Influence of training in the use and generation of evidence on episiotomy practice and perineal trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine episiotomy practices before and after a multi-component intervention designed to support the use and generation of research evidence in maternal and neonatal health care. METHODS: Set in 9 centers across 4 Southeast Asian countries, a retrospective survey was performed for 12 recommended pregnancy/childbirth practices and 13 outcomes of women in each center before and after intervention. Qualitative interviews were conducted to assess staff awareness and experience in evidence-based practice. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in the rate of episiotomy, from 64.1% to 60.1% (risk difference [RD] -4.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.8 to -2.2) for all women and from 92.2% to 80.7% (RD -11.5; 95% CI, -13.4 to -9.6) for nulliparous women. Severe trauma decreased from 3.9% to 1.9% (RD -2.0; 95% CI, -2.7 to -1.4) for all women and from 6.7% to 3.0% (RD -3.7; 95% CI, -4.9 to -2.5) for nulliparous women. The frequency of intact perineum increased from 12.4% to 15.6% (RD 3.2; 95% CI, 1.9-4.6) for all women and from 1.7% to 8.0% (RD 6.3; 95% CI, 5.0-7.5) for nulliparous women. CONCLUSION: An intervention based on understanding and using the best available evidence can result in significant improvements in care and health outcomes.

Antenatal diagnosis of placenta previa accreta in patients with previous cesarean scar.

AIM: To determine the accuracy of transabdominal and transvaginal gray-scale and color Doppler in diagnosing placenta previa accreta in patients with previous cesarean sections. METHODS: Twenty-one patients who had undergone previous cesarean sections and were confirmed to have partial or total placenta previa in the current pregnancy were subjected to ultrasound examinations after the 28th week of gestation. Specific ultrasound features were looked for on gray-scale ultrasound and color Doppler examination of the placenta and its interphase with the uterus and the bladder. RESULTS: Seven of the 21 patients had ultrasound evidence of placenta accreta and all were later confirmed to have placenta previa accreta intraoperatively. The gray-scale positive findings were present in six out of the seven patients. The most prominent gray scale feature to suggest placenta accreta was the presence of multiple lakes that represent dilated vessels extending from the placenta through the myometrium. All seven patients had features of placenta accreta when examined with color Doppler. The most prominent color Doppler feature present in all seven patients was the presence of interphase hypervascularity with abnormal vessels linking the placenta to the bladder. The sensitivity and specificity of antenatal ultrasound diagnosis of placenta previa accreta was 100%. CONCLUSION: Antenatal diagnosis of placenta previa accreta can be made with a thorough ultrasound examination of the placenta in patients with previous cesarean scar and placenta previa.