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Background: It is estimated that globally, approximately 13 million preterm infants are born annually and a much higher number of pregnancies are characterized by threatening preterm birth. Findings: A proportional inverse correlation between gestational age at delivery and neonatal mortality has been observed which is more prevalent in countries without high standard neonatal care. The socioeconomic burden of preterm birth is enormous, as preterm neonates are particularly prone to severe morbidity that may expand up to adulthood. Several strategies have been proposed for the prevention of preterm birth which can be sub-stratified as primary (when these apply to the general population), secondary (when they target women at risk), and tertiary (optimizing neonatal outcomes when preterm birth cannot any longer be prevented). The aim of this review is to summarize the most important strategies. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

To ascertain whether screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by uterine artery (UtA) Doppler in the second trimester of pregnancy and targeted surveillance improve maternal and perinatal outcomes in an unselected population.This was a multicenter randomized open-label controlled trial. At the routine second-trimester anomaly scan, women were assigned randomly to UtA Doppler or non-Doppler groups. Women with abnormal UtA Doppler were offered intensive surveillance at high-risk clinics of the participating centers with visits every 4 weeks that included measurement of maternal blood pressure, dipstick proteinuria, fetal growth and Doppler examination. The primary outcome was a composite score for perinatal complications, defined as the presence of any of the following: PE, IUGR, spontaneous labor37 weeks' gestation, placental abruption, stillbirth, gestational hypertension, admission to neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal complications. Secondary outcomes were a composite score for maternal complications (disseminated intravascular coagulation, maternal mortality, postpartum hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, sepsis), and medical interventions (for example, corticosteroid administration and induction of labor) in patients developing placenta-related complications.In total, 11 667 women were included in the study. Overall, PE occurred in 348 (3.0%) cases, early-onset PE in 48 (0.4%), IUGR in 722 (6.2%), early-onset IUGR in 93 (0.8%) and early-onset PE with IUGR in 32 (0.3%). UtA mean pulsatility index90(th) percentile was able to detect 59% of early-onset PE and 60% of early-onset IUGR with a false-positive rate of 11.1%. When perinatal and maternal data according to assigned group (UtA Doppler vs non-Doppler) were compared, no differences were found in perinatal or maternal complications. However, screened patients had more medical interventions, such as corticosteroid administration (relative risk (RR), 1.79 (95% CI, 1.4-2.3)) and induction of labor for IUGR (RR, 1.36 (95% CI, 1.07-1.72)). In women developing PE or IUGR, there was a trend towards fewer maternal complications (RR, 0.46 (95% CI, 0.19-1.11)).Routine second-trimester UtA Doppler ultrasound in an unselected population identifies approximately 60% of women at risk for placental complications; however, application of this screening test failed to improve short-term maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John WileySons Ltd.

Background: Infections because of Bordetella pertussis still occur in infants and adults in European countries, despite vaccination coverage against pertussis being high. Methods: IgG antibody titers to pertussis toxin (anti-PT) were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (Serion ELISA classic) in 353 cord blood samples from neonates of a representative sample of pregnant women obtained in Catalonia (Spain) in 2013. Neonates with anti-PT titers 100 IU/mL in umbilical cord samples were considered to be indicative of a current or recent pertussis infection (12 months) in pregnant women. The age-standardized prevalence of recent pertussis infection obtained in this study was compared with the prevalence obtained in 2003. Results: The mean anti-PT titer in neonates was 10.8 IU/mL and 89.8% of neonates were unprotected against pertussis. The prevalence of unprotected neonates as defined by cord blood anti-PT 100 IU/mL was 2%. The diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination coverage during childhood in pregnant women was 75%. The age-standardized prevalence of recent pertussis infection in pregnant women observed in this study (2.2%) was slightly higher than the prevalence obtained in 2003 (1.5%), with an odds ratio = 1.45 (95% confidence intervals: 0.5-3.9), although differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Most neonates are unprotected against pertussis and pertussis infections are frequent in pregnant women in Catalonia. Infants and pregnant women should be the priority population groups for pertussis prevention programs in Catalonia.

Objetivo. Obtener información descriptiva sobre el abordaje y el manejo del paciente con dolor agudo periquirúrgico tratado con analgésicos parenterales en el ámbito hospitalario. Metodología. Estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo, multicéntrico. Pacientes ingresados en los servicios de cirugía general, torácica, cardiovascular, angiología y cirugía vascular, ginecología, traumatología y urología. Resultados. Participaron 76 hospitales distribuidos por las diferentes comunidades autónomas y un total de 439 investigadores. Se evaluaron 1972 pacientes de los que el 43.9% y 25.5%, respectivamente pertenecieron a los servicios de cirugía general y traumatología. El 52.8% de los pacientes tenían más de 60 años, un 31.2 % no presentaron ninguna enfermedad concomitante, el 36.7% padecían hipertensión y un 16.5% diabetes. En el 5.8% de los pacientes se utilizaron escalas para valorar la intensidad del dolor al ingreso. En las sucesivas visitas, este porcentaje oscila entre el 10 % y el 15%. En el postoperatorio, los principales analgésicos administrados son los AINE (sobre todo el metamizol, que utilizan del 63.6% al 40.5% del total de pacientes del estudio) y el paracetamol, que utilizan el 41.3% a las 0-12horas y el 27% el día 4. El porcentaje que recibe medicación de rescate va disminuyendo, desde el primer control (25.7%), al del cuarto día (6%), siendo la medicación más utilizada el paracetamol. Conclusiones. A pesar de que en el ámbito de la cirugía se considera importante el tratamiento del dolor, la utilización de protocolos no es habitual. La elaboración y utilización de guías terapéuticas para el tratamiento del dolor peri quirúrgico podría mejorar el confort del paciente y su recuperación. Objective. To obtain descriptive information about patient treatment with acute perioperative pain receiving parenteral analgesics in hospital environments. Methodology. Epidetniologic descriptive multicentre study. Patients admitted in the following Surgery services: General, Thoracic, Cardiovascular, Angiology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedic and Urology. Results. Participation of 76 hospitals, distributed along the country; and 439 investigators. 1972 patients were assessed. 43.9% and 25.5% were admitted in General and Orthopaedic surgery services respectively. 52.8% of patients were over 60 years oíd. 31.2% did not present any concomitant illness. 36.78% had arterial hypertension and 16.5% diabetes mellitus. Pain scales to measure pain intensity, were used by 5.8% of patients at admission. In the following visits, these percentages ranged from 10% to 15%. During postoperative period NSAIDs were the most widely used (specially metamizol, administrated from 63.6% to 40.5% of the patients) and acetaminophen which was used by 41.3% of the patients in the first 12 hours and 27% in the 4th day. The percentage of patients that received rescue medication decreases from 25.7 % at first control to 6% at 4th day control; being acetaminophen the most commonly used medication. Conclusions. Despite pain treatment is considered important in surgical environments, treatment protocols are seldom used. The elaboration and the use of therapeutics guidelines for perioperative pain treatment could improve the patient comfort and their recuperation.

Objetivo. Obtener información descriptiva sobre el abordaje y el manejo del paciente con dolor agudo periquirúrgico tratado con analgésicos parenterales en el ámbito hospitalario. Metodología. Estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo, multicéntrico. Pacientes ingresados en los servicios de cirugía general, torácica, cardiovascular, angiología y cirugía vascular, ginecología, traumatología y urología. Resultados. Participaron 76 hospitales distribuidos por las diferentes comunidades autónomas y un total de 439 investigadores. Se evaluaron 1972 pacientes de los que el 43.9% y 25.5%, respectivamente pertenecieron a los servicios de cirugía general y traumatología. El 52.8% de los pacientes tenían más de 60 años, un 31.2 % no presentaron ninguna enfermedad concomitante, el 36.7% padecían hipertensión y un 16.5% diabetes. En el 5.8% de los pacientes se utilizaron escalas para valorar la intensidad del dolor al ingreso. En las sucesivas visitas, este porcentaje oscila entre el 10 % y el 15%. En el postoperatorio, los principales analgésicos administrados son los AINE (sobre todo el metamizol, que utilizan del 63.6% al 40.5% del total de pacientes del estudio) y el paracetamol, que utilizan el 41.3% a las 0-12horas y el 27% el día 4. El porcentaje que recibe medicación de rescate va disminuyendo, desde el primer control (25.7%), al del cuarto día (6%), siendo la medicación más utilizada el paracetamol. Conclusiones. A pesar de que en el ámbito de la cirugía se considera importante el tratamiento del dolor, la utilización de protocolos no es habitual. La elaboración y utilización de guías terapéuticas para el tratamiento del dolor peri quirúrgico podría mejorar el confort del paciente y su recuperación.