Intention to Exclusively Breastfeed Is Associated with Lower Rates of Cesarean Section for Nonmedical Reasons in a Cohort of Mothers in Vietnam

Background: Breastfeeding brings benefits to both mothers and children in the short term and long term. Unnecessary cesarean sections can bring risks to both parties. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding intention and cesarean delivery. Methods: We analyzed data collected from 554 single mothers who delivered in Dong Anh General District Hospital or Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Vietnam, in 2020–2021. The relationship between exclusive breastfeeding intention and cesarean delivery for nonmedical reasons was adjusted for maternal education, maternal age, parity, history of fetal loss, having at least eight antenatal contacts, hospital of delivery, child sex, and birth weight. Results: Antenatally, 34.8% (184/529) of mothers intended to breastfeed exclusively until 6 months and 30.8% (84/274) underwent cesarean section for a nonmedical reason. After adjusting for other factors, mothers who intended to breastfeed exclusively until 6 months were less likely to undergo cesarean delivery for nonmedical reasons (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31–0.96, p = 0.034). Conclusions: This study adds to the growing evidence related to unnecessary cesarean sections and routine over-medicalization of normal birth in the urban areas of Vietnam. The association between breastfeeding intentions and a lower rate of cesarean section suggests that education on breastfeeding could be a useful intervention for reducing the rate of cesarean sections and improving maternal and child health.

Second Trimester Fetal Loss Due to Citrobacter koseri Infection: A Rare Cause of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM)

Citrobacter koseri is a facultative anaerobic, motile, non-spore-forming Gram-negative bacillus, which belongs to the family of Enterobacteriaceae. Severe infections due to Citrobacter spp. have been reported in the urinary tract, respiratory airways, intra-abdominal organs, skin and soft tissue, eye, bone, bloodstream, and central nervous system. In newborns, C. koseri is a well-known cause of meningitis, cerebral abscesses, brain adhesions, encephalitis, and pneumocephalus. Infection can be acquired through vertical maternal transmission or horizontal hospital settings; however, in many cases, the source is unknown. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), caused by C. koseri, has rarely been described. Herein, we describe a case of PPROM at 16 weeks and 3 days of gestation, leading to anhydramnios. The parents opted for legal termination of the pregnancy, as the prognosis was very poor. C. koseri was isolated postmortem from a placental subamniotic swab and parenchymal sample, as well as fetal blood and lung. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of early second-trimester PPROM in which C. koseri infection was demonstrated.

Iodine supplementation: compliance and association with adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes

Objectives Over 1.9 billion people worldwide are living in areas estimated to be iodine insufficient. Strategies for iodine supplementation include campaigns targeting vulnerable groups, such as women in pre-conception, pregnancy and lactation. Portuguese women of childbearing age and pregnant women were shown to be mildly-to-moderately iodine deficient. As a response, in 2013, the National Health Authority (NHA) issued a recommendation that all women considering pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding, take a daily supplement of 150–200 μg iodine. This study explored how the iodine supplementation recommendation has been fulfilled among pregnant and lactating women in Portugal, and whether the reported iodine supplements intake impacted on adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Design and methods Observational retrospective study on pregnant women who delivered or had a fetal loss in the Braga Hospital and had their pregnancies followed in Family Health Units. Results The use of iodine supplements increased from 25% before the recommendation to 81% after the recommendation. This was mostly due to an increase in the use of supplements containing iodine only. Iodine supplementation was protective for the number of adverse obstetric outcomes (odds ratio (OR) = 0.791, P = 0.018) and for neonatal morbidities (OR = 0.528, P = 0.024) after controlling for relevant confounding variables. Conclusion The recommendation seems to have succeeded in implementing iodine supplementation during pregnancy. National prospective studies are now needed to evaluate the impact of iodine supplementation on maternal thyroid homeostasis and offspring psychomotor development and on whether the time of the beginning of iodine supplementation (how early during preconception or pregnancy) is relevant to consider.

OUTCOMES OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN NEWBORNS AT LVIV REGIONAL CLINICAL HOSPITAL, LVIV, UKRAINE

Introduction. Congenital abnormalities are the most common medical and social problems and the primary cause of fetal loss and children’s disability in the World, and particularly in Ukraine. In Ukraine, about 5 thousand children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are born every year. Up to date, information on the future of patients who received medical care for CHD was not systematized and often remains unavailable. The aim of the study: To perform a survey of women who gave birth to children with CHD and collect information about distant health outcomes. Methods. The medical history files of 170 children born with CHD in Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital, Lviv, Ukraine between 2011-2015 were selected. The criterion for inclusion in the group was a clinical diagnosis ''Congenital malformations of the circulatory system'' based on International Classification of Diseases-10 (Q20 - Q28). Results. According to the medical history files analysed in our study, among 170 children born with CHD, heart defects were detected at the prenatal stage in 67 patients (39.4%). Urgent surgical intervention was performed in 32 (18.6%) children.

Case Series: Video-Assisted Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery During Pregnancy

Surgical intervention is expected to improve maternal outcomes in pregnant patients with heart disease once the conservative treatment fails. For pregnant patients with heart disease, the risk of cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) must be balanced due to the high fetal loss. The video-assisted minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has been progressively applied and shows advantages in non-pregnant patients over the years. We present five cases of pregnant women who underwent a video-assisted minimally invasive surgical approach for cardiac surgery and the management strategies. In conclusion, the video-assisted MICS is feasible and safe to pregnant patients, with good maternal and fetal outcomes under the multidisciplinary assessment and management.

Hydroxychloroquine in the Pregnancies of Women with Lupus: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data

Objective: Multiple guidelines recommend continuing hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) during pregnancy based on observational data. The goal of this individual patient data meta-analysis was to combine multiple datasets to compare pregnancy outcomes in women with lupus on and off HCQ. Methods: Eligible studies included prospectively-collected pregnancies in women with lupus. After a manuscript search, 7 datasets were obtained. Pregnancy outcomes and lupus activity were compared for pregnancies with a visit in the first trimester in women who did or did not take HCQ throughout pregnancy. Birth defects were not systematically collected. This analysis was conducted in each dataset and results were aggregated to provide a pooled odds ratio. Results: Seven cohorts provided 938 pregnancies in 804 women. After selecting one pregnancy per patient with a 1st trimester visit, 668 pregnancies were included; 63% took HCQ throughout pregnancy. Compared to pregnancies without HCQ, those with HCQ had lower rates of highly active lupus, but did not have different rates of fetal loss, preterm birth, or preeclampsia. Among women with low lupus activity, HCQ reduced the risk for preterm delivery. Conclusion: This large study of prospectively-collected lupus pregnancies demonstrates a decrease in SLE activity among woman who continue HCQ through pregnancy and no harm to pregnancy outcomes. Like all studies of HCQ in lupus pregnancy, this study is confounded by indication and non-adherence. As this study confirms the safety of HCQ and diminished SLE activity with use, it is consistent with current recommendations to continue HCQ throughout pregnancy.

APPENDICITIS IN PREGNANCY : OUR CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Objective: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition presented to emergency. In this study we evaluated the clinical presentation, management and outcome of acute appendicitis complicating pregnancy at a tertiary care centre. Material And Methods: A total of 20 cases of pregnant women who were diagnosed as a case of acute appendicitis were studied from January 2018 to December 2020. Results: Total number of patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis were 20. There were 10 (50%) patients in rst trimester , 6 (30%) in second and 4 (20%) in the third trimester. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom seen in all patients. 12 (60%) patients were multigravida whereas 8 (40%) patients were primigravida. Duration of abdominal pain was 6 hours to 5 days with median of 30 hours. Right lower quadrant was the most common site of pain. Rebound tenderness was seen in 14 (70%) patients. Total leucocyte was raised in 14 (70%)cases. Ultrasound was done in all patients showing viable fetus and features of acute appendicitis in 12 (60%) cases. Surgery was done in 16 (80%) cases. Midline laparatomy was done in 3 patients whereas 4 (20%) patients were managed conservatively with antibiotics. Postoperative tocolytics were given in 6 patients. Postoperative complications such as wound infections seen in 5 cases and pelvic abscess in 1 case. Fetal loss was seen in 2 (10%)cases. Conclusion: Diagnosis of acute appendicitis during pregnancy can be difcult due to anatomical and biochemical changes during pregnancy. Correct diagnosis can be achieved by taking proper history, clinical examination and relevant investigations. Surgery remains the treatment of choice.

Frequency of Anticardiolipin Antibodies in Women with Recurrent Fetal Loss

Aim: To find out the frequency of Anticardiolipin Antibodies in women with recurrent fetal loss Study design & duration: One year descriptive study Methods: Seventy five females were included in the study with ages ranging from 20-40 years with minimum two miscarriages. Diabetic females and females with history of bacterial or viral diseases were excluded from the study. Results: In this group the mean age was 27.60±3.29 years. Mean number of fetal losses was 2.95±1.45 whereas mean duration of marriage was 5.79±4.11 years. Conclusion: It is suggested that the patient with history of recurrent miscarriages must be screened for Anticardiolipin Antibodies to bring them out of psychological and physical trauma. Keywords: Anticardiolipin Antibodies (aCL), Recurrent fetal loss (RFL), aPTT

Appendicitis in pregnancy: case report in a navy medical center of Mexico City

Acute appendicitis represents the most common non-obstetric surgical emergency during pregnancy, the most important clinical feature is abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant. Imaging studies can be used for diagnosis, where ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are mostly recommended. Timely diagnosis can prevent complications including fetal loss and preterm delivery. The case report orients the surgeon and obstetrician to make decisions in patients with this pathology