Non-invasive fetal monitoring: Fetal Heart Rate multimodal estimation from abdominal electrocardiography and phonocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Fetal cardiac well-being is essential during labor as the delivery is at risk for fetal distress. Continuous monitoring by cardiotocography (CTG) is daily used to record the fetal heart rate (FHR) but this technique has important drawbacks in clinical use. OBJECTIVES: We propose to monitor FHR with a non-invasive technique, using multimodal recordings of the fetus cardiac activity, associating electrocardiographic (ECG) and phonocardiographic (PCG) sensors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of these multimodal FHR estimations by comparison with CTG, based on clinical criteria. METHODS: A clinical protocol was established and a prospective open label study was carried out in the University Hospital of Grenoble. The objective was to record thoracic and abdominal PCG and ECG signals on pregnant women over 37 WG (weeks of gestation), simultaneously with CTG recordings. Adapted signal processing algorithms were then applied on abdominal PCG and ECG signals to extract FHR. Quantitative evaluation was carried out on FHR estimations compared with FHR extracted from CTG. RESULTS: A total of 40 recordings were performed. Due to technical mistakes the analysis was made possible for 38. 35 recordings allowed a FHR follow-up by ECG or PCG, 30 recordings allowed a FHR follow-up by PCG only, 25 recordings allowed a FHR follow-up by ECG only and 20 recordings allowed a FHR follow-up by both ECG and PCG. CONCLUSION: Reliable multimodal recording of FHR associating ECG and PCG sensors is possible during the last month of pregnancy. These positive results encourage the study of multimodal FHR recording during labor and delivery.

Femoral fracture during breech vaginal delivery: A case report.

Femoral fracture is a rare but significant foetal injury, more frequent and likely to happen when the foetus is malpositioned or in a breech presentation. Cesarian section does not appear to be protective and all recent publications report cases occurring during cesarian section. We report a case that occurred in a vaginal delivery of a single footling breech presentation. This complication allows us to remind that femur fracture is a complication of breech delivery whatever the modality. The prognosis is good with early diagnosis.

Obstetric outcomes associated with induction of labour after caesarean section.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of inducing labour with oxytocin in women with a single prior Caesarean section, with particular focus on the Bishop score. METHODS: Between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2017, we included all women with a singleton full-term pregnancy and single prior Caesarean section in this monocentric retrospective observational study. Women for whom vaginal delivery was not recommended and those who went into spontaneous labour were excluded. The choice between induction of labour and caesarean section was made by the obstetrician and the patient, taking into account both the patient's personal medical history and the clinical observations on admission to hospital. The primary outcome was the rate of vaginal delivery. RESULTS: Out of 966 women with no contraindication to trial of labour after previous caesarean delivery (TOLAC), 248 were induced, with a vaginal delivery rate of 58.5% (95% CI [52.06; 64.67]). This rate was 81.7% (67/82) among women with Bishop ≥6 and 47% (78/166) if Bishop was <6. Eight cases of uterine rupture were reported in the induction of labour group. Regarding maternal morbidity, this was the main difference between the caesarean section and the induction of labour groups (p=0.049). Neonatal morbidity was low in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of vaginal delivery after induction of labour with oxytocin infusion was satisfactory. Nevertheless, maternal morbidity and especially the risk of uterine rupture were not minor. It is thus essential before inducing labour to inform the woman about the rate of success of TOLAC and the risks of uterine rupture.

Non-invasive fetal monitoring using electrocardiography and phonocardiography: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Continuous fetal monitoring is commonly used during pregnancy and labor to assess fetal wellbeing. The most often used technology is cardiotocography (CTG), but this technique has major drawbacks in clinical use. OBJECTIVES: Our aim is to test a non-invasive multimodal technique of fetal monitoring using phonocardiography (PCG) and electrocardiography (ECG) and to evaluate its feasibility in clinical practice, by comparison with CTG. METHODS: This prospective open label study took place in a French university hospital. PCG and ECG signals were recorded using abdominal and thoracic sensors from antepartum women during the second half of pregnancy, simultaneously with CTG recording. Signals were then processed to extract fetal PCG and ECG and estimate fetal heart rate (FHR). RESULTS: A total of 9 sets of recordings were evaluated. Very accurate fetal ECG and fetal PCG signals were recorded, enabling us to obtain FHR for several subjects. The FHR calculated from ECG was highly correlated with the FHR from the CTG reference (from 74% to 84% of correlation). CONCLUSION: This work with preliminary signal processing algorithms proves the feasibility of the approach and constitutes the beginnings of a unique database that is needed to improve and validate the signal processing algorithms.

[Use of hydroxychloroquine and prednisone in the presence of serum autoimmunity in female infertility]. / Utilisation de l'hydroxychloroquine et de la prednisone en présence d'une auto-immunité sérique dans l'infertilité féminine.

OBJECTIVE: Presence of non-specific autoimmunity (antinuclear antibodies without antigenic specificities and/or antiphospholipid antibodies without criteria of antiphospholipid syndrome) seems to be associated with unexplained female infertility. The objective is to study the characteristics of patients who undergone treatment for non-specific antibodies in Medically Assisted Procreation (MAP). METHODS: Ten patients were prospectively followed at MAP center of Grenoble University Hospital. Patient characteristics were collected and evaluated. All patients had a consultation in internal medicine unit as well as an autoimmune assessment (antinuclear antibodies, APL especially) in search of defined autoimmune disease (exclusion criterion). The treatments undertaken were at clinician' discretion. RESULTS: One patient received quadritherapy (heparin, platelet antiaggregant, prednisone and hydroxychloroquine), 5 received triple therapy, 3 had dual therapy, and one patient had prednisone only. The 10 patients had a pregnancy under treatment, 8 of which were completed without complications. The control of autoimmunity under treatment appears to show a decrease in serum antibody levels. Tolerance was good (delayed hypersensitivity to hydrochloroquine resulted in discontinuation of therapy in only one patient). CONCLUSION: The presence of non-specific serum autoimmunity in a context of infertility appears to be pathogenic and immunomodulatory treatments are clinically and/or biologically effective. A prospective and interventional study with a larger number of patients is needed to assess the efficacy of such treatments in patients with unexplained infertility.

[Hospital practices and breastfeeding cessation risk within 6 months of delivery]. / Observance des pratiques professionnelles recommandées en maternité et réduction du risque de sevrage de l'allaitement maternel dans les six premiers mois de vie.

BACKGROUND: The impact of maternity ward practices on breastfeeding duration remains uncertain in France. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether compliance with an increasing number of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative recommended practices was associated with a decreasing risk for breastfeeding cessation within 6 months of delivery. METHODS: We analyzed the original data from a prospective cohort study carried out in eight maternity centers in France in 2005-2006. A pediatrician or a midwife prospectively collected data on breastfeeding initiation within 1h of birth, rooming-in 24h a day, pacifier non-use, and giving breast milk only for 908 mothers who were breastfeeding at discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 315 (34.7%), 309 (34.0%), 186 (20.5%), and 98 (10.8%) mothers experienced 4, 3, 2, or 0-1 maternity ward practices. The median breastfeeding duration was 18 weeks (25th-75th percentiles, 9 to >26), with 87.6% and 31.5% of mothers who were still breastfeeding by 4 and 26 weeks after delivery, respectively. After adjusting for study center and baseline characteristics, the hazard ratios of breastfeeding cessation associated with 3, 2, and 0-1 practices were 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.64), 1.54 (95% CI, 1.20-1.98), and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.13-2.25) as compared with compliance with four practices (p for trend <0.001). CONCLUSION: Although the causal interpretation for this relationship remains speculative, these findings support interventions aimed to implement or reinforce Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative recommended practices in order to establish prolonged breastfeeding and decrease the risk for early cessation after discharge to home.

[Transvaginal sonographic cervical length and prediction of preterm delivery in twin pregnancies with preterm labor]. / Valeur prédictive du risque d'accouchement prématuré par la mesure échographique de la longueur du col utérin en cas de grossesse gémellaire.

OBJECTIVES: To assess ultrasonographic cervical length measurement in predicting preterm labor without premature rupture of the membrane in twin pregnancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 56 patients with preterm labor between 24+0 and 32+0 weeks. The judgment criteria was probability of delivery before 34 weeks in cases of spontaneous preterm labor before 32 weeks. RESULTS: The threshold of cervical length less than 20mm and 30mm respectively had a sensitivity of 42% and 94%, a specificity of 51% and 13%, a positive predictive value of 30% and 36% and a negative predictive value of 63% and 83% in predicting delivery before 34 weeks. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length is not a predictive of preterm delivery in twin pregnancies with preterm labor. However, the high negative predictive value allows to reassure the patient and to avoid hospitalization as well as tocolysis in cases where cervical length is superior or equal to 30mm.

[Fetal heart rate variability and clozapine treatment]. / Absence de variabilité du rythme cardiaque fœtal chez les fœtus exposés in utero à la clozapine.

We report the 2 cases of schizophrenic patients with clozapine treatment and particularly, we underlined a reduced variability and low short-term variability, whereas biophysical ultrasound score, Dopplers and perception of fetal movements were acceptable and comfortable concerning the fetal vitality. Our aim is to show the limits of the analyzed fetal heart rate under clozapine. So, we may change our observation of fetus in chronic suffering that is usually mainly made with an informatics analysis of pregnants under clozapine.

[Evaluation of the actions increasing health accessibility for deaf pregnant patients]. / Évaluation des actions favorisant l'accessibilité aux soins des patientes enceintes sourdes.

OBJECTIVES: Deafness concerns about 7% of the French population. In this context, the clinic of obstetrics and gynecology of Grenoble teaching hospital established two adaptation actions in the pregnant signing-deaf patient's management: a partnership with French Sign Language interpreters from the deaf patient reception and care unit, and sign language training for nine professionals. The aim of this study is to evaluate this patient management and to propose some potential improvements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study is made through information from both numeric and paper files of 22 deaf pregnant patients. RESULTS: A significant adaptation of patient management during scheduled consultations and hospitalisation in the clinic is observed, whereas adaptation rate is weak for emergency situations. CONCLUSION: The patient management adaptation turns out to be perfectible, through the anticipation of the entire pregnancy consultation schedule. In emergency situations, the creation of a sign language interpreter on-call duty would greatly improve the health care access of these patients.

[Influence of hospital location on short-term fate of premature infants born at 34 weeks of gestation]. / Influence du lieu d'hospitalisation sur le devenir à court terme des prématurés nés à 34 semaines d'aménorrhée.

In France, new care units have emerged in maternity wards for the treatment of moderate prematurity, called mother-child units (MCU). We compared the length of hospitalization between the MCUs and the neonatal units (NNUs) for premature infants born at 34 weeks of amenorrhea at Grenoble university hospital. This was a retrospective, single-center study, including 99 premature infants born from 34 of amenorrhea to 34 weeks+6 days between 2004 and 2009. Were included all premature 34-week infants hospitalized in the NNU or the MCU excluding those with respiratory distress, birth defects, and including infants whose birth weight was less than 1500g admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit or transferred secondarily to the MCU. The characteristics of both groups were similar apart from a lower birth weight in the NNU group (1892 vs. 2182g) and gestational age less than in the NNU group (34.1 vs. 34.3 SA). Our primary outcome, length of hospital stay, was significantly shorter in the MCU (15.4 vs. 20.7 days in the NNU, P<0.01) as well as the duration of nasogastric tube feeding (2.8 vs. 9.1 days, P<0.01). This difference remained after adjustment for birth weight and gestational age. Our retrospective study shows that the length of hospitalization of premature infants born at 34 weeks gestation and hospitalized in our center is significantly shorter when they are admitted to the MCU rather than neonatology. For this reason, this mode of hospitalization in maternity MCUs can be recommended.

[Preterm births circumstances in babies born before 35 weeks in French Alpes: PREMALP study]. / Etude des circonstances de naissance prématurée avant 35SA dans le sillon alpin : étude PREMALP.

OBJECTIVES: In a regional study of preterm infants born before 35weeks of gestation, the aim was to propose a new classification of preterm births into three groups, and to describe the pregnancy complications and fetal disorders in each group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In two areas covered by a perinatal network, all preterm births, live births and stillbirths, which occurred between 22 and 34 completed weeks were recorded over a 21-month period. Each case was classified either in the medically-indicated preterm birth (I) group, or in the accepted spontaneous preterm birth (ASp) group or in the non-accepted spontaneous preterm birth (NASp) group. RESULTS: One thousand and sixty cases of preterm births were included; among them, 981 were live births or ended with per partum infant death. Forty-nine percent of these births were medically indicated, 32 % were ASp and 19 % were NASp. The distribution of pregnancy complications and fetal disorders differed between preterm birth groups: ischemic placental diseases were present in 38,2 % of medically-indicated births; preterm premature rupture of membranes occurred twice more often in I and ASp preterm births than in NASp preterm births. CONCLUSION: This classification is based on the medical decision; it allows to compare medical practices in given obstetrical situations. It appears to be reproducible and easy to use.

[Comparison vacuum extractor versus forceps]. / Comparaison ventouse forceps.

The aim of the study was to search for objective criteria witch might help us to make a choice between obstetrical forceps and vacuum extractor in front of such a clinical situation. In that purpose, we realised a medline research to compare those two obstetrical instruments in term of advantages, disadvantages and specific complications. Vacuum extractor is the most used in the industrialized countries, learning seems to be quickest, time from decision to extraction a little bit longer than with forceps (Level II-2). Vacuum extractor is recommended in case of low presentation with transversal or posterior variety (Level III) or when no analgesia is available (Level III). Forceps are more successful than vacuum (Level II-1), are recommended in case of prematurity and complete anesthesia (Level III). Immediate maternal complications (cervical tear, vaginal and perineal laceration, use of episiotomy) are less frequent with vacuum extractor (Level II-1). Long term effects on the pelvic floor and the bladder continence are comparable with natural delivery for both forceps and vacuum (Level II-1) but anal incontinence is increased, especially with forceps (Level II-1). Benign immediate neonatal morbidity is comparable for both instruments, but there are some specific complications (Level II-1). Thus, cephalhaematomas and potentially dramatic extensive subgaleal haematomas (even rare), retinal haemorrhage are more frequent with the use of vacuum extractor (Level II-1). Facial nerve paralysis, skull fracture (even rare) are more frequent with forceps (Level II-2). Neonatal convulsions frequency is comparable with both instruments (Level II-2), such are middle and long term complications (Level II-3). Finally, failure of forceps extraction needs a caesarean section but there is no clear evidence in the literature for the sequential use of forceps after failure of vacuum (Level III).

Adapting a conventional PCR assay for Toxoplasma gondii detection to real-time quantitative PCR including a competitive internal control.

We have developed a quantitative PCR assay (LightCycler* using the pair of primers JW58 and JW59 for the detection of the 35-fold repeated B gene of oxoplasma gondii. This real-time PCR, using fluorescence resonance energy transfert (FRET) hybridization probes, allows the quantification of . gondii with several technical requirements not previously described: i) an internal amplification control (co-amplified in a single tube with the same primers), ii) Uracil-N-Glycosylase and iii) a standard curve corresponding to a serial dilution from a calibrated suspension of T. gondii ranging from 40 to 4.106( )parasites in one ml of amniotic fluid (1 to 105( ) . gondii/PCR). In artificial samples, one parasite could be detected if at least three reactions were performed.

[Puerperal thrombophlebitis of the ovarian vein revealed by renal colic]. / Thrombophlébite puerpérale de la veine ovarienne révélée par une colique néphrétique.

The authors report the clinical case of a young woman with thrombophlebitis of the right ovarian vein following delivery by caesarean section, initially presenting in the form of renal colic. In the light of a review of the literature, they recall the pathophysiological mechanisms of ovarian thrombophlebitis and the various features observed on imaging examinations. The most frequent clinical features are also described. The authors emphasize the potential, but rare severity of this disease, characterized by the risk of pulmonary embolism, and its treatment, which is usually medical.