Term planned delivery based on fetal growth assessment with or without the cerebroplacental ratio in low-risk pregnancies (RATIO37): an international, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The cerebroplacental ratio is associated with perinatal mortality and morbidity, but it is unknown whether routine measurement improves pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether the addition of cerebroplacental ratio measurement to the standard ultrasound growth assessment near term reduces perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity, compared with growth assessment alone. METHODS: RATIO37 was a randomised, open-label, multicentre, pragmatic trial, conducted in low-risk pregnant women, recruited from nine hospitals over six countries. The eligibility criteria were designed to be broad; participants were required to be 18 years or older, with an ultrasound-dated confirmed singleton pregnancy in the first trimester, an alive fetus with no congenital malformations at the routine second-trimester ultrasound, an absence of adverse medical or obstetric history, and the capacity to give informed consent. Women were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio (block size 100) using a web-based system to either the concealed group or revealed group. In the revealed group, the cerebroplacental ratio value was known by clinicians, and if below the fifth centile, a planned delivery after 37 weeks was recommended. In the concealed group, women and clinicians were blinded to the cerebroplacental ratio value. All participants underwent ultrasound at 36 + 0 to 37 + 6 weeks of gestation with growth assessment and Doppler evaluation. In both groups, planned delivery was recommended when the estimated fetal weight was below the tenth centile. The primary outcome was perinatal mortality from 24 weeks' gestation to infant discharge. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02907242) and is now closed. FINDINGS: Between July 29, 2016, and Aug 3, 2021, we enrolled 11 214 women, of whom 9492 (84·6%) completed the trial and were eligible for analysis (4774 in the concealed group and 4718 in the revealed group). Perinatal mortality occurred in 13 (0·3%) of 4774 pregnancies in the concealed group and 13 (0·3%) of 4718 in the revealed group (OR 1·45 [95% CI 0·76-2·76]; p=0·262). Overall, severe neonatal morbidity occurred in 35 (0·73%) newborns in the concealed group and 18 (0·38%) in the revealed group (OR 0·58 [95% CI 0·40-0·83]; p=0·003). Severe neurological morbidity occurred in 13 (0·27%) newborns in the concealed group and nine (0·19%) in the revealed group (OR 0·56 [95% CI 0·25-1·24]; p=0·153). Severe non-neurological morbidity occurred in 23 (0·48%) newborns in the concealed group and nine (0·19%) in the revealed group (0·58 [95% CI 0·39-0·87]; p=0·009). Maternal adverse events were not collected. INTERPRETATION: Planned delivery at term based on ultrasound fetal growth assessment and cerebroplacental ratio at term was not followed by a reduction of perinatal mortality although significantly reduced severe neonatal morbidity compared with fetal growth assessment alone. FUNDING: La Caixa foundation, Cerebra Foundation for the Brain Injured Child, Agència per la Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

Cesarean scar pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current knowledge on pregnancy in a cesarean scar. METHODOLOGY: A literature review on the topic using the PubMed database. RESULTS: Gravidity in a cesarean scar is a relatively new type of ectopic pregnancy that will be an increasingly common problem in an era of increasing cesarean section rates. It is still a relatively rare event, occurring in about 6% of the population. Diagnosis is based primarily on ultrasound examination and is essential early on in pregnancy. The pathogenesis of the disease is due to a disorder of the basal layer of the endometrium and can lead to conditions that we refer to as placenta accreta spectrum. The management is completely individualized and depends on hCG values, ultrasound findings, fetal viability, the wishes of the pregnant woman and the experience of the gynecologist concerned. CONCLUSION: This is still a rare occurrence of ectopic pregnancy but with increasing potential. The solution is completely individualized based on a precise and early ultrasound diagnosis.

In vitro simulation of acute feto-fetal transfusion in case of single intrauterine fetal death in monochorionic twins.

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to shared circulation in monochorionic twins, single intrauterine fetal death (IUD) may lead to acute feto-fetal transfusion (aFFTR). The objective of the study was to describe our model of aFFTR simulation after IUD in monochorionic (MC) twins. METHODS: Prospective study analyzed 99 fresh MC placentas with the physiological course. A specially designed protocol was used for the preparation and analysis of the placentas. A pair of infusion sets fixed together using a mechanical mercury sphygmomanometer cuff was connected to the cannulated umbilical arteries. The tonometer was pressurized up to 30 and 40 mmHg. A positive finding of aFFTR was determined as the amount exceeding 1 ml of dye flowed out of the umbilical cord simulating a dead fetus. The number and types of anastomoses, types, and distances between cords insertions, and the size of the placental areas for each fetus were also statistically analyzed. The placental angioarchitecture with and without proven aFFTR was statistically compared, odds ratio (OR) and multivariable logistic analysis were performed. RESULTS: A total of 49/99 (49.5%) cases of aFFTR was proven, and the average transfusion time of 1 ml was 30 s (19-46 s). aFFTR was present in 49/78 (62.8%) of placentas with arterio-arterial (AA) anastomosis. The median diameter of AA anastomoses with the present, and absent aFFTRF was 2.0 mm and 1.0 mm, respectively. The proven interfetal transfusion was 8%, 31%, and 61% in AA anastomoses with a diameter below 0,5 mm, 0,5-1,5 mm, and above 1,5 mm, respectively (p < 0,001). AA anastomoses diameter >1.5 mm had OR of 44.2 (95% CI 5.54-352.39). In the case of coexistence of AA anastomosis and umbilical cord distance ≤5th percentile, the aFFTRF occurred in 90.9%. DISCUSSION: The potential risk of aFFTR in monochorionic twins is mainly due to the presence and nature of AA anastomoses. The diameter and length of the vessels play a crucial role, which is clinically related to the distance of the umbilical cords insertions.

Bronchopulmonary Sequestration with Fetal Hydrops in a Monochorionic Twin Successfully Treated with Multiple Courses of Betamethasone.

Aim We present a case of severe bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) and fetal hydrops in one of the monochorionic twin successfully treated with multiple courses of betamethasone. Case Report A 21-year-old gravida 2 para 1 was referred to our hospital for suspected twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) at 28 0/7 weeks of gestational age. However, prenatal ultrasound of the larger twin revealed a chest lesion that was associated with significant ascites, massive hydrothorax, scant hepatomegaly, subcutaneous edema, and severe polyhydramnios. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of BPS and fetal hydrops. The estimated fetal weight discrepancy between the fetuses was 39% but the criteria for TTTS were not met. Repeated courses of betamethasone (3 courses, each with 2 × 14 mg of betamethasone intramuscularly/week) were administered with subsequent recovery from hydrops and reduction in BPS parameters. Amniodrainage was performed twice to reduce the amniotic fluid amount in affected twin. Postnatally, surgery of BPS was not required and follow-up at 6 months of corrected age revealed no side effects of antenatal steroids in either twin. Conclusion Antenatal steroids might be considered for noninvasive therapy in high-risk fetal patients with BPS especially when fetal intervention is unsuitable or not available.

A case of an epignathus with intracranial extension appearing as a persistently open mouth at 16 weeks and subsequently diagnosed at 20 weeks of gestation.

We report a rare case of oral mass (epignathus) with intracranial extension originally suspected antenatally at 16 weeks' gestation because of a persistent open mouth. Postmortem MRI and pathologic examination of the fetus confirmed an oral teratoma with bilateral ventricular dilatation, corpus callosum agenesis, and a neuroepithelial intracranial cyst. The relevant literature regarding this anomaly is reviewed.