Outcome of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in monochorionic monoamniotic twin pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the outcome of monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA) twin pregnancies affected by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies reporting the outcome of MCMA twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS. The primary outcome was intrauterine death (IUD); secondary outcomes were miscarriage, single IUD, double IUD, neonatal death (NND), perinatal death (PND), survival of at least one twin, survival of both twins and preterm birth (PTB) before 32 weeks' gestation. Outcomes were assessed in MCMA twins affected by TTTS not undergoing intervention and in those treated with amniodrainage, laser therapy or cord occlusion. Subgroup analysis was performed including cases diagnosed before 24 weeks. Random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Fifteen cohort studies, including 888 MCMA twin pregnancies, of which 44 were affected by TTTS, were included in the review. There was no randomized trial comparing the different management options in MCMA twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS. In cases not undergoing intervention, miscarriage occurred in 11.0% of fetuses, while the incidence of IUD, NND and PND was 25.2%, 12.2% and 31.2%, respectively. PTB complicated 50.5% of these pregnancies. In cases treated by laser surgery, the incidence of miscarriage, IUD, NND and PND was 19.6%, 27.4%, 7.4% and 35.9%, respectively, and the incidence of PTB before 32 weeks' gestation was 64.9%. In cases treated with amniodrainage, the incidence of IUD, NND and PND was 31.3%, 13.5% and 45.7% respectively, and PTB complicated 76.2% of these pregnancies. Analysis of cases undergoing cord occlusion was affected by the very small number of included cases. Miscarriage occurred in 19.2%, while there was no case of IUD or NND of the surviving twin. PTB before 32 weeks occurred in 50.0% of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: MCMA twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS are at high risk of perinatal mortality and PTB. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the optimal type of prenatal treatment in these pregnancies. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

First trimester fetal heart rate as a predictor of newborn sex.

OBJECTIVE: To predict the sex of newborns using first trimester fetal heart rate (FHR). METHODS: This was a retrospective review of medical records and ultrasounds performed between 8 and 13 weeks of gestation. Continuous variables were compared using Student's t-tests while categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between 332 (50.7%) female and 323 (49.3%) male FHRs during the first trimester. The mean FHR for female fetuses was 167.0 ± 9.1 bpm and for male fetuses 167.3 ± 10.1 bpm (p = 0.62). There was no significant difference in crown rump length between female and male fetuses (4.01 ± 1.7 versus 3.98 ± 1.7 cm; p = 0.78) or in gestational age at birth (38.01 ± 2.1 versus 38.08 ± 2.1 weeks; p = 0.67). The males were significantly heavier than females (3305.3 ± 568.3 versus 3127.5 ± 579.8 g; p < 0.0001) but there were no differences in the proportion of small for gestational age (SGA), average for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) infants. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant difference between the female and male FHR during the first trimester in contrast to the prevailing lay view of females having a faster FHR. The only statistically significant difference was that males weighed more than female newborns.

Transcranial Doppler blood flow measurement during cesarean section in two patients with cerebral vascular disease.

We present two cases of neurovascular disease in pregnancy in which transcranial Doppler was used to assess the status of the cerebral circulation during cesarean section under regional anesthesia. One woman had been found to have moyamoya disease, following a series of transient ischemic attacks during her first pregnancy, which ended in spontaneous abortion. On this occasion she was delivered by cesarean section under slowly-induced epidural anesthesia, using ephedrine to maintain the blood pressure, and transcranial Doppler revealed no change in signal in her left middle cerebral artery. Both mother and baby had an uneventful post natal course. The second case involved a primiparous woman with a large arteriovenous malformation that had been detected following generalized seizures, which were treated with valproic acid. Her cesarean section was conducted under spinal anesthesia, and her blood pressure maintained with ephedrine. Again transcranial Doppler revealed no change in signal in her middle cerebral artery during the procedure. We believe this is a potentially useful technique to monitor the cerebral circulation intraoperatively in the presence of cerebrovascular disease.

Perinatal mortality in diabetic patients undergoing antepartum fetal evaluation: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify changing trends, if any, of fetal loss in diabetic patients undergoing antepartum fetal evaluation in a case-control study. METHODS: Fetal assessment (non-stress test and/or biophysical profile) logbooks from January 1981 to June 1998 were reviewed and the patients with diabetes were identified. The study group comprised patients with pregnancy loss. Each case was matched by year of delivery and class of diabetes with four randomly selected controls with no pregnancy loss. All patients in both groups were at > 26 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Thirteen stillbirths and four neonatal deaths occurred in 1,935 diabetic patients who underwent fetal evaluation. There was no significant difference in age, race, gravidity, parity, clinic or private service, or the type of delivery in the two groups. Losses were more likely (p < 0.001) to occur before 32 weeks, with birth weights < 2,500 g, with a greater time interval from their last fetal evaluation, with poor glycemic control and with congenital malformations (six of seven occurred before 1990). In this study, perinatal losses were associated with non-compliance and other associated problems in the mother. Overall perinatal mortality in these patients was 17 per 1935 and corrected 11 per 1935 or 5.6 per 1,000. CONCLUSION: In the 1980s suboptimal glycemic control with major fetal malformations emerged as the major contributory factor to perinatal loss and, in the 1990s, this was associated medical problems. With a better awareness of the adverse effect of suboptimal glycemic control at the time of organogenesis and advances in fetal diagnosis and evaluation, fetal loss due to diabetes has become a rarity. Patients with associated medical problems and those at risk for abruptio placentae should be managed more aggressively.

Cerebral abscess and thrombophilia in pregnancy. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral abscess in pregnancy is a rare event, with the etiology not well described. We present such a case in association with genetic thrombophilia. CASE: A 36-year-old primigravida with a prior history of bilateral popliteal vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism presented in early gestation with right hemiparesis, aphasia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and a space-occupying lesion in the left temporal lobe. Stereotactic biopsy confirmed the presence of an abscess. The patient also had a homozygous methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase mutation (C677T), protein S deficiency and lupus anticoagulant, all of which possibly contributed to the thrombosis, infarct, infection and abscess. She was successfully treated with low-molecular-weight heparin and antibiotics and had a term vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Recently genetic thrombophilia was reported in association with various complications of pregnancy, but it has never before been described as occurring with a cerebral abscess.

Congenital cataract in triplet pregnancy after ivf with frozen embryos: prenatal diagnosis and management.

Unilateral congenital cataract was diagnosed at the 2nd trimester ultrasonography in a triplet pregnancy following in vitro fertilization (with frozen embryos). Congenital cataract could be hereditary or related to metabolic and infectious disorders. To our knowledge this is the first antenatal diagnosis of the disorder in triplets after IVF with frozen embryos.

Pregnancy after avascular necrosis of the femur complicating Gaucher's disease.

A patient with type I Gaucher's disease had avascular necrosis of the right femoral head that resulted in an altered bony pelvis and marked restriction of right hip abduction. Enzyme replacement therapy with alglucerase prevented further deterioration and improved thrombocytopenia. Vaginal delivery was achieved with the patient in the left lateral position with exaggerated flexion at the contralateral hip.

Multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas detected in utero.

Prenatal fetal echocardiography studies detected large multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas and led to the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. Despite episodes of bradyarrhythmias and severe lung compression in utero, the neonate did well and was discharged home on day 20 of life. On day 30 of life, the infant expired at home from cardiac arrest secondary to arrhythmia.

Single fetal demise in a twin gestation: umbilical vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Single fetal demise in a twin pregnancy is a rare event, the common causes being twin-twin transfusion syndrome, chromosomal or congenital anomalies and abnormalities of the umbilical cord and placenta. Umbilical vein thrombosis is a very rare cause of single fetal demise in twins. CASE: Three days after a reassuring biophysical profile, a 40-year-old primigravida with twin pregnancy presented at 38 weeks' gestation in early labor when demise of 1 of the twins was recognized. She underwent a cesarean section for arrest of labor, delivering twin A, a stillborn female weighing 2, 360 g and twin B, a liveborn male weighing 2,200 g. Umbilical vein thrombus was noted in twin A. CONCLUSION: Umbilical vein thrombosis is a rare and sudden cause of fetal demise.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy: a case series and review of the literature.

This study was conducted to evaluate the role of antepartum laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Patients who underwent LC were identified from a hospital database with the use of CPT/ICD codes. Of 2093 cases performed at a major center (October 1991 to November 1997), only six were performed during pregnancy. On reviewing the English literature, gestational age at surgery and delivery and outcome of delivery were provided in only 69 of 105 patients (33 papers with 1-10 cases) and we tabulated different variables from the cases in this review. In this series, two patients who had LC in the first trimester underwent elective termination of pregnancy. Of the seven published cases of first trimester LC followed to delivery, one had preterm delivery. First trimester open cholecystectomy (OC) has a 12 percent spontaneous abortion rate. The four patients who had second trimester LC had normal deliveries at term. Of the 43 published cases of second trimester LC followed to delivery, 39 ended in uncomplicated, full-term deliveries. Three of four second trimester cases at one institution had spontaneous abortions. None of our patients underwent LC in the third trimester. Of the 12 published cases of third trimester LC followed to delivery, one had preterm delivery. Third trimester OC is reported to have a 40 percent rate of preterm delivery. There were no intraoperative cholangiograms (IOC), prophylactic or postoperative use of tocolytics, or intraoperative fetal monitoring in our series. We added six cases of LC during pregnancy to the previously reported 105 cases. The successful outcome in all trimesters suggests that LC is a safe procedure throughout pregnancy; however, surgery in the second trimester is preferable. Compared with OC, there is a decreased risk of spontaneous abortion in the first trimester and preterm labor in the third trimester.

Attempted vaginal birth after cesarean section: a multicenter comparison of outpatient prostaglandin E(2) gel with expectant management.

Objective: To compare the clinical effectiveness and safety of outpatient administration of an intracervical prostaglandin (PG) E(2) gel with expectant management for women with an unfavorable cervix who wish to attempt a vaginal birth after cesarean section.Study Design: This outpatient study was a randomized, multicenter investigation involving pregnant women at term with one previous low transverse cesarean section. Each had an unfavorable cervix (Bishop score

Is induction of labor with continuous release dinoprostone vaginal pessary a viable option in patients with preeclampsia?

Objective: To evaluate the role of dinoprostone vaginal pessary (DVP) for induction of labor in preeclampsia.Methods: This is a prospective review of 94 patients with preeclampsia, who delivered from July 1995 to December 1996 at a university center. Of these, 25 received DVP, 22 oxytocin, 11 intracervical prostaglandin E(2), and 36 received no pharmacologic agents. Patients receiving DVP and oxytocin induction were compared for outcome of pregnancy and cesarean section rate. Statistical analysis was carried out by Student t test, chi(2) test with Yates correction.Results: The two groups were comparable with respect to parity and 5-minute Apgar scores.Three patients in the DVP group developed complications-one episode of seizure, one atonic postpartum hemorrhage, and one cervical laceration. One patient in the oxytocin group developed HELLP syndrome.Conclusion: DVP is at least as effective as oxytocin in achieving vaginal delivery in preeclampsia, despite lower Bishop scores. Future larger studies are needed to better assess DVP in patients with preeclampsia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in pregnancy.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a disease predominantly of elderly men, was incidentally diagnosed in a young pregnant patient. She did not require any chemotherapy and had a normal pregnancy outcome. However, she had repeated episodes of respiratory tract infections and anemia that required multiple antibiotics and transfusions. The placenta showed increased numbers of mature-appearing lymphocytes in the intervillous space, consistent with the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in pregnancy.

Exencephaly-anencephaly sequence: proof by ultrasound imaging and amniotic fluid cytology.

We present and discuss major current theories about the developmental natural history of the anencephalic human fetus. We confirm previous observations made using transvaginal ultrasonography of exencephalic fetuses which were later imaged and/or delivered as anencephalic fetuses. We explore the possibility of proving the theory of the slowly rubbed-off exposed brain tissue by cytologic examination and special staining of aspirated cells in amniotic fluid. Three fetuses with a typical sonographic picture of exencephaly at 13-15 postmenstrual weeks underwent amniocentesis. The aspirated fluid contained pathognomonic neural cells. The same fetuses later showed the characteristic sonographic and postabortion picture of anencephaly. Our results support the theory that exencephaly is the forerunner of anencephaly.

Doppler ultrasound characteristics of fetal nasal flow in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of our study was to determine the Doppler ultrasound characteristics of fetal breathing-related nasal fluid flow velocity in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus and to examine any changes in the timing parameters of fetal breath cycle relative to maternal blood glucose level. Fetal nasal fluid flow velocity was studied in 67 women at 30-41 weeks of gestation. In 37 cases, the pregnancy was uncomplicated; in 13 cases, the pregnancy was complicated by type I diabetes mellitus; and in 17 cases, the pregnancy was complicated by gestational diabetes. At the examination, subjects with diabetes mellitus were grouped by glucose control (normoglycemic and hyperglycemic) and by gestational age: 30-36 weeks and 37-41 weeks. Maternal hyperglycemia was defined as a plasma glucose value ranging from 140 to 205 mg per 100 ml. A continuous videotape record of the spectral Doppler imaging of fluid flow velocity in the nose was made during each study session. Based on a sample of 25 consecutive fetal breaths, the timing components of breath cycles were determined: time of inspiration (Ti), time of expiration (Te), breath-to-breath interval (Ttotal), and ratio of Ti and Te (Ti/Te). There was a statistically significant difference between the Ttotal (msec) at 30-36 weeks' gestation in the cases of diabetes mellitus with maternal normoglycemia (1,050 +/- 68 SEM) and uncomplicated pregnancy with maternal normal carbohydrate intolerance (1,221 +/- 52). There was a similar difference in the values of Te (552 +/- 37 and 660 +/- 29, respectively) at 30-36 weeks. In cases of maternal hyperglycemia at 30-36 weeks' gestation, the value of Te (689 +/- 84) was significantly higher than in cases of normoglycemia (552 +/- 37). At 37-41 weeks' gestation, only the fetal Ti/Te ratio in normoglycemic diabetic patients was significantly lower than in an uncomplicated pregnancy. No differences were found in the other timing parameters at this gestational age group in cases of diabetes mellitus relative to maternal blood glucose level. No relationship was found between the value of maternal blood glucose and either fetal Ttotal (r2 = 0.003), or Ti/Te ratio (r2 = 0.0001) in cases of diabetes mellitus. Expiratory phase of fetal breath cycle even in well-controlled normoglycemic diabetic women, is significantly shorter than in uncomplicated pregnancies before 37 weeks of gestation. Maternal hyperglycemia in these cases prolonged the duration of expiratory phase of fetal breath cycle and significantly decreased the Ti/Te ratio more than 15% at 30-36 weeks of gestation. It is suggested that blood glucose level is involved in the regulation of fetal respiratory center in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus.

Tamoxifen-induced growth of leiomyomas. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal estrogen agonist-antagonist, is used in the treatment of breast cancer. CASE: A postmenopausal woman, aged 73, while being treated with Tamoxifen, developed continuous growth of her myomatous uterus, became symptomatic and required surgery. CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen at a dose of 40 mg/d has been associated with endometrial carcinoma. The growth of myomas seen with Tamoxifen in this patient seems to be a result of its direct agonist properties.

Significance of prenatal diagnosis of umbilical cord cyst in a fetus with trisomy 18.

An umbilical cord cyst was detected in a fetus who underwent ultrasonography at 38 weeks' gestation for clinical suspicion of intrauterine growth retardation. Such an association should alert the clinician to the possibility of aneuploidy, thus guiding clinical management. This case represents the second report of a cystic umbilical lesion in a fetus with trisomy 18.