Male-to-female gender ratio in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency.

OBJECTIVE: To describe gender distribution in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) measurements. METHODS: All fetuses with mild (2.5-2.9 mm) and moderate (3.0-3.5 mm) NT enlargement at 12.0-12.6 weeks gestation were studied. The Z test for proportions was used to compare the gender distribution of this study group to that of all babies born at Roosevelt Hospital in 2008, and to compare the gender distributions of the subgroups. RESULTS: 5109 patients received screening at 12.0-12.6 weeks gestation. 44 fetuses had mild and 28 had moderate enlargement, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.8:1.0, much higher than the 1.06:1.0 ratio among total births at Roosevelt Hospital in 2008 (p < 0.0001). Male-to-female ratio was 7.8:1.0 in fetuses with mild and 1.8:1.0 with moderate NT enlargement (p = 0.03). Among fetuses with mild NT enlargement, 3 males had aneuploidy; among those with moderate enlargement, 6 fetuses had aneuploidy, 3 males and 3 females. Seven pregnancies with aneuploidy were voluntarily terminated. All pregnancies carried to term were healthy. CONCLUSIONS: More males than females had mild NT enlargement on first-trimester screening, but unless aneuploidy was detected they had normal birth outcomes. A slightly larger NT may be normal in males, while indicating possible fetal abnormalities in females.

First-trimester crown-rump length as a predictor of fetal LGA and SGA at term.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether first-trimester crown-rump length (CRL) is associated with birthweight extremes at term. METHODS: Included in this study were all term, small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) neonates with no other obstetric complications and no abnormal outcomes of pregnancy. CRL at 12.0 to 12.6 weeks of estimated gestational age obtained during nuchal translucency screening was selected as an estimate of early fetal growth. Mean first-trimester CRL of the LGA noenates at term was compared via student's t-test with mean first-trimester CRL of SGA neonates at term. RESULTS: In all, 121 neonates were included in the study. Mean first-trimester CRL of the 63 LGA-term neonates was 62.7 ± 6.0 mm (95% confidence interval, ± 1.49 mm; range, 61.21-64.19), while that of the 58 SGA-term neonates was smaller at 58.8 ± 6.9 mm (95% confidence interval, ± 1.79 mm; range, 57.01-60.59 mm). This 3.9 mm difference between the means was statistically significant (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: We found that birthweights of LGA and SGA neonates at term were associated with their first-trimester CRL measurements, thus, indicating that fetal growth patterns apparent early in pregnancy continue through term.

Effects of the individual uterine contraction on fetal head descent and cervical dilatation during the active stage of labor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of individual uterine contractions on instantaneous values of cervical dilatation and head station along the active stage of labor. STUDY DESIGN: Cervix dilatation and fetal head station were measured continuously using a labor monitor that is based on ultrasonic triangulation. The relations between the two variables in response to each contraction were analyzed. The relative effect of the contraction on head station and on cervical dilatation was demonstrated by plotting one against the other during the contraction and quantified by two indices: (a) the contraction vector that integrates the maximum effect of uterine contraction on both variables and (b) the efficiency vector that indicates the contribution of each contraction to labor progression. The amplitude and angle of each vector were calculated. Correlation between the waveforms of head station and cervix dilatation during contractions was also calculated. These indices were plotted against cervix dilatation and head station at different stages in labor progress. RESULTS: Effects of uterine contractions on cervix dilatation and head station varied during labor. The amplitude of the contraction vector and efficiency vector increased to a maximal value at cervical dilatation of 6 cm. The angle of the contraction vector increased with the progress of labor. Correlation between cervical dilatation and head station was maximal at the engagement zone of the birth canal. High variability was observed between subjects for all indices measured. CONCLUSION: The contraction vector and the efficiency vector exhibited distinct behavior during labor. These vectors may serve as indicators for normal and abnormal progress of labor. More data are required to obtain statistical significance.

Massive luteinized follicular cyst of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: A large luteinized follicular cyst can rupture or twist during pregnancy. However, in the absence of those complications a simple ovarian cyst can often be managed conservatively, provided that sonographic evaluation of the cyst is benign. Rapid growth of a simple follicular cyst is rare but may occasionally complicate pregnancy. CASE: A 25-year-old primigravida had a simple-appearing adnexal mass detected by sonogram early in pregnancy. She was followed with serial sonograms. Because of the clear sonolucent appearance of the mass and the patient's preference, a conservative management was elected. The cyst grew in size as her pregnancy progressed, became symptomatic, and necessitated surgical intervention. Cystectomy and cesarean delivery at 36+ weeks relieved the symptoms and achieved delivery of a healthy infant. CONCLUSION: Solitary luteinized follicular cysts of pregnancy have the potential to grow to a very large size and create complications related to their size alone. Conservative management of simple adnexal cysts in pregnancy, based on their sonographic appearance, can avoid risks of abdominal surgery in the second trimester of pregnancy, but in the third trimester, a large cyst can create significant complications requiring surgical intervention.

Live three-dimensional echocardiography of the human fetus.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a new three-dimensional ultrasound system to perform fetal echocardiographic examination in real time. The device consisted of a Philips Sonos 7500 (Andover, MA) ultrasound system and a 4 MHz, 4X matrix transducer. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and was performed with the informed consent of the mother. The study population consisted of 12 singleton fetuses with gestational ages of 16-37 weeks. Of these, ten fetuses had normal cardiac anatomy, one had complete atrioventricular septal defect, and the other a thickened tricuspid valve. The system allowed comprehensive visualization of fetal cardiac anatomy and color Doppler flow unattainable by two-dimensional approaches. This preliminary investigation suggests that live three-dimensional fetal echocardiography could be a significant tool for prenatal diagnosis and assessment of congenital heart disease in the human fetus.

Viable cervical pregnancy managed with systemic Methotrexate, uterine artery embolization, and local tamponade with inflated Foley catheter balloon.

We present an unusual case of a primigravida with a viable cervical pregnancy diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Staggered conservative therapeutic measures included systemic high-dose Methotrexate with Folinic acid rescue followed by bilateral embolization of the uterine arteries in response to active cervical bleeding despite declining serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels. Continued active cervical bleeding responded to local tamponade with an inflated Foley catheter balloon positioned within the cervical canal. Conservative treatment was successful, with complete resolution of the cervical pregnancy, resumption of normal menstrual cycles, and a normal transvaginal ultrasonographic appearance of the cervical canal, documented 8 weeks after the initial diagnosis. This case and review of the literature support that various staggered conservative hemostatic measures may be used at various points in which bleeding may occur in the conservative management algorithm of cervical pregnancy.

Doppler flow velocimetry assisted diagnosis of an intrauterine synechia during pregnancy.

The differential diagnosis of reflective intrauterine membranes during pregnancy includes amniotic bands of fetal origin or membranes of combined maternal-fetal origin. While the former have been associated with fetal transverse reduction defects or the lethal amniotic band syndrome, the latter are usually benign and consist of a preexisting uterine septation or synechia around which the fetal membranes fold or become enveloped. We present an unusual case in which a patient was noted at 19 weeks' gestation to have an intrauterine membrane of undetermined origin, appearing to contain a pulsating vessel. Color Doppler imaging and Doppler flow velocimetry clearly depicted a pulse synchronous with the maternal heart rate, defining the membrane as amniotic membranes surrounding a preexisting uterine synechia and not a true amniotic band. The pregnancy was otherwise uneventful and the patient delivered a healthy neonate at elective repeat cesarean at which time the presence of the uterine synechia was confirmed.