Michael C. Nicholl

Variation in hospital caesarean section rates and obstetric outcomes among nulliparae at term: a population-based cohort study.

To explore the variation in hospital caesarean section (CS) rates for nulliparous women, to determine whether different case‐mix, labour and delivery, and hospital factors can explain this variation and to examine the association between hospital CS rates and outcomes.

Unexplained variation in hospital caesarean section rates.

Objectives: To assess recent hospital caesarean section (CS) rates in New South Wales, adjusted for casemix; to quantify the amount of variation that can be explained by casemix differences; and to examine the potential impact on the overall CS rate of reducing variation in practice.

Outcomes of breech birth by mode of delivery: a population linkage study

Trial evidence supports a policy of caesarean section for singleton breech presentations at term, but vaginal breech birth is considered a safe option for selected women.

WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO HOSPITAL VARIATION IN OBSTETRIC TRANSFUSION RATES

To explore variation in red blood cell transfusion rates between hospitals, and the extent to which this can be explained. A secondary objective was to assess whether hospital transfusion rates are associated with maternal morbidity.

Predicting date of birth and examining the best time to date a pregnancy

To compare the estimated date of birth (eDOB) from the last menstrual period (LMP) and ultrasound scans at varying gestations (< 70, 70–106, 110–140, 141–196, and 200–276 weeks) with the actual date of birth (aDOB).

Successful pregnancy outcome with the use of antenatal high‐dose intravenous immunoglobulin following previous neonatal death associated with neonatal haemochromatosis

pathologic features, site of origin, prognosis, and relationship to ‘‘pseudomyxoma peritonei’’. Am J Surg Pathol 1995; 19: 1390– 1408. 7 Pranesh N, Menasce LP, Wilson MS, O’Dwyer ST. Pseudomyxoma peritonei: unusual origin from an ovarian mature cystic teratoma. J Clin Pathol 2005; 58: 1115–1117. 8 Kurman JR. Blaustein’s Pathology of the Female Genital Tract, 4th edn. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1994. 9 Prayson RA, Hart WR, Petras RE. Pseudomyxoma peritonei. A clinicopathologic study of 19 cases with emphasis on site of origin and nature of associated ovarian tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 1994; 18: 591–603. 10 Ronnett BM, Yan H, Kurman RJ, Shmookler BM, Wu L, Sugarbaker PH. Patients with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei associated with disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis have a significantly more favorable prognosis than patients with peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis. Cancer 2001; 92: 85–91. 11 Wirtzfeld DA, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Weber T, Petrelli NJ. Disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis: a critical review. Ann Surg Oncol 1999; 6: 797–801. 12 McKenney JK, Soslow RA, Longacre TA. Ovarian mature teratomas with mucinous epithelial neoplasms: morphologic heterogeneity and association with pseudomyxoma peritonei. Am J Surg Pathol 2008; 32: 645–655. 13 Ronnett BM, Kajdacsy-Balla A, Gilks CB et al. Mucinous borderline ovarian tumors: points of general agreement and persistent controversies regarding nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, and behavior. Hum Pathol 2004; 35: 949–960.

Long‐term childhood outcomes of breech presentation by intended mode of delivery: a population record linkage study

There is a lack of information on long‐term outcomes by mode of delivery for term breech presentation. We aimed to compare childhood mortality, cerebral palsy, hospitalizations, developmental, and educational outcomes associated with intended vaginal breech birth (VBB) with planned cesarean section.

Development of a maternity hospital classification for use in perinatal research

We aimed to develop a maternity hospital classification, using stable and easily available criteria, that would have wide application in maternity services research and allow comparison across state, national and international jurisdictions. A classification with 13 obstetric groupings (12 hospital groups and home births) was based on neonatal care capability, urban and rural location, annual average number of births and public/private hospital status. In a case study of early elective birth we demonstrate that neonatal morbidity differs according to the maternity hospital classification, and also that the 13 groups can be collapsed in ways that are pragmatic from a clinical and policy decision-making perspective, and are manageable for analysis.

Variation in hospital caesarean section rates for preterm births

Evidence about optimal mode of delivery for preterm birth is lacking, and there is thought to be considerable variation in practice.

Induction of labour practices in New South Wales hospitals: Before and after a statewide policy.

Midwifery Unit Managers completed surveys in 2008 and 2014 to determine methods of induction of labour. There was an increase in balloon catheter use for cervical ripening (rate difference 37%, P = 0.007). Currently, all respondent hospitals have an oxytocin protocol; district hospitals had a significant increase in use of post‐maturity protocols (rate difference = 40%, P = 0.01) but there was no change in use of prostaglandin protocols.