Luiz Carlos Santos

Violência física doméstica e gestação: resultados de um inquérito no puerpério

PURPOSE: to determine the prevalence of domestic physical violence among women who delivered at a tertiary center in the Northeast of Brazil, to study the main risk factors associated with domestic violence, and to determine perinatal outcome. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 420 women who delivered at a tertiary center in Recife (Brazil) with fetuses weighing more than 500 g. They were submitted to interviews with open and closed questions. The prevalence of domestic physical violence was determined. Statistical analysis was performed using c2 and Fishers exact tests at a 5% level of significance. The prevalence ratio was determined as measurement of relative risk of violence. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed and the adjusted risk was calculated. RESULTS: the prevalence of domestic physical violence was 13.1% (95% CI = 10.1-16.6) and 7.4% (95% CI = 5.2-10.2) before and during pregnancy, respectively. The pattern of violence has changed during pregnancy: stopped in 43.6%, was reduced in 27.3% and increased in 11% of the victims. After multivariate analysis the variables that persisted strongly associated with violence were low female educational level, history of violence in the women´s family, partners use of alcohol and unemployment. Perinatal outcome was studied and a significantly higher frequency of neonatal death was observed among victims of domestic violence. CONCLUSIONS: a high prevalence of domestic physical violence was observed (about 13%) in women who delivered at a tertiary center in Northeast of Brazil. The main risk factors were low educational level and previous familiar history of violence in the womens family, alcohol use by and unemployment of their partners. Neonatal mortality was increased in victims of violence.

Tratamento da vaginose bacteriana com gel vaginal de Aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi): ensaio clínico randomizado

PURPOSE: to test the efficacy of and tolerance to Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi gel in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. METHODS: forty-eight women with symptomatic bacterial vaginosis (according to Amsels criteria) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial comparing Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi gel (25 cases) with placebo (23 cases). The main outcome parameters were: rate of cure, presence of lactobacilli in Pap smear after treatment and side effects. Statistical analysis was performed using the c2 and the Fisher exact test at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: using Amsels clinical parameters of bacterial vaginosis, the cure rate was 84% in the Schinus group and 47.8% in the placebo group (p=0.008). A significant increase in the frequency of lactobacilli was observed in the Pap smear of the group treated with Schinus (43.5%) compared to the patient group (4.3%) (p=0.002). Treatment-related adverse events were not frequent in either group. CONCLUSIOS: the present study indicates that Schinus vaginal gel is effective and safe in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. In addition, potential beneficial effects on the vaginal flora are suggested.

Análise Comparativa de Testes Diagnósticos para Diabete Gestacional

Purpose: to analyze the perinatal results of patients submitted to a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during prenatal care at the Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), according to three different criteria. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 210 pregnant patients attended at the IMIP, who were tested by a 100 g OGTT and had a singleton, topic pregnancy, without history of diabetes or glucose intolerance before pregnancy, and who delivered at the IMIP. The patients were classified into one of the following categories according to the levels found by OGTT: controls, mild hyperglycemia, Bertinis group, Carpenters group and the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG). These classes were then compared and association between the categories and preeclampsia, large for gestational age (LGA) newborns, rate of cesarean delivery, stillbirth, and mean birth weight was investigated. Results: the frequency of gestational diabetes was 48.1, 18.1, and 9% according to Bertinis, Carpenter and Coustans and NDDG criteria, respectively, and mild hyperglycemia was present in 10.5%. Age of patients increased with a higher degree of carbohydrate intolerance. The groups did not differ regarding frequency of LGA, C-section, stillbirths, and birth weight. There was an increased frequency of preeclampsia among women with hyperglycemia and gestational diabetes according to Carpenter and Coustans criteria. Conclusions: prevalence of gestational diabetes varied between 9 and 48% according to the different criteria, but maternal and perinatal results did not differ significantly among the groups. Strict diagnostic criteria can determine overdiagnosis without improvement of perinatal outcome.

Avaliação do impacto da corticoterapia antenatal para aceleração da maturidade pulmonar fetal nos recém-nascidos em maternidade-escola brasileira

PURPOSE: to evaluate the effects of antenatal corticosteroid treatment on the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), neonatal morbidities, and mortality in preterm babies assisted at IMIP, a teaching hospital in Brazil. METHODS: this was an observational, analytical, cohort study which included 155 newborns from women who delivered prematurely. The study was conducted between February and November 2001 and included 78 women in the corticosteroid-treated group and 77 in the nontreated group. The study design included the incidence of RDS, assessment of morbidities related to prematurity and tabulation of neonatal mortality. The risk ratio and its 95% confidence interval were determined for estimation of the relative risk for RDS and neonatal outcome (dependent variables) according to antenatal corticoid therapy administration (independent variable). RESULTS: corticosteroid treatment was administered to 50.3% of the patients (64% of the women received the full treatment course, while 36% of the same group received a partial course of treatment). The incidence of RDS was significantly lower in the corticosteroid treated group (37.2%) compared with the nontreated group (63.6%). There was no observable decrease in the risk for morbidities associated with prematurity. There was a decrease in mortality and in the frequency of supplemental oxygen therapy in the corticosteroid group (37%). On multiple logical regression analysis, there was a 72% reduction in the risk for RDS in the corticosteroid group, and approximately a seven times greater risk for RDS in babies of gestational age below 32 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: a favorable impact of antenatal corticosteroid administration was observed, with significant reduction of the risk for RDS in patients with gestational age between 26 and 35 weeks. Although no effect on the other morbidities was observed, this can be explained by the small size of the sample.

Fatores prognósticos para óbito em recém-nascidos com gastrosquise

Gastroschisis remains associated with an adverse outcome in developing countries and the factors associated with neonatal death are not known. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with neonatal death in cases of gastroschisis managed in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. It was included 49 cases of gastroschisis managed at IMIP, Recife - Brazil, between 1995 and 2001. The dependent variable was neonatal death and the independent variables were: prenatal diagnosis, route and site of delivery, gestational age, birthweight, birth-to-admission interval, birth-to-surgery interval, primary or staged-silo repair, need of mechanical ventilation and postoperative infection. Prevalence ratio (PR) and its 95% confidence interval of neonatal death was determined. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine adjusted relative risk of neonatal death. Overall mortality was 53% (26 cases) and infection was the main cause of death (92%). Prenatal diagnosis was associated with significant reduction of 74% in the risk of death. This risk was significantly increased ( > twice) among newborns with gestational age below 37 weeks, birthweight below 2.5Kg and outborn babies. A significantly greater risk of neonatal death was observed for birth-to-admission interval of 2h or more and birth-to-surgery interval of 4h or more (2.5 and 3.4 times, respectively). Need of mechanical ventilation was associated with an increased risk of death (2.6 times). In multivariate analysis, variables that persisted strongly associated to neonatal death were gestational age below 37 weeks and birth-to-surgery interval greater than 4h. A high mortality was observed among babies of gastroschisis which is explained by factors like absence of prenatal diagnosis, prematurity, low birthweight, delivery outside the tertiary center, longer birth-to-surgery intervals and need of mechanical ventilation.

Risk factors for maternal death in patients with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia

OBJETIVOS: determinar as principais causas de obito em pacientes com pre-eclâmpsia grave/eclâmpsia e identificar os fatores de risco associados. METODOS: realizou-se um estudo de caso-controle, com todos os casos de morte materna (n = 20) em pacientes com pre-eclâmpsia grave ou eclâmpsia (n = 2.541). Selecionaram-se aleatoriamente 80 controles (sobreviventes). Determinou-se o odds ratio como estimativa do risco relativo de morte materna, realizando-se analise de regressao logistica multipla para determinacao do odds ratio ajustado. RESULTADOS: as causas basicas de obito foram: edema agudo de pulmao, coagulopatia intravascular disseminada, choque hemorragico, embolia pulmonar, insuficiencia renal aguda, e septicemia e tres casos por causas indeterminadas. Os principais fatores de risco foram: idade > 25 anos, multiparidade, idade gestacional 110mmHg, convulsoes, hipertensao arterial sistemica cronica, sindrome HELLP, edema agudo de pulmao, descolamento prematuro de placenta, coagulopatia intravascular disseminada e insuficiencia renal aguda. As variaveis que persistiram associadas com morte materna foram: sindrome HELLP, eclâmpsia, edema agudo de pulmao, hipertensao cronica e falta de pre-natal. CONCLUSOES: os principais fatores de risco para morte em mulheres com pre-eclâmpsia/eclâmpsia sao falta de pre-natal associados com hipertensao cronica e complicacoes como sindrome HELLP, eclâmpsia e edema agudo de pulmao.

Gastrosquise: Diagnóstico Pré-natal x Prognóstico Neonatal

Purpose: to determine the frequency of prenatal diagnosis in newborns with gastroschisis operated at the Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) and to analyze its repercussions on neonatal prognosis. Patients and Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out, including 31 cases of gastroschisis submitted to surgical correction in our service from 1995 to 1999. Prevalence risk (PR) of neonatal death and its 95% confidence interval were calculated for the presence of prenatal diagnosis and other perinatal and surgical variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the adjusted risk of neonatal death. Results: only 10 of 31 cases of gastroschisis (32.3%) had prenatal diagnosis and all were delivered at IMIP. No newborn with prenatal diagnosis was preterm but 43% of those without prenatal diagnosis were premature (p 4 hours, staged silo surgery, need of mechanical ventilation and postoperative infection. Conclusions: prenatal diagnosis was infrequent among infants with gastroschisis and neonatal death was extremely high in its absence. It is necessary to achieve greater rates of prenatal diagnosis and to improve perinatal care in order to reduce this increased mortality.

Risk Factors for Infection after Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Purpose: to determine the main factors associated with the occurrence of surgical site infection in patients submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy at the Instituto Materno ¾ Infantil de Pernambuco (iMIP). Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling patients submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy at IMIP who returned to postsurgical consultation for infection control, between January, 1995 and December, 1998 (n = 414). The frequency of surgical site infection (defined according to the CDC criteria, 1998) was 10% (42 cases). Prevalence risk (PR) of infection (dependent variable) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for independent variables: age, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, malignant pathology, type of incision, duration of surgery and antibiotic prophylaxis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine adjusted risk of infection. Results: a significantly increased risk of infection was found for the following variables: age >60 years (PR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.15-4.94), obesity (PR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.83-5.59), duration of surgery >2 hours (PR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.32-4.21) and diabetes (PR = 6.0, 95% CI = 3.41-10.57). On the other hand, risk of infection was significantly reduced when antibiotic prophylaxis was administered (PR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.21-0.68). Type of incision, malignant disease and hypertension were not associated with infection. Conclusions: the factors associated with increased risk of surgical site infection after total abdominal hysterectomy at IMIP were: age >60 years, obesity, diabetes and surgical duration >2 hours. Antibiotic prophylaxis showed a protective effect with reduction of risk of infection.

Gravidez abdominal a termo com feto vivo: relato de caso

Term abdominal pregnancy with live fetus is an obstetrical rarity with high fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The authors present a case of abdominal pregnancy in a 43-year-old woman. The diagnosis was made only at term (37 weeks) by clinical findings and echography. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and a living female newborn weighing 2,570 g was extracted. Apgar scores were 3, 6 and 8 at the 1st, 5th and 10th minutes, respectively. Placenta was inserted in the omentum and was removed without complications. Postoperative course was uneventful and both mother and child were discharged healthy.

Peritonite meconial como diagnóstico diferencial de ascite fetal: relato de caso

Introduction: meconium peritonitis as result of fetal intestinal perforation has a low incidence (1:30,000 deliveries) and high mortality (50% or more). Prenatal ultrasound findings include fetal ascites and intra-abdominal calcifications. Evidence suggests that prenatal diagnosis can improve postnatal prognosis. Case Report: R.C.M.S., 22 years, II pregnancy O para, presented ultrasound (12/02/98) with diagnosis of fetal ascites. Investigation for hydrops fetalis was performed and immune and nonimmune causes were excluded. Severe fetal ascites persisted on subsequent ultrasound examinations, without calcifications. Vaginal delivery occurred at 36 weeks (01/02/99), with polyhydramnios. Female neonate weighing 2,670 g, with signs of respiratory distress, abdominal distension and petechiae. Abdominal distension worsened progressively, with palpation of a petrous tumor in the right upper quadrant and elimination of white mucus at rectal examination. Radiological findings (01/04/99) were disseminated abdominal calcifications, intestinal dilatation and absence of gas at rectal ampulla. Exploratory laparotomy was indicated with diagnosis of meconium peritonitis. A giant meconium cyst and ileal atresia were observed and lysis of adhesions and ileostomy were performed. Initial postoperative evolution was satisfactory but was subsequently complicated by sepsis and neonatal death occurred (01/09/99). Conclusion: meconium peritonitis should be remembered at differential diagnosis of fetal ascites. In the present case, surgical indication could be anticipated if prenatal diagnosis were established, with improvement of neonatal evolution.