Comparación de la efectividad de la pulsioximetría y el electrocardiograma fetal en las situaciones de riesgo de pérdida de bienestar fetal

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of pulse oximetry and fetal electrocardiogram in the management of labor with fetal heart rate patterns associated with a risk of loss of fetal well-being.

Subjects and methods

We performed an open, randomized, experimental trial with two groups: pulse oximetry was used in one group and the STAN® technique was used in the other. Each group included 40 women with single, term pregnancies in cephalic presentation and fetal heart rate patterns associated with a risk of loss of fetal well-being. The overall cesarean section rate, indications of risk of fetal distress, and neonatal acid-base balance were evaluated.

Results

No significant differences were found in the rate of cesarean section (47.5 vs 40%; P = .33), indications of risk of fetal distress (32.5 vs 37.5%; P = .41), or neonatal outcomes.

Conclusions

The use of pulse oximetry and STAN®21, as auxiliary methods to cardiotocographic recording, showed no superiority in reducing the cesarean section rate or improving neonatal outcomes.     

Análisis de la finalización de la gestación y morbilidad materna en las gestaciones de 41 semanas

Objective

To evaluate the mode of delivery and maternal morbidity associated with pregnancies ending at 41 weeks.

Material and methods

We designed a retrospective cohort study. The mode of delivery and maternal complications of 230 pregnancies ending at 41 weeks were compared with those in 234 pregnancies ending between 37 and 40 weeks at the Miguel Servet University Hospital in 2005.

Results

Women delivering at 41 weeks had an increased risk of membrane sweep, unfavorable Bishop score at admission, induction and longer duration of labor. These increases were also seen in the rates of operative vaginal delivery (25.6 vs 17.6%, p < 0.001) and cesarean section (21.7 vs 8.5%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The rates of maternal peripartum complications increase as pregnancy reaches 41 weeks. Accurate investigation of these rates is important to determine the gestational age at which the risk of continuing the pregnancy outweighs the risk of labor induction.     

Índice de masa corporal y aumento de peso en el embarazo. Resultado obstétrico de la inducción de parto

Objective

To determine the obstetric results of labor induction in relation to body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain at the Leon Hospital between January and March, 2008.

Material and method

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 127 labor inductions. The variables included were the medical reason for induction, the procedures employed for cervical ripening and induction, maternal age at the end of pregnancy, type of labor, parity, initial Bishop's score, BMI, weight, height, gestational weight gain, neonatal weight and Apgar test at 1 and 5 minutes.

Results

Inductions were performed in 21.3% of births, while vaginal delivery was achieved in 81.1%. A total of 36.2% of the patients were overweight, 21.2% were obese and 4.7% were morbidly obese.

Conclusions

A non-statistically significant association was observed between failure of vaginal delivery and BMI (P = .08) and body weight gain (P = .07). These two variables seem to increase the chances of failure of cervical ripening and induction of labor, increasing the percentage of cesarean sections.     

Encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica tras hematoma espontáneo de cordón umbilical

Objective

To present the case of a pregnant woman with a spontaneous umbilical cord hematoma and to provide a review of the literature.

Subjects and methods

A primigravida, with no antecedents of interest and uneventful pregnancy, was admitted to our hospital in the latent phase of labor. Cardiotocography was unsatisfactory, and an urgent cesarean section was performed.

Results

A 3050 g girl was born, with an Apgar score of 1/3, and was admitted to the intensive care unit. The neonate was discharged with a diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Conclusions

Umbilical cord abnormalities should be suspected when the results of fetal monitoring are unsatisfactory. Histological analysis of the umbilical cord should be performed.     

Idoneidad de las indicaciones de cesárea. Una aplicación en la gestión de la práctica clínica

Objectives

To describe the quality management system applied by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service of the Manacor Hospital, Majorca (Spain) to the process of cesarean section, and to assess the appropriateness of caesarean sections performed in this service between 2004 and 2005.

Subjects and methods

Consensus was reached on evidence-based indications for emergency and elective cesarean sections and on their quality criteria. All clinical records were reviewed to assess the appropriateness of cesarean sections performed from 2004-2005 according to previously established standards.

Results

In all two-monthly periods, appropriateness was achieved according to previously established standards (100% of elective interventions and > 90% of emergency cesarean sections), except in July-August, 2004 and May-June 2005 (appropriateness of elective cesarean sections = 92%), and in July-August 2004 (appropriateness of emergency interventions = 84%).

Conclusions

To reduce unjustified variability in clinical practice, cesarean section indications must be standardized, based on scientific evidence, and regularly assessed.     

Influencia de la educación maternal sobre hábitos tóxicos y uso del servicio de urgencias obstétricas

Objectives

To determine the influence of the women's exposure to maternal education on smoking and the use of obstetric emergency services.

Method

A multicenter observational study was conducted on women whose childbirth was the first in four hospitals in Andalusia (Spain) in 2011. The data were collected through an interview and medical history. The analysis estimated odds ratios and both raw and adjusted averages.

Results

A total of 520 women were studied. Participation in the maternal education program seemed to have no influence on the use of obstetric emergency services (ORa = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.47-1.04) or on changing smoking habits (ORa = 0.84, 95% CI = -0.43-1.68).

Conclusions

Attendance at a maternal education program did not modify smoking. We found no conclusive evidence of the impact of maternal education on the use of emergency obstetric services.     

Adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica en el parto por cesárea

Objective

To evaluate compliance with a protocol for antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean sections and its influence on the incidence of surgical wound infection.

Patients and methods

A prospective cohort study was carried out to assess compliance with our antibiotic prophylaxis protocol. Percentages of compliance and the cumulative incidence of infection were calculated. The effect of compliance with the protocol for antibiotic prophylaxis on surgical wound infection was estimated with the relative risk.

Results

We included 680 patients. Overall compliance with the protocol was 95.7%. The most frequent cause of lack of compliance was the time of administration (96.6%). The cumulative incidence of infection was 2.5% and there was no association between compliance with the protocol and the infection rate (RR = 4.5; 95% CI: 0.55-38.4; P>.05).

Conclusions

Compliance with the protocol for antibiotic prophylaxis was high. The cumulative incidence of surgical wound infection was low and was unrelated to antibiotic prophylaxis.     

Resultados perinatales de un protocolo de atención para gestantes con riesgo de prematuridad extrema

Introduction

Gestational age and birthweight are the most important variables that influence perinatal outcomes and future quality of life.

Method

An intervention project was applied following a protocol for the perinatal care of women admitted to the Mariana Grajales Perinatal Care Unit in Santa Clara at risk of extremely preterm delivery (26 to 32 weeks).

Objective

To evaluate perinatal results and neonatal survival in this high-risk group.

Results

The causes of extreme prematurity were, in order of frequency, aggravated preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous delivery, and gastorrhagia in the second half of pregnancy. The most common route of delivery was cesarean section. Birthweight was less than 1 500 g in 52% of the neonates, mainly due to preeclampsia and preterm delivery. Low Apgar scores of 4-6 were found in 12.3% of the neonates with 100% recovery at 5 minutes. Delivery occurred at less than 30 weeks in 30.1%. Pregnancy was prolonged by 8.6 days in preeclampsia, by 6 days in premature rupture of membranes and by 322 days in preterm delivery. The most frequent complications were hyaline membrane disease (15%) and sepsis (36.9%), which provoked one death.

Conclusions

Survival in this group of high-risk neonates was high, decisively influencing the low infant mortality rate in this unit in 2009-2010.     

Resultados perinatales en 492 presentaciones podálicas: cesárea vs. parto vaginal

Objective

To analyze the perinatal results in our hospital comparing vaginal delivery and cesarean section in breech presentation singleton pregnancies at term.

Material and Methods

All live ante-partum singleton fetuses in breech presentation, at 37 to 41+6 weeks and days who delivered between July 2006 and August 2010 were included in the study. We compared perinatal results between cesarean section and vaginal delivery.

Results

There were no differences in Apgar score at 5 minutes < 7, pH umbilical cord < 7, base deficits and lactate, neonatal intensive care unit admission or perinatal mortality.

Conclusions

With appropriate maternal and fetal conditions and a qualified medical team, a breech vaginal delivery could be propose obtaining good perinatal outcomes.     

Análisis comparativo de dos protocolos de misoprostol en abortos de segundo trimestre de la gestación

Objective

To compare the mean induction-expulsion times in two regimens of vaginal misoprostol for second-trimester pregnancy termination.

Material and methods

We performed a retrospective study of 281 pregnancies between January 2000 and December 2005 (regimen A: 800 μg /24 h) and between June 2007 and December 2008 (regimen B: 400 μg /4 h). Induction-expulsion time was taken as the main outcome.

Results

The mean expulsion time was similar in both regimens (19.7 h for A and 17.7 h for B). No significant differences were found in the expulsion rate at 12, 24 and 48 h. The most commonly observed adverse effect was fever, which was more frequent in regimen B. No major adverse effects such as uterine rupture or severe hemorrhage were observed.

Conclusions

No significant differences were found between regimens A and B in the mean fetal expulsion time, although fever was more common in regimen B.     

Prolapso de la cúpula vaginal tratado mediante operación de Richter-Amreich asociada a colporrafia anterior

Objective

To study prospectively the succes rate of the sacrospinous vault suspension, using the vaginal approach associating an anterior colporrhaphy, in the cases of posthisterectomy vaginal vault prolapse.

Material and methods

Between January 1999-July 2005, 41 patients without urinary incontinence and vaginal vault prolapse were treated with the Richter-Amreich’s procedure associated with anterior colporrhaphy by the same surgeon. We have used the the Miya hook in all interventions and 2 sutures of Polyglactin 00. Every patient was 393 followed up a month after the operation and anually till now. We considered success as the lack of prolapse a month after the intervention, and relapse when another prolapse happened in a year or more after surgery. Patients were include in a database and Epi-info 3.3^TM was used to perform the statistical analysis.

Results

There were vaginal vault prolapse at 1- month follow-up in 4 of the 41 (success rate of 91.2%). Another 3 patients presented minor cystocele (grade 1), and one had a grade 2 cystocele without descent of vaginal apex (9.8%). There is no worsening of these cases till now in the annual follow-ups. The most common postoperatory complication was anemia, that was present in 13 patients (31,7%). The length of complete surgery was 102 ± 35 minutes. There is a clear correlation between operating time and surgeon experience.

Conclusions

This technique is an effective method, economic and safe to treat posthysterectomy prolapse of the apical vaginal compartment.     

Clasificación de cesáreas por Grupos de Robson en dos periodos comparativos en el Hospital de Manacor

Objective

To identify groups of women with changes in cesarean rates in two different periods.

Subjects and methods

Deliveries in the Manacor Hospital in 2000-2001 and 2005-2006, were analyzed through a retrospective review of clinical records and were grouped using Robsońs classification.

Results

The cesarean rate increased from 14 to 18.6% with a statistically significant increase among women with a single cephalic pregnancy at term who underwent labor induction or elective cesarean section. These two groups were the major contributors to the cesarean rate at our hospital.

Conclusion

A trend towards an increase in the rates of cesarean section was found during the study period. Robson's Classification allowed us to identify the groups of women contributing to this increase.     

Recuperación del parto vaginal de nalgas y versión cefálica externa

Objective

To review the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of the application of an updated vaginal breech delivery protocol 10 years after this practice had been discontinued.

Methods

Breech presentations were referred to a dedicated breech unit at 36 weeks where the external cephalic version was offered. If breech presentation persisted, the patients were selected to undergo attempted vaginal delivery if the following criteria were met: a) estimated fetal weight of 2.500-3.600 g; b) frank or complete breech presentation; c) absence of hyperextension of the fetal head; and d) a clinically adequate pelvis. Intrapartum criteria included: a) progression of labor of ≥ 1 cm/hour in the first hour; b) In the second stage, 90 minutes were allowed for adequate descent of the breech, and 1 hour of active pushing, and c) the availability of an on-call expert.

Results

A total of 93 patients showed single live pregnancies in breech presentation after external cephalic version. Sixty-nine patients (73.4%) underwent elective prelabor cesarean delivery, and 24 (26.6%) progressed to attempted vaginal breech delivery, which was successful in 19 (20.1%). Cesarean indications for breech presentation were reduced from 5.7% in 2009 to 2.02% after the application of external cephalic version and vaginal breech delivery (P<.001). We observed no fetal deaths, no Apgar test at 5 minutes of less than 7, no umbilical artery pH of less than 7, and no fetal injuries.

Conclusions

. When antepartum and intrapartum criteria are met, vaginal breech delivery is safe. The availability of an on-call expert allows vaginal breech delivery to be safely performed. The combination of external cephalic version and vaginal breech delivery decreases the cesarean rate for breech presentation.     

Análisis de la relación entre riesgo gestacional y ansiedad materna

Objective

To evaluate levels of maternal anxiety in third trimester pregnancies according to pregnancy risk, classified as low, medium and high-risk/very high-risk.

Patients and methods

We performed an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study of anxiety levels in 174 pregnant women followed-up in our hospital. Levels of both state anxiety and trait anxiety were evaluated in the three groups of pregnant women.

Results

Of the 174 participants in the study, 98 (56.3%) had low risk pregnancies, 40 showed medium risk (23%) and 36 (20.7%) had high risk or very high risk pregnancies. We obtained a mean of 32.8 points for state anxiety and of 27.3 points for trait anxiety. Mean anxiety levels scores were 44.1 points in the high/very high risk group, 33 points in the medium risk group, and 28.5 points in the low risk group, with statistically significant differences (P = .0001 for the high risk group and P = .038 for the medium risk pregnancies). A significant correlation was found between trait anxiety and state anxiety (P = .0001). Statistically significant differences were observed in anxiety related to the number of children (P = .0001).

Conclusions

In pregnant women, anxiety levels were higher than average levels in the general population. Anxiety levels increased in accordance with greater risk in the pregnancy. The greater the number of children the mother already had the lower her anxiety level.     

Impacto de la edad materna avanzada en las complicaciones obstétricas y perinatales de las gestaciones gemelares

Objective

To evaluate the pregnancy and perinatal outcomes of twin gestations in women aged 35 or older.

Material and methods

We designed a retrospective cohort study. Maternal complications, mode of delivery and perinatal outcomes were compared in 229 women who delivered at age 35 or older and in 374 women who delivered at age less than 35 years. The computerized database and medical records of pregnant women attending the Miguel Servet University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Older women had an increased risk of conceptions after assisted reproductive techniques (p > 0.001), dichorionic pregnancies (p > 0.001) and gestational diabetes (p = 0.007; 95% CI: 1.119-3.19). There was no significant association between older maternal age and an increased incidence of preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, fetal growth restriction, cesarean delivery or perinatal mortality.

Conclusion

Based on our data and previous studies, advanced maternal age in twin pregnancies does not seem to significantly increase obstetric complications or adverse perinatal results.     

Estudio de la integridad del ADN espermático en relación con la calidad seminal y los resultados del ciclo de fecundación in vitro

Objective

To establish the relationship between the degree of sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal parameters, male age and outcome of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI).

Subjects and methods

The sample consisted of 43 couples undergoing IVF/ICSI. The mean age of men was 35.62 ± 4.87 years and that of women was 33.88 ± 3.95 years. We prospectively analyzed sperm DNA fragmentation from each patient by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) and correlated the findings with seminal parameters (volume, concentration, progressive motility and morphology), IVF/ICSI outcomes and male age. IVF/ICSI outcome was evaluated by measuring the fertilization rate, embryo quality and the pregnancy and miscarriage rates.

Results

DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated with progressive motility (p = 0.000) of fresh and capacitated (p = 0.041) semen. Older patients had a significantly lower percentage of progressive motility in fresh seminal samples (p = 0.034) and worse sperm DNA quality (p = 0.043). There were no significant differences between the fragmentation rate and fertilization rate, embryo quality, and the pregnancy and miscarriage rates.

Conclusions

DNA fragmentation is inversely correlated with progressive motility in fresh seminal samples. DNA fragmentation does not predict the IVF/ICSI outcome but screening for sperm DNA damage may provide useful information in the diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility. Seminal quality is affected by increasing male age.     

Cesárea a petición de la embarazada

Objetive

: To know Spanish Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (SEGO) members about cesarean section on request.

Method

Three questions appeared on SEGO web: 1) If a normal primigravid with a term, cephalic presentation foetus ask you for a caesarean section, would you do it?; 2) If a normal primigravid with a term, breach presentation foetus ask you for a caesarean section, would you do it?; 3) If a woman on her normal third pregnancy with two previous vaginal and with a term, breach presentation foetus ask you for a caesarean section, would you do it? Questions were asked in May 2006 and answers were collected 19^th October 2006. Data analysis was processed with web page statistic method.

Results

Among the 5300 members of SEGO, 1222 contacted the web page (23%). To question n° 1, 57.8% answered no, 24.8% yes and 17.4% had no answer. To question n° 2, 6.1% answered no, 93.8% yes and there were no abstention. To n° 3 question, 16.7% said no, 74.5% said yes and 8.8% has no opinion.Results are commented, advantages and disadvantages of caesarean are discussed as well as sanitary consequences of such an indication.     

Pronóstico perinatal y materno de las gestaciones gemelares concebidas mediante fecundación in vitro,en relación con las obtenidas espontáneamente

Objective

To determine the outcomes of twin pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilization (IVF) compared with those resulting from spontaneous conception.

Material and methods

We performed a historical cohort study comparing neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies resulting from IVF (n = 44) with those resulting from spontaneous conception (n = 109) in the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete (Spain) in 2001, 2001 and 2003. The primary variable was perinatal mortality. Secondary variables were fetal morbidity (neonatal abnormalities, Apgar < 7, acidotic arterial pH, admission to the neonatal unit), preterm delivery, maternal complications, and type of delivery.

Results

No differences in perinatal mortality and morbidity were found between spontaneous twin pregnancies and twins resulting from assisted reproductive techniques. The rate of preterm labor was significantly higher in spontaneous twin pregnancies (75.2 versus 52%; p = 0.006). The incidence of gestational diabetes was significantly higher in twin pregnancies resulting from IVF than in spontaneous twin pregnancies (25.5 versus 9.7%;p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Perinatal and maternal outcomes in twin pregnancies resulting from IVF are similar to those of spontaneous twin pregnancies.