E. Contro

Prenatal diagnosis and outcome of fetal posterior fossa fluid collections

To evaluate the accuracy of fetal imaging in differentiating between diagnoses involving posterior fossa fluid collections and to investigate the postnatal outcome of affected infants.

Prenatal diagnosis and outcome of partial agenesis and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum

To present antenatal sonographic findings and outcome of fetuses with hypoplasia or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Three-dimensional ultrasound in monitoring progression of labor: a reproducibility study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of measurements, obtained from stored ultrasound volumes, related to fetal head progression in the birth canal.

Cervical length and risk of antepartum bleeding in women with complete placenta previa

To evaluate if cervical length predicts prepartum bleeding and emergency Cesarean section in cases of placenta previa.

Chronic intervillositis of the placenta: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE Chronic intervillositis of the placenta is known to be associated with poor reproductive outcome and a high risk of recurrence. The aims of the present study were to quantify the risk of recurrence of chronic intervillositis in subsequent pregnancies, to explore if there are possible interventions and to assess the success of interventions. METHODS Systematic review of published literature using published guidelines. RESULTS No randomised controlled trials were identified. Sixty-one papers, published between 1977 and 2009 were identified after abstract screening but only 6 studies could be included in the systematic review. From the 6 selected studies, 69 pregnancies at gestational age of 14 weeks or over, with a histopathologic diagnosis of chronic intervillositis were available for analysis. The rate of intrauterine growth restriction in the study population was 66.7%, the overall rate of livebirth was 53.6%. In 16/20 (80.0%) cases recurrence of CI was confirmed at histopathology. The livebirth rate reported with treatment was 30.8% against 58.9% without treatment (RR=0.47, 95% CI=0.2-1.1). This difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Chronic intervillositis has a high (80.0%) recurrence risk. In pregnancies reaching 14 weeks, the chance of a livebirth is 53.6%. The livebirth rate reported with treatment was 30.8% against 58.9% without treatment (RR=0.47, 95% CI=0.2-1.1). This difference was not statistically significant. Intervention with drug therapy is of no demonstrable benefit, and may even be harmful.

Persistence of increased uterine artery resistance in the third trimester and pregnancy outcome

To evaluate whether the persistence of abnormal findings in the third trimester following increased uterine artery (UtA) resistance in the second trimester is related to adverse pregnancy outcome.

Prenatal ultrasound in the prediction of bowel obstruction in infants with gastroschisis

To assess the value of prenatal ultrasound in predicting bowel obstruction requiring surgery in fetuses with prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis.

Brainstem-vermis and brainstem-tentorium angles allow accurate categorization of fetal upward rotation of cerebellar vermis

To evaluate the role of the brainstem–vermis (BV) and brainstem–tentorium (BT) angles in the differential diagnosis of upward rotation of the fetal cerebellar vermis.

The prognostic role of uterine artery Doppler studies in patients with late-onset preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of uterine artery Doppler in the prediction of outcome in patients with late-onset preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN Patients with late-onset preeclampsia underwent Doppler interrogation of the uterine arteries. Patients with abnormal uterine artery Doppler were compared with those who had a normal uterine artery Doppler. RESULTS Ninety-nine patients were included in the study group. Abnormal uterine artery Doppler group presented significantly lower gestational age at admission (36.1 +/- 2.1 weeks vs 37.2 +/- 1.9 weeks; P < .005), lower gestational age at delivery (36.5 +/- 1.9 weeks vs 37.7 +/- 1.7 weeks; P < .005), lower birthweight (2429 +/- 590 g vs 3013 +/- 597 g; P < .0001), and a higher admission rate to neonatal intensive care unit (17/51 vs 6/48; odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-9.5). No significant difference in the occurrence of maternal complications (10/51 vs 6/48; odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.9) was registered. CONCLUSION Women with late-onset preeclampsia show a higher risk of perinatal complications if uterine resistance is increased although maternal outcome does not seem to be related to Doppler findings.

Maternal cardiac function in normal twin pregnancy: a longitudinal study

To investigate maternal cardiac function in a cohort of uncomplicated twin gestations assessed longitudinally.