Effect of Intrapartum Maternal Hemoglobin on Mode of Delivery and Short-Term Neonatal Outcome: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Maternal anemia in pregnancy is a common condition worldwide and is considered a risk factor for adverse neonatal and maternal outcome. Also high hemoglobin (Hb) levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, studies regarding the influence of intrapartum maternal Hb on mode of delivery and short-term neonatal outcome are limited and contradicting. Objective: The aim of this study was to provide an overview of current evidence regarding associations between intrapartum maternal Hb levels and mode of delivery and short-term neonatal outcome. In addition, we propose directions for future research. Evidence Acquisition: We systematically searched the electronic PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies on maternal Hb levels and mode of delivery maternal and short-term neonatal outcome until January 2021. Eligible articles and their references were independently reviewed by 2 authors. Assessment was based on methodological quality and study results. Results: We included 14 studies that evaluated the level of maternal pH in relation to clinical outcome, 6 studies on mode of delivery, 10 studies on Apgar score, 1 study on fetal distress, 2 studies on neonatal intensive care unit admission, 1 study on umbilical cord pH, and 5 studies on perinatal mortality. Conclusions and Relevance: We found a trend toward an increased risk of cesarean delivery in anemic woman. Concerning the short-term neonatal outcomes, the evidence is conflicting, and included studies are too heterogenic to compare. Furthermore, various studies indicated a relation between high Hb levels and increased perinatal mortality. Therefore, we especially recommend attention to elevated Hb levels.

Maternal hemoglobin level and its relation to fetal distress, mode of delivery, and short-term neonatal outcome: a retrospective cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to investigate if the risk of fetal distress during term labor is related to the intrapartum maternal hemoglobin (Hb) level. Second, we investigated the relation between mode of delivery, reason for instrumental delivery and short-term neonatal outcome and maternal Hb. Third, we aimed to identify factors influencing intrapartum maternal Hb level.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in a tertiary hospital in The Netherlands, including data from women who gave birth between 2009 and 2016. To determine whether the likelihood of fetal distress to occur was dependent on intrapartum Hb, multivariate regression models were run with intrapartum Hb as the main independent variable of interest. Hb was used as a continuous value. We repeated this procedure for the likelihood of instrumental vaginal delivery (IVD), cesarean section (CS), 5-min Apgar score < 7, and umbilical cord arterial pH ≤ 7.05 to occur. Also, we identified factors influencing intrapartum Hb level using linear regression analysis.Results: Data of 9144 patients were analyzed. Intrapartum Hb did not contribute to the prediction of the likelihood of fetal distress, IVD for nonprogressive labor, CS for fetal condition, 5-min Apgar score < 7, and pHa ≤ 7.05. However, there was a unique statistically significant contribution of Hb to the prediction of the likelihood of IVD for any reason and IVD for fetal distress and CS for any reason and CS for nonprogressive labor. IVD for fetal distress was related to a higher intrapartum Hb level, whereas CS for nonprogressive labor was related to a lower intrapartum Hb level. Intrapartum Hb level was influenced by maternal age, ethnicity, parity, fetal sex, and birth weight.Conclusions: The risk of fetal distress and adverse neonatal outcome is not related to intrapartum Hb levels. However, our data suggest that mode of delivery is dependent on intrapartum Hb, as shown in a large tertiary population. We recommend further investigating this relation in a large prospective study.

Comparison of complication rates between umbilical and peripherally inserted central venous catheters in newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the complication rates between umbilical central venous catheters and peripherally inserted central venous catheters in newborns and to investigate whether other variables might increase complication rates. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. SETTING: A Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Newborns (gestational age 24-42 weeks). METHODS: All central venous catheter-related complications were retrospectively analyzed in newborns. The differences in survival rates between the two types of central venous catheters were evaluated using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with removal because of complications as the event of interest. RESULTS: In total, 140 umbilical venous catheters and 63 peripherally inserted central catheters were included. There were no significant differences in removals due to complications between the two catheters. The central line-associated bloodstream infections had the highest complication incidence, followed by obstruction, dislocation, leakage, and extravasation. There were no influences of gestational age, birth weight, and the use of subsequent catheters on the complication incidence. CONCLUSION: A high complication incidence resulted in removal of the catheters, but it was not significantly different between the two catheters. The prevention of complications should be an important goal in the daily care of infants in the NICU.