Maternal Perinatal Complications Research Articles

Hypertensive states of pregnancy and maternal-perinatal complications at the Regional Hospital of Ciudad del Este

Introducción: Los estados hipertensivos del embarazo son un conjunto de patologías que puede producir muerte o discapacidad crónica en las madres, en los fetos y recién nacidos. Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de los estados hipertensivos del embarazo y las complicaciones materno-perinatales en el Hospital Regional de Ciudad del Este. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con muestreo no probabilístico. Se estudiaron a todas las mujeres embarazadas con estados hipertensivos del embarazo o asociado al mismo que tuvieron eventos obstétricos en el Hospital Regional de Ciudad del Este en los años 2018 al 2020. Los datos fueron analizados en el Software Stata 12.0. Resultados: Se estudiaron a 7056 pacientes. Se encontraron 11,9% participantes con estados hipertensivos del embarazo, 55,3% con mayor frecuencia entre los 20 a 35 años, el 71,3% tuvieron control prenatal de mala calidad, se encontraron el 42,8% con preeclampsia. El 65,2% terminaron por cesárea, 27,8% Síndrome de HELLP, el 1,4% presentaron requerimiento de terapia intensiva y 0,6% muerte materna. Con respecto a las complicaciones perinatales se encontraron bajo peso al nacer en 30,2% y muerte del 2%. Conclusión: Se registró alta frecuencia de estados hipertensivos del embarazo con alto porcentaje de complicaciones, mala calidad de control prenatal. Entre las complicaciones perinatales más frecuentes fueron el bajo peso al nacer y la más grave es la muerte.

Effectiveness of a Step Counter Smartband and Midwife Counseling Intervention on Gestational Weight Gain and Physical Activity in Pregnant Women With Obesity (Pas and Pes Study): Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundWomen who are pregnant and have obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) present a higher risk of maternal and perinatal complications. The use of mobile apps and a wristband during pregnancy may contribute to promoting healthy lifestyles and, thus, improving maternal and neonatal health.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex digital health intervention, using a smartband and app with midwife counseling, on GWG and physical activity (PA) in women who are pregnant and have obesity and analyze its impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes. In addition, we aim to study the frequency of use, usability, and satisfaction with the mobile apps used by the women in the intervention group.MethodsA parallel, 2-arm, randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 150 women who were pregnant and had obesity were included. The intervention group received a complex combined digital intervention. The intervention was delivered with a smartband (Mi Band 2) linked to the app Mi Fit to measure PA and the Hangouts app with the midwife to provide personal health information. The control group received usual care. The validated Spanish versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form and the System Usability Scale were used. Satisfaction was measured on a 1- to 5-point Likert scale.ResultsWe analyzed 120 women, of whom 30 (25%) were withdrawn because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The median GWG in the intervention group was 7.0 (IQR 4-11) kg versus 9.3 (IQR 5.9-13.3) kg in the control group (P=.04). The adjusted mean GWG per week was 0.5 (95% CI 0.4-0.6) kg per week in the control group and 0.3 (95% CI 0.3-0.4) kg per week in the intervention group (df=0.1, 95% CI −0.2 to 0.03; P=.008). During the 35 and 37 gestational weeks, women in the intervention group had higher mean PA than women in the control group (1980 metabolic equivalents of tasks–minutes per week vs 1386 metabolic equivalents of tasks–minutes per week, respectively; P=.01). No differences were observed between the study groups in the incidence of maternal and perinatal outcomes. In the intervention group, 61% (36/59) of the women who were pregnant used the smartband daily, and 75% (44/59) evaluated the usability of the Mi Fit app as excellent. All women in the intervention group used the Hangouts app at least once a week. The mean of the satisfaction scale with the health counseling app and midwife support was 4.8/5 (SD 0.6) points.ConclusionsThe use of a complex mobile health intervention was associated with adequate GWG, which was lower in the intervention group than in the control group. In addition, we observed that the intervention group had increases in PA. No differences were observed in maternal perinatal complications.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03706872; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03706872

Maternal Childhood Adversity as a Risk for Perinatal Complications and NICU Hospitalization.

To examine maternal childhood adversity in relation to increased risk for maternal and infant perinatal complications and newborn Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admittance. A sample of 164 women recruited at their first prenatal appointment participated in a longitudinal study through 6 weeks postdelivery. Participants self-reported on their adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), negative health risks (overweight/obesity, smoking, and alcohol use), adverse infant outcomes, NICU admittance, and maternal perinatal complications across three pregnancy assessments and one post-birth assessment. Logistic binomial regression analyses were used to examine associations between maternal ACEs and adverse infant outcomes, NICU admittance, and maternal perinatal complications, controlling for pregnancy-related health risks. Findings showed that women with severe ACEs exposure (6+ ACEs) had 4 times the odds of reporting at least one adverse infant outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 4.33, 95% CI: 1.02-18.39), almost 9 times the odds of reporting a NICU admission (OR = 8.70, 95% CI: 1.34-56.65), and 4 times the odds of reporting at least one maternal perinatal outcome (OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 1.43-13.39). The findings demonstrate the extraordinary risk that mothers' ACEs pose for infant and maternal health outcomes over and above the associations with known maternal health risks during pregnancy, including overweight/obesity, smoking, and alcohol use. These results support a biological intergenerational transmission framework, which suggests that risk from maternal adversity is perpetuated in the next generation through biophysical and behavioral mechanisms during pregnancy that negatively affect infant health outcomes.

Maternal Diaphragmatic Hernia Correction During Pregnancy

Abstract Congenital diaphragmatic hernia consists of a defect in the embryonic development of the diaphragm that allows the passage of the abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity, its diagnosis during pregnancy is quite rare. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman, with 23 weeks of gestation, who consulted for epigastric pain, nausea, and repetitive emetic episodes, without improvement with the medication provided. Due to the intense abdominal pain, a computed tomography of the abdomen and thorax was performed where the 28 mm defect was found at the left diaphragmatic level with protrusion of the gastric fundus to the thoracic cavity. She was taken to surgical management by laparoscopy with abdominal and thoracic approach, with a successful result and without maternal perinatal complications. Although the integrity of the diaphragmatic suture could be feared in relation to the increase in intraabdominal pressure due to uterine growth, the evolution of our patient and previous reports show that postoperative complications are not frequent. Successful vaginal delivery has even been described in some reports. Diaphragmatic hernias diagnosed during pregnancy are quite rare. We suggest that the optimal management of them during pregnancy is immediate surgical correction in case of persistent symptoms, more studies are needed to establish firm recommendations on the management of this pathology.

Bolos epidurales intermitentes programados para mantenimiento de la analgesia del trabajo de parto: Estudio observacional, analítico de tipo cohorte

Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre analgesia epidural mantenida mediante Bolos epidurales intermitentes programados (BEIP) y las complicaciones materno-perinatales. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio de tipo Cohorte en gestantes entre 18 y 35 años, en trabajo de parto con dilatación cervical de 4 centímetros o más, agrupadas en dos cohortes según administración o no de analgesia epidural: En las gestantes del Grupo A, se administró analgesia epidural en bolo, con mantenimiento mediante BEIP con bupivacaína 0.0625% y fentanilo 25 ug en 10cc cada 60 minutos; en las gestantes del grupo B, no se administró analgesia epidural. Resultados: La duración del periodo de dilatación y expulsivo fue mayor en el grupo que recibió analgesia epidural de (532.91 ± 254 minutos) y de (429.19 ± 311 minutos) en el que no recibió; el tiempo del periodo expulsivo fue (16.97 ± 16 minutos) y (11.76 ± 10 minutos) en el grupo B, (p < 0.05); menor incidencia de desgarros perineales de primer grado en el grupo que recibió analgesia (16.12 % VS 25.35%; p=0.014). No se encontraron diferencias en la vía de culminación del parto, puntuación de APGAR, necesidad de reanimación neonatal e ingreso a Unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN). Conclusiones: Las gestantes que recibieron analgesia epidural mediante BEIP tuvieron una mayor duración del periodo de dilatación y del expulsivo, menor incidencia de desgarros perineales, sin incrementar la morbilidad neonatal.

Antenatal corticosteroids administration on mortality and morbidity in premature twins born at 25∼34 gestational weeks: A retrospective multicenter study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) administration on mortality and major neonatal complications in early life of preterm twins. Study DesignThis study retrospectively enrolled 1 662 twins delivered at 25∼34+6gestational weeks in China from January 2013 to December 2014. They were divided into ACS group and no-ACS group according to weather their mothers received ACS or not. Moreover, they were subgrouped as 25∼27+6 and 28∼34+6gestational week groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of ACS on the incidence of mortality and major morbidities. ResultsA total of 910 neonates (54.8 %) received one or more doses of ACS, and 752 neonates (45.2 %) did not receive any ACS. No significant difference in infant mortality was observed between the ACS and no-ACS groups (P = 0.321). The ACS group had decreased incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and mild RDS compared with the no-ACS group (both P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, patent ductus arteriosus, sepsis and severe RDS between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of RDS was lower in the ACS group than in the no-ACS group (P = 0.036) at 28∼34+6weeks. However, the incidence of mild ROP was higher in the ACS group than that in the no-ACS group (P = 0.047) at 25∼27+6 weeks. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated a decreasing risk of RDS (aOR = 0.661, 95 %CI:0.506−0.863, P = 0.002) after adjusting the gestational week, birth weight, small for gestational age, delivery mode, 5 min Apgar score, and maternal perinatal complications. ConclusionIn twin preterm infants, ACS administration is associated with a reduced risk of RDS. However, our data suggest that it may not have a beneficial effect on mortality and other short-term morbidities.

Manifestaciones clínicas y resultados materno-perinatales del COVID-19 asociado al embarazo: Una revisión sistemática

Objetivo: Evaluar las manifestaciones clínicas y resultados materno-perinatales de la infección por COVID-19 asociada al embarazo. Material y métodos: Se revisaron ocho bases de datos electrónicas (Science Direct, Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo, Redalyc, LitCovid, EBSCO y Scopus). Se consideraron estudios primarios a texto completo en idioma español e inglés; publicados entre el 01 de enero y 15 de mayo de 2020; y realizados en gestantes con diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19 (reacción en cadena polimerasa con transcripción inversa [RT-PCR]. Resultados: Se incluyeron 15 estudios que informaron 224 casos de infección por COVID-19 asociada al embarazo, principalmente en gestantes del tercer trimestre (13/15). La tos y fiebre fueron las principales manifestaciones clínicas reportadas en todas las investigaciones. Menos de la tercera parte de estudios muestran al dolor abdominal como manifestación obstétrica que motiva la búsqueda de atención. El antecedente epidemiológico de exposición y las alteraciones en exámenes auxiliares de laboratorio (linfopenia y PCR elevado, principalmente) son reportadas con regular frecuencia. La enfermedad por COVID-19 asociado al embarazo se presenta principalmente de forma leve; asimismo, la mortalidad e ingreso a UCI son resultados maternos exclusivamente asociados a las pocas presentaciones severas. La cesárea es la vía de culminación mayormente empleada, siendo en pocos casos la neumonía por COVID-19 la indicación citada. El bajo peso al nacer y el ingreso a UCIN son resultados perinatales descritos en 9 de 15 estudios, existiendo poca mortalidad perinatal. Solo en tres estudios se reporta que existe transmisión vertical. Conclusión: La enfermedad por COVID-19 asociado al embarazo se reporta principalmente en gestantes de tercer trimestre, con fiebre y tos presentes a la admisión, siendo mayormente casos leves. Asimismo, genera pocas complicaciones materno-perinatales; sin embargo, en casos severos la morbimortalidad es más frecuente.

Pattern of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders among patients consulting publicly-funded child psychiatric clinics in Saudi Arabia

Data about psychiatric problems among young people are scarce in the Gulf countries. This retrospective review of records describes the pattern of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders among patients consulting 3 child psychiatric clinics in Saudi Arabia during the year 2008. Most patients were referred from the public health sector (92.8%). Psychotropic drugs were prescribed for 86.2% of patients and psychotherapy for 55.2%. Maternal perinatal complications and other psychosocial stressors were noted in almost 45.8% of cases. Family history of psychiatric disorder was reported in 31.5% of patients. Psychiatric comorbidity was noted in 40.5% of cases while physical diseases were noted in 29.9%. The outcome was classified as unstable at the last consultation in 17.9% of cases. In a linear regression analysis the only factors significantly associated with unstable outcome were a higher load of symptoms (OR 2.64) and perinatal complications (OR 2.84).