Daniela Carusi

The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Comprehensive assessment of psychopathology in dementia

We developed a new instrument, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), to assess 10 behavioral disturbances occurring in dementia patients: delusions, hallucinations, dysphoria, anxiety, agitation/aggression, euphoria, disinhibition, irritability/lability, apathy, and aberrant motor activity. The NPI uses a screening strategy to minimize administration time, examining and scoring only those behavioral domains with positive responses to screening questions. Both the frequency and the severity of each behavior are determined. Information for the NPI is obtained from a caregiver familiar with the patients behavior. Studies reported here demonstrate the content and concurrent validity as well as between-rater, test-retest, and internal consistency reliability; the instrument is both valid and reliable. The NPI has the advantages of evaluating a wider range of psychopathology than existing instruments, soliciting information that may distinguish among different etiologies of dementia, differentiating between severity and frequency of behavioral changes, and minimizing administration time.

Conservative management of morbidly adherent placenta: expert review

Over the last century, the incidence of placenta accreta, increta, and percreta, collectively referred to as morbidly adherent placenta, has risen dramatically. Planned cesarean hysterectomy at the time of cesarean delivery is the standard recommended treatment in the United States. Recently, interest in conservative management has resurged, especially in Europe. The aims of this review are the following: (1) to provide an overview of methods used for conservative management, (2) to discuss clinical implications for both clinicians and patients, and (3) to identify areas in need of further research.

Outcome of cesarean scar pregnancies diagnosed sonographically in the first trimester.

The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of cesarean scar pregnancies diagnosed during the first trimester.

Interhemispheric relations in hierarchical perception : A second look

This study reevaluates the role of interhemispheric interactions in the consistency effect (global interference with local decisions) in hierarchical perception. In an earlier study, Robertson et al. [22] (Neuropsychology, Vol. 7, pp. 325-342, 1993) tested three split-brain patients on a hierarchical perception task in which stimuli, consisting of large (global) letters made up of smaller (local) letters, were unilaterally or bilaterally presented for identification. They found that, in general, the consistency effect did not occur in split-brain patients and argued that the effect is interhemispheric and normally mediated by the corpus callosum. We repeated the experiment with new stimuli in two of the same split-brain patients. We found that both patients demonstrated evidence for global interference, implying that the neocortical commissures are not necessary for eliciting the consistency effect in hierarchical perception.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Complications During Pregnancy

BACKGROUND Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are routinely used in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. However, little is known about the consequences of PICC insertion in these patients. Our aim was to analyze PICC-related complication rates among pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant women with PICC insertion between January 2000 and June 2006 were studied retrospectively. Infusate type, comorbid conditions, and PICC duration were characterized. Major complications, defined as need for surgical intervention, bacteremia requiring intravenous antibiotics, or thromboembolic events, were identified. Minor complications, including phlebitis, PICC malfunction, early PICC removal, infection requiring oral antibiotics, or hospitalization for PICC evaluation, were also studied. RESULTS Eighty-four catheters in 66 women were eligible for study, totaling 2544 PICC days. Catheters remained in place for 1-177 days; median duration was 21.0 days. PICCs were used for intravenous fluid (IVF, 59.4%), parenteral nutrition (PN, 34.5%), and antibiotics (6%). The overall complication rate was 18.5 per 1000 PICC days (55.9% of PICCs); 22.6% were major, with bacteremia being most frequent (20.2%). A diagnosis of diabetes was the only factor that significantly predicted complications (hazard ratio, 2.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-6.13). PICC duration and type of infusate (PN vs IVF alone) were not associated with complications. CONCLUSIONS PICC insertion in pregnant women is associated with a high complication rate, which appears to be independent of the type of infusate and occurs in the majority of women. PICCs should be used judiciously and only when clearly necessary during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to determine how to reduce PICC-related complications in this population.

Patient selection for later delivery timing with suspected previa‐accreta

We identified patients with previa and suspected accreta who are at lowest risk of unscheduled delivery or major morbidity with planned delivery beyond 34 weeks’ gestation.

Uterine rupture after prior conservative management of placenta accreta.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence for counseling patients who seek uterine conservation in the setting of placenta accreta. CASE: We report the case of a 37-year-old woman with retained placenta accreta after vaginal delivery. Attempts at transvaginal removal failed, and the placenta was removed through a fundal hysterotomy with bilateral uterine artery ligations performed to control blood loss. She conceived a second pregnancy 11 months later and sustained spontaneous fundal uterine rupture at 26.5 weeks of gestation with a recurrent accreta found at the rupture site. The newborn survived but has residual musculoskeletal morbidity and developmental delay at 1 year of age. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing conservative treatment of placenta accreta in the setting of a fundal hysterotomy should be cautioned about recurrent accreta and uterine rupture.

Uterine artery embolization of cervical varices before second-trimester abortion.

BACKGROUND: Cervical varices are an extremely rare complication of pregnancy; they can result in significant maternal morbidity secondary to acute hemorrhage. There is limited evidence to guide the management of cervical varices during termination of pregnancy. CASE: A 37-year-old woman presented with recurrent vaginal hemorrhage at 17 weeks of gestation in the setting of a dichorionic–diamniotic twin gestation, an anterior placenta previa, a subchorionic hematoma visible on ultrasound examination, and prominent cervical varices. After extensive counseling, she and her husband opted for termination. Prophylactic uterine artery embolization was performed before uncomplicated laminaria placement and standard dilation and evacuation. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic uterine artery embolization may have reduced hemorrhage risk from cervical varices during dilation and evacuation for second-trimester abortion.

Pathologically Diagnosed Placenta Accreta and Hemorrhagic Morbidity in a Subsequent Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE To identify the relationship between pathologically diagnosed placenta accreta and risk of major morbidity in a subsequent pregnancy. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with pathologically diagnosed placenta accreta in an index pregnancy who returned with a subsequent pregnancy at our academic center from 2007 to 2015. Subsequent delivery outcomes included minor, major, or no morbidity. Minor morbidity included estimated blood loss 500-1,500 cc for vaginal and 1,000-1,500 cc for cesarean delivery, transfusion of one to three units of red cells, and minor surgical procedures. Major morbidity included estimated blood loss greater than 1,500 cc, transfusion of greater than three units of red cells, uterine artery embolization, unplanned laparotomy, or hysterectomy. RESULTS Three hundred thirty-nine patients with pathologically diagnosed accreta did not undergo hysterectomy, and 39 (11.5%) of these returned for subsequent delivery. Of these, 14 (36%) had accretas that had been identified clinically in the index pregnancy. Twenty-one (54%) experienced morbidity in the index pregnancy, 16 of these (76%) minor and five (24%) major. Of patients without morbidity in the first pregnancy, none experienced major morbidity in a subsequent pregnancy, whereas 6 of 21 (29%) with any index morbidity had a subsequent major morbid outcome (P=.02). Of those with a morbid index delivery, 25% had either a clinical or pathologic accreta diagnosis at follow-up compared with none of those who index accreta was nonmorbid (P=.05). CONCLUSION Risk for major hemorrhagic morbidity after a prior pathologically diagnosed accreta depends on the clinical context. Preparation for major blood loss is indicated after any prior pregnancy complicated by hemorrhage or treatment of retained placenta with a pathologic accreta.

Simulation to Improve Trainee Knowledge and Comfort About Twin Vaginal Birth

OBJECTIVE: To describe a simulation-based curriculum on twin vaginal delivery and evaluate its effects on trainee knowledge and comfort about twin vaginal birth. METHODS: Trainees participated in a three-part simulation consisting of a patient counseling session, a twin delivery scenario, and a breech extraction skills station. Consenting trainees completed a 21-item presimulation survey and a 22-item postsimulation survey assessing knowledge, experience, attitudes, and comfort surrounding twin vaginal birth. Presimulation and postsimulation results were compared using univariate analysis. Our primary outcomes were change in knowledge and comfort before and after the simulation. RESULTS: Twenty-four obstetrics and gynecology residents consented to participation with 18 postsimulation surveys available for comparison (75%). Trainees estimated their participation in 445 twin deliveries (median 19, range 0–52) with only 20.4% of these as vaginal births. Participants reported a need for more didactic or simulated training on this topic (64% and 88%, respectively). Knowledge about twin delivery improved after the simulation (33.3% compared with 58.3% questions correct, P<.01). Before training, 33.3% of participants reported they would strongly counsel a patient to attempt vaginal birth instead of elective cesarean delivery for twins compared with 50% after training (P=.52). Personal comfort with performing a breech extraction of a nonvertex second twin improved from 5.5% to 66.7% after the simulation (P<.01). CONCLUSION: Resident exposure to twin vaginal birth is infrequent and variable with a demonstrable need for more training. Our contemporary obstetric climate is prioritizing vaginal birth despite less frequent operative obstetric interventions. We describe a reproducible twin delivery simulation associated with a favorable effect on resident knowledge and comfort levels.