Nasal bone to nasal tip length ratio for describing nasal bone hypoplasia and predicting trisomy 21.

Introduction: Fetal nasal bone hypoplasia has been proven to be a strong marker for trisomy 21 during second trimester ultrasonography. Rather than evaluating the nasal bone hypoplasia according to the nomograms, it may be possible to evaluate it with a more practical and specific method. Material and methods: Retrospectively collected data were provided from the saved and stored patient data between 2012 and 2017. Nasal bone length and nasal tip length were measured and the ratio was calculated. The ratio ≤ 1/3 was defined as the threshold ratio for the definition of the marker. Nasal bone nasal tip length (NB/NL) ratio values were compared among groups with trisomy 21 and euploid fetuses. Results: A total of 59 fetuses had trisomy 21 and 2304 euploid fetuses were included in the study. The ratio of nasal bone to nasal tip length was 1/3 and below in 21/59 (35.5%) of fetuses with trisomy 21 whereas this ratio was 31/2304 (1.3%) in euploid fetuses. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of nasal bone/nasal tip ratio ≤ 1/3 were 35.5%, 98.6%, 26.4 and 0.6 for Down syndrome, respectively. Conclusions: This study suggested that the nasal bone to nasal tip length ratio may be a new promising and practical sonographic marker in the second trimester genetic sonography. Although its sensitivity is not high, it seems to be more practical and specific than the evaluation of fetal nasal bone length.

Chorionic villus sampling and preeclampsia & eclampsia: coincidence or not?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to investigate potential association of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) with subsequent development of preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia (E). STUDY DESIGN: The development of PE and E was compared between two groups as follows: 1- CVS group: women who underwent CVS (n = 228) and 2- Control group: maternal and gestational age matched women without invasive prenatal diagnostic procedure (n = 456). Main outcome measures were incidence of PE (mild, severe) and E. RESULTS: The incidence of PE and E was not significantly different between CVS and control groups. There was no significant difference regarding mild and severe PE development between the two groups. The incidence of early- and late-onset PE was similar in CVS and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: CVS does not appear to increase the risk of PE and E. The spontaneous elevation of trophoblastic load in the maternal circulation rather than the iatrogenic elevation through CVS may contribute to the development of PE and E.

Transabdominal versus transvaginal specimen extraction in mini-laparoscopic surgery.

AIM: The objective of this study was to present our experiences of tissue extraction via the transvaginal (TV) route after a mini-laparoscopic gynecological surgery and compare them with our transabdominal (TA) specimen extraction experiences. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in a tertiary care center between July 2014 and February 2016. Fifty-eight women who were undergoing mini-laparoscopy for adnexal mass removal were randomized into two groups according to the surgical specimen removal by the TV route (n = 28) or the TA route (n = 30). The main outcome measures were the postoperative incisional pain, cosmetic outcomes and overall satisfaction rate. The secondary outcome measures were additional blood loss, additional operation duration and the need for morcellation. RESULTS: The TV group had significantly lower visual analog scale scores than the TA group at 6 and 24 h postoperatively. The morcellation needs were lower in the TV group than in the TA group. Three months after the surgery, the participants scored a higher rate of overall satisfaction in the cosmetic outcomes in the TV group than in the TA group. CONCLUSION: Tissue extraction through a posterior colpotomy after mini-laparoscopic surgery may be a feasible technique for improving cosmetic results, decreasing postoperative pain and decreasing the need for morcellation when compared to TA specimen retrieval.

A laparoscopic procedure for the treatment of uterine prolapse during pregnancy: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the outcomes of pregnancies with uterine prolapse who have undergone laparoscopic suspension via a new approach during the first and second trimesters. DESIGN: Retrospective case series study. PATIENTS: Three patients who had undergone surgical procedures for uterine prolapse during pregnancy. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic treatment of uterine prolapse involves a procedure called 'vaginal assisted laparoscopic sacrocervicopexy'. The complications and difficulties of each case are described. RESULTS: The patients underwent surgical procedures at 12, 14 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. All cases were delivered at term. As the gestational age increased, the operation became more difficult and the operation time was prolonged. The patient who delivered vaginally was complicated with shoulder dystocia. CONCLUSION: Three successful cases of uterine prolapse surgery during pregnancy are reported. Surgery can be performed during pregnancy if absolutely necessary, and does not need to be delayed until the postpartum period.

Arcuate artery calcification on transvaginal sonography may predict coronary artery heart disease.

Atherosclerosis is a systematic disease affecting all arteries and is the most common cause of mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the predictive value of the presence of uterine arcuate artery calcification (AAC) for coronary heart disease (CHD) in women. Seventy women presenting with angina pectoris or a finding suggestive of cardiac ischaemia in non-invasive tests, scheduled for angiography between June 2014 and July 2015 were recruited in the study. One day before the coroner artery angiography, all of the patients were examined about the presence of AAC by transvaginal ultrasonography and were classified in the presence of CHD. CHD is classified as obstructive (obstruction >70%) or as non-obstructive (obstruction <70%) according to the severity of stenosis. The association of AAC is evaluated with the presence and severity of CHD that's diagnosed by angiography. CHD was present in 87.2% of women with positive for AAC and in 4.3% of who were negative for AAC (p = .001). AAC positive women were more likely to develop obstructive CHD than non-obstructive CHD (66.6% versus 30.9%, p = .001), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of AAC for CHD were 97.6% and 78.5%, respectively. AAC detected by transvaginal ultrasound seems to have a strong association with both presences of CHD and the severity of disease. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Atherosclerosis affecting all arteries is the primary cause of mortality and morbidity of coronary heart disease (CHD) (Lim et al. 2011). Uterine artery calcification and its association with atherosclerosis were first reported by Camiel et al. (1967). Ozdemir et al. (2016) found a correlation between carotid artery intima thickness and the presence of uterine arcuate artery calcification (AAC). What do the results of this study add? Very few studies have been performed in this area investigating the relationship of AAC and non-invasive predictors of atherosclerosis or the relationship between arterial calcifications and cardiovascular or systemic disease. Our study is the first to evaluate the correlation between AAC and CHD confirmed using coronary artery angiography at a high sensitivity rate (97.6%). What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our study presents an alternative, easy and non-invasive method for the prediction of subclinical CHD in clinical practice. From the view of a gynaecologist, cardiology consultation of patients with AAC detected by transvaginal ultrasonography during the routine gynaecologic examination may be useful and protective against serious cardiac problems. Thus, this study is of great importance in terms of predicting when the majority of CHD patients are asymptomatic or in the subclinical phase.

What's Happening When the Pregnancies Are Not Terminated in Case of Anencephalic Fetuses?

BACKGROUND: To review the obstetric outcomes of pregnancies with anencephalic fetuses when these pregnancies are not terminated and ongoing. METHODS: A retrospective chart review is made of the cases with a prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly and who were opted to continue the pregnancy in 1-year period. The evaluated data included gestational age at diagnosis, gestational age at birth, labor induction rates, cesarean delivery rates, stillbirth, shoulder dystocia rate, antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage. RESULTS: A total of 28 cases that were selected from 87 cases with the diagnosis of anencephaly are included in the study. The average gestational age at diagnosis was 18 weeks. The average gestational age at birth was 31 weeks (range 23 - 37 weeks). Stillbirths were reported in 32% (9/28). Polyhydramnios developed at six patients and two of them required amniodrainage due to severe polyhydramnios. Vaginal birth was achieved in 67% (19/28) of the patients. Labor induction was applied at total 17 patients and one of them had gone to cesarean section due to failed induction. There were two cases of shoulder dystocia. Nine patients had gone to cesarean delivery. Any other complication was not encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Parents should be counseled in detail about continuation of an anencephalic pregnancy before making their decision. The information about "what an anencephalic pregnancy can lead"' should be given. The redundant cesarean deliveries, polyhydramnios and associated complications, obstetrical hemorrhage risk should be discussed with patients. It should also be emphasized that these maternal risks are for the sake of a non-life expectant baby.

Fetal cardiac examination can affect patients' preference on invasive tests: A new data on maternal anxiety indicated karyotyping.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal screening for aneuploidies has seen great changes over the last 2 decades. But there is still no non-invasive diagnostic test. Therefore, prenatal invasive procedures are still being routinely performed due to maternal anxiety. The association of cardiac anomalies and abnormal findings with aneuploidies has been known for a long time. This prospective study was done to evaluate abnormal fetal cardiac examination (FCE) findings on patients undergoing diagnostic invasive procedures due to maternal anxiety and to assess the predictive value of abnormal cardiac findings on abnormal karyotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent prenatal diagnostic invasive tests due to maternal anxiety indication between March 2013 and September 2016 were included in this study. FCE was performed in the study group immediately prior to invasive tests. Findings of fetal cardiac examination are classified as normal, major-minor cardiac anomalies and soft markers. Fetal karyotypes were compared among groups depending on cardiac findings. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-two invasive procedures were performed because of maternal anxiety during this period. There were 29 abnormal findings detected on FCE. A total of 7 abnormal karyotypes were detected. FCE was abnormal in 5 of the abnormal karyotypes (71.4%). The presence of a major cardiac anomaly was most predictive for abnormal karyotype (LR+: 96,67, LR-: 0,34). No association was detected between the presence of minor cardiac anomalies and abnormal karyotype. Normal FCE appeared to be a good predictive factor for normal karyotype (LR-: 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study evaluating the power of early fetal cardiac examination findings on fetal aneuploidies. This study suggested that the application of fetal cardiac examination findings to genetic counseling for screening aneuploidies may be efficient on patients' preference about invasive tests. Due to the small number of abnormal findings and karyotypes detected (not the large study group), further studies on large study groups are needed to confirm these results.

In utero Partial Exchange Transfusion Combined with in utero Blood Transfusion for Prenatal Management of Twin Anemia-Polycythemia Sequence.

Monochorionic twin pregnancies are at risk of unique complications due to placental sharing and vascular connections between placental territories assigned for each twin. Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is an infrequent but potentially dangerous complication of abnormal placental vascular connections. TAPS occurs due to very-small-caliber (< 1 mm) abnormal placental vascular connections which lead to chronic anemia in the donor twin and polycythemia in the recipient twin. TAPS may occur spontaneously or following fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of communicating placental vessels for twin-twin transfusion syndrome. One of the hallmarks of TAPS is the absence of polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios. The postnatal diagnosis is based on significant hemoglobin discrepancy between the twins. Middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity Doppler ultrasound allows for the prenatal diagnosis of TAPS. The optimal prenatal treatment and intervention timing has not been established. Here, we report 3 spontaneous TAPS cases diagnosed and managed in the prenatal period with a combination of in utero blood transfusion for the anemic twin (donor) and in utero partial exchange transfusion for the polycythemic twin (recipient). These cases contribute to the limited outcome data of this underutilized method for the management of TAPS.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma associated with tuberous sclerosis: A case report.

Cardiac tumors are rarely diagnosed in utero. Rhabdomyomas are the most common fetal cardiac tumors. They are usually diagnosed during the first year of life after obstruction of a valve orifice or a cardiac chamber; but they can be detected by echocardiography as early as the second trimester. Rhabdomyomas are usually small. Fetal hydrops and pericardial effusion are rare. The most important indication of tuberous sclerosis in the prenatal period is cardiac rhabdomyoma. Early diagnosis of cardiac rhabdomyoma is thus important for early diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. This case report concerns the prenatal diagnosis of both multiple fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas and tuberous sclerosis.

Conventional Chromosome Analysis of Fetuses with Central Nervous System Anomalies and Associated Anomalies: Is Anything Changed?

Central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities are often isolated but can accompany various genetic syndromes. In this study, we evaluated conventional karyotype results and associated findings of fetuses that were diagnosed with CNS abnormalities. Cases included in the study were diagnosed with fetal CNS anomalies and underwent conventional karyotyping. Conventional karyotype results of subjects were compared with karyotype results of fetal karyotyped patients as a result of maternal anxiety in a two-year period. In this period, 69 patients were diagnosed with fetal CNS anomalies and 64 of them underwent invasive fetal karyotyping. Of these, 32 patients had isolated CNS anomalies, while 32 were associated with other anomalies. There was no significant difference between karyotype results when compared with the control group (p = 0.76). Apart from some specific anomalies, the aneuploidy rate does not significantly differ between fetuses with CNS anomalies and the control group. Advanced genetic evaluation may provide additional diagnostic benefits, especially for this group.

Is the management of Rh-Rh incompatibility with noninvasive fetal Rh genotyping for targeted prophylaxis cost-effective in the Turkish population?

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to assess unnecessary immunization rates and compare the cost-effectiveness of targeted prophylaxis with fetal Rh genotyping with that of traditional management of Rh-Rh incompatibility in a virtual economic model. Materials and methods: This retrospective data analysis was conducted at two tertiary centers between 2011 and 2015. The data of 1135 pregnant women were analyzed. The main outcome measure was to determine the unnecessary immunization rate among the whole Rh-Rh incompatibility group. The second outcome measure was to compare the cost-effectiveness of universal immunization with that of targeted prophylaxis with fetal Rh genotyping in a virtual economic model. Results: Average cost per patient was found as $259.20 with universal prophylaxis and the total cost was $177,344, whereas if targeted prophylaxis had been applied to these patients the total cost would have been $263,392 and cost per patient would have been $385. Universal prophylaxis was more cost-effective than targeted prophylaxis in terms of both total cost and cost per patient (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Unless the cost of noninvasive fetal Rh genotyping is reduced, a universal approach of anti-D immune globulin prophylaxis is more cost-effective than noninvasive determination of fetal Rh genotyping with targeted prophylaxis.

Paraurethral Leiomyoma.

BACKGROUND: Paraurethral vaginal leiomyoma is a rare and solid tumor of unknown etiology. We present a case of successfully treated paraurethral leiomyoma. CASE: A 49-year old woman, G4P2A2, was admitted to our clinic with complaints of vaginal mass and dyspareunia. During pelvic examination a 4x4-cm-sized, solid mass with hard consistency was detected at the paraurethral area in the front wall of the vagina. In the histopathological examination the mass was found to be compatible with leiomyoma. CONCLUSION: Paraurethral leiomyoma is a rare, hormone-dependent, benign tumor of mesenchymal origin. Surgical excision is necessary for discrimination from sarcoma. One should be cautious of urethral injury during the excision.

A comprehensive surgical procedure in conservative management of placenta accreta: a case series.

We aimed to present a combined surgical procedure in conservative treatment of placenta accreta based on surgical outcomes in our cohort of patients. The study was designed as a prospective cohort series study. The setting involved two education and research hospitals in Turkey. This study included 12 patients with placenta accreta who were prenatally diagnosed and managed. We offered the patients the choice of conservative or nonconservative treatment. We then offered 2 choices for patients who had preferred conservative treatment, leaving the placenta in situ as is the classical procedure, or our surgical procedure. One patient preferred nonconservative treatment, the others opted for our procedure.We evaluated demographic and obstetric characteristics of patients, sonographic and operative parameters of patients, and surgical outcomes. We operated on 11 patients using this surgical procedure that we have developed for placenta accreta cases. We found that there was no need for hysterectomy in any patient, and we preserved the uterus for all of these patients. No patient presented any septic complication or secondary vaginal bleeding.Our surgical procedure seems to be effective and useful in the conservative treatment of placenta accreta.