Maternal Birth Injury Research Articles

ПРЕЖДЕВРЕМЕННЫЙ РАЗРЫВ ПЛОДНЫХ ОБОЛОЧЕК ПРИ ДОНОШЕННОЙ БЕРЕМЕННОСТИ КАК ФАКТОР РИСКА РАЗРЫВА ШЕЙКИ МАТКИ В РОДАХ

Abstract. Introduction. Premature rupture of membranes continues to be one of the urgent problems in modern obstetrics, since it is exactly the pathology a high frequency of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes is associated with. At the same time, an equally important task in obstetrics and gynecology remains the problem of maternal birth injuries, including cervical ruptures, the frequency of which ranges 6 to 15 %. Aim. To study how premature ruptures of membranes in full-term pregnancies affect the frequency of cervical ruptures in childbirth and to identify the risk factors of cervical injuries in at-term labor complicated by premature rupture of membranes. Materials and Methods. A retrospective analysis of birth histories for the years 2019-2020 was carried out according to the data of the perinatal center at Saratov City Clinical Hospital No. 8. The study group included 894 histories of single at-term vaginal deliveries complicated by premature rupture of membranes, while the control group included 6,735 birth histories of women whose vaginal deliveries were performed with timely ruptures of membranes. Later, we identified subgroups within the study group: Subgroup 1 (n=101) included patients with premature rupture of membranes at full-term gestation, whose at-term labors were complicated by uterine cervix ruptures, while Subgroup 2 (n=336) included women with premature ruptures of membranes during at-term labors without any maternal birth traumas. When analyzing medical records, special attention was paid to the anamnesis details and to the special aspects of birth courses and outcomes. Statistical data processing was performed using the MS Excel and Statistica 7.0 software programs. Differences in indications were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results and Discussion. Probability of premature ruptures of membranes during full-term pregnancy increases in patients expecting their first childbirth by 1.6 times (χ2 = 173.49; p <0.001), those with a burdened obstetric/gynecological history, such as abortions, miscarriages, and genital pathology, and those with concomitant extragenital diseases (85.9%). In the study group, we identified an increase in the incidence of labor anomalies (by 3 times) and acute fetal distress (by 1.9 times), which increased the proportion of using surgical aids in childbirth (by 2.7 times) and the risk of obstetric injuries to the mother (by up to 63.4%), including uterine cervix ruptures by up to 11.3%. Conclusions. Premature rupture of membranes at full-term gestation increases the risk of uterine cervix ruptures in childbirth by 10.3 times. In this obstetric context, the uterine cervix rupture risk factors should include the first birth (57.4%; p= 0.003) in the absence of biological readiness of the birth canal (“unripe” or “insufficiently ripe” uterine cervix, 76.2%), development of ineffective uterine contractions (12.9%), and the use of surgical aids in delivery (vacuum-assisted deliveries and episiotomies, 32.7%).

Comparison of Misoprostol for Labor Induction: Vaginal Insert Versus Oral Application Concerning Efficiency and Safety.

The aim of the present retrospective study was to examine the efficiency and safety of the induction of labor with Misoprostol, administered either vaginally or orally. This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women with a gestational age of ≥36 +0 weeks and a singleton pregnancy who underwent induction of labor with Misoprostol as vaginal insert or as tablet (oral) between January 2014 and January 2019 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Hospital of Cologne. The objective of this study was to analyze the time until delivery and the maternal and neonatal outcomes. A total of 1,511 patients were included in this retrospective analysis, of whom 1,035 patients (68.5%) underwent induction of labor with a misoprostol vaginal insert (MVI) and 476 (31.5%) with tablets (oral misoprostol: OM). MVI significantly shortened the time from application to delivery (p<0.001) in comparison to OM, reduced the need for epidural anesthesia (EA) (p=0.018) without an increase in caesarean sections (CS) (p=1), ventouse deliveries (VD) (p=0.715), maternal birth injuries or a reduced neonatal outcome (APGAR-Score, umbilical cord pH). MVI is superior to OM in terms of efficiency (primary outcome: time from application to delivery) and is equally safe (primary outcome: CS rate). Our study, along with existing literature, highlights the need for further research, particularly regarding neonatal outcomes. Additionally, it underscores the importance of careful consideration when inducing labor and ensuring informed consent.

Feasibility and safety of antepartum tactile imaging

Introduction and hypothesisQuantitative characterization of the birth canal and critical structures before delivery may provide risk assessment for maternal birth injury. The objective of this study was to explore imaging capability of an antepartum tactile imaging (ATI) probe.MethodsTwenty randomly selected women older than 21 years with completed 35th week of pregnancy and a premise of vaginal delivery were enrolled in the feasibility study. The biomechanical data were acquired using the ATI probe with a double-curved surface, shaped according to the fetal skull and equipped with 168 tactile sensors and an electromagnetic motion tracking sensor. Software package COMSOL Multiphysics was used for finite element modeling. Subjects were asked for assessment of pain and comfort levels experienced during the ATI examination.ResultsAll 20 nulliparous women were successfully examined with the ATI. Mean age was 27.8 ± 4.1 years, BMI 30.7 ± 5.8, and week of pregnancy 38.8 ± 1.4. Biomechanical mapping with the ATI allowed real-time observation of the probe location, applied load to the vaginal walls, and a 3D tactile image composition. The nonlinear finite element model describing the stress–strain relationship of the pelvic tissue was developed and used for calculation of Young’s modulus (E). Average perineal elastic modulus was 11.1 ± 4.3 kPa, levator ani 4.8 ± 2.4 kPa, and symphysis–perineum distance was 30.1 ± 6.9 mm. The pain assessment level for the ATI examination was 2.1 ± 0.8 (scale 1–4); the comfort level was 2.05 ± 0.69 (scale 1–3).ConclusionsThe antepartum examination with the ATI probe allowed measurement of the tissue elasticity and anatomical distances. The pain level was low and the comfort level was comparable with manual palpation.

Pelvic floor shape variations during pregnancy and after vaginal delivery

Background and objectiveStrong evidence suggests that pelvic soft tissues soften during pregnancy to facilitate vaginal delivery while protecting against maternal birth injury. We hypothesized that these adaptations likely result in changes to the shape of the pelvic floor. Thus, this study aimed to compare midsagittal pelvic floor shapes from MRIs of nulliparous, gravid, and vaginally parous women using statistical shape modeling. MethodsA retrospective study of 22 nulliparous, 29 gravid (vaginally nulliparous), and 18 vaginally parous women who underwent pelvic MRI was performed. The pelvic floor was segmented from pubic symphysis to coccyx as a 2D polyline in the midsagittal plane. Once corresponding landmarks were computed and the variances between them determined by principal component analysis, the principal component scores were calculated for modes that explained variance greater than noise. These became the dependent variables in a MANOVA with univariate ANOVAs, linear regressions, and Benjamini-Hochberg corrections post hoc. Two initial statistical shape analyses were conducted to analyze differences based on gestational age (1st/2nd vs 3rd trimester) and vaginal parity (VP1 vs VP2-4). There were significant differences based on gestational age, but not vaginal parity. Thus, the final statistical shape analysis evaluated pelvic floor shapes of nulliparous, 3rd trimester gravid, and all vaginally parous subjects. ResultsIn the final analysis, six modes described variance—a measure of shape variability—greater than noise. Groups differed significantly for modes 1, 2, and 4 (p < 0.001, p = 0.021, and p = 0.015, respectively) and only differed between the nulliparous and gravid groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.018, and p = 0.012, respectively). Anatomically, these modes described levator plate relaxation and level III support protrusion in gravid compared to nulliparous subjects while the parous group straddled the other two. ConclusionsThe shape of the pelvic floor changes significantly during pregnancy and some of those changes are present after vaginal delivery. The fact that the nulliparous and gravid groups differ while the parous is similar to both suggests that some parous women regain their nulliparous shape after pregnancy and delivery while others do not. This indicates that remodeling during pregnancy and/or injury during vaginal delivery can have lasting effects on the pelvic floor.

Sexual Problems During Pregnancy and After Delivery Among Women With and Without Anxiety and Depressive Disorders Prior to Pregnancy: A Prospective-Longitudinal Study.

Few prospective-longitudinal studies have examined the course of sexual problems during pregnancy and after delivery in women with and without anxiety and depressive disorders prior to pregnancy as well as with and without maternal birth injuries. To prospectively investigate associations of anxiety and depressive disorders prior to pregnancy and maternal birth injuries with sexual problems during the peripartum period. The Maternal Anxiety in Relation to Infant Development Study is a prospective-longitudinal study of 306 women enrolled during early pregnancy and repeatedly assessed in seven waves during the peripartum period. Anxiety and depressive disorders prior to pregnancy were assessed in early pregnancy (T1) using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview for Women. Maternal birth injuries were assessed by questionnaire shortly after delivery (T4). Sexual problems during pregnancy (T2) as well as 4 months (T6) and 16 months (T7) postpartum were measured using the German version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Function Questionnaire. Impairment of sexual interest, arousal, orgasm, lubrication, and overall sexual satisfaction at T2, T6, and T7. Rates of sexual problems generally increased from T2 to T6 and decreased from T6 to T7. Compared with women without anxiety and depressive disorders, those with comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders prior to pregnancy more often specified impairment of overall sexual satisfaction at T2 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0) and T7 (OR = 2.1). In contrast, sexual problems were not pronounced in those with pure anxiety or pure depressive disorders, and women with pure anxiety disorders often reported even less impairment of sexual interest at T7 (OR = 0.5). Compared with women without birth injury, those with vaginal birth injury more often reported impairment of sexual interest (OR = 1.8) and lubrication (OR = 2.3) at T6. Findings suggest that especially women with comorbid anxiety and depression and vaginal birth injury are at increased risk for sexual problems during pregnancy and after delivery and thus might benefit from targeted early interventions.

Collagen scaffold: a treatment for simulated maternal birth injury in the rat model

We sought to determine the impact of a collagen scaffold on the healing response after simulated birth injury in a rodent model. A total of 52 virgin animals were divided into the following groups: control (n = 18), injured untreated (n = 18), and injured treated with porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) (n = 16). Histopathology, immunofluorescence of collagens, and vaginal mechanical properties were used to assess the impact of injury and the subsequent healing response. Collagen I/V decreased by 44% after birth injury relative to the controls (P = .001). Birth injury resulted in inferior mechanical properties of the vagina with a decrease of 38% in the tangent modulus and 44% in the tensile strength. SIS improved the collagen I/V and I/III ratios by 28% and 46%, respectively, paralleling the trend in the mechanical properties. Simulated birth injury negatively affected vaginal biochemical and biomechanical properties long term. SIS treatment mitigated the impact of birth injury by enhancing tissue quality.