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Risk of uterine rupture with trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) is less than one percent. Discovery of uterine rupture often occurs during labor. In our case, the uterine scar is discovered to be ruptured during the postpartum period. The exact cause and time of uterine rupture is difficult to ascertain in this case, yet manual palpation of the uterine scar did not aid in the eventual diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Medical Science) is the property of Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Medical Science) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Cervical cerclage reduces the risk of preterm birth in women at high-risk of preterm birth and probably reduces risk of perinatal deaths. Objectives: To study obstetric and neonatal outcomes in antenatal patients with transvaginal cervical cerclage. Methods: This is an ambidirectional cohort study conducted in Government Medical college, Thrissur for 2 years on 42 antenatal women who underwent transvaginal cervical cerclage. After written informed consent, data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire at first visit or at time of cerclage and followed up until removal and delivery, all antepartum, intrapartum and neonatal events until discharge were listed. Results: Cervical cerclage in total had a fetalsalvage rate of 73.8%.Elective cerclage had 95.3% take home baby rate, while emergency cerclage had only 50% fetal salvage rate. Comparing Mc Donald and Modified Shirodkar technique, though the latter is associated with more prolongation of gestational age, the difference was not statistically significant. Cerclage was not found to have any maternal complications in this study. Conclusion: Overall cervical cerclage in indicated cases offers good obstetric outcomes in terms of mean prolongation of gestational age at delivery and improved take home baby rates. It is advisable to screen pregnancies at risk of cervical insufficiency and to offer elective cerclage as it gives better results when compared to emergency cerclage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies have identified a trend towards suboptimal birth outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), in women who experience psychological adversities (stress, depression, domestic violence, and low social support) during pregnancy. Objective. To evaluate the association of stress, depression, domestic violence, and low social support with PTB. Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study that used data of women assessed between February 2011 and February 2012. The primary outcome of the study was the occurrence of spontaneous PTB < 37 weeks of gestational age. The pregnant women included were evaluated at two different time points: prenatal (between 22 and 25 weeks) and at birth. Sociodemographic data, obstetric history, perceived stress, depression, violence, and social support were collected with a questionnaire and subsequently evaluated and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate log-binomial regression models were constructed to assess the effects of the variables collected on the presence of spontaneous PTB. The SAS 9.3 program was used for all analyses, assuming statistical significance at p < 0.05 and a power of the test of 80%. Results. A total of 1,370 women were included in the study. The prevalence of PTB was 9.1%. Log-binomial analysis revealed an association between the following characteristics and PTB: smoking (RR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.10-2.44), severe stress (RR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.21-2.73), three or more stressful life events (RR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.05-2.59), and being probably depressed (RR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.02-2.18). However, these associations did not remain significant after multivariate analysis. Conclusion. Evidence on the specific effects of depression, violence, anxiety, and stress on birth outcomes remains unclear and at times conflicting. Our results showed no association of the studied parameters with an increased risk of prematurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black women have often reported challenges in their relationships with health care providers during the perinatal period. This study synthesized the findings of qualitative studies to describe health care providers' characteristics that hinder therapeutic relationships with Black women in the perinatal period. A systematic search was conducted and findings from 12 qualitative studies were synthesized using a thematic synthesis approach. Two overarching themes that included seven descriptive themes were discovered. The seven descriptive themes include the following: (1) provides differential treatment; (2) expresses biased attitudes; (3) lacks empathy; (4) limits choices; (5) communicates inadequate health information; (6) provides deficient care; and (7) dismisses concerns. Participants experienced challenged relationships with health care providers who held implicit biases and discouraged them from participating in their care. The findings suggest the importance of confronting implicit biases, promoting a bias-free health care system, and providing quality care that is respectful to Black women in the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been shown in epidemiological studies to be associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. Several histopathologic features of placental SARS-CoV-2 infection have been proposed as potential causes of fetal death. We present a case of an otherwise healthy G3P1 women with mild symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection at 23 6/7 weeks of gestation. At 25 2/7 weeks, she presented with signs and symptoms of preterm labor and decreased fetal movements. Fetal death was diagnosed at admission. Placental pathology showed pronounced placental mixed intervillositis. Inflammatory infiltrate caused extreme narrowing of intervillous space leading to placental malfunction and fetal death. Placental tissue SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by positive immunohistochemistry staining of syncytiotrophoblasts with spike protein antibody. The case presented suggests that SARS-CoV-2 associated inflammatory placental changes pose an elevated risk for the fetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To report the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in patients with twin pregnancies who underwent ultrasound-indicated cerclage (UIC) and to compare them to patients with singleton pregnancies undergoing the same procedures. Methods. Patients who underwent UIC between January 2010 and December 2020 at Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital were reviewed. We compared characteristics, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes between patients with singleton and twin pregnancies. Results. A total of 94 women (56 singleton and 38 twin pregnancies) underwent UIC were included. The mean gestational age (GA) at cerclage and preoperative cervical length (CL) were not significantly different. Twin pregnancies were more likely to deliver at earlier median gestations than singletons (singleton, 36 + 1 weeks vs twin, 32 + 6 weeks, and p = 0.004). The frequency of preterm delivery <34 weeks in twin group was higher than in singleton group (15 (26.8%) vs 20 (52.6%) and p =0.016). However, the frequency of preterm delivery <32, <28, and <24 weeks was not significantly different between two groups. Although neonatal weights in singleton pregnancies were heavier than twin pregnancies, neonatal mortality and morbidities were not significantly different between two groups. Among various factors contributing to preterm birth, preoperative CL ≤ 15 mm was independently associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery before 34 weeks. Furthermore, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies with cervical length ≤ 15 mm are comparable with those of singleton pregnancies (GA at delivery, singleton, 35 + 1 weeks vs twin, 32 + 5 weeks, and p = 0.24 ; neonatal mortality, singleton, 3.4% vs twin, 4.8%, and p = 0.64). Conclusion. The pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of UIC in twin pregnancies were comparable to those in singleton pregnancies, especially when CL is ≤15 mm. UIC might be considered a safe procedure for twin pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  The aim of this study was to estimate if preterm premature rupture of membranes in women with cerclage is due to the cerclage itself or rather the underlying risk factors for preterm birth in this population. Study Design  This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies who underwent Shirodkar cerclage by a single maternal–fetal medicine practice between 2005 and 2019. The control group was an equal number of randomly selected women with a singleton gestation who had a prior preterm birth and were treated with 17-OH-progesterone but no cerclage. Patients with major uterine anomalies or fetal anomalies were excluded. The primary outcome was preterm premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks. Chi-square and logistic regression were used. Results  A total of 350 women with cerclage (154 [44%] history-indicated, 137 [39%] ultrasound-indicated, and 59 [17%] exam-indicated) and 350 controls were included. Preterm premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks did not differ between the groups (8.9% in cerclage vs. 6.0% in controls, p  = 0.149, adjusted odds ratio 0.62, 95% confidence interval: 0.24–1.64) nor between the different cerclage indications (9.1% of history-indicated, 7.3% of ultrasound-indicated, and 11.9% of exam-indicated, p  = 0.582). This study had 80% power with an α error of 0.05 to detect an increase in preterm premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks from 6.0% in the control group to 12.0% in the cerclage group. Conclusion  Cerclage does not increase the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks compared with other women at increased risk of preterm birth. The observed association between cerclage and preterm premature rupture of membranes is likely due to underlying risk factors and not the cerclage itself. The risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes prior to 34 weeks in women with cerclage is 10% or less and does not appear to differ based on cerclage indication. Key Points Cerclage does not increase the risk of PPROM. Risk of PPROM with cerclage is approximately 10%. Risk does not appear to vary by indication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction and perceived health care discrimination during childbirth, and in turn, the influence of these birth experiences on postpartum health. Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional, bilingual web survey of 237 women who gave birth at two hospitals in New York City and assessed patient-reported experience and outcomes following the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the New York region. We ascertained SARS-CoV-2 status at delivery from the electronic medical record using participant-reported name and date of birth. We compared birth experience during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 15, 2020–May 11, 2020) to a pre-pandemic response period (January 1, 2020–March 14, 2020). We estimated risk ratios for associations between birth experience and anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, birth-related PTSD, emergency department visits, timely postpartum visit, and exclusive breastfeeding. Multivariable models adjusted for age, race-ethnicity, insurance, education, parity, BMI, previous experience of maltreatment/abuse and cesarean delivery. Results: Women who gave birth during the peak of the pandemic response, and those that were SARS-CoV-2 positive, Black, and Latina, had lower birth satisfaction and higher perceived health care discrimination. Women with lower birth satisfaction were more likely to report higher postpartum anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and lower exclusive breastfeeding. Experiencing one or more incident of health care discrimination was associated with higher levels of postpartum stress and birth-related PTSD. Conclusion: Hospitals and policy-makers should institute measures to safeguard against a negative birth experience during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among birthing people of color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  This article assesses the effect of weekly intramuscular 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) on midtrimester cervical length (CL) in patients with prior spontaneous preterm birth. Study Design  Retrospective cohort study of all singletons that underwent CL screening at a single institution from 2011 to 2016. The timing of 17P exposure was assessed. The primary outcome was shortest midtrimester CL. Secondary outcomes included gestational age at delivery, rate of short cervix, cerclage, preterm labor admission, and preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM). Multivariable regression analysis was used to model the relationship between 17P exposure and shortest CL, controlling for selected covariates. Results  Of 409 women who underwent screening, 211 received and 198 did not receive 17P prior to the last CL. Rates of short cervix and cerclage were similar between groups. After adjusting for covariates, the shortest CL was significantly shorter in the 17P group. In a secondary analysis, those who received any 17P (n  = 293) versus those who did not (n  = 116) had higher rates of preterm PROM, preterm labor admission, and cerclage. After controlling for covariates, gestational age at delivery was significantly lower in those receiving 17P. Conclusion  In high-risk patients undergoing CL screening for ultrasound-indicated cerclage, 17P did not prevent midtrimester cervical shortening or prolong gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  To assess the value of transvaginal ultrasound parameters after cerclage placement in estimating the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Study Design  This is a retrospective cohort at a single tertiary care center from 2013 to 2016. Women carrying a singleton, nonanomalous fetus with cerclage in situ and at least one postcerclage transvaginal ultrasound from 16 0/7 to 25 6/7 weeks' gestation were included. In addition to abstracting maternal demographic and obstetric characteristics, two study investigators separately reviewed each of the images from the first transvaginal ultrasound after cerclage placement, masked to pregnancy outcomes. We measured the angle between the anterior uterine wall and cervical canal at the internal os and external os, closed canal length above and below the stitch, width of the anterior and posterior cervix at the level of the cerclage, and stitch distance from the cervical canal. The presence of additional ultrasound findings such as sludge and cervical funneling was also noted. The main outcomes were preterm birth < 34 weeks and preterm birth < 37 weeks. Transvaginal ultrasound parameters were compared between women with preterm birth and those without preterm birth using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Wilcoxon's rank-sum tests, as appropriate. Log binomial regression was used to estimate the relative risk of preterm birth for all significant obstetric and ultrasound characteristics. Results  A total of 102 women met inclusion criteria: 58% had history-indicated, 20% ultrasound-indicated, and 23% exam-indicated cerclages. Of these, 28 (27.5%) women delivered at < 34 weeks' gestation, and 48 (47.0%) women delivered at < 37 weeks' gestation. Preterm birth did not vary by race, maternal age, insurance, smoking, or gestational age of the earliest prior preterm birth (for multiparous women), but women who had preterm birth were more likely to have exam-indicated cerclage. There were several transvaginal ultrasound parameters associated with preterm birth < 34 weeks and preterm birth < 37 weeks. Of these, cervical length below the stitch, stitch distance from the cervical canal, straight cervical canal, funneling to or past the stitch, and presence of sludge had the greatest effect sizes. Conclusion  Rates of preterm birth are high postcerclage. In addition to measuring cervical length, utilization of postcerclage transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the location of the cerclage within the cervix, the curvature of the cervical canal, and the presence of funneling and sludge may help identify women who are at the highest risk for preterm birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  To determine the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) associated with transvaginal cervical length (TVCL) in an unselected cohort. Study Design  This is a retrospective study of serial TVCLs in unselected twin gestations. Receiver operator curves for SPTD were constructed from TVCLs at 18, 20, 22, and 24 weeks. Prediction thresholds were determined using a false discovery rate of 10%. The risk of SPTD was compared with previously published, prospective data from a meta-analysis. Results  A total of 1,228 women were included. SPTD occurred prior to 35 weeks in 232 (18.9%), 126 (10.3%), and 24 (2.0%) women prior to 35, 32, and 28 weeks. TVCL was most predictive at 22 weeks (area under the curve = 0.67). TVCL thresholds for predicting SPTD prior to 35, 32, and 28 weeks were 3.1, 3.0, and 2.9 cm. Compared with a previous meta-analysis, the risk of SPTD < 34, 32, and 28 weeks was lower (positive likelihood ratio 9.0 vs. 5.4, 10.1 vs. 5.9, and 9.6 vs. 4.3). Conclusion  TVCL is modestly predictive of SPTD in twin gestations. Compared with previous prospective studies, this cohort has lower risk of SPTD at similar TVCLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a previously published algorithm for first-trimester prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) in a cohort of Brazilian women. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing routine antenatal care. Maternal characteristics and medical history were obtained. The data were inserted in the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) online calculator to estimate the individual risk of PTB. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the effects of maternal characteristics on the occurrence of PTB. A receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to determine the detection rates and false-positive rates of the FMF algorithm in predicting PTB <34 weeks of gestation in our population. Results. In total, 1,323 women were included. Of those, 23 (1.7%) had a spontaneous PTB before 34 weeks of gestation, 87 (6.6%) had a preterm birth between 34 and 37 weeks, and 1,197 (91.7%) had a term delivery. Smoking and a previous history of recurrent PTB between 16 and 30 weeks of gestation without prior term pregnancy were significantly more common among women who delivered before 34 weeks of gestation compared to those who delivered at term were (39.1% vs. 12.0%, p=0.001 and 8.7% vs. 0%, p<0.001, respectively). Smoking and history of spontaneous PTB remained significantly associated with spontaneous PTB in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Significant prediction of PTB <34 weeks of gestation was provided by the FMF algorithm (area under the ROC curve 0.67, 95% CI 0.56–0.78, p=0.005), but the detection rates for fixed false-positive rates of 10% and 20% were poor (26.1% and 34.8%, respectively). Conclusions. Maternal characteristics and history in the first trimester can significantly predict the occurrence of spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks of gestation. Although the predictive algorithm performed similarly to previously published data, the detection rates are poor and research on new biomarkers to improve its performance is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Management / Revista de Administração da UFSM is the property of Brazilian Journal of Management / Revista de Administracao da UFSM and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is the major complication of monochorionic (MC) pregnancy. The outcomes of this condition have been significantly improved after the introduction and widespread uptake of fetoscopic laser ablation over the last decade. However, there is still a significant fetal loss rate and morbidity associated with this condition. Improvements in the management of TTTS will require improvements in many areas. They are likely to involve refinements in the prediction of the disease and clarification of the optimum frequency of surveillance and monitoring. Improvements in training for fetoscopic surgery as well as in the technique of fetoscopic laser ablation may lead to better outcomes. New technologies as well as a better understanding of the pathophysiology of TTTS may lead to adjuvant medical therapies that may also improve short- and long-term results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the volume of publications dedicated to unraveling the biological characteristics and clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, available data on pregnant patients are limited. In the current review of literature, we present an overview on the developmental course, complications, and adverse effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases up to June 2021. This article collectively presents what has been so far reported on the identified critical aspects, namely complications during pregnancy, delivery challenges, neonatal health care, potential routes of viral transmission, including vertical transmission or breastfeeding, along with the risks involved in the vaccination strategy during pregnancy. Despite the fact that we are still largely navigating uncharted territory, the observed publication explosion in the field is unprecedented. The overwhelming need for data is undoubtable, and this serves as the driver for the plethora of publications witnessed. Nonetheless, the quality of data sourced is variable. In the midst of the frenzy for reporting on SARS-CoV-2 data, monitoring this informational overload is where we should head to next, considering that poor quality research may in fact hamper our attempts to prevail against this unparalleled pandemic outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]