuspid orifice with description of its diagnostic workup, along with a review of literature, to enhance the understanding of this rarely reported entity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:370-374, 2017.

A retrospective single centre review of the incidence and prognostic significance of persistent foetal right umbilical vein.

The objective of our study was to appraise the incidence and significance of persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV), the most common foetal venous aberration. Based on a south Indian antenatal cohort, we identified 23 cases of PRUV amongst 20,452 foetuses of consecutive pregnancies, from 2009 to 2014, yielding an incidence of 1 in 889 total births (0.11%). The median maternal age was 24 (IQR, 22-26) years, and median gestational age at diagnosis was 23 (IQR, 22-24) weeks. Intrahepatic drainage of PRUV was seen in 91.3% cases. In three cases (13%), ductus venosus was absent. In 52.2% of the cases, additional major abnormalities were observed - predominantly cardiovascular (39.1%). The common minor marker was single umbilical artery (13%). The karyotype was found to be normal in six cases (26%) which underwent invasive testing. When associated anomalies were inconsequential or absent, the postnatal outcome was good, which reflected in 60.9% of our cases.

Anesthetic management of parturient with thoracic kyphoscoliosis, malaria and acute respiratory distress syndrome for urgent cesarean section.

The management of cesarean section in kyphoscoliotic patient is challenging. The respiratory changes and increased metabolic demands due to pregnancy may compromise the limited respiratory reserves in such patients. Presence of other comorbidities like malaria and respiratory tract infection will further compromise the effective oxygenation. We report a case of kyphoscoliosis along with malaria and acute respiratory distress syndrome for urgent cesarean section.

Prenatal Detection and Postnatal Follow-Up of Segmental Aneusomies of Chromosome 13 in 4 Consecutive Pregnancies in an Ethnic South Indian Family With a Maternally Inherited Balanced Translocation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the postnatal clinical manifestation of an antenatally detected unbalanced rearrangement involving chromosome 13 in an ethnic South Indian couple. METHODS: We used conventional cytogenetics on fetal cells obtained from prenatal specimens and on peripheral blood lymphocytes from consanguineous family members to ascertain the chromosomal abnormalities. RESULTS: We report the reproductive outcomes of a maternally inherited chromosome translocation involving chromosome 9 and 13 and the informed decisions of the couple, after genetic counseling in India, regarding their 4 pregnancies. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the current practice in India of offering prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis to individuals who are carriers of balanced translocations, to reduce the risk of conceiving chromosomally abnormal offspring.

Anesthetic management of tongue reduction in a case of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Anesthesia for partial glossectomy in a premature child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome presents as a unique challenge to the Anesthesiologist. Airway management in patients presenting with macroglossia is especially significant and requires meticulous preparation and pre-operative assessment. This report delineates the anesthetic concerns such as an anticipated difficult airway due to a large tongue, prematurity, hypoglycemia and an oral cavity surgery and their management.

Anaesthetic management of a case of dilated cardiomyopathy for emergency appendectomy.

The anesthetic management of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) undergoing non-cardiac surgery poses a challenge for anesthesiologist either due to pre-existing or a risk of precipitating congestive heart failure. We report a successful use of combined spinal epidural for emergency appendicectomy in a patient of DCM. Different anesthetic concerns and agents, some recent advances are also discussed.