Thomas R. Moore

The 2008 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development workshop report on electronic fetal monitoring: Update on definitions, interpretation, and research guidelines

In April 2008, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine partnered to sponsor a 2-day workshop to revisit nomenclature, interpretation, and research recommendations for intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring. Participants included obstetric experts and representatives from relevant stakeholder groups and organizations. This article provides a summary of the discussions at the workshop. This includes a discussion of terminology and nomenclature for the description of fetal heart tracings and uterine contractions for use in clinical practice and research. A three-tier system for fetal heart rate tracing interpretation is also described. Lastly, prioritized topics for future research are provided.

Hemodynamic effects of intravenous cocaine on the pregnant ewe and fetus

Cocaine is a potent vasoconstrictive agent that is currently the subject of widespread drug abuse. Because little is known of the physiologic responses to cocaine in pregnancy, the effects of intravenous cocaine on uterine blood flow and other maternal and fetal cardiovascular parameters were studied. Eight ewes in late pregnancy were equipped with electromagnetic flow probes around both uterine arteries and catheters were placed in the maternal and fetal inferior vena cavae and aortas. Bolus intravenous infusion of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg of maternal body weight achieved peak plasma cocaine levels similar to those observed in human subjects after abuse of the drug (mean level = 229 to 400 ng/ml, n = 8). After bolus infusion of 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg of cocaine, mean maternal arterial pressure increased 32% and 37%, respectively (p less than 0.005). Fetal blood pressure rose 12.6% after a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg of cocaine. These cocaine infusions significantly decreased uterine blood flow by 36% and 42% for a duration of 15 minutes (p less than 0.005). Analysis of maternal catecholamine responses demonstrated a significant (210%) rise in plasma norepinephrine levels after cocaine infusion. These studies demonstrate that cocaine, when administered in doses that produce plasma levels observed in humans, significantly decreases uterine blood flow for a duration of greater than or equal to 15 minutes while inducing a hypertensive response in the pregnant ewe and fetus.

Effect of predelivery diagnosis in 99 consecutive cases of placenta accreta.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effects of prenatal diagnosis and delivery planning on outcomes in patients with placenta accreta. METHODS: A review was performed of all patients with pathologically confirmed placenta accreta at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center from January 1990 to April 2008. Cases were divided into those with and without predelivery diagnosis of placenta accreta. Patients with prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta were scheduled for planned en bloc hysterectomy without removal of the placenta at 34–35 weeks of gestation after betamethasone administration. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-nine women with placenta accreta were identified, of whom 62 were diagnosed before delivery and 37 were diagnosed intrapartum. Comparing women with predelivery diagnosis with those diagnosed at the time of delivery, there were fewer units of packed red blood cells transfused (4.7±2.2 compared with 6.9±1.8 units, P=.02) and a lower estimated blood loss (2,344±1.7 compared with 2,951±1.8 mL, P=.053), although this trend did not reach statistical significance. Comparison of neonatal outcomes demonstrated a higher rate of steroid administration (65% compared with 16%, P≤.001), neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (86% compared with 60%, P=.005), and longer neonatal hospital stays (10.7±1.9 compared with 6.9±2.1 days, P=.006). Length of NICU stay, rates of respiratory distress syndrome, and surfactant administration did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Predelivery diagnosis of placenta accreta is associated with decreased maternal hemorrhagic morbidity. Planned delivery at 34–35 weeks of gestation in this cohort did not significantly increase neonatal morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

The 2008 national institute of child health and human development workshop report on electronic fetal monitoring: Update on definitions, interpretation, and research guidelines

In April 2008, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine partnered to sponsor a 2-day workshop to revisit nomenclature, interpretation, and research recommendations for intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring. Participants included obstetric experts and representatives from relevant stakeholder groups and organizations. This article provides a summary of the discussions at the workshop. This includes a discussion of terminology and nomenclature for the description of fetal heart tracings and uterine contractions for use in clinical practice and research. A three-tier system for fetal heart rate tracing interpretation is also described. Lastly, prioritized topics for future research are provided.

Maternal characteristics and risk of severe neonatal thrombocytopenia and intracranial hemorrhage in pregnancies complicated by autoimmune thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE The antenatal and intrapartum management of women with autoimmune thrombocytopenia is controversial. The current approach emphasizes an effort to identify maternal characteristics predictive of severe neonatal thrombocytopenia or to measure fetal platelet counts and perform cesarean section in patients considered to be at risk for neonatal intracranial hemorrhage. In the current study we review our experience with maternal autoimmune thrombocytopenia and neonatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN Fifty-five pregnancies with autoimmune thrombocytopenia over a 10-year period in three major medical centers in San Diego, California, were evaluated. Maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes were assessed and compared with those in other recent reports. Data were submitted to Fishers exact (two-tailed), chi2, and Student t tests, with linear regression performed to analyze the association between variables. RESULTS Maternal characteristics including platelet count, presence of antiplatelet antibody, antecedent history of autoimmune thrombocytopenia, and corticosteroid therapy were not predictive of severe neonatal thrombocytopenia. Maternal history of splenectomy was significantly correlated with fetal platelet counts <50 x 10(9)/L (odds ratio 5.63; 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 14.3). There were four neonates with severe neonatal thrombocytopenia (8%), and one who was delivered by cesarean section had intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS These findings, combined with others in the literature, confirm that severe neonatal thrombocytopenia is an infrequent complication of maternal autoimmune thrombocytopenia and is not reliably predicted by maternal characteristics. Intracranial hemorrhage is also a rare event and is not related to mode of delivery. Cesarean section should be reserved for obstetric indications only.

Prospective Observational Study to Establish Predictors of Glyburide Success in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To establish parameters associated with therapeutic success in gestational diabetics treated with glyburide.STUDY DESIGN: A total of 69 gestational diabetics who failed dietary therapy were treated with glyburide. Inadequate glycemic control on maximum dose glyburide (10 mg b.i.d.) was considered treatment failure. The glyburide failure rate was calculated and factors that might predict success with glyburide were analyzed between the success and failure groups using χ2 or Studentst-tests.RESULTS: The glyburide failure rate was 18.8%. Gestational age at glyburide initiation (p<0.01), pretreatment fasting blood sugars (p<0.001), and 1-hour postprandial values (p<0.001) were the only statistically significant factors between the two groups. Glyburide success was predicted if dietary failure occurred after 30 weeks, or fasting blood sugars were <110 mg/dl and 1-hour postprandials were <140 mg/dl (sensitivity 98%, specificity 65%).CONCLUSION: Gestational diabetics who fail dietary therapy after 30 weeks gestation or have fasting blood sugars <110 mg/dl and 1-hour postprandials <140 mg/dl do well on glyburide therapy.

Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy

The link between diabetes and poor pregnancy outcomes is well established. As in the non-pregnant population, pregnant women with diabetes can experience profound effects on multiple maternal organ systems. In the fetus, morbidities arising from exposure to diabetes in utero include not only increased congenital anomalies, fetal overgrowth, and stillbirth, but metabolic abnormalities that appear to carry on into early life, adolescence, and beyond. This article emphasizes the newest guidelines for diabetes screening in pregnancy while reviewing their potential impact on maternal and neonatal complications that arise in the setting of hyperglycemia in pregnancy.

Fetal exposure to gestational diabetes contributes to subsequent adult metabolic syndrome

Obesity and diabetes have become globally epidemic. The cause of this unprecedented rise in obesity is multifactorial, with inactivity, excessive calorie intake, and genetic factors implicated. More recent data indicate that exposure to diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Evidence derived from recent randomized controlled trials indicates that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treatment reduces newborn obesity and therefore may contribute to reducing the global prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Current evidence detailing increases in global prevalence of obesity was reviewed together with data evaluating the effectiveness of treatment of GDM. Development of new protocols for diagnosis and treatment of GDM may reduce population obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: Antenatal variables as predictors of postpartum glucose intolerance

Objective To determine whether antepartum variables can predict postpartum glucose intolerance. Methods Glucose tolerance was assessed 6 weeks postpartum in 94 of 238 women with gestational diabetes using a 2-hour, 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (GTT). Selected antepartum variables were analyzed for predictive ability for postpartum glucose intolerance. Results Of 238 patients, 94 (39%) returned for a GTT. Those returning and those not returning were similar in all variables. Postpartum glucose intolerance occurred in 34%: impaired glucose tolerance in 18%, overt diabetes in 16%. No single maternal, intrapartum, or neonatal variable was predictive of postpartum glucose intolerance in all cases. Predictive variables included: requirement for insulin (insulin versus diet: 25 versus 3% impaired glucose tolerance, 26 versus 0% diabetes; P = .001), poor glycemic control (any 2-hour postprandial blood sugar level of 150 mg/dL or higher: 34 versus 5% diabetes; P = .005), and the 50-g GTT value (200 mg/dL or higher: 32 versus 6% diabetes; P = .01). For insulin requirement, the relative risk (RR) was 17.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.46-121.45), and for the above three variables combined, the RR was 19.68 (95% CI 2.88134.42). When the insulin dose was at least 100 U/day, all patients had abnormal glucose tolerance postpartum (RR = 34.00, 95% CI 4.93-234.39). Conclusions Postpartum glucose screening is not warranted for women at low risk who do not require insulin during pregnancy. The incidence of postpartum glucose intolerance in this group is very low. Women with risk factors should receive postpartum screening. Patients receiving at least 100 U/day of insulin have a 100% incidence of postpartum glucose intolerance.

Maternal floor infarction of the placenta: Association with central nervous system injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcome

OBJECTIVE: To compare cranial ultrasound studies and neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants affected by maternal floor infarction (MFI) of the placenta to gestational age-matched controls over an 8-year period from a single institution.STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case/control study.RESULTS: Compared to gestational age-matched controls, infants born to mothers with MFI had a higher incidence of CNS injury on neonatal cranial ultrasound examinations and at follow-up were more likely to have a suspicious or abnormal neurologic examination. MFI cases had lower developmental scores in all areas tested and were more likely to have neurodevelopmental impairment.CONCLUSION: Infants born to mothers with MFI should have serial neonatal cranial ultrasound examinations to detect CNS injury and neurodevelopmental assessment during early childhood.