Barrett Robinson

Effectiveness of timing strategies for delivery of individuals with placenta previa and accreta.

OBJECTIVE: To compare strategies for the timing of delivery in individuals with placenta previa and ultrasonographic evidence of placenta accreta, and to determine the optimal gestational age at which to deliver individuals. METHODS: A decision tree was designed comparing nine strategies for delivery timing in an individual with placenta previa and ultrasonographic evidence of placenta accreta. The strategies ranged from a scheduled delivery at 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, or 39 weeks of gestation to a scheduled delivery at 36, 37, or 38 weeks of gestation only after amniocentesis confirmation of fetal lung maturity. Outcomes factored into the model included maternal intensive care unit admission, perinatal mortality, infant mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy. RESULTS: A scheduled delivery at 34 weeks of gestation was the preferred strategy and resulted in the highest quality-adjusted life years under the base case assumptions. Strategies awaiting confirmation of fetal lung maturity failed to result in better outcome than strategies that delivered at the corresponding gestational age without amniocentesis. After sensitivity analyses, delivery at 37 weeks of gestation without amniocentesis was the preferred strategy in limited situations, and delivery at 39 weeks of gestation was the preferred strategy only in unlikely situations. CONCLUSION: This decision analysis suggests the preferred strategy for timing of delivery in individuals with ultrasonographic evidence of placenta previa and placenta accreta under a variety of circumstances is delivery at 34 weeks of gestation. At any given gestational age, incorporating amniocentesis for verification of fetal lung maturity does not assist in the management of such individuals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III

Effectiveness of timing strategies for delivery of individuals with vasa previa.

OBJECTIVE: To compare strategies for the timing of delivery in patients with ultrasonographic evidence of vasa previa. METHODS: A decision tree was designed comparing 11 strategies for delivery timing in a patient with vasa previa. The strategies ranged from a scheduled delivery at 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, or 39 weeks of gestation to a scheduled delivery at 36, 37, or 38 weeks of gestation only after amniocentesis confirmation of fetal lung maturity. Outcomes factored into the model included perinatal mortality, infant mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy. RESULTS: A scheduled delivery at 34 weeks of gestation was the preferred strategy and resulted in the highest quality-adjusted life-years under the base-case assumptions. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the optimal gestational age for delivery was dependent on certain estimates in the model, although in most circumstances remained at 34 or 35 weeks of gestation. Under all circumstances, strategies incorporating confirmation of fetal lung maturity failed to result in a better outcome than strategies that incorporated delivery at the same gestational age without amniocentesis. CONCLUSION: This decision analysis suggests that for women with a vasa previa, delivery at 34–35 weeks of gestation may balance the risk of perinatal death with the risks of infant mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy related to prematurity. At any given gestational age, incorporating amniocentesis for verification of fetal lung maturity does not improve outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III

Vaginal apex resection: a treatment option for vaginal apex pain.

OBJECTIVE: Vaginal apex pain is a subset of chronic pelvic pain commonly treated with surgical excision of the vaginal apex. Our objective was to estimate long-term postoperative pain levels, recovery time, and return to sexual function in women who have undergone vaginal apex repair for chronic vaginal apex pain. METHODS: Since 1995, 45 women have undergone vaginal apex repair at our institution. All were asked to complete a questionnaire describing pain levels, sexual function, daily activities, ability to work, and medical therapy before and after surgical repair of the vaginal apex. Demographic background, previous medical history, and surgical history were abstracted from the medical records. Fisher exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to determine associations among baseline characteristics and various outcomes. McNemar χ2 testing was use to compare before and after pain levels. RESULTS: Twenty-seven women constituted the study sample and were available for evaluation before and after vaginal apex repair. Sixty-seven percent of respondents experienced resolution of pelvic pain after vaginal apex repair for a median of 20 months. The number of women experiencing pain with daily activities decreased from 92% before vaginal apex repair to 41% after vaginal apex repair, and 30% reported sexual activity without dyspareunia after vaginal apex repair (P = .004). Sixty-one percent of women returned to work after vaginal apex repair. Most patients required continued medical therapy after vaginal apex repair. CONCLUSION: Vaginal apex repair improves general levels of pelvic pain in some patients diagnosed with vaginal apex pain. Pain relief after vaginal apex repair is temporary, and women are likely to need continued medical therapy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II-2

The association of histologic placental inflammation with category II fetal heart tracings.

The present study assessed whether placentas in women delivered by cesarean for category II fetal heart tracings (FHT) exhibit a higher incidence of acute inflammation than those of women delivered by cesarean for labor arrest. This case control study included singleton pregnancies ≥36 weeks of gestation delivered by cesarean for an FHT indication (cases) or because of labor arrest (controls) 2005–2009 at Prentice Womens Hospital. Exclusions were maternal diabetes, hypertension, known thrombophilia, connective tissue disorders, clinical evidence of chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, fetal anomalies, stillbirth, or an infant with a birth weight less than the 10th percentile. Women were included in the case group if the indication for cesarean delivery was based on the FHT and review of the FHT determined that they were designated as category II prior to delivery. A perinatal pathologist, unaware of indications for delivery, assessed placental inflammation in maternal and fetal compartments. Stage and grade of acute inflammation, from none to severe (scored 0–3), in the membranes, chorionic plate, chorionic vessels, and umbilical cord were assessed, and overall maternal and fetal inflammatory stages were assigned. Findings indicative of chronic inflammation were also noted. Other than lower umbilical artery cord gases in women with category II FHT, cases (n = 51) and controls (n = 27) had similar baseline characteristics and newborn outcomes, as well as similar placental pathologic findings. In uncomplicated patients, the presence or extent of placental inflammation does not appear to differ between women delivered for category II FHT and labor arrest.

Prenatal diagnosis of Carpenter syndrome: Looking beyond craniosynostosis and polysyndactyly

Carpenter syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder comprising craniosynostosis, polysyndactyly, and brachydactyly. It occurs in approximately 1 birth per million. We present a patient with Carpenter syndrome (confirmed by molecular diagnosis) who has several unique and previously unreported manifestations including a large ovarian cyst and heterotaxy with malrotation of stomach, intestine, and liver. These findings were first noted by prenatal ultrasound and may assist in prenatally diagnosing additional cases of Carpenter syndrome.