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OBJECTIVE: Uterine contractions are essential for childbirth, but also for expulsion of the placenta and for limiting postpartum blood loss. Postpartum hemorrhage is associated with almost 25% of the maternal deaths worldwide and the leading cause of maternal death in most low-income countries. Little is known about the physiology of the uterus postpartum, particularly due to the lack of an accurate measurement tool. The primary objective of this pilot study is to explore the potential of using electrohysterography to detect postpartum uterine contractions. If postpartum uterine activity can be objectified, this could contribute to understanding the physiology of the uterus and improve diagnosis and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.STUDY DESIGN: In this observational study we included women aiming for a vaginal birth in two large maternity clinics in the Netherlands, Amphia Hospital Breda (group A, N2018-0161) and Máxima Medical Center Veldhoven (group B, N17.149). An electrode patch was placed on the maternal abdomen to record real-time electrical uterine activity until one hour postpartum continuously. In group A, the placement of the patch was lower than in group B. For analysis, tracings were divided into five different phases (1: dilatation until start pushing, 2: from start pushing until childbirth, 3: from childbirth until placental expulsion, 4: first hour after placental expulsion and 5: after one hour postpartum). Readability, signal quality and contraction frequency per hour were assessed. Additionally, patient satisfaction was evaluated through a survey.RESULTS: In total 91 pregnant women were included of whom 45 in group A and 46 women in group B. Complete registrations were obtained throughout the five labor phases with very little artefacts or signal loss. The readability of the tracings decreased after childbirth. A significantly better readability was found in tracings where the patch placement was lower on the abdomen for phases

Objective: To evaluate the influence of maternal obesity on the performance of external tocodynamometry and electrohysterography. Study design: In a 2-hour measurement during term labor, uterine contractions were simultaneously measured by electrohysterography, external tocodynamometry, and intra-uterine pressure catheter. The sensitivity was compared between groups based on obesity (non-obese/obese/morbidly obese) or uterine palpation (good/moderate/poor), and was correlated to maternal BMI and abdominal circumference. Result: We included 14 morbidly obese, 18 obese, and 20 non-obese women. In morbidly obese women, the median sensitivity was 87.2% (IQR 74–93) by electrohysterography and 45.0% (IQR 36–66) by external tocodynamometry (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of electrohysterography appeared to be non-influenced by obesity category (p = 0.279) and uterine palpation (p = 0.451), while the sensitivity of tocodynamometry decreased significantly (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the sensitivity of both external methods was negatively correlated with obesity parameters, being non-significant for electrohysterography (range p-values 0.057–0.088) and significant for external tocodynamometry (all p-values < 0.001). Conclusions: Electrohysterography performs significantly better than external tocodynamometry in case of maternal obesity.

Objective To evaluate preferences from patients and users on 3 uterine monitoring techniques, during labor. Study Design Women in term labor were simultaneously monitored with the intrauterine pressure catheter, the external tocodynamometer, and the electrohysterograph. Postpartum, these women filled out a questionnaire evaluating their preferences and important aspects. Nurses completed a questionnaire evaluating users' preferences. Results Of all 52 participating women, 80.8% preferred the electrohysterograph, 17.3% the intrauterine pressure catheter and 1.9% the external tocodynamometer. For these women, the electrohysterograph scored best regarding application and presence during labor (p < 0.001). Most important aspects were least likely to harm and least discomfort. Of 57 nurses, 40.4% preferred the electrohysterograph, 35.1% the external tocodynamometer, and 24.6% had no preference, or replied that their preference is subject to situation and patient. Conclusion Patients prefer the electrohysterograph over the external tocodynamometer and the intrauterine pressure catheter, while healthcare providers report ambiguous results.

Background: Betamethasone is widely used to enhance fetal lung maturation in case of threatened preterm labour. Fetal heart rate variability is one of the most important parameters to assess in fetal monitoring, since it is a reliable indicator for fetal distress. Aim: To describe the effect of betamethasone on fetal heart rate variability, by applying spectral analysis on non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram recordings. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Subjects: Patients that require betamethasone, with a gestational age from 24 weeks onwards. Outcome measures: Fetal heart rate variability parameters on day 1, 2, and 3 after betamethasone administration are compared to a reference measurement. Results: Following 68 inclusions, 12 patients remained with complete series of measurements and sufficient data quality. During day 1, an increase in absolute fetal heart rate variability values was seen. During day 2, a decrease in these values was seen. All trends indicate to return to pre-medication values on day 3. Normalised high- and low-frequency power show little changes during the study period. Conclusions: The changes in fetal heart rate variability following betamethasone administration show the same pattern when calculated by spectral analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram, as when calculated by cardiotocography. Since normalised spectral values show little changes, the influence of autonomic modulation seems minor.

Objective: To investigate whether incomplete umbilical cord blood gas (UCBG) analysis occurs more often than the incomplete reporting of the Apgar score, and risk factors associated with the incomplete values. Methods: A total of 8824 infants born alive after 26 weeks’ gestation between January 2009 and April 2013 were included. We extracted data on five-minute Apgar score, UCBG analysis, gestational age, mode of delivery, time of delivery and multiple pregnancy. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Five-minute Apgar score was incomplete in 15 cases (0.2%) and UCBG analysis in 1960 cases (22.2%), p<0.05. Incomplete UCBG analysis was significantly more likely to occur in situations with Apgar score below seven (Odds ratio (OR) 1.68, 95% CI;1.29-2.19), gestational age between 26 to 27 6/7 and 28 to 31 6/7 weeks (OR 3.14, 95% CI; 2.13-4.62 and OR 1.91, 95% CI; 1.57-2.32), cesarean section (OR 1.31, 95% CI; 1.11-1.55), and multiple pregnancy (OR 2.02, 95% CI; 1.69-2.43). Deliveries during night time had a lower risk of incomplete UCBG analysis (OR 0.78, 95% CI; 0.69-0.88). Conclusions: Measuring five-minute Apgar score generated less incomplete data compared with UCBG analysis. The risk factors associated with incomplete UCBG analysis were noted. Study outcomes with UCBG analysis as neonatal assessment tool should be interpreted with caution.

Background Emergency department (ED) crowding leads to prolonged emergency department length of stay (ED-LOS) and adverse patient outcomes. No uniform definition of ED crowding exists. Several scores have been developed to quantify ED crowding; the best known is the Emergency Department Work Index (EDWIN). Research on the EDWIN is often applied to limited settings and conducted over a short period of time. Objectives To explore whether the EDWIN as a measure can track occupancy at a Dutch ED over the course of one year and to identify fluctuations in ED occupancy per hour, day, and month. Secondary objective is to investigate the discriminatory value of the EDWIN in detecting crowding, as compared with the occupancy rate and prolonged ED-LOS. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all ED visits during the period from September 2010 to August 2011 was performed in one hospital in the Netherlands. The EDWIN incorporates the number of patients per triage level, physicians, treatment beds and admitted patients to quantify ED crowding. The EDWIN was adjusted to emergency care in the Netherlands: modified EDWIN (mEDWIN). ED crowding was defined as the 75th percentile of mEDWIN per hour, which was ≥0.28. Results In total, 28,220 ED visits were included in the analysis. The median mEDWIN per hour was 0.15 (Interquartile range (IQR) 0.05–0.28); median mEDWIN per patient was 0.25 (IQR 0.15–0.39). The EDWIN was higher on Wednesday (0.16) than on other days (0.14–0.16, p<0.001), and a peak in both mEDWIN (0.30–0.33) and ED crowding (52.9–63.4%) was found between 13:00–18:00 h. A comparison of the mEDWIN with the occupancy rate revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 (95%CI 0.85–0.87). The AUC of mEDWIN compared with a prolonged ED-LOS (≥4 hours) was 0.50 (95%CI 0.40–0.60). Conclusion The mEDWIN was applicable at a Dutch ED. The mEDWIN was able to identify fluctuations in ED occupancy. In addition, the mEDWIN had high discriminatory power for identification of a busy

Background Perinatal mortality and morbidity in the Netherlands is relatively high compared to other European countries. Our country has a unique system with an independent primary care providing care to low-risk pregnancies and a secondary/tertiary care responsible for high-risk pregnancies. About 65% of pregnant women in the Netherlands will be referred from primary to secondary care implicating multiple medical handovers. Dutch audits concluded that in the entire obstetric collaborative network process parameters could be improved. Studies have shown that obstetric team training improves perinatal outcome and that simulation-based obstetric team training implementing crew resource management (CRM) improves team performance. In addition, deliberate practice (DP) improves medical skills. The aim of this study is to analyse whether transmural multiprofessional simulation-based obstetric team training improves perinatal outcome. Methods/Design The study will be implemented in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands with an annual delivery rate of over 9,000. In this area secondary care is provided by four hospitals. Each hospital with referring primary care practices will form a cluster (study group). Within each cluster, teams will be formed of different care providers representing the obstetric collaborative network. CRM and elements of DP will be implemented in the training. To analyse the quality of care as perceived by patients, the Pregnancy and Childbirth Questionnaire (PCQ) will be used. Furthermore, self-reported collaboration between care providers will be assessed. Team performance will be measured by the Clinical Teamwork Scale (CTS). We employ a stepped-wedge trial design with a sequential roll-out of the trainings for the different study groups. Primary outcome will be perinatal mortality and/or admission to a NICU. Secondary outcome will be team performance, quality of care as perceived by patients, and collaboration among care provid