Frequency Of Apgar Scores Research Articles

A single-center retrospective study of pregnancy outcomes after emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency.

To compare maternal and perinatal outcomes after emergency cerclage with those after elective cerclage. In a retrospective review, data were assessed from women with a viable singleton pregnancy who underwent elective or emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency at the Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China, between January 2010 and July 2015. Subgroup analyses based on cervical length (CL; ≤15, 15-25, and 25-30mm) were also conducted among women undergoing emergency cerclage. In total, 68 women underwent elective cerclage and 53 underwent emergency cerclage. The suture-to-delivery interval was significantly longer in the elective group (19.17±5.86weeks) than in the emergency group (11.29±7.27weeks; P<0.001). There was no difference between the elective and emergency groups in mean pregnancy length at delivery, frequency of Apgar score below 7 at 5minutes (live births only), or birth weight (live births only). An inverse trend in the degree of CL shortening with pregnancy outcomes was observed; women with a CL of 25-30mm had the best outcomes. Pregnancy outcomes were similar after emergency and elective cerclage. There was an inverse trend in the degree of CL shortening with pregnancy outcomes in the emergency cerclage group, with better outcomes observed for women with longer CL.

Clinical Outcome in Singleton and Multiple Pregnancies with Placental Chorangioma.

IntroductionChorangiomas (CAs) are the most common non-trophoblastic tumor-like-lesions of the placenta. Although the clinical significance of small CAs is unknown, the large lesions are often associated with maternal and fetal complications. The aim of our study was to assess the maternal clinical characteristics and neonatal outcome in singleton and multiple pregnancies with placental CA.Materials and MethodsAmong 15742 selected placentas 170 CAs were diagnosed. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were analyzed in singleton (n = 121) and multiple (n = 49) pregnancy groups including 121 and 100 neonates, respectively.ResultsThe frequency of APGAR score <7 at 5 minutes (p = 0,012), abnormal pulsatility index (p = 0,034), and abnormal blood flow class (p = 0,011) were significantly higher in neonates from singleton compared to multiple pregnancies. Significantly smaller CAs in singleton pregnancies were related to small for gestational age neonates (p = 0,00040) and neonates admitted to the neonatal care unit (p = 0,028). In singleton pregnancies, significantly smaller CAs were associated to maternal preeclampsia (p = 0,039) and larger CAs to multiparity (p = 0,005) and smoking (p = 0,001) groups. The frequency of preeclampsia was high in both singleton and multiple pregnancy groups (41,32% vs 26,53%, respectively), however, the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance.DiscussionA high incidence of preeclampsia in cohort of placental CA might lead to a possible recognition of CAs as potential morphologic indicator of placental hypoxia.ConclusionA more favorable pregnancy outcome in multiple gestations compared to the singleton gestations with CAs might reflect an adaptive mechanism for increased demand of oxygen and associated placental tissue hypoxia in this group.

Comparison of the Effects of Maternal Supportive Care and Acupressure (at BL32 Acupoint) on Labor Length and Infant’s Apgar Score

Background and Objectives:Prolonged labor leads to increase of cesarean deliveries, reduction of fetal heart rate, and maternal as well as infantile complications. Therefore, many women tend to use pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods for reduction of labor length. The present study aimed to compare the effects of maternal supportive care and acupressure (at BL32 acupoint) on labor length and infant's Apgar score.Methods:In this clinical trial, 150 women with low-risk pregnancy were randomly divided into supportive care, acupressure, and control groups each containing 50 subjects. The data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic and pregnancy characteristics. Then, the data were analyzed using Chi-square test and one-way ANOVA.Results:The mean length of the first and second stages of labor was respectively 157.0±29.5 and 58.9±25.8 minutes in the supportive care group, 161.7±37.3 and 56.1±31.4 minutes in the acupressure group, ad 281.0±79.8 and 128.4±44.9 minutes in the control group. The difference between the length of labor stages was significant in the three study groups (P<0.001). Moreover, the frequency of Apgar score≥8 in the first and 5th minutes was higher in the supportive care and acupressure groups compared to the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001).Conclusion:Continuous support and acupressure could reduce the length of labor stages and increase the infants’ Apgar scores. Therefore, these methods, as effective non-pharmacological strategies, can be introduced to the medical staff to improve the delivery outcomes.

The term breech presentation. A retrospective study with regard to the planned mode of delivery.

To analyze retrospectively a large group of term breech and vertex deliveries, with regard to the influence of the mode of delivery on the frequency of fetal and maternal complications. All singleton breech deliveries after completed 36 weeks of pregnancy, with a live fetus, delivered at Rogaland Central Hospital, from September 1 1996 to the May 10 2001 were included (n = 575). Correspondingly as a control group, 582 cases in vertex presentation were analyzed. Planned vaginal delivery (VD) for the fetus in breech presentation (n = 448) in comparison with elective caesarean section (CS) (n = 127) increased early neonatal morbidity (3.6% vs. 0%). The frequency of Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min also increased (4.2% vs. 0.8%), as well as umbilical artery pH < 7.0 (4.4% vs. 0%), and referrals to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (15.8% vs. 6.3%). Corresponding figures for planned VD of the fetus in vertex presentation were: 0.5% neonatal morbidity, 0.2% Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min, 8.1% admissions to NICU and 1.5% pH < 7.0 in umbilical arteries. Results comparing maternal morbidity in the different breech groups were inconclusive, but there were more maternal complications in the breech group planned for VD than in the corresponding vertex group (5.1% vs. 1.9%). Elective CS for breech presentation will significantly decrease the risks for the fetus in comparison with planned VD.

The term breech presentation. A retrospective study with regard to the planned mode of delivery

Background. To analyze retrospectively a large group of term breech and vertex deliveries, with regard to the influence of the mode of delivery on the frequency of fetal and maternal complications. Methods. All singleton breech deliveries after completed 36 weeks of pregnancy, with a live fetus, delivered at Rogaland Central Hospital, from September 1 1996 to the May 10 2001 were included (n = 575). Correspondingly as a control group, 582 cases in vertex presentation were analyzed. Results. Planned vaginal delivery (VD) for the fetus in breech presentation (n = 448) in comparison with elective caesarean section (CS) (n = 127) increased early neonatal morbidity (3.6% vs. 0%). The frequency of Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min also increased (4.2% vs. 0.8%), as well as umbilical artery pH < 7.0 (4.4% vs. 0%), and referrals to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (15.8% vs. 6.3%). Corresponding figures for planned VD of the fetus in vertex presentation were: 0.5% neonatal morbidity, 0.2% Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min, 8.1% admissions to NICU and 1.5% pH < 7.0 in umbilical arteries. Results comparing maternal morbidity in the different breech groups were inconclusive, but there were more maternal complications in the breech group planned for VD than in the corresponding vertex group (5.1% vs. 1.9%). Conclusions. Elective CS for breech presentation will significantly decrease the risks for the fetus in comparison with planned VD.

Birth Data for Patients Who Later Develop Growth Hormone Deficiency: Preliminary Analysis of a National Register

This study analyses gestational age, mode of delivery and size at birth in children who later developed idiopathic or organic growth hormone deficiency (GHD). A data register of children on growth hormone (GH) treatment in Sweden was compared with the Swedish Medical Birth Register during a 14-year period (1973-1986) comprising 1.4 million newborn children. Size at birth was evaluated using a new Swedish reference standard based on data from around 500,000 newborn children. It was found that the children who later develop idiopathic GHD (IGHD) were born with a normal distribution of gestational age. They were more often born with breech delivery (7.1% versus 2.8%) or caesarean section (16.6% versus 10.4%) compared with normal children. The children's condition at birth was poorer than normal, as shown by the frequency of Apgar scores below 7 at 5 minutes (5.2% versus 1.2%). Finally, it was found that children who later develop IGHD (n = 220) had a median birth length of 0.87 SDS below the mean and a median birth weight of 0.60 SDS below the mean of the standard. In contrast, both the birth length and weight of the children who later develop organic GHD (OGHD) (n = 92) did not differ from that of the reference.

Comparison of the Maternal and Neonatal Effects of Halothane, Enflurane, and Isoflurane for Cesarean Delivery

The maternal and neonatal effects of 50% O2-50% N2O alone and 50% O2-50% N2O combined with 0.5% halothane, 1.0% enflurane, or 0.75% isoflurane were studied in 42 healthy parturients undergoing general anesthesia for elective primary or repeat cesarean delivery at term. All patients received thiopental and succinylcholine for induction and were intubated and ventilated with a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg at a rate of 10 breaths/min. Two of 12 (17%) patients given O2-N2O alone had recall; none who received a potent inhalation agent had any recall. Blood loss was similar in all four groups. There were no significant differences between groups in induction-to-delivery and uterine incision-to-delivery intervals, the frequency of Apgar scores <7 at 1 and 5 min, maternal and fetal blood-gas tensions, acid-base balance, lactate values, and early neonatal neurobehavioral scores at 2–4 h. It is concluded that analgesic concentrations of halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane can be safely added to 50% O2-50% N2O to prevent maternal awareness during general anesthesia for cesarean delivery while maintaining normal maternal and neonatal conditions.