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Background Obstetrical hemorrhage is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, yet is inconsistently defined. In 2014, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reVITALize program redefined postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) as greater than 1,000 mL blood loss regardless of the mode of delivery (MOD). Objective We sought to assess the reVITALize definition's validity by understanding whether the definition of PPH should, as proposed by ACOG, be one value regardless of MOD. Study Design This is a retrospective study of all women who delivered at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from October 15, 2013 through December 15, 2013. Results A total of 592 of the 626 (95%) women were included. The average reported estimated blood loss (EBL) for vaginal delivery (VD) was significantly lower than for cesarean delivery (CD) ([350 ±170 mL) and [880 ± 360 mL]; p < 0.001). The average hemoglobin (Hb) drop was only slightly lower for VD compared with CD ([1.4 ± 1.0 g/ dL {11.5% drop}] and [1.9 ± 1.2 g/dL {16.2% drop}], respectively, p < 0.001). The association between EBL and observed Hb drop differed in accuracy by MOD. Conclusion Likely based on historic perceptions, obstetric providers estimate blood loss forVD as less than half that of CD. However, using objective measures, blood loss is more similar than perceived between VD and CD, supporting the ACOG reVITALize single definition of PPH regardless of MOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Standardized oxytocin protocols have been used to improve the safety and quality of obstetric care. We examined rates of chorioamnionitis and labor dystocia requiring cesarean delivery as unintended consequences of the implementation of a low-dose, checklist-based oxytocin protocol. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of live singleton deliveries that underwent a trial of labor in two 15-month periods, comparing outcomes in those who delivered before to after protocol implementation. Patients and outcomes were identified using a combination of electronic medical records and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Time trend analysis was performed to evaluate for secular trends. Results A total of 8,717 women were included; 5,077 received oxytocin. Despite an unchanged rate of cesarean deliveries from before to after initiation of the protocol (15.15 vs. 14.75%, p ¼ 0.60), deliveries after protocol implementation were generally characterized by higher rates of chorioamnionitis (7.48 vs. 5.97%, p < 0.001), longer median time from admission to delivery (524 vs. 462 minutes, p < 0.001), more cesarean deliveries performed for labor dystocia (50.62 vs. 40.92%, p < 0.001), and fewer cesarean deliveries performed for fetal distress (32.52 vs. 38.67%, p ¼ 0.02). Conclusion Low-dose oxytocin protocols are intended to increase safety, but theymay have unintended consequences related to prolonged labor, and should be studied before widespread use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine predictors and pregnancy outcomes associated with antepartum discharge against medical advice (AMA D/C). Retrospective cohort study of state-level maternal and infant hospital discharge data linked to vital statistics data for antepartum admissions in California from 1995 to 2005. (N = 203,250). After adjusting for comorbid conditions, the odds of AMA D/C for Black women were twice that of white women (OR = 2.00, 95 % CI 1.70-2.35). Publicly insured women had 3.5 times the odds of AMA D/C compared to privately insured women (OR = 3.54, 95 % CI 3.02-4.15). AMA D/C was also higher among substance abusers and women with mental illness (OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.43-2.67 and OR = 4.45, 95 % CI 3.81-5.21 respectively). Most notably, AMA D/C tripled the odds of fetal death in patients admitted for pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR = 3.08, 95 % CI 1.36-6.98) and increased the odds of neonatal morbidity (respiratory distress syndrome OR = 1.35, 95 % CI 1.07-1.70 and small-for-gestational-age OR = 1.47, 95 % CI 1.15-1.89) in patients admitted with preterm premature rupture of membranes. Vulnerable populations and patients with comorbid medical and mental illnesses are at increased risk for AMA D/C and its associated adverse pregnancy outcomes. Targeted interventions and resources to support at-risk populations are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Obesity is a demonstrated barrier to obtaining health care. Its impact on obtaining prenatal care (PNC) is unknown. Our objective was to determine if obesity is an independent barrier to accessing early and adequate PNC. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of women who initiated PNC and delivered at our institution in 2005. Body mass index (BMI) was categorized by World Health Organization guidelines: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Maternal history and delivery information were obtained through chart abstraction. Differences in gestational age at first visit (GA-1) and adequate PNC were evaluated by BMI category. Data were compared using X2 and nonparametric analyses. Results Overall, 410 women were evaluated. The median GA-1 was 11.1 weeks and 69% had adequate PNC. There was no difference in GA-1 or adequate PNC by BMI category (p = 0.17 and p = 0.66, respectively). When BMI groups were dichotomized into obese and nonobese women, there was no difference in GA-1 or adequate PNC (p =0.41). Conclusion In our population, obesity is not an independent barrier to receiving early and adequate PNC. Future work is warranted in evaluating the association between obesity and PNC and the perceived barriers to obtaining care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To understand the effect of unintentional injuries (e.g., drug overdose), suicide, and homicide on pregnancy-associated death (death during or within 1 year of pregnancy). Methods. We analyzed all cases of pregnancy-associated death among Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, residents from 2010 to 2014, examining cause of death, contributing factors, and history of health care use. Results. Approximately half (49%; 42 of 85) of pregnancy-associated deaths were from unintentional injuries (n = 31), homicide (n = 8), or suicide (n = 3); drug overdose was the leading cause (n = 18). Substance use was noted during or around events leading to death in 46% (31 of 67) of nonoverdose deaths. A history of serious mental illness was noted in 39% (32 of 82) of nonsuicide deaths. History of intimate partner violence (IPV) was documented in 19% (15 of 77) of nonhomicide deaths. Regardless of cause of death, approximately half of all decedents had an unscheduled hospital visit documented within a month of death. Conclusions. Unintentional injury, homicide, andsuicide contribute tomanydeaths among pregnant and recently pregnant women. Interventions focused on substance use, mental health, and IPVmay reduce pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the second stage of labor, it is plausible that the pressure of the fetal head against a completely dilated cervix may lead to changes in the cervical integrity and cervical strength lending it susceptible to premature dilation in a subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, a prolonged second stage of labor has been hypothesized to be a risk factor for cervical insufficiency and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).Objective: We sought to evaluate the effect that the length of second stage of labor in one pregnancy has on the risk of sPTB in a subsequent pregnancy.Study Design: This was a planned secondary analysis of a large retrospective cohort study of women with 2 consecutive deliveries at our institution from 2005 through 2010. Women with a term pregnancy that reached the second stage were included; women with a prior sPTB were excluded. The primary outcome was sPTB <37 weeks. A prolonged second stage was defined as ≥3 hours. Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical data. Linear and logistic regression was used to calculate odds.Results: In all, 757 women were included. The overall length of the second stage ranged from 0-7.3 hours. The sPTB rate in a subsequent pregnancy was 8.7%. There was no association between length of second stage (hours) as a continuous variable and sPTB after adjusting for confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 0.83; [95% CI 0.58-1.20]). A prolonged second stage ≥3 hours occurred in 48 (6.3%) women. Women with a second stage ≥3 hours were older, less likely to be African American, and were less likely to be overweight or obese as compared to women with a second stage <3 hours. The women with second stage ≥3 hours were more likely to be nulliparous and have a larger neonate. The sPTB risk was not different between a second stage ≥3 hours (10.4%) and <3 hours (7.9%), P = .5. The sPTB risk was, however, modified by mode of delivery in the second stage. There was no difference in sPTB rate among women with a vaginal delivery when comparing those with and without a prolonged second stage (7.4 vs 7.8%, P = .9). There also was no difference among women with a cesarean when comparing those with and without a prolonged second stage (11.8 vs 14.3%, P = .8). While not statistically significant, the absolute risk of a subsequent sPTB after a cesarean delivery with a second stage ≥3 hours is twice as high as the risk of a sPTB after a vaginal delivery with a second stage ≥3 hours (adjusted odds ratio, 2.08; [0.32-13.78]).Conclusion: A prolonged second stage of labor alone does not increase the risk of sPTB in a subsequent pregnancy. Cesarean delivery after a prolonged second stage of labor may confer a possible increased risk. It is important to continue to evaluate potential risk factors for sPTB. If these risk factors are confirmed in future studies, it will aid in the counseling of women and may open the door for therapeutic strategies to be studied among these newly identified at-risk women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Affordable Care Act is triggering an increase in hospital consolidation and mergers. How other hospitals respond to these disruptions in supply could influence patient outcomes. We examined the experience of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (coterminous with the city of Philadelphia), where thirteen of nineteen hospital obstetric units closed between 1997 and 2012. Between October 2011 and January 2012 we interviewed twenty-three key informants from eleven hospitals (six urban and five suburban) whose obstetric units remained open, to understand how the large number of closures affected their operations. Informants reported having confronted numerous challenges as a result of the obstetric unit closures, including sharp surges in delivery volume and an increase in the proportion of patients with public insurance or no insurance. Informants reported adopting a number of strategies, such as innovative staffing models, to cope with the added demand brought about by the closure of nearby obstetric units. Informants emphasized that interhospital communication could mitigate closures' stresses on the health care system. Our study supports the need for policy makers to anticipate reductions in supply and monitor patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Financial Disclosure Sindhu K. Srinivas reports that money was paid to them for expert witness work. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.

Background: The goal of regionalized perinatal care, specifically levels of maternal care, is to improve maternal outcomes through risk-appropriate obstetric care. Studies of levels of maternal care are limited by current approaches to identify a hospital's level of care, often relying on hospital self-reported data, which is expensive and challenging to collect and validate. The study objective was to develop an empiric approach to determine a hospital's level of maternal care using administrative data reflective of the patient care provided and apply this approach to describe the levels of maternal care available over time., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of mother-infant dyads who delivered in California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania hospitals from 2000 to 2009. Linked mother-infant administrative records with an infant born at 24-44 weeks' gestation and a birth weight of 400-8000 g were included. Using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine descriptions of levels of maternal care, four levels were classified based on the appropriate location of care for patients with specific medical or pregnancy conditions. Individual hospitals were assigned a level of maternal care annually based on the volume of patients who delivered reflective of the four classified levels as determined by International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology., Results: Based on the included 6,895,000 mother-infant dyads, the obstetric hospital levels of maternal care I, II, III and IV were identified. High-risk patients more frequently delivered in hospitals with higher level maternal care, accounting for 8.9, 10.9, 13.8, and 16.9% of deliveries in level I, II, III and IV hospitals, respectively. The total number of obstetric hospitals decreased over the study period, while the proportion of hospitals with high-level (level III or IV) maternal care increased. High-level hospitals were located in more densely populated areas., Conclusion: Identification of the level of maternal care, independent of hospital self-reported variables, is feasible using administrative data. This empiric approach, which accounts for changes in hospitals over time, is a valuable framework for perinatal researchers and other stakeholders to inexpensively identify measurable benefits of levels of maternal care and characterize where specific patient populations receive care.

Objective: This article evaluates the differences in adverse maternal outcomes related to severe preeclampsia in obese versus nonobese women., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study and planned secondary analysis of women with severe preeclampsia comparing a composite adverse maternal outcome related to preeclampsia among obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) and nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m 2 ) women. The composite outcome was defined as ≥ 1 of the following prior to discharge: renal failure, liver abnormality, thrombocytopenia, blood transfusion, pulmonary edema, disseminated intravascular coagulation, stroke, or eclampsia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounders., Results: Of the 152 women included, 37.5% were obese and 62.5% were nonobese. The prevalence of the primary outcome was 15.8% with obese women less likely to have the composite outcome compared with nonobese women (7% vs. 21.1%, p  = 0.02). This remained after adjusting for confounders including maternal age, race, and chronic hypertension (adjusted odds ratio, 0.33 [0.12-0.89], p  = 0.03). Obese women were, however, more likely to require intravenous antihypertensive medication peripartum compared with nonobese women (49.1% vs. 28.4%, p  = 0.01)., Conclusion: Obese women with severe preeclampsia may have a different phenotype of severe preeclampsia that is more associated with severe hypertension rather than end-organ damage., Competing Interests: None., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Background & Aims: There is limited knowledge about hepatitis B virus (HBV) flare among pregnant women. We evaluated the incidence, determinants and outcomes of HBV flare in a multicultural cohort of pregnant HBV-infected women in the United States., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of pregnant hepatitis B surface antigen-positive women cared for at hospital-based clinics of 4 medical centres in Southeastern Pennsylvania from 2006 to 2015. The main outcome was incident HBV flare (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] ≥2 times upper limit of normal) during pregnancy or within 6 months after delivery. Among patients with flare, we determined development of jaundice (total bilirubin ≥2.5 mg/dL) and hepatic decompensation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of HBV flare for risk factors of interest, including timing of flare (during pregnancy versus post-delivery), nulliparity, younger age, HBV e antigen (HBeAg) status, and lack of anti-HBV therapy., Results: Among 310 pregnant predominantly African HBV-infected women with 388 pregnancies, the incidence of HBV flare was 14% (95% CI, 10-18%) during pregnancy and 16% (95% CI, 11-24%) post-delivery. Jaundice developed in 12% and hepatic decompensation in 2%. Positive HBeAg was associated with HBV flare (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.04-6.20). HBV DNA was measured in 55% of patients, and only 50% were referred for HBV specialty care., Conclusions: Pregnancy-associated hepatitis B flare occurred in 14% during pregnancy and 16% post-delivery and rarely led to hepatic decompensation. Positive HBeAg was the main risk factor identified. Women did not have adequate HBV monitoring or follow-up during pregnancy., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To improve staff perception of the quality of the patient admission process from obstetric triage to the labor and delivery unit through standardization., Design: Preassessment and postassessment online surveys., Setting: A 13-bed labor and delivery unit in a quaternary care, Magnet Recognition Program, academic medical center in Pennsylvania., Participants: Preintervention (n = 100), postintervention (n = 52), and 6-month follow-up survey respondents (n = 75) represented secretaries, registered nurses, surgical technicians, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, maternal-fetal medicine fellows, anesthesiologists, and obstetric and family medicine attending and resident physicians from triage and labor and delivery units., Methods: We educated staff and implemented interventions, an admission huddle and safety time-out whiteboard, to standardize the admission process. Participants were evaluated with the use of preintervention, postintervention, and 6-month follow-up surveys about their perceptions regarding the admission process. Data tracked through the electronic medical record were used to determine compliance with the admission huddle and whiteboards., Results: A 77% reduction (decrease of 49%) occurred in the perception of incomplete patient admission processes from baseline to 6-month follow-up after the intervention. Postintervention and 6-month follow-up survey results indicated that 100% of respondents responded strongly agree/agree/neutral that the new admission process improved communication surrounding care for patients. Data in the electronic medical record indicated that compliance with use of admission huddles and whiteboards increased from 50% to 80% by 6 months., Conclusion: The new patient admission process, including a huddle and safety time-out board, improved staff perception of the quality of admission from obstetric triage to the labor and delivery unit., (Copyright © 2018 AWHONN, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective:  The National Partnership for Maternal Safety released a postpartum hemorrhage bundle in 2015 recommending quantification of blood loss (QBL) for all deliveries. We sought to determine whether QBL more accurately predicts hemoglobin (Hb) drop than visually estimated blood loss (EBL)., Study Design:  This is a prospective observational study. Preintervention data (PRE) were collected on all deliveries between October 15, 2013 and December 15, 2013. Deliveries were included if EBL, admission Hb, and 12-hour postpartum Hb (12hrCBC) were available. QBL was implemented in July 2015. Postintervention data (POST) were collected between October 20, 2015 and December 20, 2015. A total of 500 mL EBL was predicted to result in 1 g/dL Hb drop at 12hrCBC. Student's t -test was used to compare the means., Results:  A total of 592 of 626 (95%) PRE and 583 of 613 (95%) POST deliveries were included. Overall, 278 (48%) POST deliveries had QBL recorded. In both PRE and POST, actual Hb drop differed from predicted by 0.6 g/dL in both groups of deliveries. When evaluating deliveries with EBL > 1,000 mL, QBL in POST was slightly better at predicting Hb drop versus EBL in PRE, although not statistically significant (0.2 vs. 0.5 g/dL, p  = 0.17)., Conclusion:  In all deliveries, QBL does not predict Hb drop more accurately than EBL. The decision to perform QBL needs to balance accuracy with a resource intense measurement process., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Objective: Maternal morbidity is increasing in the United States. Our objectives were to examine whether a labor and delivery (L&D) provider model with regular maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) coverage decreases the rates of maternal morbidity during delivery hospitalizations and has an impact on obstetrician-gynecologist residents' perceptions of safety and education., Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study to compare the rates of maternal morbidity before and after the implementation of an MFM-centered coverage model on L&D. Outcomes were identified using International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, codes. The primary outcome was a composite of severe maternal morbidity. Additionally, obstetrician-gynecologist residents completed an anonymous survey asking them to compare coverage models, and their Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology examination scores were compared., Results: Data from 4715 deliveries were included. There were no differences in composite morbidity or individual adverse outcomes. Most residents (81.3%) preferred the new provider model, with median 5-point Likert scores indicating perceived increases in safety and education. Mean Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology scores improved in the 18 residents exposed to both models., Conclusion: Although the MFM-centered provider model appears to have had a positive impact on residents' perceptions of safety and education, it was not associated with significant changes in severe maternal morbidity., (Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Using a population-based cohort, we examined hospital-level variation overall and by teaching status in 2 maternal outcomes, postpartum infections, and thrombosis., Study Design: Linked birth certificate and hospital admission records for mother and infant were collected on all deliveries in Pennsylvania and California from 2004 through 2005. A risk adjustment model was created using maternal and fetal comorbidities identified by International Classification of Diseases-9 codes. Hospitals were classified as teaching (TH) or nonteaching hospitals (NTH) based on the presence of obstetrics and gynecology residents. Rates of infections and thrombosis were evaluated overall and by hospital teaching status., Results: A total of 939,871 patients were evaluated from 402 hospitals (369 NTH and 33 TH). The unadjusted infection and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) rates were higher in TH vs NTH (infection: 2.04% vs 1.07%, P < .001; VTE: 1.04% vs 0.08%, P < .001). There was variation in the rates of these complications across hospitals, with the adjusted observed/expected ratio rates for infection and thrombosis for each hospital, ranging from 0-5.2 and 0-8.6, respectively., Conclusion: There is substantial variation in infection and thrombosis rates among hospitals both overall and by teaching status, suggesting that these 2 outcomes may be useful measures of inpatient obstetric quality., (Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Racial/ethnic minorities report preferences for resuscitative care at the end of life. The main objective of this study was to determine if there are racial/ethnic differences in use of intubation for periviable neonates. We hypothesized that infants born to black and Hispanic women are more likely to be resuscitated compared with infants born to white women., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of state-level maternal and infant hospital discharge data of women who delivered between 23.0 and 24.6 weeks' gestation linked to birth and death certificate data for California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2005 (N = 9632)., Results: Overall, 78.9% of the population was aged 18 to 35 years, and almost half were nulliparous; 19.4% of the women were black, 36.6% were Hispanic, and 33.4% were white. Approximately 30% had less than a high school education, and 49.2% were federally insured. Overall, 44.7% of periviable neonates were intubated. In multivariable analyses adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, black and Hispanic race/ethnicity was significantly associated with neonatal intubation (odds ratios [ORs]: 1.14 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.29] and 1.22 [95% CI: 1.10-1.36], respectively). In models controlling for clustering at the level of the delivery hospital, black race remained a predictor of neonatal intubation (OR: 1.25 [95% CI: 1.07-1.46]), but differences among Hispanics dissipated (OR: 1.12 [95% CI: 0.98-1.27])., Conclusions: Racial/ethnic differences exist in patterns of periviable resuscitation, which may reflect underlying differences in patient preference. Alternatively, institutional practices or resources may account for these differences. These findings have important implications for patient care and institutional practice. Our results lay the foundation for additional work to investigate how social, cultural, and institutional factors influence patient-provider decision-making regarding periviable care.

Objective: Individuals with a systemic right ventricle develop cardiac complications earlier in life. Limited data exists regarding the effect of a maternal systemic right ventricle on cardiac events during pregnancy. We sought to assess the effect of a systemic right ventricle on cardiac events and pregnancy outcomes., Design: The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with maternal congenital heart disease., Setting: The study was set in a university, academic tertiary care referral center., Patients: Study subjects were identified by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-9 codes. Women with mitral valve prolapse only or noncongenital cardiac disease were excluded. The exposure was defined by systemic ventricle., Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was a composite of congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, stroke, cardiac arrest/death during pregnancy or postpartum (CARDCOMP). The secondary outcome (PREGCOMP) was a composite of preterm delivery, preeclampsia, growth restriction, and stillbirth/pregnancy loss (PREGCOMP). Student's t-test or chi-square/Fisher's exact tests were used for comparison of continuous/categorical variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for possible confounders., Results: One hundred forty-six pregnancies in 114 women were included; 15 (10.3%) pregnancies involved a systemic right ventricle. CARDCOMP complicated 12.3% of these pregnancies. Women with a systemic right ventricle were more likely to develop CARDCOMP even after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio [OR] 6.32 [1.7-23.5], P= .006). PREGCOMP complicated 40.4% of all pregnancies. Women with a systemic right ventricle were also more likely to develop PREGCOMP (OR 5.37 [1.4-20.7], P= .015) compared with women with a systemic left ventricle after controlling for confounders., Conclusion:   In women with congenital heart disease, a systemic right ventricle is associated with adverse cardiac and pregnancy outcomes. This information is critical for counseling and caring for these women. Further investigation is warranted regarding the effect of pregnancy on long-term health for this unique cohort of women., (© 2011 Copyright the Authors. Congenital Heart Disease © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: To validate the risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rate as a measure of obstetric quality through its association with maternal and neonatal outcomes for all pregnancies (model 1) and in primiparous patients with singleton pregnancies (model 2)., Methods: We constructed a population-based cohort of 845,651 patients from 401 hospitals representing all deliveries in California and Pennsylvania between 2004 and 2005. We used linked birth certificate and hospital admission records for mother and neonate to estimate the correlation between risk-adjusted cesarean delivery and a composite of adverse maternal outcomes, adverse neonatal outcomes, and four obstetric patient safety indicators from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)., Results: In both models, risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rates were negatively correlated with both the maternal and neonatal composite outcomes and the AHRQ patient safety indicators for birth trauma, injury with instrumented vaginal delivery, and cesarean delivery. Approximately 60% of the 107 hospitals with lower-than-expected risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rates had higher-than-expected rates of at least one of the six adverse outcomes, compared with 19.6% of the hospitals with higher-than-expected risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rates and 36.1% of the hospitals with expected rates (P<.001)., Conclusion: Lower-than-expected risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rates in all patients or when restricted to a more homogeneous group of primiparous patients with term singleton pregnancies are associated with higher-than-expected adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes. Higher-than-expected risk-adjusted cesarean delivery rates do not result in improved outcomes.

Objective: Several published formulas exist for the determination of estimated fetal weight (EFW), with limited data on their comparative accuracies. The aims of our study were to assess and compare the performance of different EFW formulas in predicting actual birth weight (BW) in an urban population., Methods: Patients with an EFW determined within 7 days of delivery were considered eligible for the study. Fourteen published formulas, derived from populations comparable to ours, were used to recalculate EFWs from the same initial measurements. The accuracy of the EFWs obtained from the different formulas were compared by percentage error methods using bias and precision and Bland-Altman limits of agreement methods. Sensitivity and specificity for prediction of being small for gestational age (SGA) were calculated., Results: Eighty-one fetuses were included in the study. Formula C of Hadlock et al [Hadlock C; log(10) BW = 1.335 - 0.0034(abdominal circumference [AC])(femur length [FL]) + 0.0316(biparietal diameter) + 0.0457(AC) + 0.1623(FL); Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985; 151:333-337] had the best performance according to the bias and precision method. Bland-Altman limits of agreement confirmed these results. Among the formulas, the sensitivity for detection of SGA ranged from 72% to 100%, and specificity was 41% to 88%. Hadlock C had the optimal sensitivity/specificity trade-off for detection of SGA., Conclusions: Fourteen formulas showed considerable variation of bias and precision in our population as well as a wide range of sensitivities and specificities for SGA. The choice of the appropriate formula for EFW in a given population should be based on objective and explicit criteria. Consideration of bias and precision for the formula in the population being assessed is critical and may affect clinical care.

Purpose: We determined the risk of irritable bowel syndrome and depression in women with interstitial cystitis., Materials and Methods: Cases consisted of 46 women with newly diagnosed interstitial cystitis. The control group consisted of 46 women presenting for an annual gynecologic examination. Data were collected using standardized, validated questionnaires., Results: The 2 groups were similar with respect to age, race, parity, previous pelvic surgery and postmenopausal hormone use. Compared with controls patients with interstitial cystitis were more likely to be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (OR 11, 95% CI 2.7 to 52, p <0.001) and depression (OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.17 to 14.1, p <0.05). In the interstitial cystitis group when we compared women with and without depression, we noted that women with depression were significantly more likely to complain of bladder pain, nocturia, abdominal pain and other bowel symptoms., Conclusions: The association of irritable bowel syndrome and depression appears to be greater in women with interstitial cystitis than in controls. Additionally, it appears that pain of bladder or bowel origin is a significant cause of depression in women with interstitial cystitis.