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American Journal of Obstetrics and... May 2023Green-stained amniotic fluid, often referred to as meconium-stained amniotic fluid, is present in 5% to 20% of patients in labor and is considered an obstetric hazard.... (Review)
Review
Green-stained amniotic fluid, often referred to as meconium-stained amniotic fluid, is present in 5% to 20% of patients in labor and is considered an obstetric hazard. The condition has been attributed to the passage of fetal colonic content (meconium), intraamniotic bleeding with the presence of heme catabolic products, or both. The frequency of green-stained amniotic fluid increases as a function of gestational age, reaching approximately 27% in post-term gestation. Green-stained amniotic fluid during labor has been associated with fetal acidemia (umbilical artery pH <7.00), neonatal respiratory distress, and seizures as well as cerebral palsy. Hypoxia is widely considered a mechanism responsible for fetal defecation and meconium-stained amniotic fluid; however, most fetuses with meconium-stained amniotic fluid do not have fetal acidemia. Intraamniotic infection/inflammation has emerged as an important factor in meconium-stained amniotic fluid in term and preterm gestations, as patients with these conditions have a higher rate of clinical chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis. The precise mechanisms linking intraamniotic inflammation to green-stained amniotic fluid have not been determined, but the effects of oxidative stress in heme catabolism have been implicated. Two randomized clinical trials suggest that antibiotic administration decreases the rate of clinical chorioamnionitis in patients with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. A serious complication of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is meconium aspiration syndrome. This condition develops in 5% of cases presenting with meconium-stained amniotic fluid and is a severe complication typical of term newborns. Meconium aspiration syndrome is attributed to the mechanical and chemical effects of aspirated meconium coupled with local and systemic fetal inflammation. Routine naso/oropharyngeal suctioning and tracheal intubation in cases of meconium-stained amniotic fluid have not been shown to be beneficial and are no longer recommended in obstetrical practice. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials suggested that amnioinfusion may decrease the rate of meconium aspiration syndrome. Histologic examination of the fetal membranes for meconium has been invoked in medical legal litigation to time the occurrence of fetal injury. However, inferences have been largely based on the results of in vitro experiments, and extrapolation of such findings to the clinical setting warrants caution. Fetal defecation throughout gestation appears to be a physiologic phenomenon based on ultrasound as well as in observations in animals.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome; Meconium; Amniotic Fluid; Chorioamnionitis; Pregnancy Complications; Inflammation; Heme
PubMed: 37012128
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.1283 -
American Family Physician Aug 2020Continuous electronic fetal monitoring was developed to screen for signs of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and impending fetal death during labor....
Continuous electronic fetal monitoring was developed to screen for signs of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, and impending fetal death during labor. Because these events have a low prevalence, continuous electronic fetal monitoring has a false-positive rate of 99%. The widespread use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring has increased operative and cesarean delivery rates without improved neonatal outcomes, but its use is appropriate in high-risk labor. Structured intermittent auscultation is an underused form of fetal monitoring; when employed during low-risk labor, it can lower rates of operative and cesarean deliveries with neonatal outcomes similar to those of continuous electronic fetal monitoring. However, structured intermittent auscultation remains difficult to implement because of barriers in nurse staffing and physician oversight. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development terminology is used when reviewing continuous electronic fetal monitoring and delineates fetal risk by three categories. Category I tracings reflect a lack of fetal acidosis and do not require intervention. Category II tracings are indeterminate, are present in the majority of laboring patients, and can encompass monitoring predictive of clinically normal to rapidly developing acidosis. Presence of moderate fetal heart rate variability and accelerations with absence of recurrent pathologic decelerations provides reassurance that acidosis is not present. Category II tracing abnormalities can be addressed by treating reversible causes and providing intrauterine resuscitation, which includes stopping uterine-stimulating agents, fetal scalp stimulation and/or maternal repositioning, intravenous fluids, or oxygen. Recurrent deep variable decelerations can be corrected with amnioinfusion. Category III tracings are highly concerning for fetal acidosis, and delivery should be expedited if immediate interventions do not improve the tracing.
Topics: Adult; Cardiotocography; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Continuing; Female; Fetal Monitoring; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Perinatal Care; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pregnancy; Risk Assessment; United States
PubMed: 32735438
DOI: No ID Found -
Translational Pediatrics May 2021Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent 20% of prenatally diagnosed congenital abnormalities. Although the majority of these... (Review)
Review
Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent 20% of prenatally diagnosed congenital abnormalities. Although the majority of these abnormalities do not require intervention either pre or postnatally, there is a subset of patients whose disease is so severe that it may warrant intervention prior to delivery to prevent morbidity and mortality. These cases consist of patients with moderate lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) in which vesicocentesis, shunting or cystoscopy are options and patients with early pregnancy renal anhydramnios (EPRA) in whom amnioinfusion therapy may be an option. The main causes of EPRA are congenital bilateral renal agenesis (CoBRA), cystic kidney disease (CKD) and severe LUTO. Untreated, EPRA is universally fatal secondary to anhydramnios induced pulmonary hypoplasia. The evidence regarding therapy for LUTO is limited and the stopped early PLUTO (Percutaneous Shunting in Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction) trial was unable to provide definitive answers about patient selection. Evidence for EPRA therapy is also scant. Serial amnioinfusions have shown promise in cases of EPRA due to CoBRA or renal failure and this treatment modality forms the basis of the ongoing NIH funded RAFT (Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy) trial. At present, there is consensus that treatment for EPRA should only occur in the setting of a clinical trial.
PubMed: 34189109
DOI: 10.21037/tp-2020-fs-05 -
Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 2022Midtrimester prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) between 16 and 24 weeks of gestational age is a major obstetric complication with high rates of perinatal morbidity and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Midtrimester prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) between 16 and 24 weeks of gestational age is a major obstetric complication with high rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Amnioinfusion has been proposed in women with midtrimester PROM to target oligohydramnios and subsequently enhance pulmonary development and perinatal outcomes.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis including all randomized clinical trials investigating amnioinfusion versus no intervention in women with PROM between 16+0 and 24+0 weeks of gestational age. Databases Central, Embase, Medline, ClinicalTrials.gov and references of identified articles were searched from inception of database to December 2021. The primary outcome was perinatal mortality. Secondary outcomes included neonatal, maternal, and long-term developmental outcomes as defined in the core outcome set for preterm birth studies. Summary measures were reported as pooled relative risk (RR) or mean difference with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
Two studies (112 patients, 56 in the amnioinfusion group and 56 in the no intervention group) were included in this review. Pooled perinatal mortality was 66.1% (37/56) in the amnioinfusion group compared with 71.4% (40/56) in no intervention group (RR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.72-1.19). Other neonatal and maternal core outcomes were similar in both groups, although due to the relatively small number of events and wide CIs, there is a possibility that amnioinfusion can be associated with clinically important benefits and harms. Long-term healthy survival was seen in 35.7% (10/28) of children assessed for follow-up and treated with amnioinfusion versus 28.6% (8/28) after no intervention (RR 1.30, 95% CI: 0.47-3.60, "best case scenario").
CONCLUSIONS
Based on these findings, the benefits of amnioinfusion for midtrimester PROM <24 weeks of gestational age are unproven, and the potential harms remain undetermined.
Topics: Pregnancy; Child; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Premature Birth; Delivery, Obstetric; Perinatal Mortality; Perinatal Death; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35835036
DOI: 10.1159/000526020 -
JAMA Oct 2023
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Amnion; Infusions, Parenteral; Obstetric Surgical Procedures; Pregnancy Outcome; Prenatal Care
PubMed: 37847278
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.15927 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022(1) Background: The morbidity of gastroschisis is defined by exposure of unprotected intestines to the amniotic fluid leading to inflammatory damage and consecutive... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: The morbidity of gastroschisis is defined by exposure of unprotected intestines to the amniotic fluid leading to inflammatory damage and consecutive intestinal dysmotility, the viscero-abdominal disproportion which results in an abdomen too small to incorporate the herniated and often swollen intestine, and by associated pathologies, such as in complex gastroschisis. To prevent intestinal damage and to provide for growth of the abdominal cavity, fetal interventions such as amnio exchange, gastroschisis repair or covering have been evaluated in several animal models and human trials. This review aims to evaluate the reported techniques for the fetal treatment of gastroschisis by focusing on minimally invasive procedures. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic database search, quality assessment and analyzed relevant articles which evaluate or describe surgical techniques for the prenatal surgical management of gastroschisis in animal models or human application. (3) Results: Of 96 identified reports, 42 eligible studies were included. Fetal interventions for gastroschisis in humans are only reported for EXIT procedures and amnio exchange. In animal models, particularly in the fetal sheep model, several techniques of open or minimally invasive repair of gastroschisis or covering the intestine have been described, with fetoscopic covering being the most encouraging. (4) Discussion: Although some promising minimally invasive techniques have been demonstrated in human application and animal models, most of them are still associated with relevant fetal morbidity and mortality and barely appear to be currently applicable in humans. Further research on specific procedures, instruments and materials is needed before any human application.
PubMed: 35327788
DOI: 10.3390/children9030416 -
Biomedicine Hub 2021The aim of the article was to investigate the changes in intra-amniotic pressure following transabdominal amnioinfusion during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the article was to investigate the changes in intra-amniotic pressure following transabdominal amnioinfusion during pregnancy.
DESIGN
This retrospective study included 19 pregnant women who underwent transabdominal amnioinfusion during pregnancy to relieve umbilical cord compression and improve the intrauterine environment or to increase the accuracy of ultrasonography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We measured and analyzed the changes in intra-amniotic pressure, single deepest pocket, and the amniotic fluid index before and after amnioinfusion. We also determined the incidence of maternal or fetal adverse events, such as preterm premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, fetal death within 48 h, placental abruption, infection, hemorrhage, and peripheral organ injury.
RESULTS
A total of 41 amnioinfusion procedures were performed for 19 patients. The median gestational age during the procedure was 24.3 weeks. The median volume of the injected amniotic fluid was 250 mL. The median single deepest pocket and amniotic fluid index after amnioinfusion were significantly higher than those before amnioinfusion (4.0 cm vs. 2.65 cm; < 0.001 and 13.4 cm vs. 6.0 cm; < 0.001). However, the median (range) intra-amniotic pressure after amnioinfusion was not significantly different compared to that before amnioinfusion (11 mm Hg vs. 11 mm Hg; = 0.134). Maternal or fetal adverse events were not observed following amnioinfusion.
CONCLUSION
Intra-amniotic pressure remained unchanged following amnioinfusion. The complications associated with increased intra-amniotic pressure are not likely to develop if the amniotic fluid index and/or single deepest pocket remains within the normal range after amnioinfusion. Studies of groups with and without complications are warranted to clarify the relationship between the intra-amniotic pressure and incidence of complications.
PubMed: 34950669
DOI: 10.1159/000519084 -
Prenatal Diagnosis Apr 2020Early pregnancy renal anhydramios (EPRA) comprises congenital renal disease that results in fetal anhydramnios by 22 weeks of gestation. It occurs in over 1 in 2000... (Review)
Review
Early pregnancy renal anhydramios (EPRA) comprises congenital renal disease that results in fetal anhydramnios by 22 weeks of gestation. It occurs in over 1 in 2000 pregnancies and affects 1500 families in the US annually. EPRA was historically considered universally fatal due to associated pulmonary hypoplasia and neonatal respiratory failure. There are several etiologies of fetal renal failure that result in EPRA including bilateral renal agenesis, cystic kidney disease, and lower urinary tract obstruction. Appropriate sonographic evaluation is required to arrive at the appropriate urogenital diagnosis and to identify additional anomalies that allude to a specific genetic diagnosis. Genetic evaluation variably includes karyotype, microarray, targeted gene testing, panels, or whole exome sequencing depending on presentation. Patients receiving a fetal diagnosis of EPRA should be offered management options of pregnancy termination or perinatal palliative care, with the option of serial amnioinfusion therapy offered on a research basis. Preliminary data from case reports demonstrate an association between serial amnioinfusion therapy and short-term postnatal survival of EPRA, with excellent respiratory function in the neonatal period. A multicenter trial, the renal anhydramnios fetal therapy (RAFT) trial, is underway. We sought to review the initial diagnosis ultrasound findings, genetic etiologies, and current management options for EPRA.
Topics: Abnormalities, Multiple; Abortion, Induced; Amniotic Fluid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Congenital Abnormalities; Female; Humans; Infusions, Parenteral; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Diseases, Cystic; Lung; Lung Diseases; Oligohydramnios; Palliative Care; Pregnancy; Renal Insufficiency; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Ureteral Obstruction; Urethral Obstruction
PubMed: 32003482
DOI: 10.1002/pd.5658 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2023This meta-analysis aims to review the effect of serial transabdominal amnioinfusion (TAI) on short-term and long-term perinatal outcomes in mid-trimester preterm... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis aims to review the effect of serial transabdominal amnioinfusion (TAI) on short-term and long-term perinatal outcomes in mid-trimester preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
METHODS
Literature searches of PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were performed from their inception to April 2022. Studies comparing conventional treatment with serial TAI in women with proven PPROM at less than 26 + 0 weeks of gestation with oligohydramnios were included. Studies that included oligohydramnios due to other reasons such as fetal growth retardation or renal anomalies were excluded. Risk of bias in observational studies was assessed using the tool of the Cochrane Review group identified as risk of bias in non-randomized studies - of interventions. The risk of bias assessments for RCTs were performed according to the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. An score was used to assess the heterogeneity of included studies. The analyses were performed by using random-effect model, and the results were expressed as relative risk (RR) or mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Overall, eight relevant studies including five observational studies ( = 252; 130 women allocated to the intervention) and three RCTs ( = 183; 93 women allocated to the intervention) were eligible. The pooled latency period was 21.9 days (95% CI, 13.1-30.8) and 5.8 days (95% CI, -11.6-23.2) longer in the TAI group in the observational studies and RCTs, respectively. The perinatal mortality rate reduced in the intervention group when tested in observational studies (RR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51-0.92), but not in RCTs (RR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.56-1.13). The rate of long-term healthy survival was higher in the children whose mothers were treated with the TAI (35.7%) than those were treated with the standard management (28.6%) (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.47-3.60, "best case scenario").
CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of serial TA on early PPROM associated morbidity and mortality is not attested. Additional randomized control trials with adequate power are needed.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Child; Female; Humans; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Oligohydramnios; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture; Delivery, Obstetric
PubMed: 37408113
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2230511 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022The classic mid-trimester preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is defined as a rupture of the fetal membranes prior to 28 weeks of gestation (WG) with...
Treatment of Classic Mid-Trimester Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) with Oligo/Anhydramnion between 22 and 26 Weeks of Gestation by Means of Continuous Amnioinfusion: Protocol of a Randomized Multicentric Prospective Controlled TRIAL and Review of the Literature.
BACKGROUND
The classic mid-trimester preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is defined as a rupture of the fetal membranes prior to 28 weeks of gestation (WG) with oligo/anhydramnion; it complicates approximately 0.4-0.7% of all pregnancies and is associated with very high neonatal mortality and morbidity. Antibiotics have limited success to prevent bacterial growth, chorioamnionitis and fetal inflammation. The repetitive amnioinfusion does not work because fluid is lost immediately after the intervention. The continuous amnioinfusion through the transabdominal port system or catheter in patients with classic PPROM shows promise by flushing out the bacteria and inflammatory components from the amniotic cavity, replacing amniotic fluid and thus prolonging the PPROM-to-delivery interval.
OBJECTIVE
This multicenter trial aims to test the effect of continuous amnioinfusion on the neonatal survival without the typical major morbidities, such as severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, cystic periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis one year after the delivery.
STUDY DESIGN
We plan to conduct a randomized multicenter trial with a two-arm parallel design. Randomization will be between 22/0 and 26/0 SSW. The control group: PPROM patients between 20/0 and 26/0 WG who will be treated with antibiotics and corticosteroids (from 22/0 SSW) in accordance with the guidelines of German Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (standard PPROM therapy). In the interventional group, the standard PPROM therapy will be complemented with the Amnion Flush Method, with the amnioinfusion of Amnion Flush Solution through the intra-amnial catheter (up to 100 mL/h, 2400 mL/day).
SUBJECTS
The study will include 68 patients with classic PPROM between 20/0 and 26/0 WG.
TRIAL-REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04696003.
GERMAN CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTER
DRKS00024503, January 2021.
PubMed: 36143388
DOI: 10.3390/life12091351