Which type of forceps is better for nonrotational operative births? A simulation study comparing Thierry spatulas and Simpson-Braun and Kielland forceps.

OBJECTIVE: Obstetric forceps play an important role in safe childbirth, yet there is a lack of distinction between various forceps types in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate and compare perineal pressure and forces on the baby during nonrotational forceps-assisted births using Simpson-Braun forceps, Kielland forceps, and Thierry spatulas on a simulation model. METHODS: This experimental study involved six obstetricians conducting 108 forceps-assisted births on a simulation model. Instruments were assessed for their impact on perineal pressure, traction force, and operator-assessed difficulty. RESULTS: Thierry's spatulas exerted the lowest force on the baby, while Kielland forceps exhibited the lowest perineal pressure, though not statistically significant. An experienced obstetrician demonstrated less perineal pressure with Simpson forceps. Notably, no significant differences in difficulty were observed between instruments. CONCLUSION: This study highlights distinctions in forceps performance, with Thierry spatulas applying the least force on the fetal head, while an experienced obstetrician fared better with Simpson forceps in terms of perineal pressure. Kielland forceps remain a viable alternative for nonrotational forceps births, showing comparable outcomes.

Vacuum-assisted birth in maternal lateral posture versus lithotomy. A simulation study.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal lateral postures provide advantages during childbirth. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of assisting vacuum births in maternal lateral postures in a simulation model. STUDY DESIGN: In a simulation model, four obstetricians and four medical students were randomly allocated to perform vacuum-assisted births first in maternal lateral posture or lithotomy. A modification of Aldo Vacca's 5-step technique was developed to assist vacuum-assisted births in lateral posture. The lateral distance, vertical distance, and distance from the cup center to the flexion point were measured for every placement of the cup. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 128 vacuum-assisted births were performed. The mean distance to the flexion point was 1.15 ± 0.71 cm for the lithotomy posture and 1.31 ± 0.82 cm for the lateral posture (P = 0.127). There were no statistically significant differences in vacuum extractor cup placement accuracy based on maternal posture. Performing vacuum-assisted births in maternal lateral posture is feasible in a simulation model. The technique is easy to learn, and the differences in cup placement between the lateral and lithotomy postures are small.

Hemolytic Anemia After an Aortic Dissection Treated With a Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement.

A 46-year-old man with a personal history of a repaired aortic dissection was admitted because of hemolytic anemia. The transesophageal echocardiogram displayed an accelerated flow and a residual intimal flap in the proximal descending aorta. A total arch replacement was performed, the flap was removed, and his hemolytic anemia was resolved. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Intrapartum ultrasound in maternal lateral versus semi-recumbent posture. A repeated measures study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether intrapartum ultrasound (ITU) measurements in maternal lateral posture are superimposable to ITU measurements in semi-recumbent position. STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, repeated measures design was used. Women in the second stage of labor were randomized to ITU first in semi-recumbent followed by ITU in side-lying posture without and with contraction, or inversely. The angle of progression (AOP) and the head-perineum distance (HPD) between contractions (AOP1 and HPD1) and with contraction (AOP2 and HPD2) were measured in each maternal posture. The differences between AOP1 and AOP2 (dAOP), and between HPD1 and HPD2 (dHPD) were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Forty-two women participated in the study. A generalized estimating equation model showed that AOP1 (-3.00°; 95 % CI -5.77 to -0.23; p = 0.03) and AOP2 (-4.14°; 95 % CI -7.20 to -1.08; p = 0.008) were lower in semi-recumbent compared to maternal lateral posture. HPD1 (+1.43 mm; 95 % CI 0.05-2.81; p = 0.042) and HPD2 (+1.53 mm; 95 % CI 0.17-2.89; p = 0.03) were higher in semi-recumbent position. Differences in the ITU measurements in maternal lateral posture compared to semi-recumbent position are small. Monitoring the second stage of labor with ITU in lateral maternal posture is possible.

Influence on operative time of immediate skin-to-skin care in low-risk primary cesarean births for breech presentation: Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple benefits for both, mother and baby have been reported from immediate skin-to-skin care (SSC). The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of SSC on operative time and blood loss in primary cesarean births for breech presentation. METHODS: A SSC protocol for cesarean birth was implemented in our institution on February 25, 2019. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we compared the outcomes of planned primary cesarean births for breech presentation at term before and after its implementation. RESULTS: Data from 110 women who had a cesarean birth for breech presentation at term were analyzed, 55 in each group. Group 1 were women who had immediate SSC and Group 2 were women without immediate SSC. Maternal and surgical characteristics, and neonatal outcomes were similar in both groups. The mean operative time was 3.22 minutes shorter in the immediate SSC group compared with the not immediate SSC group (37.13 ± 12.27 vs 40.35 ± 12.23 minutes; P = 0.171). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, immediate SSC following a low-risk cesarean birth for breech presentation neither prolongs the operative time nor increases blood loss during the procedure. Although we were unable to demonstrate a significant reduction in the operative time with the immediate SSC protocol, a decrease of 3 minutes was noted.

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine and Baricitinib for Patients at High Risk of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019: The PANCOVID Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate if patients with high risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would benefit from treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) followed by baricitinib in case of hypoxemia and systemic inflammation. METHODS: PANCOVID is an open-label, double-randomized, phase 3 pragmatic clinical trial including adults with symptomatic COVID-19 with ≥2 comorbidities or aged ≥60 years and was conducted between 10 October 2020 and 23 September 2021. In the first randomization, patients received TDF/FTC or no TDF/FTC. In the second randomization, patients with room air oxygen saturation <95% and at least 1 increased inflammatory biomarker received baricitinib plus dexamethasone or dexamethasone alone. The primary endpoint was 28-day mortality. Main secondary endpoint was 28-day disease progression or critical care unit admission or mortality. The trial was stopped before reaching planned sample size due to the decrease in the number of cases and a mortality rate substantially lower than expected. RESULTS: Of the 355 included participants, 97% were hospitalized at baseline. Overall, 28-day mortality was 3.1%. The 28-day mortality relative risk (RR) for participants treated with TDF/FTC was 1.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], .52-5.91; P = .379); it was 0.42 (95% CI, .11-1.59; P = .201) for those treated with baricitinib. The 28-day RR for the main secondary combined endpoint for participants treated with TDF/FTC was 0.95 (95% CI, .66-1.40; P = .774); it was 0.90 (95% CI, .61-1.33; P = .687) for those treated with baricitinib. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not suggest a beneficial effect of TDF/FTC; nevertheless, they are compatible with the beneficial effect of baricitinib already established by other clinical trials. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: EudraCT: 2020-001156-18.

Prospective multicentre study of host response signatures in neonatal sepsis in Sub Saharan Africa.

Few biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis are commonly used in neonatal sepsis. While the role of host response is increasingly recognized in sepsis pathogenesis and prognosis, there is a need for evaluating new biomarkers targeting host response in regions where sepsis burden is high and medico-economic resources are scarce. The objective of the study is to evaluate diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of biomarkers of neonatal sepsis in Sub Saharan Africa. This prospective multicentre study included newborn infants delivered in the Abomey-Calavi region in South Benin and their follow-up from birth to 3 months of age. Accuracy of transcriptional (CD74, CX3CR1), proteic (PCT, IL-6, IL-10, IP-10) biomarkers and clinical characteristics to diagnose and prognose neonatal sepsis were measured. At delivery, cord blood from all consecutive newborns were sampled and analysed, and infants were followed for a 12 weeks' period. Five hundred and eighty-one newborns were enrolled. One hundred and seventy-two newborns developed neonatal sepsis (29.6%) and death occurred in forty-nine infants (8.4%). Although PCT, IL-6 and IP-10 levels were independently associated with sepsis diagnosis, diagnostic accuracy of clinical variables combinations was similar to combinations with biomarkers and superior to biomarkers alone. Nonetheless, CD74, being the only biomarkers independently associated with mortality, showed elevated prognosis accuracy (AUC > 0.9) either alone or in combination with other biomarkers (eg. CD74/IP-10) or clinical criterion (eg. Apgar 1, birth weight). These results suggest that cord blood PCT had a low accuracy for diagnosing early onset neonatal sepsis in Sub Saharan African neonates, while association of clinical criterion showed to be more accurate than any biomarkers taken independently. At birth, CD74, either associated with IP-10 or clinical criterion, had the best accuracy in prognosing sepsis mortality.Trial registration Clinicaltrial.gov registration number: NCT03780712. Registered 19 December 2018. Retrospectively registered.

Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic and operative time in cesarean section: retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The covid-19 pandemic has meant a change in working protocols, as well as in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Obstetricians have had to adapt quickly to these changes without knowing how they affected their clinical practice. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how COVID-19 pandemic and PPE can affect operative time, operating room time, transfer into the operating room to delivery time and skin incision to delivery time in cesarean section. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Women with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection having a cesarean section after March 7th, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. For each woman with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, a woman who had a cesarean section for the same indication during the COVID-19 pandemic and with similar clinical history but not affected by SARS-CoV-2 was included. RESULTS: 42 cesarean sections were studied. The operating room time was longer in the COVID-19 confirmed or suspected women: 90 (73.0 to 110.0) versus 61 (48.0 to 70.5) minutes; p < .001. The transfer into the operating room to delivery time was longer, but not statistically significant, in urgent cesarean sections in COVID-19 confirmed or suspected women: 25.5 (17.5 to 31.75) versus 18.0 (10.0 to 26.25) minutes; p = .113. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in the operative time, transfer into the operating room to delivery time and skin incision to delivery time when wearing PPE in cesarean section. The COVID-19 pandemic and the use of PPE resulted in a significant increase in operating room time.

Management of Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients with Follicular Lymphoma.

INTRODUCTION: There is no consensus on the management of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in patients with secondary immunosuppression due to either an underlying hematological disease or to the effects of immunochemotherapy (ICT). Some of them may present persistent infection with multiple relapses of COVID-19, requiring several admissions. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes after treatment of 5 patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), previously treated with ICT, who developed several episodes of COVID-19. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical evolution and response to treatment with antiviral agent, steroids, and convalescent plasma in 5 patients with FL and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) persistent infection. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests and peripheral blood immunophenotype were performed for all patients. RESULTS: All patients required hospitalization due to pneumonia with severity criteria and were re-admitted after a median of 22 days (13-42) from the previous discharge. They all showed B-cell depletion by immunophenotyping, and no traces of immunoglobulin antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in any of the cases. The survival rate was 80%. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy evidenced clinical benefits, demonstrating its capacity to control infection in immunosuppressed FL patients treated with ICT.

Development of a New LAMP Assay for the Detection of Ancylostoma caninum DNA (Copro-LAMPAc) in Dog Fecal Samples.

Ancylostoma caninum is a zoonotic nematode which is able to affect animals and humans. Diagnosis in the definitive host and environmental detection are key to prevent its dissemination and achieve control. Herein, a new coprological LAMP method for the detection of A. caninum (Copro-LAMPAc) DNA was developed. DNA extraction was performed using a low-cost method and a fragment of the cox-1 gene was used for primer design. The analytical sensitivity, evaluated with serial dilutions of genomic DNA from A. caninum adult worms, was 100 fg. A specificity of 100% was obtained using genomic DNA from the host and other pathogens. The Copro-LAMPAc was evaluated using environmental canine fecal samples. When compared with gold standard optical microscopy in epidemiological studies, it proved to be more sensitive. This new LAMP assay can provide an alternative protocol for screening and identification of A. caninum for epidemiological studies in endemic areas.

Determinantes sociales de la mortalidad infantil reducible en departamentos del noroeste argentino entre los años 2010 y 2014 / Social determinants of infant mortality due to reducible causes in counties of northwest of Argentina

Este artículo compara los determinantes sociales de la salud (DSS) entre los departamentos del Noroeste Argentino que poseen alto riesgo de mortalidad infantil neonatal o pos-neonatal reducible y el resto de ellos, entre los años 2010 y 2014. El análisis de las condiciones socioeconómicas y su vínculo con la mortalidad infantil aporta conocimiento necesario respecto a la importancia de la consideración del entorno de las poblaciones y resulta imprescindible para formular políticas públicas adecuadas. Se propone un estudio ecológico con datos censales de 2010 y estadísticas vitales. Se identifican los departamentos de alto riesgo de muerte mediante el software libre SaTScan. Luego, se realiza una prueba T de comparación de medias para muestras independientes. De esta forma, se identificaron mayores deficiencias en los DSS de las zonas con alto riesgo

We aim to compare the social determinants of health (DSS) between the departments of the Argentine Northwest with a high risk of reducible neonatal and postneonatal infant mortality and the rest of them, between 2010 and 2014. Consideration of socioeconomic conditions and their link with infant mortality provides essential knowledge regarding the importance of considering the environment of populations and is essential for formulating adequate public policies. An ecological study is proposed, with census data from 2010, and vital statistics. Departments at high risk of death are identified using free Satscan software, and then a mean comparison t-test is performed for independent samples. Greater deficiencies were identified in the DSS in high-risk areas

Development of a low-cost copro-LAMP assay for simultaneous copro-detection of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati.

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease caused mainly by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati and diagnosis in dogs and cats is an important tool for its control. For this reason, a new coprological loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of these species. The primer set was designed on a region of the mitochondrial cox-1 gene. Amplification conditions were evaluated using a temperature gradient (52°C to 68°C), different incubation times (15­120 min), and different concentrations of malachite green dye (0.004­0.4% w/v). The analytical sensitivity was evaluated with serial dilutions of genomic DNA from T. canis and T. cati adult worms, and with serial dilutions of DNA extracted from feces using a low-cost in-house method. The specificity was evaluated using genomic DNA from Canis lupus familiaris, Felis catus, Escherichia coli, Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostoma caninum, Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and Taenia hydatigena. The LAMP assay applied to environmental fecal samples from an endemic area showed an analytical sensitivity of 10­100 fg of genomic DNA and 10−5 serial dilutions of DNA extracted from feces using the low-cost in-house method; with a specificity of 100%. Additionally, the total development of the assay was carried out in a basic laboratory and per-reaction reagent cost decreased by ~80%. This new, low-cost tool can help identify the most common agents of toxocariasis in endemic areas in order to manage prevention strategies without having to rely on a laboratory with sophisticated equipment.

Early and specific targeted mass spectrometry-based identification of bacteria in endotracheal aspirates of patients suspected with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Rapid and reliable pathogen identification is compulsory to confirm ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in order to initiate appropriate antibiotic treatment. In the present proof of concept, the effectiveness of rapid microorganism identification with a targeted bottom-up proteomics approach was investigated in endotracheal aspirate (ETA) samples of VAP patients. To do so, a prototype selected-reaction monitoring (SRM)-based assay was developed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer tracking proteotypic peptide surrogates of bacterial proteomes. Through the concurrent monitoring of 97 species-specific peptides, this preliminary assay was dimensioned to characterize the occurrence of six most frequent bacterial species responsible for over more than 65% of VAP. Assay performance was subsequently evaluated by analyzing early and regular 37 ETA samples collected from 15 patients. Twenty-five samples were above the significant threshold of 105 CFU/mL and five samples showed mixed infections (both pathogens ≥ 105 CFU/mL). The targeted proteomics assay showed 100% specificity for Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. No false bacterial identification was reported and no interference was detected arising from the commensal flora. The overall species identification sensitivity was 19/25 (76%) and was higher at the patient level (84.6%). This successful proof of concept provides a rational to broaden the panel of bacteria for further clinical evaluation.

Initial outcomes of a multidisciplinary network for the care of patients with cardiogenic shock.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Mortality remains high in cardiogenic shock (CS), especially in refractory CS involving the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of a care program for patients in CS after the creation of a multidisciplinary team in our center and a regional network of hospitals in our area. METHODS: Observational and retrospective study of patients attended in this program from September 2014 to January 2019. We included patients in refractory CS who required MCS and those who, because of their age and absence of comorbidities, were candidates for advanced therapies. The primary endpoint was survival to discharge. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were included (69 local and 61 transferred patients). The mean age was 52±15 years (72% men). The most frequent causes of CS were acute decompensated heart failure (29%), acute myocardial infarction (26%), and postcardiotomy CS (25%). MCS was used in 105 patients (81%), mostly extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (58%). Survival to discharge was 57% (74 of 130 patients). The most frequent destinations were myocardial recovery and heart transplant. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were SAPS II score, lactate level, acute myocardial infarction etiology, and vasoactive-inotropic score. CONCLUSIONS: The creation of multidisciplinary teams for patients with mainly refractory CS and a regional network is feasible and allows survival to discharge in more than a half of attended patients with CS.

Grape juice attenuates left ventricular hypertrophy in dyslipidemic mice.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effects of grape juice (Vitis labrusca L.) on dyslipidemia, resistance to insulin, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in mice homozygous for the absence of the LDL receptor gene (LDLr -/-) under a hyperlipidemic diet. METHODOLOGY: We divided 30 male mice (3 months old) into three groups (n = 10); the HL group was fed a high-fat diet, the HLU group received a high-fat diet and 2 g/kg/day of grape juice, and the HLS group was fed a high-fat diet and simvastatin (20 mg/kg/day). We assessed the blood pressure profile of the mice. We also determined the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profile, glycemic and insulinemic profiles, and calculated the HOMA-IR. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial collagen deposit, and the expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L) and metalloproteinases 2 and 9 were assessed immunohistologically. RESULTS: After 60 days, the mice treated with grape juice showed similar results as those of the group treated with simvastatin. The use of grape fruit attenuated dyslipidemia and insulin resistance and significantly increased the levels of high cholesterol density lipoproteins (HDLc). The antioxidant potential of phenolic compounds associated with the increase in HDLc levels in the mice of the HLU group prevented the development of LVH and arterial hypertension since it inhibited the inflammatory response induced by the CD40 pathway and its ligand CD40L. Consequently, there was a lower expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and lower serum levels of CRP. CONCLUSION: Grape juice has a hypolipidemic and cardiac protective potential, presenting a similar effect as that of simvastatin through a direct antioxidant action of phenolic compounds, or indirectly, via antioxidant action and anti-inflammatory activity of the HDLc. These results suggest that grape juice is a functional food possessing a high potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

The Role of Anxiety in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Elective Cardioversion: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety is often present among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This condition has been associated with greater symptom severity and worse quality of life in these patients. However, the influence of anxiety on the risk of AF recurrence is not well known. We aimed to define the level of anxiety in patients with persistent AF undergoing elective cardioversion (EC) and determine whether there is an association between anxiety and the risk of early AF recurrence after EC. METHODS: Anxiety was measured before EC using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Early AF recurrence was assessed with a control electrocardiogram at 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: We included 107 patients undergoing effective EC. Early AF recurrence was diagnosed in 40 patients (37.4%). Compared with those who remained in sinus rhythm, individuals with early AF recurrence had significantly higher levels of trait anxiety (23.1 [10.4] versus 17.9 [9.5]; p = .013) and larger left atrial volume index (45.8 [12.3] versus 37.9 [13.3] ml/m; p = .004). Both variables remained independently associated with early AF recurrence after multivariate analysis. A predictive model including trait anxiety score >20 and left atrial volume index >41 ml/m showed acceptable accuracy for the diagnosis of early AF recurrence (area under the curve = 0.733; 95% confidence interval = 0.634-0.832; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that trait anxiety is an independent risk factor for early AF recurrence after EC. Further studies are warranted to assess the beneficial role of anxiety-reducing strategies on the outcomes of patients with AF.

Immune Profiling Panel: A Proof-of-Concept Study of a New Multiplex Molecular Tool to Assess the Immune Status of Critically Ill Patients.

BACKGROUND: Critical illness such as sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome defined as a dysregulated host response to infection and is characterized by patients exhibiting impaired immune response. In the field of diagnosis, a gap still remains in identifying the immune profile of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A new multiplex immune profiling panel (IPP) prototype was assessed for its ability to semiquantify messenger RNA immune-related markers directly from blood, using the FilmArray System, in less than an hour. Samples from 30 healthy volunteers were used for the technical assessment of the IPP tool. Then the tool was clinically assessed using samples from 10 healthy volunteers and 20 septic shock patients stratified using human leukocyte antigen-DR expression on monocytes (mHLA-DR). RESULTS: The IPP prototype consists of 16 biomarkers that target the immune response. The majority of the assays had a linear expression with different RNA inputs and a coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.8. Results from the IPP pouch were comparable to standard quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the assays were within the limits of agreement in Bland-Altman analysis. Quantification cycle values of the target genes were normalized against reference genes and confirmed to account for the different cell count and technical variability. The clinical assessment of the IPP markers demonstrated various gene modulations that could distinctly differentiate 3 profiles: healthy volunteers, intermediate mHLA-DR septic shock patients, and low mHLA-DR septic shock patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of IPP showed great potential for the development of a fully automated, rapid, and easy-to-use immune profiling tool. The IPP tool may be used in the future to stratify critically ill patients in the ICU according to their immune status. Such stratification will enable personalized management of patients and guide treatments to avoid secondary infections and lower mortality.

Which technique is better to place a manoeuvrable vacuum extractor cup on the flexion point? Vacca vs. Bird technique.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to compare the vacuum extractor cup application technique described by Bird vs. the technique described by Vacca on a simulation model. Methods Six obstetricians participated in the study. Each obstetrician performed eight vacuum assisted deliveries using the Bird technique and eight vacuum assisted deliveries using the Vacca 5-Steps technique. Results A total of 96 vacuum assisted deliveries were performed. The mean distance from the centre of the cup to the flexion point was 1.78±0.96 cm for the Bird technique and 1.05±0.60 cm for the Vacca technique (p<0.001). The lateral distance (over the parietal bone) was 1.16±0.69 cm for the Bird technique and 0.66±0.52 cm for the Vacca technique (p<0.001). The vertical distance (towards the frontal or occipital bone) was 1.12±1.02 cm for the Bird technique and 0.67±0.55 cm for the Vacca technique (p=0.009). In occipito anterior positions, there were no significant differences between both techniques. Conclusions The Vacca technique was better in transverse and posterior positions.