Puerperal complications in elective versus emergency caesarean deliveries

Background: The aim of current study was to compare puerperal complications in elective vs emergency caesarean section. Though similar complications occur in elective and emergency caesarean sections, this study aims to find out which complications are more common in either of them.Methods: A prospective case comparative study was conducted at GCS Medical College and Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ahmedabad from 01 December 2020 to 01 June 2021.Results: The emergency caesarean section (CS) rates (36) were more common in the age group of 21-25 years than the elective CS (32). Emergency CS was most common in primipara women (69). The most common risk factor is previous known history of hypothyroidism and most common indication is known history of previous lower segment caesarean section (LSCS). 10 patients in elective CS and 8 patients in emergency CS had previous LSCS. Body mass index (BMI) of 26 patients in elective CS was ranging between 24.9-29.9 kg/m2 when compared to 28 patients with similar BMI in emergency CS. Overweight patients underwent more emergency CS when compared to elective CS. Most common intra-operative complication was adhesions between rectus sheath and muscle and second most common was dense adhesion. Most common post op complication was breast engorgement and mastitis.Conclusions: There is a significant difference between the number of patients in elective and emergency CS group when common indications are seen (p<0.05). Similarly, statistically significant is observed between the 2 groups when post-operative complications are observed (p<0.05).

Decreased Fetal Movements: A Sign of Placental SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Perinatal Brain Injury

Neonatal COVID-19 is rare and mainly results from postnatal transmission. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), however, can infect the placenta and compromise its function. We present two cases of decreased fetal movements and abnormal fetal heart rhythm 5 days after mild maternal COVID-19, requiring emergency caesarean section at 29 + 3 and 32 + 1 weeks of gestation, and leading to brain injury. Placental examination revealed extensive and multifocal chronic intervillositis, with intense cytoplasmic positivity for SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody and SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR. Vertical transmission was confirmed in one case, and both neonates developed extensive cystic peri-ventricular leukomalacia.

A Condition of Uncertainty: A Qualitative Study Exploring Women´s Experiences of Preeclampsia

Background Preeclampsia is a severe condition that annually affects about 3-8% of pregnancies worldwide. Preeclampsia is thereby one of the most common pregnancy complications for both mother and child. Despite that, there is limited research exploring the women´s perspective of experiencing preeclampsia. Aim The aim of this study was to describe women´s experiences of preeclampsia to improve the support and care given during and after pregnancy. Methods A qualitative descriptive interview study was undertaken. Nine women, who were diagnosed with preeclampsia, were recruited from a maternity unit in southern Sweden. The descriptive phenomenological method according to Amadeo Giorgi was used to analyse the data. Results The essence of women’s experiences of PE were expressed as A condition of uncertainty, meaning that it was an unexpected and unknown situation. The five constituents forming the essence were incomprehensible diagnosis message, ambivalent feelings when the unexpected happens, confusing contradictory messages, appreciated support from the midwife, and need for continuous information. The nature of preeclampsia can sometimes deteriorate rapidly both for the mother and/or the child, often resulting in conversion from a planned vaginal spontaneous delivery to an emergency Caesarean section. The women narrated diffuse symptoms, and they experienced that they got contradictory information from different health care professionals regarding the severity of their disease. Detailed and continuous information is requested throughout the course of the disease, and the postpartum period. Conclusion Health care professionals must be aware that women and their partners need detailed, consistent and repeated information about severity and prognosis to diminish the condition of uncertainty, confusion and fearful experience. The clinical implication would be a standardized preeclampsia education for pregnant women early on in the pregnancy, to raise awareness of preeclamptic symptoms. Furthermore, there is a need for harmonized guidelines both at the antenatal care and the maternity ward and inpatient care at the hospital.

Emergency caesarean section and its sequelae in a tertiary hospital in Niger Delta, Nigeria

Background: Caesarean section (CS) is one of the most common surgical procedure in obstetrics. It involves a surgical incision made through the abdominal and uterine walls to deliver the foetus and placenta after the period of foetal viability.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study aimed at reviewing emergency caesarean section in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) over a 5-year period, to determine the prevalence and sequelae. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 25.0 (Armonk, NY).Results: During the review period, there were 13516 deliveries and 3699 cases of emergency CS, giving the prevalence of emergency CS as 27.4% or 274 per 1000 deliveries. Majority (90%) of the parturient were unbooked. The most common complication in women that had emergency caesarean section was fever (56.4%), followed by endometritis (14.7%), absconding from hospital (8.8%), urinary tract infection (7.1%) and wound infection (6.1%). There was a statistically significant association between types of CS and their sequelae, χ2=1153.9, p<0.001, (95% CI: 0.000, 0.000). Women that had emergency CS were 101 times more likely to have a complication compared to those that had planned CS.Conclusions: The rate of emergency caesarean section is high in RSUTH and with more complications compared to planned caesarean section. Booking for antenatal care, early presentation for delivery, birth preparedness and complication readiness will enhance improved maternal and perinatal outcome.

COVID-19 and clinical outcomes of pregnancy: a comparative study

Background A series of changes in maternity care provision were implemented internationally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on maternal clinical outcomes, resulting from these changes to care provision. Methods A before and during comparative study of maternal pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum clinical outcomes was conducted at a maternity hospital in Ireland. Inferential statistics were used to compare datasets with significance set at P<0.05. Results Overall, no difference in caesarean section rates between the two study periods was observed, although more caesarean sections were observed in multiparous women during the pandemic (30% vs 35%, P=0.01). The rate of elective compared to emergency caesarean section was also higher during the pandemic, from a proportionate difference of 3.6% pre-pandemic to 13.6% during the pandemic. Rates of induction of labour for post-dates (post-maturity induction) were also increased during the pandemic. Conclusions The changes to maternity care because of the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have affected some maternal clinical outcomes, and thus, potentially, women's overall intrapartum and postnatal health and wellbeing.

Assessing the relationship between adverse pregnancy outcomes and area-level deprivation in Wales 2014–2019: a national population-based cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the relationship between deciles of area-level deprivation and seven adverse pregnancy outcomes in Wales.DesignCross-sectional analysis.Setting64 699 live births in Wales from 31 March 2014 to 16 September 2019.Primary outcome variableWe examined each of the following seven adverse pregnancy outcomes: (1) small for gestational age (SGA); (2) large for gestational age; (3) preterm birth; (4) third-degree or fourth-degree perineal tear; (5) major postpartum haemorrhage (MPPH); (6) a lower Apgar score at 5 min and (7) emergency caesarean section.ResultsThere was no significant association between increasing aggregate measures of area-level deprivation and the adverse pregnancy outcomes we studied. Women living in an area with greater access to services are more likely to have a baby that is SGA (1.27, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.49), have a greater likelihood of a perineal tear (1.74, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.61), are significantly less likely to have MPPH (0.79, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.96), have a baby with an Apgar score of 0.26 higher (95% CI 0.22 to 0.29) and are significantly less likely to have an emergency caesarean section (0.81, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.88). Women living in areas with higher employment (0.26, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.36) and better health (0.26, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.35) were less likely to experience perineal tear.ConclusionsThere was no clear social-spatial gradient in area-level deprivation and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We found a stronger association for individual-level behavioural risk factors than area-level factors. These findings support the benefits that accessible and holistic person-centred care may bring through addressing individual behavioural risk factors. There is a need for improved data completeness and further individual-level data on risk factors such as employment and income to better understand the role which may be played by population-level policies and their pathways to affecting outcomes.

CIRCUMVALLATE PLACENTA COMPLICATING TO PRETERM PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES: A CASE REPORT

Circumvallate placenta, a morphological abnormality of placenta can be defined as a thickened placenta with a raised margin in an annular shape and it is thought to be the result of a membranous fold of chorion and amnion. A 23-year-old primigravida mother was presented with grossly reduced liquor due to preterm premature rupture of membranes at 32 weeks of gestation. The preterm baby was delivered by emergency caesarean section (category-2 caesarean section). A thorough gross examination of the placenta was done and a thickened circumvallate placenta was noted with a firm white annular margin and normal umbilical cord insertion. Histopathological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of circumvallate placenta. Routine gross examination of placenta is of immense important for better understanding of pregnancy complications due to placental abnormalities like circumvallate placenta.