Discordant umbilical arteries in the umbilical cord entanglement: a light microscope study

Objective The present study aimed to examine the histopathological diagnosis of the umbilical artery discordance in cases with single or multiple umbilical cord entanglement and pregnancy outcomes. Methods The vascular structure of the umbilical cord, histopathological findings of the placenta and obstetric outcomes were retrospectively examined in 50 cases. The cases were divided into two groups by the number of cord entanglement (single-multiple) and their histopathological findings and neonatal Apgar scores were assessed. Results Out of 50 cases, 38 (76%) had single and 12 (24%) had multiple cord entanglement. In 50 cases, the mean gestational age was 39.16±1.06 weeks, neonatal Apgar scores were 8.7±0.58 at 1 minute and 9.64±0.56 at 5 minute. No statistically significant difference was detected between single and multiple groups in terms of gestational age (p=0.79), 1-minute Apgar score (p=0.832) and 5-minute Apgar score (p=0.656). In histopathological examination, the diameters of umbilical arteries 1 and 2 were found to be 0.11±0.12, 0.09±0.05 µm, respectively in the single group (p=0.756) and 0.13±0.14, 0.06±0.02 µm, respectively in the multiple group (p=0.131). When the umbilical arterial diameters were compared by group, the diameter of the umbilical artery 2 was detected 0.09±0.05 µm in the single and 0.06±0.02 µm in the multiple group and statistically significant difference was detected (p=0.037). Out of 50 cases, placental hypoxia finding was detected as chorangiosis only in 10 cases (2 multiple, 8 single). Conclusion Umbilical artery discordance was detected in cases with multiple umbilical cord entanglement. However, poor pregnancy outcome was not observed in any of the cases. When multiple cord entanglement is seen during obstetric examination, umbilical artery discordance must be remembered and investigated, and also maternal-fetal condition should be considered.

Comparison of The Effects of General and Spinal on Apgar Scores of Babies Born Through Caesarean Section in RSUP Haji Adam Malik Medan from 2018 to 2019

Background. General anesthesia and spinal anesthesia in cesarean section both have advantages and disadvantages. The scoring system of APGAR is a standardized tool that can inform the condition of newborn infants, which might be influenced by gestational age, medication, resuscitation, cardiorespiratory and neurological conditions of the mother. This study aimed to compare the effect of general and spinal anesthesia usage to the APGAR score of newborn infants at Haji Adam Malik General Hospital Medan. Methode. This study uses an observational-analytic design with a cross-sectional approach, conducted using secondary data through the medical records of mothers who gave birth through cesarean section and obtained at the Medical Record Installation at the Haji Adam Malik Hospital Medan from 2018 to 2019. Result. In spinal anesthesia, there are 52 samples for a score of 8-10. Whereas in general anesthesia, there are 52 samples to score 8-10. The APGAR score of 1 minute in infants born through cesarean section under spinal anesthesia had an average of 8.63, with general anesthesia of 8.00 (p=0.001). The 5-minute APGAR score in infants born through cesarean section under spinal anesthesia had an average of 9.85, and with general anesthesia of 8.67 (p=1.000). Conclusion: The 1-minute APGAR score for infants using spinal anesthesia showed a statistically better effect than the 1-minute APGAR score for infants using general anesthesia.

Five-minute Apgar score and outcomes in neonates of 24–28 weeks’ gestation

ObjectivesTo assess associations between 5 min Apgar score and mortality and severe neurological injury (SNI) and to report test characteristics in preterm neonates.Design, setting and patientsRetrospective cohort study of neonates 240 to 286 weeks’ gestation born between 2007 and 2016 and admitted to neonatal units in 11 high-income countries.Exposure5 min Apgar score.Main outcome measuresIn-hospital mortality and SNI defined as grade 3 or 4 periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia. Outcome rates were calculated for each Apgar score and compared after adjustment. The diagnostic characteristics and ORs for each value from 0 versus 1–10 to 0–9 versus 10, with 1-point increments were calculated.ResultsAmong 92 412 included neonates, as 5 min Apgar score increased from 0 to 10, mortality decreased from 60% to 8%. However, no clear increasing or decreasing pattern was identified for SNI. There was an increase in sensitivity and decrease in specificity for both mortality and SNI associated with increasing scores. The Apgar score alone had an area under the curve of 0.64 for predicting mortality, which increased to 0.73 with the addition of gestational age.ConclusionsIn neonates of 24–28 weeks’ gestation admitted to neonatal units, higher 5 min Apgar score was associated with lower mortality in a graded manner, while the association with SNI remained relatively constant at all scores. Among survivors, low Apgar scores did not predict SNI.

Risk Factors for Germinal Matrix Haemorrhage-Intraventricular Haemorrhage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Germinal matrix hemorrhage-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) mainly occurs in preterm neonates and is an important cause of brain injury in them. In this retrospective cross-sectional study from march 2017 to march 2018 in our teaching hospitals, we investigated 250 newborns who were admitted to NICU with a birth weight under 1500 grams with ultrasonographic study for presence and grade of GMH-IVH in their first week of life. Risk factors for GMH-IVH were collected from their records and results been analyzed with SPSS software. From 250 neonates who had inclusion criteria of the study, 22 cases had GMH-IVH in ultrasonographic evaluation. 37.6% of all cases and 31.8% of newborns with GMH-IVH had a 5-minute APGAR score of less than six. 91 cases (39.9%) of the control group and 15 cases (68.1%) of the GMH-IVH group need resuscitation at birth. Of 250 cases 54 (21.6%) died, that 14 cases (63.6%) had GMH-IVH. Our study shows significant differences for birth weight, 5 minute APGAR score, and the need for resuscitation at birth as risk factors for the development of GMH-IVH in very low birth weight neonates, but we do not find a significant difference group in terms of gestational age, gender, route of delivery, fetal presentation, maternal parity, CBC parameters, sepsis, RDS, endotracheal tube suctioning and multiple pregnancies for them. In our study, the protective value for antenatal steroid therapy depends on the completion of the course of treatment for mothers.

A Significant Increase in Maternal Blood Uric Acid Levels Accompanies the Severity of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

Objective: To asses the relationship between maternal serum uric acid level and severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Persahabatan Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018. Subject were pregnant women with hypertensive disorder. Serum uric acid levels were taken from a venous blood sample at the time the patient came for delivery. The severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were grouped into chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia without severe feature, preeclampsia with severe feature, and preeclampsia with severe feature and organ involvement. The perinatal outcomes were the gestational age at birth, birth weight, and the first minute APGAR score. The relationship between maternal serum uric acid level and severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were analyzed using Mann Whitney and Kruskall Wallis test.Result: A total of 704 out of 880 pregnant women with hypertensive disorder have met the criteria as research subjects. Maternal uric acid levels were found to increase significantly (p <0.001) with increasing severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Maternal who experienced preterm delivery had significantly higher blood uric acid levels (p <0.001) than those who experienced a term delivery. Maternal blood uric acid levels of infants with small birth weight for gestational age and first minute Apgar score <7 were slightly higher but not significant compared to maternal blood uric acid levels of normal birth weight infants and first minute Apgar score >7.Conclusions: Maternal blood uric acid levels increased significantly accompanying the severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Blood uric acid levels tend to be higher in maternal who have poor perinatal outcomes.Keywords: APGAR score, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, preeclampsia, uric acid. AbstrakTujuan: Untuk menilai hubungan antara kadar asam urat serum ibu dan keparahan gangguan hipertensi pada kehamilan dan luaran perinatal.Metode: Studi potong lintang dilakukan Rumah Sakit Persahabatan periode Januari 2014 sampai Desember 2018. Subjek penelitian adalah ibu hamil dengan gangguan hipertensi. Kadar asam urat darah diambil dari sampel darah vena pada saat ibu hamil datang untuk melahirkan. Tingkat keparahan gangguan hipertensi pada kehamilan dikelompokkan menjadi hipertensi kronik, hipertensi gestasional, preeklamsia tanpa gejala berat, preeklamsia dengan gejaka berat, dan preeklamsia dengan gejala berat dan keterlibatan organ. Luaran perinatal adalah usia kehamilan saat lahir, berat badan bayi lahir, dan skor APGAR menit pertama. Hubungan antara kadar asam urat darah ibu dan tingkat keparahan gangguan hipertensi pada kehamilan dan luaran perinatal dianalisis menggunakan uji Mann Whitney atau uji Kruskall Wallis.Hasil: Sebanyak 704 dari 880 ibu hamil penderita hipertensi telah memenuhi kriteria sebagai subjek penelitian. Kadar asam urat darah ibu meningkat secara signifikan (p <0,001) dengan meningkatnya keparahan gangguan hipertensi pada kehamilan. Ibu yang melahirkan preterm memiliki kadar asam urat darah yang lebih tinggi secara bermakna (p < 0,001) dibandingkan ibu yang melahirkan aterm. Kadar asam urat darah ibu dari bayi dengan berat lahir kecil untuk usia kehamilan dan skor Apgar menit pertama < 7, sedikit lebih tinggi tetapi tidak signifikan, dibandingkan kadar asam urat darah ibu dari bayi berat lahir normal dan skor Apgar menit pertama pertama > 7.Kesimpulan: Kadar asam urat darah ibu meningkat secara signifikan menyertai beratnya gangguan hipertensi pada kehamilan. Kadar asam urat darah cenderung lebih tinggi pada ibu yang memiliki luaran perinatal kurang baik.Kata kunci: APGAR, asam urat, hipertensi dalam kehamilan, preeklamsia.

Certain clinical and paraclinical markers of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction in newborn

The problem of neonatal sepsis continues to be one of the leading places in neonatal practice. The issues of early diagnostics of cardiovascular disorders in neonates with sepsis by means of up-to-date methods of examination remain relevant. They can be used as screening methods with the purpose to verify possible development of cardiovascular dysfunction. Purpose — to study the meaning of certain clinical and paraclinical markers of myocardial dysfunction in neonates with sepsis. Materials and methods. In order to realize the objective we have observed 69 neonates with signs of generalized infectious-inflammatory process. Group I (32 patients — 46,4%) included neonates with the term of gestation 37–42 weeks, group II included 37 preterm neonates (53,6%) with the term of gestation under 36 week inclusive. Results. It was found that in mothers who gave birth prematurely, compared to mothers of newborns of group I, premature rupture of membranes occurred more often, but 1.5 times less often — indications of infectious diseases of the genitourinary system of the pregnant woman. Generalized infectious-inflammatory process during the neonatal period of term infants is accompanied by electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular overload associated with female sex (r=0,30), delivery by cesarean section (r=0,27), and assessment of neonatal condition by a 5=minute Apgar score (r=-0,33). Conclusions. Increased values of lactate dehydrogenase activity in the blood serum of both term and preterm neonates are associated with left ventricular over-load in the term ones, and right ventricular overload in the preterm infants. Changes found in electrophysiological heart activity promote the necessity of a routine use of electrocardiography in neonates with signs of septic process. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Key words: neonatal sepsis; myocardial dysfunction.

Apgar Score and Risk of Cerebral Palsy in Preterm Infants: A Population-Based Cohort Study

A low Apgar score is associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in term infants, while such association remains controversial in preterm neonates. The objective of this study was to assess association between 5-minute Apgar scores and CP in different subcategories of preterm birth based on gestational age. The Slovenian National Perinatal Information System was used to identify singleton children without congenital malformations live-born at 22 to 37 weeks of gestation between 2002 and 2010. Data were linked to the Slovenian Registry of Cerebral Palsy in children born between 2002 and 2010. CP was diagnosed at a minimum of 5 years of age. Of 11,924 children included, 241 (2.0%) died before discharge and 153 (1.3%) were diagnosed with CP. Five-minute Apgar scores <7 were significantly associated with higher risk of death or CP (compared with scores ≥9) at all preterm gestations. CP alone was associated with Apgar scores <7 only at moderately or late preterm gestation (32–36 weeks) (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 8.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.87–36.64 for scores 0–4 and aRR: 4.96; 95% CI 1.89–13.06 for scores 5–6). In conclusion, a low 5-minute Apgar score was associated with combined outcome of neonatal death or CP in all preterm births, while in surviving preterm infants at >32 weeks a low 5-minute Apgar score was associated with CP.

The Association between the Five-Minute Apgar Score and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among Children Aged 8−66 Months in Australia

This study aimed to evaluate the association of the five-minute Apgar score and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children by taking the entire range of Apgar scores into account. Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH) and Mothers and their Children’s Health (MatCH) study were linked with Australian state-based Perinatal Data Collections (PDCs) for 809 children aged 8−66 months old. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the association between the five-minute Apgar scores and neurodevelopmental outcomes, using STATA software V.15. Of the 809 children, 614 (75.3%) had a five-minute Apgar score of 9, and 130 (16.1%) had an Apgar score of 10. Approximately 1.9% and 6.2% had Apgar scores of 0−6 and 7−8, respectively. Sixty-nine (8.5%) of children had a neurodevelopmental delay. Children with an Apgar score of 0−6 (AOR = 5.7; 95% CI: 1.2, 27.8) and 7−8 (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.2, 14.1) had greater odds of gross-motor neurodevelopment delay compared to children with an Apgar score of 10. Further, when continuously modelled, the five-minute Apgar score was inversely associated with neurodevelopmental delay (AOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.93). Five-minute Apgar score was independently and inversely associated with a neurodevelopmental delay, and the risks were higher even within an Apgar score of 7−8. Hence, the Apgar score may need to be taken into account when evaluating neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.

The determinants of 5th minute low Apgar score among newborns who delivered at public hospitals in Hawassa City, South Ethiopia

Background Newborn morbidity and mortality are forecasted using the Apgar scores. Obstetricians worldwide have used the Apgar score for more than half a century for the assessment of immediate newborn conditions. It is a simple and convenient evaluation system that offers a standardized and effective assessment of newborn infants. Neonatal morbidity and mortality can be reduced if high-risk neonates are identified and managed adequately. This study aimed to assess the determinants of 5th minute low Apgar score among newborns at Public hospitals in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted at Public Hospitals in Hawassa city. Data were collected from 134 cases and 267 controls using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire by observing, interviewing, and reviewing patient cards. Newborns who delivered with a 5th minute Apgar score < 7 were considered as cases; whereas a similar group of newborns with a 5th minute Apgar score of ≥ 7 were categorized as controls. A consecutive sampling technique was employed to recruit cases, while a simple random sampling technique was used to select controls. Data entry and analysis were performed using Epi Data version 3.1 and SPSS version 20 respectively. Binary and multivariable analyses with a 95 % confidence level were performed. In the final model, variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results After controlling for possible confounding factors, the results showed that lack of physical and emotional support during labor and delivery [AOR = 3.5, 95 %CI:1.82–6.76], rural residence [AOR = 4, 95 %CI: 2.21–7.34], lack of antenatal care follow up [AOR = 3.5, 95 % CI: 1.91–6.33], anemia during pregnancy [AOR = 2.3,95 %CI: 1.10–4.71] and low birth weight [AOR = 6.2, 95 %CI: 2.78–14.03] were determinant factors of low Apgar scores. The area under the Apgar score ROC curve was 87.4 %. Conclusions Lack of physical and emotional support, rural residence, lack of ANC follow-up, low birth weight, and anemia during pregnancy were determinant factors of a low Apgar score. `Effective health education during preconception about anemia during pregnancy and ANC will help in detecting high-risk pregnancies that lead to a low Apgar score. In addition to the standard care of using electronic fetal monitoring, increasing access to compassion ships during labor and delivery is recommended.