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A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of second-trimester, emergency cervical cerclage in patients with no history of cervical incompetence. Thirty-two women with singleton pregnancies were studied. All had undergone emergency cervical McDonald cerclage at 17 to 25 weeks' gestation because of cervical dilation and effacement. The procedure was carried out after a rest period of 6 or more hours, during which none of the patients demonstrated uterine activity. The mean procedure-to-delivery interval was 6.9 +/- 5.6 (median 5.5, range 0.2 to 18) weeks. Thirteen pregnancies (41%) terminated before 24 weeks. The mean gestational age at delivery was 28.5 +/- 5.8 weeks for the entire group, and 32.3 +/- 4.4 (range 25 to 38) weeks for the 19 who achieved viability. The mean birthweight of the live infants was 1935 +/- 958 g (median 1670, range 905 to 3710 g). Four infants died during the neonatal period. The total survival rate was 47%, and the survival rate corrected for major anomalies was 48.4%. The perinatal mortality rate was significantly higher among patients with membranes protruding through the-cervix on admission, compared to those without (75% vs 17%; p = .003). We concluded that emergency midtrimester cervical cerclage among patients with no prior evidence of cervical incompetence is associated with an approximately 50% survival rate. Membranes protruding through the dilated cervix are a poor prognostic factor for survival in these cases.

Sonographic evaluation of the fetal spine in a second-trimester, low-risk patient revealed segmentary, low thoracic vertebral abnormalities, including hemi- and butterfly vertebrae, resulting in severe fetal scoliosis with fetal paraplegia and bilateral club-feet. X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging studies of the abortus confirmed the prenatal vertebral findings in addition to rib defects and transection of the spinal cord. We believe that these findings which, to the best of our knowledge, have not been previously reported, represent a new variant of occult spinal dysraphism.

A case of severe fetal congestive heart failure due to occlusion of the ductus arteriosus in a mother treated with indomethacin for polyhydramnios and premature contractions is described. Closure of the fetal foramen ovale that escaped detection by prenatal echocardiography was later demonstrated at neonatal autopsy. This case suggests that indomethacin treatment in a ductus-dependent fetus may be hazardous. Therefore, careful surveillance of the fetus exposed to indomethacin in utero is warranted.

Congenital upper airway obstruction presents a life-threatening situation when encountered in the delivery room. We present a case in which in utero diagnosis of this malformation was suspected, but unfortunately the neonate did not survive due to the inability to provide adequate ventilation. The prenatal sonographic features of this rare malformation are outlined, and the literature reviewed.

Objective: To assess the use of transvaginal ultrasound guidance during operative laparoscopy., Study Design: Five of 98 consecutive cases of operative laparoscopy for benign-appearing ovarian cysts were complicated by extensive intrapelvic adhesions and a distorted anatomy. Following prolonged dissection, simultaneous transvaginal ultrasonography was used in these cases., Results: In all cases we were able to ultrasonographically image and locate the ovarian cyst during the laparoscopic procedure. In four cases this was a significant aid in expediting the procedure and avoiding damage to adjacent pelvic structures. In one case, identification of the ovarian cyst facilitated the decision to resort to laparotomy., Conclusion: In selected cases, laparoscopic surgeons should be aware of the feasibility and possible benefits of the use of simultaneous intraoperative transvaginal ultrasonography.

Objective: To assess the importance of amniotic fluid leakage in the early period ( < 14 days) after the fetal reduction procedure., Design: Prospective clinical study., Setting: Pregnant women who underwent fetal reduction to twins in an academic, tertiary perinatal department., Patients: Sixty triplet and 31 quadruplet pregnancies were identified before the ninth postmenstrual week of gestation. All patients underwent transabdominal multifetal pregnancy reduction was performed within 14 days of the procedure., Interventions: Transabdominal multifetal pregnancy reduction from triplets and quadruplets to twins., Main Outcome Measure: Amniotic fluid leakage in the early period after fetal reduction., Results: Early PROM occurred in eight (13.3%) patients from the triplets group and in six (19.3%) patients in the quadruplet group. Three of 60 (5.0%) patients from the triplet group and 1 of 31 (3.2%) patients from the quadruplet group miscarried before 24 weeks gestation. However, none of these patients had had PROM during the early period after the procedure. Early PROM did not influence the incidence of premature contractions of delivery and the reduction procedure, and 59% (99/169) of those who completed 24 gestational weeks delivered between 25 and 37 weeks., Conclusion: The presence of amniotic fluid leakage in the period close to the multifetal reduction procedure, although alarming, is not ominous for the remaining fetuses. We see no reason for any intervention in these patients.

A randomized protocol was used to study the effect of intraumbilical prostaglandin F2 alpha (Hembate, Upjohn) and oxytocin injection in women with retained placenta. Prostaglandin F2 alpha, 20 mg, diluted to 20 ml in normal saline solution (10 women, group 1), 30 IU of oxytocin, diluted to 20 ml in normal saline solution (11 women, group 2), or 20 ml of normal saline solution alone (7 women, group 3), were injected into the umbilical vein 1 h after delivery. Nine women (group 4, controls) underwent manual removal of the retained placenta. In group 1, placental expulsion occurred in all patients and the duration of the placental expulsion after prostaglandin F2 alpha injection was 6.8 +/- 1.36 (mean +/- SE) min: in group 2, six placental expulsions occurred after 13.3 +/- 1.97 min (mean +/- SE); and in group 3, no effect was recorded after intraumbilical saline injection. We suggest that intraumbilical vein injection of prostaglandin F2 alpha might be a beneficial, non-surgical method for treating retained placenta. Oxytocin might reduce the incidence of manual lysis of the placenta and achieve partial success.

The death of one fetus in a twin pregnancy can affect both the mother and the cotwin. Thirty women with twin pregnancies in whom the death of one fetus was diagnosed during the second half of pregnancy and a matched group of 30 women with uncomplicated twin pregnancies were investigated. The mean gestational age at delivery for the study and control groups was 32.0 +/- 5.0 (mean +/- SD) weeks and 32.8 +/- 3.9, respectively. Twelve pregnancies (40%) were monochorionic. In 15 (50%) the diagnosis was made during active labor. The cesarean delivery rate was higher in the study group than in the control group (18 vs. 11, chi 2 = 5.43, P < .02). The mean neonatal weight was similar in both groups (1,586 +/- 725 g vs. 1,543 +/- 691 g). The subgroup of neonates (n = 15) whose cotwins were diagnosed as dead during labor had higher birth weight as compared to the neonates (n = 15) in whom the diagnosis was made prior to delivery and were managed expectantly (1,829 +/- 859 vs. 1,346 +/- 474 g, P < .01). The week of delivery was similar in both subgroups. Neonatal mortality was 30% and 26.6%, while neonatal morbidity was 26.6% and 21.7%, respectively (NS). All the cases of neonatal mortality were in the subgroup of twins in which the diagnosis of in utero death was made before 32 weeks' gestation. The death of one fetus from a twin pregnancy did not significantly jeopardize maternal health, and the neonatal outcome in the remaining twins was primarily a function of gestational age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A retrospective study of a series of pregnant patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer was conducted to assess the outcome after ovarian stimulation by different protocols. Forty-one pregnancies were evaluated in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome who conceived during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer using human menopausal gonadotropin alone (17 pregnancies), or combined with gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (24 pregnancies). The demographic data of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles and pregnancy outcome were compared with the use of Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. Among the pregnancies that were initiated following treatment, the protocol of the combination of the two was not associated with a higher rate of deliveries. The rate of first-trimester abortions was not statistically different between the two groups. These results suggest that the combined use of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and human menopausal gonadotropin in an in vitro fertilization program may not have beneficial effects on pregnancy outcome in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the endometrial blood flow response to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in women with premature ovarian failure who plan to enter an oocyte donation program., Design: Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed in women with ovarian failure before and during a cycle of standard HRT and in those with normal menstrual cycles. Blood flow response was assessed by visualization of arterial wave forms in the endometrial region. The transvaginal color flow mapping system was used. Resistance indexes were calculated for analysis and correlated with plasma E2 and P concentrations., Patients: Eighteen women with ovarian failure (study group), and 12 volunteers with normal ovarian cycles (control group)., Results: Data for resistance indexes were divided into five phases according to the day of hormonal cycle: 0, pretreatment phase; I, early follicular phase (days 5 to 7); II, late follicular phase (days 11 to 13); III, early luteal phase (days 17 to 21); and IV, late luteal phase (days 23 to 25). All women with ovarian failure demonstrated continuous forward end-diastolic flow velocities at phase I, whereas none showed this pattern during the pretreatment period (phase 0). Women with ovarian failure in the early follicular phase had a significantly higher resistance index (0.85 +/- 0.1; mean +/- SD) than that in the late follicular phase (0.57 +/- 0.1), and the resistance index in the early luteal phase (0.67 +/- 0.1) was significantly higher than that of the late follicular phase. There was no difference in the resistance index between early and late luteal phases. A similar pattern of lower resistance index around midcycle was observed in the control group. However, a comparison of the resistance indexes between ovarian failure and control patients revealed a significant difference between values in the early follicular phase only (0.85 +/- 0.1 versus 0.68 +/- 0.1). In the late follicular phase and during the entire luteal phase, the mean resistance index did not differ between the study and control groups., Conclusions: The observed data suggest that standard HRT in women with premature ovarian failure enables restoration of endometrial blood flow to normal. This may imply uterine receptivity for oocyte donation.

In this prospective study we compared transvaginal duplex Doppler ultrasound with two-dimensional imaging for the diagnosis or exclusion of ectopic pregnancies. The study group comprised 76 stable patients with serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels > 100 mIU/ml in whom ectopic pregnancy was clinically suspected. Ectopic pregnancies were verified in 42 patients (60%), intrauterine pregnancies (normal and abnormal) in 19 (27%), and possible complete abortions, either intrauterine or extrauterine, in 9 patients (13%). Based on 2-D imaging alone, the appearance of an adnexal mass separated from the ovaries, and a lack of clear intrauterine gestational sac indicated ectopic pregnancy with a sensitivity of 95%. Intrauterine sac-like structures and absence of adnexal masses excluded ectopic pregnancies with a specificity of 89%. High velocity systolic flow, and low impedance diastolic flow which characterizes trophoblastic tissue when detected outside the uterus, had a sensitivity of 48%, while the presence of trophoblastic signals in the uterus or their absence outside the uterus excluded ectopic pregnancies with a specificity of 89%. The positive predictive values were 91% for Doppler and 95% for 2-D imaging, while the negative predictive values were 89% for imaging alone and 44% for Doppler. These data suggest that transvaginal Doppler ultrasound has significant lower sensitivity and negative predictive value and does not provide more useful diagnostic information than 2-D imaging alone for stable patients with suspected ectopic pregnancies.

Purpose: This collaborative work was undertaken to assess perinatal outcome of in vivo conceived triplets to those following in vitro fertilization and assisted reproductive technologies (ART)., Methods: 151 triplets were examined; 56 delivered following ART, 55 following ovulation induction by gonadotropins (GN), 27 following clomiphene citrate (CC), and 13 conceived spontaneously., Results: Mean gestational length of triplets following ART (33.2 wks) was not different from those conceived following GN (33.4 wks) or CC (34.2 wks), but was significantly shorter compared to triplets following spontaneous conception (35.3 wks). Mean fetal birthweight following ART (1743 g) did not differ significantly from that following GN (1683 g) or CC (1863 g) but was significantly lower compared to those delivered after spontaneous conception (1963 g). Although no difference was found in the incidence of low birthweight infants between the groups studied, the incidence of very low birthweight newborns (<1500 g) following ART or GN was significantly higher than following spontaneous conceptions (30.6%, 30.3% vs 10.3%). Differences in perinatal mortality were not significantly different between the groups examined (77.9, 60.6, 111.0, 25.6/1000 for ART, GN, CC, and spontaneous conceptions respectively)., Conclusion: In conclusion, a similar perinatal outcome was shown for triplets conceived following ART and those following ovulation induction by GN, suggesting that the in vitro conditions as such were not the main contributing factor influencing the clinical outcome but rather the GN treatment. Triplets conceived spontaneously have a better outcome compared to those following ovulation induction or ART in terms of gestational length and birthweight.

Assessment of the last fetal biophysical profile score (BPS) (excluding nonstress test) prior to delivery was carried out in 35 triplet pregnancies. A normal BPS was found to be reliable in predicting nondistressed fetuses in triplets (specificity, 94.9%), while an equivocal BPS (6/8) had low sensitivity (14.3%) in predicting distressed fetuses. Two stillbirths were not detected by ultrasound prior to delivery. No correlation was found between the BPS and either neonatal morbidity or perinatal mortality. The BPS could not differentiate between distressed and nondistressed fetuses in the same pregnancy. These results suggest that an equivocal BPS has limited value in predicting fetal distress in triplet pregnancies, but a normal one could be used to predict nondistressed fetuses.

Objective: To determine whether complete failure of fertilization of oocytes in couples with mechanical infertility during the first IVF cycle indicates a poor prognosis for subsequent IVF cycles., Design: A retrospective study of 172 cycles of IVF in 50 couples with mechanical infertility and complete failure of fertilization during their first IVF trial., Setting: In vitro fertilization unit of the Sheba Medical Center., Patients: Fifty couples undergoing one to eight cycles of IVF for mechanical infertility., Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization rate of retrieved oocytes and pregnancy rate., Results: Of the initial 50 couples, 44 underwent additional IVF cycles, and 43 (97.7%) achieved fertilization during the second or third cycle. Twenty-four patients conceived during the study period as a result of IVF., Conclusions: Complete failure of fertilization in couples with mechanical infertility does not necessarily persist during subsequent IVF cycles. Therefore, at least two more IVF cycles should be attempted before reverting to other therapeutic options. Complete failure of fertilization during the first cycle of IVF in couples with mechanical infertility is accompanied by a good prognosis for subsequent cycles.

Objective: Our aim was to compare the outcome of triplet pregnancies managed expectantly or by multifetal reduction to twins., Study Design: From January 1984 through January 1992, 140 triplet gestations were diagnosed before the ninth gestational week. Multifetal pregnancy reduction was performed at the patient's request in 34 women. The remaining 106 triplet pregnancies were managed expectantly. All patients were prospectively followed up and delivered in a single perinatal department., Results: Loss of the entire pregnancy before 25 gestational weeks occurred in 20.7% of the triplet pregnancies managed expectantly as compared with 8.7% in the group with reduction to twins. A successful pregnancy as defined by the discharge home of at least one infant occurred in 88.2% of the group with reduction to twins and 74.5% of the triplets managed expectantly. Fetal reduction to twins was associated with a significantly lower incidence of the following: prematurity (p < 0.001), low-birth-weight infants (p < 0.001), and very-low-birth-weight infants (p < 0.001). Pregnancy complications and neonatal morbidity and mortality were less in the group with reduction to twins., Conclusions: Multifetal pregnancy reduction of triplet pregnancies to twins resulted in improved pregnancy outcome without an excess loss of the entire pregnancy as compared with the outcome of triplet gestations managed expectantly.

Objective: To evaluate pregnancy outcome after either transabdominal or transvaginal multifetal pregnancy reduction., Design: A study of 72 consecutive multifetal pregnancy reductions., Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Israel., Patients: Seventy-two patients with multifetal pregnancies: 2 twins, 27 triplets, 26 quadruplets, 10 quintuplets, 3 sextuplets, 1 septuplet, 2 nontuplets, and one pregnancy with 12 fetuses., Intervention: Multifetal pregnancy reduction was performed at 9 to 13 weeks' gestation by either transabdominal or transvaginal potassium chloride injection., Main Outcome Measures: Early and late complications related to the procedure, outcome of pregnancy, and comparison of two periods., Results: Procedures performed between 1984 and 1989 (36 patients) were associated with a 33.3% pregnancy loss, whereas those performed between 1990 and 1992 (36 patients) were associated with no pregnancy loss. Of the 17 patients with quintuplets or more, 10 (59%) delivered live and healthy newborns. No difference was found when comparing the transabdominal and the transvaginal approaches., Conclusions: Both transvaginal and transabdominal approaches are comparable. There is a remarkable decrease in pregnancy loss with experience.

Objective: To compare the effect of fertility drugs and IVF on the outcome of triplet pregnancies., Design: Prospective clinical study., Setting: A single university medical center., Patients: One hundred six consecutive triplet pregnancies treated from 1984 through 1992., Main Outcome Measures: The frequency of pregnancy loss, livebirths, and antenatal and neonatal complications was compared in spontaneous, clomiphene citrate (CC), menotropins, and IVF triplet pregnancies., Results: Eighty-one of the 106 (76.4%) triplet pregnancies progressed beyond 25 weeks, comprising 6 of 7 (85.7%) spontaneous pregnancies, 13 of 16 (81.2%) CC induced, 44 of 56 (78.6%) menotropin induced, and 18 of 27 (66.6%) IVF gestations. There were no significant differences in the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates according to the mode of conception. The mean gestational ages and the mean birth weights were similar in the four groups. The frequency of premature contractions, premature rupture of membranes, cesarean section, and neonatal complications were similar in the ovulation induction and IVF pregnancies., Conclusion: Triplet pregnancies after ovulation induction and IVF have a similar outcome.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using cytologic examination of ovarian cyst fluid for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors., Methods: Cyst fluid was aspirated at surgery in 83 women with benign and 35 women with malignant (25 invasive and ten borderline) ovarian tumors and submitted for routine cytologic examination., Results: The specificity of the cytologic examination was 100%, but the sensitivity and negative predictive value were only 26 and 76%, respectively., Conclusion: The low sensitivity and negative predictive value of cytologic cyst fluid examination preclude its use for the distinction between benign and malignant ovarian tumors.

Cord entanglement is a common occurrence during delivery. We examined the association of cord complications observed at delivery and birth weight. A retrospective survey of 12,241 births was performed, supplemented with a prospective study of an additional 456 deliveries. No adverse association was found in the retrospective data between cord coiled twice or more around the newborns' neck (8.3% of cases) and birth weight. Moreover, the incidence of cord around neck was significantly lower (p < 0.0006) in infants weighing less than 2000 gm at birth. A multiple regression analysis of the prospective data did not reveal any significant influence of cord complications on birth weight. We conclude that cord entanglement was not found to be a major cause of intrauterine disadvantage in pregnancies with a viable infant at term, as reflected by birth weight.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the value of saline solution instillation as a contrast medium in suspected congenital diaphragmatic hernia and renal agenesis., Study Design: Intrathoracic (n = 3) or intraperitoneal (n = 2) instillation was performed in five cases of suspected congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Amnioinfusion combined with intraperitoneal instillation was performed in five cases of suspected renal agenesis., Results: Instillation clearly demonstrated the diaphragmatic defect in four of the five cases. In the cases with suspected renal agenesis, amnioinfusion led to recognition of a previously unsuspected sirenomelia, and intraperitoneal instillation demonstrated empty renal fossae in four cases. The final fetus with bilateral renal agenesis was thought antenatally to have a contralateral multicystic kidney., Conclusions: We suggest that intrathoracic or intraperitoneal saline solution instillation is a useful diagnostic procedure in carefully selected cases where confident ultrasonic diagnosis is often difficult and yet would significantly alter management. In cases of severe oligohydramnios amnioinfusion is a complementary procedure. In 80% of cases in this series there was significant improvement in visualization after the procedure.

We present a case of a large frontal lesion, suspected on antenatal ultrasound to be a cephalocele. The cardiac anatomy was abnormal and fetal blood sampling showed a 45,X chromosome constitution. Postmortem examination proved this to be a lymphangioma and confirmed the presence of a cardiac defect. We suggest that this lymphangioma represents an unusual manifestation of monosomy X and discuss the importance of doing chromosome analysis in the presence of such a lesion which is of similar appearance as a cephalocele.

Objective: To determine whether complete failure of fertilization of oocytes in couples with unexplained infertility persists during subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles., Design: A retrospective study of 120 cycles of IVF in 44 couples with unexplained infertility and complete failure of fertilization during their first IVF trial., Setting: In vitro fertilization unit of the Sheba Medical Center., Patients: Forty-four couples undergoing IVF for unexplained infertility., Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization rate of retrieved oocytes and pregnancy rate., Results: Of the initial 44 couples, 37 underwent additional IVF cycles and 30 (81.1%) achieved fertilization. Seven patients conceived during the study period as a result of IVF and two conceived spontaneously., Conclusions: Complete failure of fertilization does not necessarily persist during subsequent IVF cycles. Therefore, at least two more IVF cycles should be attempted before reverting to other therapeutic options. However, although fertilization can be achieved in most couples, the mean oocyte fertilization rate during subsequent cycles in this group is low. This suggests an underlying undiagnosed pathology of oocyte/sperm interaction in some of these patients.

Objectives: The assessment of fetal renal function plays a key role in the evaluation of posterior urethral valve obstruction cases. The aim of our study was to determine the value of several urinary compounds, including beta 2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and microalbumin in the assessment of prenatal renal function in cases of posterior urethral valve and their potential role in the selection of such cases for in utero shunting., Study Design: A range of urinary compounds was measured, including beta 2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and microalbumin in 25 cases of posterior urethral valve obstruction. These cases were divided into four groups based on outcome. The Mann-Whitney test and analysis of covariance were used., Results: Sodium, calcium, and beta 2-microglobulin were the best predictors for fetal survival. beta 2-Microglobulin values > 13 mg/L were almost invariably associated with fatal outcome., Conclusion: The estimation of beta 2-microglobulin may help in counseling parents and in selecting cases for in utero shunting.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using cyst fluid CA 125 levels to distinguish between benign and malignant ovarian cystic neoplasms., Methods: CA 125 levels were measured in ovarian cyst fluid and in serum obtained at surgery in 44 women with ovarian cystic tumors of epithelial origin (25 benign, 12 malignant, and seven borderline)., Results: The median cyst fluid CA 125 level in malignant neoplasms (671 U/mL) was higher than in benign tumors (175 U/mL), and 86% of the malignant tumors contained levels higher than 100 U/mL in the cyst fluid, compared with only 62% of the benign tumors. However, these differences were not statistically significant., Conclusion: Cyst fluid levels of CA 125 cannot be used to distinguish between benign and malignant ovarian cysts of epithelial origin.

The outcome after fluid aspiration from 41 sonographically benign-appearing ovarian cysts was assessed. The considerable probability of recurrence was significantly higher after ultrasound-guided aspiration than following aspiration via laparoscopy (54% versus 30%, respectively, at 36 months). Although all the recurring cysts were benign, the concern with malignancy and the high recurrence rate seem to indicate that fluid aspiration from sonographically benign-appearing cysts by either method is not the management of choice.

An in vitro nuclear chromatin decondensation test, and quantitative nuclear ultramorphology analysis, were performed on 18 males judged to be infertile, by two failures in in vitro fertilization, and 16 fertile males. These two clinical groups only differed significantly in (1) the direction of their chromatin stability change, which took place 30-120 min post-ejaculation while stored in the seminal plasma, and (2) in the incidence of the hypoelongated sperm-head. Generally, the fertile male group exhibited positive chromatin stability change after prolonged storage, and low incidence of hypoelongated sperm heads, and vice versa in the unexplained infertile group. When the nuclear chromatin decondensation test and quantitative ultramorphology analysis were performed in step-wise fashion, it was possible to correctly classify 94% of the fertile cases with 6% of false-negative, and 89% of the unexplained infertile cases with 11% of false-positive. Therefore, it appears that these tests might be of benefit clinically for identifying functional properties of sperm-cells in unexplained infertile males, which cannot be detected by routine semen analysis.

Adult polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disease that is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. The clinical manifestations, which develop during the third or fourth decade of life, usually do not affect women during childbearing age and thus do not affect fertility or pregnancy outcome. The patient presented here had polycystic kidney disease and advanced renal failure, and was treated with meticulous fetal surveillance and prophylactic hemodialysis during pregnancy. The successful outcome strengthens the trend to perform prophylactic dialysis in pregnancies with advanced renal failure, despite the lack of controlled studies.

The role of cervical cerclage was evaluated in 54 pregnant women with anomalous uteri. Forty-six of them delivered live neonates, and eight aborted. The success rate was 85.2% as compared to 22% in previous pregnancies. The mean gestational age was 38 weeks (range, 32-42). The average birth weight was 3,150 g. Complications from the cerclage procedures were minor. Our results support the trend toward the use of cervical cerclage in pregnant women with anomalous uteri.

The usefulness of an acoustic stimulation test as a marker of fetal well-being was evaluated in a randomized controlled study of 121 pregnant women exhibiting a non-reactive fetal non-stress test at term. The women were randomly divided into two groups; those in the first group (n = 62) underwent an acoustic stimulation test immediately prior to an oxytocin challenge test, while those in the second (n = 59) underwent an oxytocin challenge test only. Fetal response to the acoustic stimulation was non-reactive in 22.5% of the women tested in the first group. The incidence of abnormal oxytocin challenge test among the women who were previously subjected to an acoustic stimulation was somewhat lower than among those who did not (14.5% vs. 23.7%), but the difference was not significant. In the prediction of an abnormal oxytocin challenge test, a non-reactive acoustic stimulation test had a sensitivity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 64% and a specificity of 91%. As a single test for the prediction of fetal distress in labor (n = 62), the acoustic stimulation test had a specificity and a positive predictive value similar to those of the oxytocin challenge test (n = 121), and its sensitivity was even higher (88% vs. 71%). We conclude that the acoustic stimulation test is at least as reliable as the oxytocin challenge test in the evaluation of fetal well-being in women exhibiting a non-reactive non-stress test at term.

A series of 101 patients with adnexal torsion during a 12 year period are reviewed. Twenty patients were pregnant at the time of diagnosis and underwent surgical treatment. Preoperatively, the correct diagnosis was not established in four pregnant patients and in 30 nonpregnant patients. An operation was usually delayed for more than 24 hours. Unwinding of the twisted adnexa, regardless of its appearance, was the main surgical procedure in both groups. The outcome of the pregnancies was favorable. The main histopathologic findings in both groups were cysts of the follicular or corpora lutea.

Of 207 women who underwent midtrimester induced abortion with intraamniotic prostaglandin F 2 alpha instillation, 30 (14.5%) had had one or more previous uterine operations. Multivariate analysis showed no correlation between a previous uterine operation and the hospitalization length, procedure complication rate or length of the injection-delivery interval (IDI). The IDI was similar in patients with and without a previous uterine operation. No case of uterine rupture occurred. Intraamniotic prostaglandin instillation for midtrimester abortion induction seems to be an effective procedure without severe complications in women with previous uterine operations.

The study was designed to evaluate if ovarian hyporesponsiveness, which is associated with combined gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy is because of suboptimal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Two groups of 12 patients each were suppressed with GnRH-a and stimulation with a fixed dose of hMG. The control group (n = 10) received equal doses of hMG only. The follicular phase and the number of hMG ampules was significantly higher in the study group. Basal FSH levels and FSH levels during hMG treatment were significantly lower in patients treated with GnRH-a. Peak estradiol levels and the outcome of in vitro fertilization treatment were similar in the three groups. We suggest that the delay in ovarian response in patients treated with a combination of GnRH-a and hMG is because of lack of endogenous contribution of FSH, resulting in low circulating levels of FSH. An increase of serum FSH levels by administration of higher doses of hMG can reverse this effect.

The relative impact of ovarian stimulation protocol and oocyte retrieval technique on success rates of in vitro fertilization program was studied in 200 patients. Sixty-three patients received gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), and 137 received hMG only. The GnRHa + hMG protocol resulted in higher pregnancy rates than the hMG-only protocol (19.0 vs 9.5%, respectively; P less than 0.01) despite a lower cleavage rate. Oocyte retrieval was performed via laparoscopy in 100 patients and transvaginally in 100 patients. The number of oocytes recovered per cycle was 6.1 +/- 3.9 with laparoscopy and 7.0 +/- 3.1 transvaginally. Pregnancy rates were similar for both retrieval techniques (13 and 12%, respectively). A breakdown of these results showed that the advantage for the GnRHa + hMG protocol was not affected by the oocyte retrieval technique. A comparison of simultaneous blood and follicular fluid pH measured every 10 min during laparoscopy and transvaginal oocyte recovery revealed a constant decline in follicular fluid pH during laparoscopy, while no changes were observed during the vaginal procedure. We conclude that the improvement in in vitro fertilization results during the period of our study is due primarily to the introduction of GnRHa + hMG protocol rather than the method of oocyte retrieval.

During the period 1975-1989, 11 high-order (quadruplet or more) multifetal gestations reaching the second trimester were treated in our department. All pregnancies resulted from ovulation induction therapy. Premature contractions occurred in all cases. Two women delivered stillborn quadruplets vaginally at 25 and 26 weeks' gestation. Nine women had cesarean deliveries at 28-35 weeks; one fetus was stillborn and two of the 39 live-born infants died. Twenty-nine (74%) weighed less than 1500 g and 16 (41%) were below the tenth percentile for gestational age. Thirty infants have been followed for at least 2 years, corrected for gestational age; 21 (70%) are developing normally, two are severely handicapped with both cerebral palsy and mental retardation, four have mild motor delay, and three have mild motor and mental delay.

The Rh, Du blood phenotype occurs rarely in the white population (0.23-0.60%). Its clinical significance is whether it should be considered it as Rh positive or negative. A pregnant woman with blood type Rh, Du (+), who delivered an Rh D (+) baby and was not given Rh immune globulin is presented. The Du antigen is manifested by weak expression of the D gene on the RBC envelope, and therefore Rh Du (+) is considered Rh (D) positive. An exception to this rule is the occurrence of transplacental fetomaternal bleeding in an Rh negative mother carrying an Rh positive fetus, when blood is typed close to the time of hemorrhage. In addition, there are other rare phenotypes, such as the D variant and the Du variant, in which there is alloanti-D present in the serum of Rh (D) positive or Rh Du positive patients, causing mild hemolytic disease of the newborn in rare instances.

Fifty healthy gravidas with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at a gestational age of 35 to 42 weeks were assigned at random for the performance of either a breast stimulation test or an oxytocin challenge test after a nonreactive nonstress test. A satisfactory contraction stress test was achieved in 21 of 25 women in the breast stimulation test group and in 24 of 25 women in the oxytocin challenge test group (nonsignificant difference). Significant differences were found in the cumulative rate of achieved contraction stress tests: in the breast stimulation test group 17 of 21 after 20 minutes and 21 of 21 at 50 minutes whereas in the oxytocin challenge test group only four of 24 at 20 minutes, eight of 24 at 50 minutes, and 21 of 24 at 150 minutes. The mean duration for the achievement of a contraction stress test was 20.9 +/- 11.5 minutes for the breast stimulation test group and 81.3 +/- 48.4 minutes in the oxytocin challenge test group. Uterine hyperstimulation occurred once in each group. No gravida went into labor within 24 hours. Breast stimulation test is a satisfactory alternative to the oxytocin challenge test, is less time-consuming, and is simpler to perform.

Selective fetal reduction was performed in the first trimester of pregnancy in 20 women with multifetal gestations after ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). In 10 women (group A) reduction was performed transabdominally, and in 10 women (group B) the transvaginal approach was used. The transvaginal technique achieved penetration of several gestational sacs without withdrawing the needle from the uterus. Fetal termination using either procedure occurred with intrafetal injection of potassium chloride. Six (60%, group A) and eight (80%, group B) patients delivered healthy newborns. One patient (group B) is at 30 weeks' gestation. Four (40%, group A) and one (10%, group B) aborted 1 day to 8 weeks after the procedure (1 septic abortion, each group). Our results suggest that transvaginal fetal reduction offers a better outcome, with minimal complications, to patients referred for selective continuation of pregnancy.

Puerperal inversion of the uterus is a complication of the third stage of labor. The two main reasons are excessive cord traction and Crede fundal pressure. Its frequency in Israel is unknown. A case of acute, complete inversion of the uterus is presented, treated promptly by immediate reposition and manual separation of the placenta. The various modes of treatment are discussed. Puerperal inversion is a rare and dangerous complication. Prompt diagnosis and the proper choice of treatment will decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this complication.

The normal values and ranges of fetal intracranial structures were studied by high resolution transvaginal ultrasonic scan at 12, 13 and at 14 weeks' gestation. The data including measurements of crown rump length (CRL), bi-parietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), hemispheric width (HW), lateral ventricle width (LVW), LVW/HW ratio, thalamus and cerebellum may be useful in determining deviations from the normal and also in expanding the range of prenatal diagnoses of fetal structural abnormalities in early pregnancy.

During the period 1975 to 1988, 78 triplet pregnancies that reached a gestational age greater than or equal to 20 weeks were treated in our department--a prevalence of 1/849 deliveries. A total of 69 (88%) of the pregnancies occurred after treatment with ovulation-induction agents. The most common complication of pregnancy was premature contractions. Elective cervical cerclage neither prolonged gestation nor decreased fetal loss. The mean gestational age at delivery was 33.2 weeks + 3.8 weeks and 86% of the patients were delivered of premature infants. The perinatal and neonatal mortality rates were 93/1000 and 51/1000, respectively. Our results show a higher proportion of low Apgar scores and respiratory disorders in the third vaginally delivered infants. Follow-up of very low birth weight infants revealed four infants (10.5%) with severe neurologic handicaps. Results of this study suggest that cesarean section is the preferred mode of delivery in triplet pregnancies. Maternal, fetal, and neonatal risks of triplet gestations are relatively low and compare favorably with recent reports on twin pregnancies.