Fetal surgery for obstructive ureterocele using an ultrasound-guided needle laser ablation technique: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive ureterocele is an intravesical cystic dilation of the distal end of the ureter associated with anhidramnios and dilation of both renal pelvises. METHODS: This is a case-series of prenatally diagnosed ureterocele. Cases were selected at a third level reference hospital in Monterrey Mexico between 2010 and 2018. Eligible patients for fetal therapy were selected when bilateral hydronephrosis and severe oligohydramnios were found before 26+0 weeks of gestation. The fetal intervention comprised an ultrasound-guided needle laser technique for ureterocele ablation. RESULTS: There were six cases of prenatal diagnosed of ureterocele, two cases showed anhidramnios at 23 weeks of gestation and were considered obstructive ureterocele. For these two cases, fetal surgery was performed using laser ablation of the ureterocele through an ultrasound-guided needle. In both, the urinary tract was decompressed, and the volume of amniotic fluid improved allowing to carry both pregnancies until term, one of them vaginally and the other by cesarean section. In the postnatal follow-up of both cases, the first neonate died due to neonatal asphyxia at 48-hours, and the second neonate required removal of the abnormal collecting system. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ultrasound-guided laser ablation for the decompression of obstructive ureterocele is a safe and feasible technique in extremely premature fetuses that could allow survival of the affected fetus until term. Patients receiving an early prenatal diagnosis of obstructive ureterocele may benefit from fetal therapy to reduce the risk of lung hypoplasia and stillbirth.Established factsPrenatal mortality of bilateral obstructive ureterocele is up to 45%.Only a few techniques have been described for the management of prenatally bilateral obstructive ureterocele; among them, the puncturing of the ureterocele which may require more than one intervention during fetal, laser by fetoscopy which may increase the risk of postoperative complications, and ultrasound-guided laser fulguration which seems to be effective and safe.Novel insightsThe present is the first description of a case series on ureteroceles comprising two ultrasound-guided laser therapy as an effective treatment for bilateral obstructive ureterocele requiring a single intervention.The use of ultrasound-guided laser in obstructive cases avoids fatality and lung hypoplasia due to severe oligohydramnios. Still, the neonatal prognosis of the affected side at two years of age remains unchanged.

Prediction of low birth weight with hypoglycemia in glucose tolerance test.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the value of the combination of fasting glucose less than the 10th percentile (FG < p10) during 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test (75g OGTT) with maternal characteristics to predict low birth weight (LBW) established by Intergrowth-21st tables. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of pregnant women who was underwent 75g OGTT between 24 and 28.6 weeks. The 10th percentile fasting glucose of the population was determined at 65 mg/dL and women with risk factors that could modify fetal weight, including those related to intrauterine growth restriction, were excluded. Two groups were formed: group FG < p10 and group with normal fasting glucose. The main finding was the diagnosis of LBW. The association between FG < p10, maternal characteristics and LBW was established by multivariate logistic regression. The predictive performance of the models constructed was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) analysis. RESULTS: 349 women were eligible for study, of whom 66 (18.91%) had FG < p10; neonates in this group had lower birth weights (2947.28 g and 3138.26 g, p = 0.001), higher frequencies of LBW (25% and 6.81%, p < 0.001) and of weights < 2500 g in term births (8.6% and 2.3%, p = 0.034). The basal prediction model consisted of nulliparity by achieving an AUC of 60%, while the addition of FG < p10 resulted in the significant improvement of the previous model (AUC 72%, DeLong: p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women without factors that could modify fetal weight, the predictive model created by combining FG < p10 during 75g OGTT with nulliparity was significantly associated with increased risk of LBW. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04144595.

Prediction of low birth weight with hypoglycemia in glucose tolerance test / Predicción de bajo peso al nacer con hipoglucemia en la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Determine the value of the combination of fasting glucose less than the 10th percentile (FG < p10) during 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test (75g OGTT) with maternal characteristics to predict low birth weight (LBW) established by Intergrowth-21st tables. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of pregnant women who was underwent 75g OGTT between 24 and 28.6 weeks. The 10th percentile fasting glucose of the population was determined at 65 mg/dL and women with risk factors that could modify fetal weight, including those related to intrauterine growth restriction, were excluded. Two groups were formed: group FG < p10 and group with normal fasting glucose. The main finding was the diagnosis of LBW. The association between FG < p10, maternal characteristics and LBW was established by multivariate logistic regression. The predictive performance of the models constructed was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) analysis. RESULTS: 349 women were eligible for study, of whom 66 (18.91%) had FG < p10; neonates in this group had lower birth weights (2947.28 g and 3138.26 g, p = 0.001), higher frequencies of LBW (25% and 6.81%, p < 0.001) and of weights < 2500 g in term births (8.6% and 2.3%, p = 0.034). The basal prediction model consisted of nulliparity by achieving an AUC of 60%, while the addition of FG < p10 resulted in the significant improvement of the previous model (AUC 72%, DeLong: p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women without factors that could modify fetal weight, the predictive model created by combining FG < p10 during 75g OGTT with nulliparity was significantly associated with increased risk of LBW. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04144595.

RESUMEN OBJETIVO: Determinar el valor de la combinación de la glucosa en ayunas menor que el percentil 10 (GA < p10) durante la prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa con 75 gramos (PTG-75g) con características maternas para predecir bajo peso al nacer (BPN) establecido mediante tablas de Intergrowth-21st. MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de mujeres embarazadas que se realizaron PTG-75g entre las 24 y 28.6 semanas. Se determinó el percentil 10 de glucosa en ayunas de la población en 65 mg/dL y fueron excluidas aquellas mujeres con factores de riesgo que pudieran modificar el peso fetal incluyendo los relacionados con la restricción del crecimiento intrauterino. Se formaron dos grupos: grupo GA < p10 y grupo con glucosa en ayunas normal. El hallazgo principal fue el diagnóstico de BPN. La asociación entre GA < p10, características maternas y BPN se estableció mediante regresión logística multivariante. El desempeño predictivo de los modelos construidos fue evaluado por el análisis de la curva característica operativa del receptor (ROC) y del área bajo la curva (ABC). RESULTADOS: Fueron elegibles para estudio 349 mujeres, de las cuales 66 (18,91%) tuvieron GA < p10; los neonatos de este grupo tuvieron pesos al nacer más bajos (2947.28 g y 3138.26 g, p = 0,001), frecuencias más altas de BPN (25% y 6,81%, p < 0,001) y de pesos < 2500 g en nacimientos de término (8,6% y 2,3%, p = 0,034). El modelo basal de predicción consistió en nuliparidad al lograr un ABC del 60%, mientras que al añadir la GA < p10 se obtuvo la mejora significativa del modelo previo (ABC 72%, DeLong: p = 0,005). CONCLUSIONES: En mujeres embarazadas sin factores que pudieran modificar el peso fetal, el modelo predictivo creado combinando GA < p10 durante la PTG-75g con nuliparidad estuvo asociado significativamente con riesgo incrementado de BPN. REGISTRO: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04144595.

Successful Management of Heterotopic Cervical Pregnancy with Ultrasonographic-guided Laser Ablation.

Heterotopic pregnancy refers to the simultaneous presence of ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy. With the advent of assisted reproductive technology, the overall incidence of heterotopic pregnancies has risen. We report a case of a 36-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 1-year of primary infertility. Following oral ovulation induction cycles and intrauterine insemination, diagnosis of heterotopic cervical pregnancy was made by ultrasonography at 7.4 weeks of gestation. Laser ablation of the cervical pregnancy was performed achieving adequate homeostasis at the implantation site and preserving the intrauterine pregnancy. A healthy infant was delivered at 36 0/7 weeks by cesarean section. Laser ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that appears to lead to successful outcomes in the treatment of heterotopic cervical pregnancy.