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Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024The utilization of frozen embryo transfer not only enhances reproductive outcomes by elevating the likelihood of live birth and clinical pregnancy but also improves... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
INTRODUCTION
The utilization of frozen embryo transfer not only enhances reproductive outcomes by elevating the likelihood of live birth and clinical pregnancy but also improves safety by mitigating the risks associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancies. There has been an increasing debate in recent years regarding the advisability of making elective frozen embryo transfer the standard practice. Our study aims to determine the optimal choice between fresh and frozen embryo transfer, as well as whether the transfer should occur at the cleavage or blastocyst stage.
METHOD
In this retrospective cohort study conducted in Taiwan, data from the national assisted reproductive technology (ART) database spanning from January 1st, 2013, to December 31st, 2017, were analyzed. The study included 51,762 eligible female participants who underwent ART and embryo transfer. Pregnancy outcomes, maternal complications, and singleton neonatal outcomes were evaluated using the National Health Insurance Database from January 1st, 2013, to December 31st, 2018. Cases were categorized into groups based on whether they underwent fresh or frozen embryo transfers, with further subdivision into cleavage stage and blastocyst stage transfers. Exposure variables encompassed clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, OHSS, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (DM), placenta previa, placental abruption, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), gestational age, newborn body weight, and route of delivery.
RESULTS
Frozen blastocyst transfers showed higher rates of clinical pregnancy (CPR) and live births (LBR) compared to fresh blastocyst transfers. Conversely, frozen cleavage stage transfers demonstrated lower rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth compared to fresh cleavage stage transfers. Frozen embryo transfers were associated with reduced risks of OHSS but were linked to a higher risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to fresh embryo transfers. Additionally, frozen embryo transfers were associated with a higher incidence of large for gestational age infants and a lower incidence of small for gestational age infants.
CONCLUSION
The freeze-all strategy may not be suitable for universal application. When embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage, FET is a favorable choice, but embryos can only develop to the cleavage stage, fresh embryo transfer becomes a more reasonable option.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Embryo Transfer; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Cryopreservation; Pregnancy Outcome; Infant, Newborn; Taiwan; Pregnancy Rate; Cohort Studies; Fertilization in Vitro; Live Birth; Blastocyst
PubMed: 38933826
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1400255 -
PloS One 2024Births at advanced maternal ages (≥ 35 years) are increasing. This has been associated with a higher incidence of placenta previa, which increases bleeding risk....
BACKGROUND
Births at advanced maternal ages (≥ 35 years) are increasing. This has been associated with a higher incidence of placenta previa, which increases bleeding risk. Hybrid operating rooms, designed to accommodate interventions and cesarean sections, are becoming more prominent because of their dual capabilities and benefits. However, they have been associated with increased postoperative hypothermia in pediatric settings; moreover, this has not been studied in pregnant women with placenta previa.
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women diagnosed with placenta previa who underwent elective cesarean section under general anesthesia between May 2019 and 2023. The patients were categorized according to the operating room type. The primary outcome was to determine whether the hybrid operating room is a risk factor for immediate postoperative hypothermia, defined as a tympanic membrane temperature below 36.0°C. The secondary outcomes were the effects of immediate postoperative hypothermia on the durations of postanesthetic care unit and postoperative hospital stays and incidence of complications.
RESULTS
Immediate postoperative hypothermia (tympanic membrane temperature < 36.0°C) was more prevalent in the hybrid than in the standard operating room group (20% vs. 36.6%, p = 0.033), with a relative risk of 2.86 (95% confidence interval 1.24-6.64, p < 0.001). Patients undergoing surgery in the hybrid operating room who experienced immediate postoperative hypothermia stayed longer in the postanesthetic care unit (26 min vs. 40 min, p < 0.001) and in the hospital after surgery (4 days; range 3-5 vs. 4 days; range 4-11, p = 0.021). However, the complication rates of both groups were not significantly different (11.3% vs 7.3%, p = 0.743).
CONCLUSION
Hybrid operating rooms may increase the risk of postoperative hypothermia. Postoperative hypothermia is associated with prolonged postanesthetic care unit and hospital stays. Preventing hypothermia in patients in hybrid operating rooms is of utmost importance.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Hypothermia; Retrospective Studies; Operating Rooms; Adult; Postoperative Complications; Cesarean Section; Risk Factors; Placenta Previa; Anesthesia, General
PubMed: 38917215
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305951 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024To identify determinants of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women attending East Shoa Zone public hospitals, Central Ethiopia, 2023.
OBJECTIVE
To identify determinants of puerperal sepsis among postpartum women attending East Shoa Zone public hospitals, Central Ethiopia, 2023.
DESIGN AND SETTING
An institutional-based, unmatched case-control study was conducted from 19 June 2023 to 4 September 2023, in East Shoa Zone public hospitals.
PARTICIPANTS
495 postpartum women (100 cases and 395 controls) were selected using systematic sampling techniques. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and from medical charts using a pretested, structured questionnaire. The AOR with its corresponding 95% CI was used to identify determinant variables. Findings were presented in texts and tables.
OUTCOME MEASURES
The medical charts of participants were reviewed to identify those who had developed puerperal sepsis.
RESULTS
Anaemia (AOR 6.05; 95% CI 2.57 to 14.26), undernourishment (AOR 4.43; 95% CI 1.96 to 10.01), gestational diabetes mellitus (AOR 3.26; 95% CI 1.22 to 8.74), postpartum haemorrhage (AOR 3.17; 95% CI 1.28 to 7.87), obstructed labour (AOR 2.76; 95% CI 1.17 to 6.52), multiparity (AOR 2.54; 95% CI 1.17 to 5.50), placenta previa (AOR 2.27; 95% CI 1.11 to 4.67) and vaginal examination ≥5 times (AOR 2.19; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.54) were the independent determinants of puerperal sepsis in this study.
CONCLUSION
This study found that gestational diabetes mellitus, anaemia, undernourishment, placenta previa, obstructed labour, postpartum haemorrhage and five or more per-vaginal examinations during labour were the determinants of puerperal sepsis. Therefore, it is recommended that obstetric care providers strictly adhere to guidelines on the number of vaginal exams that should be performed throughout labour and that they perform these exams using the appropriate infection-prevention techniques. In addition, they should provide comprehensive health education on nutrition during pregnancy and postnatal periods and the importance of iron supplements.
Topics: Humans; Female; Ethiopia; Case-Control Studies; Adult; Hospitals, Public; Sepsis; Pregnancy; Puerperal Infection; Risk Factors; Young Adult; Postpartum Period; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Anemia; Adolescent; Diabetes, Gestational
PubMed: 38908838
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083230 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Jun 2024The global prevalence of caesarean section as a delivery method is increasing worldwide. However, there is notable divergence among countries in their national...
Cephalad-caudad vs transverse blunt expansion of low transverse hysterotomy during caesarean section and risk of severe postpartum haemorrhage: A prospective comparative study.
BACKGROUND
The global prevalence of caesarean section as a delivery method is increasing worldwide. However, there is notable divergence among countries in their national guidelines regarding the optimal technique for blunt expansion hysterotomy of the low transverse uterine incision during caesarean section (cephalad-caudad or transverse).
AIM
To compare the risk of severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) between cephalad-caudad and transverse blunt expansion hysterotomy during caesarean section.
METHODS
This prospective comparative observational study was conducted in a university maternity hospital. All women who gave birth to one infant by caesarean section after 30 weeks of gestation between November 2020 and November 2021 were included in this study. The exclusion criteria were a coagulation disorder, the presence of placenta previa, multiple pregnancies, or enlargement of the hysterotomy with scissors. The choice between cephalad-caudad or transverse blunt expansion of the low transverse hysterotomy was left to the surgeon's discretion. The primary outcome measure was severe PPH, defined as estimated blood loss ≥ 1000 ml. Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to assess the risk of severe PPH associated with the two methods of enlarging the low transverse hysterotomy.
RESULTS
The study included 850 women, of whom 404 underwent transverse blunt expansion and 446 underwent cephalad-caudad blunt expansion. The overall incidence of severe PPH was 13.3 %. Univariate analysis revealed no significant difference in the frequency of severe PPH between the cephalad-caudad and transverse blunt expansion groups (13.9 % vs 12.6 %; p = 0.61). However, the use of additional surgical sutures (mainly additional haemostatic stitches) was less common with cephalad-caudad blunt expansion (26.7 % vs 36.9 %; p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in risk between the two techniques (odds ratio 1.17, 95 % confidence interval 0.77-1.78).
CONCLUSION
No significant difference in the risk of severe PPH was found between cephalad-caudad and transverse blunt expansion of the low transverse hysterotomy during caesarean section.
PubMed: 38905968
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.06.004 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024In light of increased cesarean section rates, the incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is increasing. Despite the establishment of clinical practice...
INTRODUCTION
In light of increased cesarean section rates, the incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is increasing. Despite the establishment of clinical practice guidelines offering recommendations for early and effective PAS diagnosis and treatment, antepartum diagnosis of PAS remains a challenge. This ultimately risks poor mental health and poor physical maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
CASE DESCRIPTIONS
This case series details the experience of two high-risk patients who remained undiagnosed for PAS until they presented with antenatal hemorrhage, leading ultimately to necessary, complex surgical interventions, which can only be optimally provide in a tertiary care center. Patient 1 is a 37-year-old woman with a history of three cesarean sections, which elevates her risk for PAS. She had placenta previa detected at 19 weeks, and placenta percreta diagnosed upon hemorrhage. During a hysterectomy, invasive placenta was found in the patient's bladder, leading to a cystotomy and right ureteric reimplantation. After discharge, she was diagnosed with a vesicovaginal fistula, and is currently awaiting surgical repair. Patient 2 is a 34-year-old woman with two previous cesarean sections. The patient had complete placenta previa detected at 19- and 32-week gestation scans. She presented with antepartum hemorrhage at 35 weeks and 2 days. An ultrasound showed thin myometrium at the scar site with significant vascularity. A hysterectomy was performed due to placental attachment issues, with significant blood loss. Both patients were at high risk for PAS based on past medical history, risk factors, and pathognomonic imaging findings.
DISCUSSION
We highlight the importance of the implementation of clinical guidelines at non-tertiary healthcare centers. We offer clinical-guideline-informed recommendations for radiologists and antenatal care providers to promote early PAS diagnosis and, ultimately, better patient and neonatal outcomes through increased access to adequate care.
PubMed: 38892867
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113155 -
Cureus Jun 2024Advances in assisted reproductive technologies have enabled postmenopausal women to achieve pregnancy beyond their reproductive lifespan. Although rare, these...
Advances in assisted reproductive technologies have enabled postmenopausal women to achieve pregnancy beyond their reproductive lifespan. Although rare, these pregnancies are challenging and require a multidisciplinary approach due to the higher prevalence of medical comorbidities in this population. The placenta accreta spectrum is characterized by an abnormal invasion of chorionic villi into the myometrium. Risk factors associated with the placenta accreta spectrum include prior uterine surgeries, advanced maternal age, multiparity, in vitro fertilization, and placenta previa. We present a case of a 59-year-old postmenopausal woman with chronic hypertension, stage II chronic kidney injury, and superimposed pre-eclampsia who underwent cesarean delivery complicated by suspected focal placenta accreta. Histopathological examination revealed significant deviations from normative placental architecture, emphasizing the invasion of the villi. Further, congested blood vessels and the presence of inflammatory cells, along with heightened collagen deposition, suggest an underlying pathological process affecting placental health. These findings underscore a perturbation of placental homeostasis, emphasizing the necessity for further investigation into the mechanisms contributing to placental pathology in postmenopausal pregnancies.
PubMed: 38882221
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62332 -
BMC Medical Imaging Jun 2024The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) increases in women with placenta previa (PP). Many radiologists sometimes cannot completely and accurately diagnose PAS...
BACKGROUND
The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) increases in women with placenta previa (PP). Many radiologists sometimes cannot completely and accurately diagnose PAS through the simple visual feature analysis of images, which can affect later treatment decisions. The study is to develop a T2WI MRI-based radiomics-clinical nomogram and evaluate its performance for non-invasive prediction of suspicious PAS in patients with PP.
METHODS
The preoperative MR images and related clinical data of 371 patients with PP were retrospectively collected from our hospital, and the intraoperative examination results were used as the reference standard of the PAS. Radiomics features were extracted from sagittal T2WI MR images and further selected by LASSO regression analysis. The radiomics score (Radscore) was calculated with logistic regression (LR) classifier. A nomogram integrating Radscore and selected clinical factors was also developed. The model performance was assessed with respect to discrimination, calibration and clinical usefulness.
RESULTS
A total of 6 radiomics features and 1 clinical factor were selected for model construction. The Radscore was significantly associated with suspicious PAS in both the training (p < 0.001) and validation (p < 0.001) datasets. The AUC of the nomogram was also higher than that of the Radscore in the training dataset (0.891 vs. 0.803, p < 0.001) and validation dataset (0.897 vs. 0.780, p < 0.001), respectively. The calibration was good, and the decision curve analysis demonstrated the nomogram had higher net benefit than the Radscore.
CONCLUSIONS
The T2WI MRI-based radiomics-clinical nomogram showed favorable diagnostic performance for predicting PAS in patients with PP, which could potentially facilitate the obstetricians for making clinical decisions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Placenta Accreta; Nomograms; Pregnancy; Placenta Previa; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Radiomics
PubMed: 38872133
DOI: 10.1186/s12880-024-01328-y -
Journal of Global Health Jun 2024As birth policy can affect maternal and infant health, we sought to identify whether and how the introduction of the two-child policy might have affected the prevalence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
As birth policy can affect maternal and infant health, we sought to identify whether and how the introduction of the two-child policy might have affected the prevalence of placenta previa in pregnant women in mainland China.
METHODS
In this update meta-analysis and systematic review, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases for studies evaluating the prevalence of placenta previa in China published between the inception of each database and March 2024, with no restrictions. Two investigators independently extracted the data from each included study. We then combined the prevalence of placenta previa using random-effects models.
RESULTS
We included 128 studies in our analysis, 48 more than in our previous review. The prevalence of placenta previa among Chinese pregnant women was 1.44% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32, 1.56). After the implementation of the two-child policy, the prevalence increased significantly, from 1.25% (95% CI = 1.16, 1.34) to 4.12% (95% CI = 3.33, 4.91).
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of placenta previa increased significantly from the one-child policy period to the two-child policy period among mainland Chinese pregnant women, with varying trends across regions. This change requires the attention of health officials and timely adjustment of resource allocation policies.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO: CRD42021262309.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; China; Female; Placenta Previa; Prevalence; Delivery, Obstetric
PubMed: 38867677
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04108 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Jun 2024BACKGROUND Severe pre-eclampsia (sPE) and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in pregnancy have serious impact on maternal and fetal health and life. Co-occurrence of sPE and...
BACKGROUND Severe pre-eclampsia (sPE) and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in pregnancy have serious impact on maternal and fetal health and life. Co-occurrence of sPE and PPH often leads to poor pregnancy outcomes. We explored risk factors associated with PPH in women with sPE. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study included 1953 women with sPE who delivered at the Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between April 2015 and April 2023. Risk factors for developing PPH in sPE were analyzed, and subgroups were analyzed by delivery mode (cesarean and vaginal). RESULTS A total of 197 women with PPH and 1756 women without PPH were included. Binary logistic regression results showed twin pregnancy (P<0.001), placenta accreta spectrum disorders (P=0.045), and placenta previa (P<0.001) were independent risk factors for PPH in women with sPE. Subgroup analysis showed risk factors for PPH in cesarean delivery group were the same as in the total population, but vaginal delivery did not reduce risk of PPH. Spinal anesthesia reduced risk of PPH relative to general anesthesia (P=0.034). Vaginal delivery group had no independent risk factors for PPH; however, magnesium sulfate (P=0.041) reduced PPH incidence. CONCLUSIONS Women with twin pregnancy, placenta accreta spectrum disorders, placenta previa, and assisted reproduction with sPE should be alerted to the risk of PPH, and spinal anesthesia should be preferred in cesarean delivery. Magnesium sulfate should be used aggressively in women with sPE; however, the relationship between magnesium sulfate and PPH risk needs further investigation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Pre-Eclampsia; Cesarean Section; China; Placenta Previa; Delivery, Obstetric; Pregnancy, Twin; Placenta Accreta; Pregnancy Outcome; Logistic Models; Incidence
PubMed: 38845159
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943772 -
Cureus May 2024Placenta previa poses significant risks to maternal and perinatal health, yet its management remains challenging. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence... (Review)
Review
Placenta previa poses significant risks to maternal and perinatal health, yet its management remains challenging. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on maternal and perinatal outcomes in placenta previa, addressing its epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management strategies. Placenta previa complicates pregnancies, with increasing incidence linked to factors such as advanced maternal age and rising cesarean rates. Maternal complications, including hemorrhage and placenta accreta spectrum disorders, pose substantial risks. At the same time, perinatal outcomes are marked by increased rates of preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis and appropriate management, including antenatal corticosteroids and multidisciplinary care, are critical for optimizing outcomes. Future research should focus on improving diagnostic methods, evaluating novel interventions, and assessing long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. This review underscores the importance of informed clinical practice and ongoing research efforts to enhance outcomes for women and infants affected by placenta previa.
PubMed: 38841031
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59737