Paul L. Ogburn

Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy: Frequency, severity, and prognosis☆

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency, severity, prognosis, and patterns of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in pregnancy. DESIGN Descriptive retrospective chart review using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical record diagnostic indexing system to identify patients with new CTS occurring during pregnancy from 1987 to 1992 at our institution. SETTING Obstetrical practice, where two thirds of pregnant women in the county receive primary obstetrical care. PATIENTS Women pregnant during 1987 to 1992 who had a new diagnosis of CTS. Women with pregnancies at other dates or women who had CTS with onset before or after pregnancy were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES Age, underlying medical problems, gestation interval, weight gain, number of pregnancies, presenting symptoms, onset and duration of symptoms before diagnosis, trimester of CTS diagnosis, treatment and response, and results of electrophysiologic studies are described. RESULTS Of 10,873 pregnant patients receiving antenatal care for 14,579 pregnancies, 50 (.34%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Their mean age was 30.5 +/- 4.0 yrs. Twelve patients (24%) were primigravid. Mean weight gain was 12.1 +/- 5.7 kg. CTS was diagnosed most frequently during the third trimester (n = 25, 50%). Symptom onset, when recorded, occurred with even distribution during each trimester: first, n = 11 (32%); second, n = 11 (32%); third, n = 12 (35%). For 37 patients in whom symptom duration was recorded, duration before diagnosis was 9.3 +/- 9.0 weeks. Paresthesia (88%) was most often bilateral (68%), and 67% of patients had pain. The Tinel sign was present over the median nerve at the wrist in 95%. Only nine patients had nerve conduction studies performed. During pregnancy, 37 women were treated nonsurgically with wrist orthoses, steroid injections, or both. Of treated patients for whom follow-up data were available, 25 of 26 improved, and 4 of 26 required surgery. Thirteen women had no treatment during pregnancy; three underwent surgery in the postpartum period. All 7 women in whom conservative treatment failed who underwent surgery had resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION These results represent the frequency and patterns of clinically significant CTS in a large population of pregnant women. CTS severe enough to warrant treatment occurs infrequently in pregnancy and generally resolves spontaneously postpartum or responds to conservative treatment.

The use of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation during pregnancy

A workshop entitled “The use of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation during pregnancy”, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), was held in Rockville, Maryland, on 19 May 1999. The goals of the workshop were: (1) to determine the current state of knowledge related to the use of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation during pregnancy; and (2) to outline a research agenda to determine the effectiveness and safety of these pharmacotherapies. Attending the workshop were many of the academic experts working in this area in the USA and representatives from NICHD, RWJF, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), and several pharmaceutical companies. In the USA, of the four million women who deliver babies each year, approximately 0.8–1 million smoke during their pregnancies. Smoking has a substantial adverse impact on pregnancy outcomes including growth retardation, preterm birth, perinatal mortality, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and childhood behavioural problems. In developed countries, more than a third of all cases of growth retardation is caused by maternal smoking, and the more a woman smokes, the larger the effect on fetal growth. Stopping smoking is one of the major preventive measures likely to have a substantial impact on improving pregnancy outcome. Smoking most likely achieves its negative impact on pregnancy outcome through a number of mechanisms. These include the following: (1) nicotine is a toxin at the cellular level and also may act through its vasoconstrictive properties; (2) carbon monoxide—a major byproduct of cigarette smoking—binds to haemoglobin, resulting in a functional maternal anaemia; (3) carbon monoxide also …

Uterine Incarceration During the Third Trimester: A Rare Complication of Pregnancy

Uterine incarceration that manifests during the third trimester or at term is a serious and rare complication of pregnancy. The pregnant patient may complain of low-abdominal pain, low-back pain, urinary retention, and constipation, or the patient may be asymptomatic until labor begins. The diagnosis is difficult, and physical findings can be misleading. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful if the anteriorly displaced cervix is clearly depicted. If incarceration of the retroverted uterus persists until term, a cesarean section is necessary. Recurrent uterine incarceration has been reported; therefore, the patient should be monitored closely during subsequent pregnancies. Herein we describe three cases of uterine incarceration during the third trimester and review the literature with respect to incidence, differential diagnosis, management, and complications of this condition.

Fetal stimulation by pulsed diagnostic ultrasound.

To show that pulsed ultrasound from a clinical ultrasonic imaging system can stimulate the fetus. Stimulation is defined mainly as increased fetal gross body movements in response to excitation.

Ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length in triplet pregnancies

OBJECTIVE Our goal was to evaluate the utility of ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length in the management of triplet pregnancies and to compare these measurements with previously reported data for singleton pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN The maternal records for all triplet pregnancies managed at the Mayo Medical Center from January 1993-January 1998 were reviewed. Cervical length assessment was undertaken at regular intervals during each pregnancy according to an established real-time transperineal ultrasonographic technique. Presence or absence of cervical funneling was noted at the time of the examination. Obstetric management and outcome data were assessed. RESULTS Thirty-two triplet pregnancies were managed at our institution between January 1993 and January 1998. Average duration of pregnancy (+/-SD) was 32.4 +/- 2.3 weeks. Progressive cervical shortening was noted with advancing gestational age; average cervical lengths (+/-SD) were 42.0 +/- 5.0 mm at 10 weeks, 37.0 +/- 8.0 mm at 20 weeks, 26.0 +/- 10.0 mm at 25 weeks, and 21.0 +/- 7.0 mm at 30 weeks. Comparison of triplet cervical length measurements with reported data from singleton pregnancies revealed a significant difference between the singleton and triplet data, respectively, at both 24 weeks (35.2 +/- 8.3 mm vs 25.0 +/- 8.0 mm, P <.001) and 28 weeks (33.7 +/- 8.5 mm vs 28.0 +/- 11.0 mm, P <.005). Cervical funneling was noted in 3 women with an average of 27 days from onset to delivery. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length is a useful adjuvant in the management of the triplet gestation. Triplet cervical length measurements are significantly different from those reported for gestational age-matched singleton pregnancies. Premature cervical shortening and the presence of cervical funneling are harbingers of premature delivery and should necessitate obstetric intervention.

Management of Spontaneous Pneumothorax During Pregnancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Spontaneous pneumothorax rarely occurs during pregnancy. Only 22 nonmalignancy-related cases have been previously published. Herein we report a case of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax during the third trimester of pregnancy that necessitated surgical intervention. At thoracotomy, a large bulla was excised from the lower lobe of the right lung; abrasive pleurodesis was subsequently done. Postoperatively, the patient had regular contractions, which were successfully stopped with intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate. Indications, procedures, and pre-cautions for operative intervention during pregnancy are discussed.

High-dose oral misoprostol for mid-trimester pregnancy interruption

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of high-dose oral misoprostol for mid-trimester pregnancy interruption. Methods: We reviewed our experience with high-dose oral misoprostol for mid-trimester pregnancy interruption from November 1995 to May 1999. Patients undergoing labor induction for intrauterine fetal demise or medically indicated pregnancy termination at 13–32 weeks of gestation with a non-dilated cervix were evaluated. Patients received 400 µg misoprostol orally every 4 h. Women undelivered within 24 h were considered failures and were treated with high-dose oxytocin as previously described. For comparison, a group of women treated with high-dose oxytocin were evaluated. Results: Forty-seven pregnancies were managed with misoprostol (n = 23) or high-dose oxytocin regimen (n = 24). Both groups were similar with respect to induction indication, gestational age, maternal age/parity, laminaria use, and initial cervical dilation. Induction-to-delivery interval (mean ± SD) was significantly shorter in the misoprostol cohort (15.2 ± 6.7 h) compared with those treated with oxytocin (21.7 ± 11.0 h; p = 0.02). Additionally, a significantly greater percentage of women treated with misoprostol delivered within 24 h (91.0%) compared with the oxytocin group (62.0%; p = 0.04). Adverse outcomes and side effects were not significantly different between the study groups. Conclusion: High-dose oral misoprostol is more effective than concentrated oxytocin infusion for mid-trimester pregnancy interruption.

Fetal renal growth evaluated by prenatal ultrasound examination.

OBJECTIVE To determine reference ranges for normal fetal renal size in a population of pregnant patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester. DESIGN Normal fetal kidneys were prospectively analyzed relative to gestational age and to fetal body weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 100 pregnant women, prenatal ultrasound examinations were performed between 18 and 39 weeks of gestation. Fetal renal length and volume were determined by prenatal ultrasonography and compared with gestational age and estimated fetal body weight. Reference ranges as a function of gestational age were obtained for fetal body weight, renal length, renal volume, renal length/ body weight, and renal volume/body weight. Reference ranges as a function of body weight were determined for renal length and renal volume. Polynomial least-squares regression analysis was used to model each of the growth variables (Y) as a function of either gestational age or body weight (X). RESULTS Graphic representation of these relationships are presented. These graphs include the 2.5, 5.0, 95.0, and 97.5 percentiles and the predicted value of Y from the regression equations. Fetal body weight, renal length, and renal volume increased throughout gestation, and the ratio between fetal renal volume and body weight remained constant. CONCLUSION These data about normal fetal renal growth relative to gestational age and fetal body weight should help identify fetal abnormalities in renal size or growth patterns.

Misoprostol as a labor induction agent

The objective of this investigation was to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of intravaginal misoprostol as a labor induction agent to a standard protocol using prostaglandin E2 (Prepidil) and intravenous oxytocin. Thirty-eight patients requiring induction of labor with an unfavorable cervix (Bishop score < or = 5) were prospectively randomized to receive either 50 mcg misoprostol every 4 hours until delivery, or a single dose of PGE2 gel (0.5 mg) followed by intravenous oxytocin infusion. Changes in Bishop scores were recorded in a blinded fashion. Clinical outcomes were compared in the two groups, including induction-to-delivery times and cesarean section rates. Seventeen women were treated with misoprostol, 19 patients received PGE2/oxytocin, and two patients dropped out of the study. The groups did not differ significantly with respect to age, parity, gestational age, weight, height, reason for induction, or initial Bishop score. There was a significant difference in the median change of the Bishop score among those treated with misoprostol (4) and those of the control group (1) (P < 0.001). Fifteen (88%) receiving misoprostol delivered within 36 hours compared with 9 (47%) of controls (P = 0.01). Significantly more women in the misoprostol arm (8) experienced tachysystole when compared with the control group (0) (P < 0.01). There were no perinatal morbidities in either group. These data support misoprostol as an effective and economical cervical-ripening and labor-inducing agent.

Lung cancer complicating pregnancy: case report and review of literature.

Lung cancer during pregnancy is rare. Herein we describe a case of metastatic cancer of the lung in a 36-year-old pregnant patient whose initial complaint was pain in the left thigh. Management of this neoplasm during pregnancy depends on the gestational age of the fetus and the potential operability of the tumor. Surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiation management considerations are discussed.