Impact of cesarean delivery due to maternal choice on perinatal outcome in term nulliparous patients with a singleton fetus in a vertex presentation.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of our study were to: (1) evaluate the prevalence of cesarean delivery due to maternal request among nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) patients; (2) identify the clinical profile, if any, of these patients; and (3) compare the perinatal outcomes between NTSV patients who requested a cesarean delivery versus patients who did not request cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective case control study performed at a single institution between November 2018 and July 2019. All NTSV patients who had a cesarean delivery due to maternal choice were identified and compared to the next two NTSV patients in labor who delivered vaginally or by medically indicated cesarean delivery following a cesarean delivery by maternal choice. The primary outcome was composite neonatal morbidity. Secondary outcomes were individual components of composite neonatal and maternal morbidity. RESULTS: Of 1138 NTSV patients, 61 (5.4%) patients opted for cesarean delivery by maternal choice. There were significant differences in the demographic/clinical profile between cases and controls including BMI (35.3 kg/m2 vs. 32.7 kg/m2, p < .01), birthweight (3552 gr vs. 3333 gr, p < .001) and documented mental illness (41.0% vs. 22.1% respectively, p < .01). There was no significant difference in composite neonatal morbidity between cases and controls (6.6% vs. 5.7%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.96, 95% CI 0.25-3.61). The risk for postpartum hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion was higher (but not statistically significant) in the study group (5.0% vs. 0.0%, aOR 6.43, 95% CI: 0.65-63.24). Patients who chose cesarean delivery during the intrapartum period had a higher (but not statistically significant) composite neonatal morbidity (14.3% vs. 5.7%, aOR 2.24, 95% CI 0.52-9.78) and composite maternal morbidity (28.6% vs.11.8%, aOR 2.90, 95% CI 0.92-9.16) and significantly higher transfusion rate (aOR 16.93, 95% CI 1.53-187.74). CONCLUSION: Cesarean delivery by maternal choice in NTSV patients is not associated with improved neonatal outcomes; in contrast, it is associated with increased composite maternal morbidity and increased transfusion rate.

Identification of factors associated with delayed treatment of obstetric hypertensive emergencies.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric hypertensive emergency is defined as having systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mm Hg, confirmed 15 minutes apart. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that acute-onset, severe hypertension be treated with first line-therapy (intravenous labetalol, intravenous hydralazine or oral nifedipine) within 60 minutes to reduce risk of maternal morbidity and death. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to identify barriers that lead to delayed treatment of obstetric hypertensive emergency. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was performed that compared women who were treated appropriately within 60 minutes vs those with delay in first-line therapy. We identified 604 patients with discharge diagnoses of chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, or preeclampsia using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes and obstetric antihypertensive usage in a pharmacy database at 1 academic institution from January 2017 through June 2018. Of these, 267 women (44.2%) experienced obstetric hypertensive emergency in the intrapartum period or within 2 days of delivery; the results from 213 women were used for analysis. We evaluated maternal characteristics, presenting symptoms and circumstances, timing of hypertensive emergency, gestational age at presentation, and administered medications. Chi square, Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and sample t-tests were used to compare the 2 groups. Univariable logistic regression was applied to determine predictors of delayed treatment. Multivariable regression model was also performed; C-statistic and Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to assess the model fit. A result was considered statistically significant at P<.05. RESULTS: Of the 213 women, 110 (51.6%) had delayed treatment vs 103 (48.4%) who were treated within 60 minutes. Patients who had delayed treatment were 3.2 times more likely to have an initial blood pressure in the nonsevere range vs those who had timely treatment (odds ratio, 3.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-5.68). Timeliness of treatment was associated with presence or absence of preeclampsia symptoms; patients without preeclampsia symptoms were 2.7 times more likely to have delayed treatment (odds ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-4.80). Patients with hypertensive emergencies that occurred overnight between 10 pm and 6 am were 2.7 times more likely to have delayed treatment vs those emergencies that occurred between 6 am and 10 pm (odds ratio, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-5.83). Delayed treatment also had an association with race, with white patients being 1.8 times more likely to have delayed treatment (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.08). Patients who were treated at <60 minutes had a lower gestational age at presentation vs those with delayed treatment (34.6±5 vs 36.6±4 weeks, respectively; P<.001). For every 1-week increase in gestational age at presentation, there was a 9% increase in the likelihood of delayed treatment (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.19). Another factor that was associated with delay of treatment was having a complaint of labor symptoms, which made patients 2.2 times as likely to experience treatment delay (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-4.41). CONCLUSION: Initial blood pressure in the nonsevere range, absence of preeclampsia symptoms, presentation overnight, white race, having complaint of labor symptoms, and increasing gestational age at presentation are barriers that lead to a delay in the treatment of obstetric hypertensive emergency. Quality improvement initiatives that target these barriers should be instituted to improve timely treatment.

Patient safety in clinical research articles.

Patient safety has remained one of the most important priorities over the past decade, particularly in hospital settings. Implementation of patient safety measures has focused not only on reducing medication and surgical errors but also on the development of a culture of safety, including enhanced communication among all healthcare stakeholders. Academic medicine may further contribute to the culture of safety if all relevant clinical article submissions address patient safety. In order to improve communication between the authors of clinical research articles and practicing physicians, we propose that each clinical research article may be accompanied by a clear statement from the authors regarding practice implications and patient safety.

Arnold-Chiari malformation in a pregnant woman.

BACKGROUND: The Arnold-Chiari malformation type I is characterized by the prolapse of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum. There is a lack of literature on the management of a pregnancy in a woman affected by an Arnold-Chiari malformation. CASE: A young primipara with severe headaches underwent an elective primary cesarean delivery under general anesthesia successfully. Five years earlier, she had undergone neurosurgical resection for filum terminale syndrome shortly after her first pregnancy (term vaginal delivery) and decompression of a type I Arnold-Chiari malformation 4 months later. CONCLUSION: Careful selection of anesthetic technique for the delivery of a woman with an Arnold-Chiari malformation is of paramount importance.