Clinical perspective: caesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum and role of pelvic packing

Caesarean hysterectomy (CH) is considered the gold standard for management of morbidly adherent placenta, now termed as placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). If bleeding is not controlled following removal of uterus, it is sometimes necessary to pack the pelvis and continue monitoring with correction of bleeding and physiological parameters in operating room and intensive care unit. This now comes under the damage control approach, being driven primarily by abnormal physiology rather than anatomical reconstruction. The pelvic packs are removed after about 48 hours. This retrospective study was done in patients with antenatal diagnosis of PAS who required CH, comparing those who required pelvic packing with those who did not. The variables compared were pre-operative (clinical and radiological), intra-operative (duration of surgery, blood loss and transfusion requirements of whole blood and blood products), and the final histopathological diagnosis. Outcome variables in terms of duration of hospital stay, re-admissions, re-laparotomy and complications were also compared. Over two years, three of eight patients with PAS required pelvic packing following CH. There were no differences between the two patient groups with any of the predictor variables or outcomes other than requirement of blood products. This suggests pelvic packing is a safe and efficacious procedure in intractable haemorrhage following CH for PAS. Pelvic packing needs greater awareness amongst obstetricians as the incidence of PAS is likely to increase

Successful management of secondary postpartum haemorrhage due to post caesarean wound dehiscence with uterine artery embolisation

Caesarean scar dehiscence usually presents as secondary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) with persistent spotting, fever or abdominal distension. The known management are either with laparotomy followed by resuturing of the scar or hysterectomy. However, most of the patient ultimately undergo hysterectomy due to the persistence of vaginal bleeding. We presented a case of PPH secondary due to scar dehiscence post lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), which was successfully managed with bilateral uterine artery embolization without hysterectomy. Our patient presented with vaginal bleeding on 16th post LSCS day and USG showed presence of a hyperechoic area measuring 5×6 cm more towards the right angle suggestive of the scar dehiscence with hematoma. She underwent bilateral uterine artery embolization and had decreased in the vaginal bleeding with gradual regression in the size of the hematoma over a period of time. Radiological intervention with bilateral uterine artery embolization (UAE) can be used as one of the modalities of management for the hemodynamically stable patient

Breech presentation at term: outcomes and mode of delivery in a tertiary care teaching hospital In South India

The aim of this study was to study the outcomes of all patients who presented with breech presentation at term (≥37 weeks), to assess what percentage of patients were offered External cephalic version (ECV), the rates of success of the procedure and the rates of vaginal delivery following successful ECV. It was a retrospective study of 669 patients diagnosed with breech at term, their clinical records were retrieved and data like age, BMI, parity, type of breech and scan findings noted. ECV was done in 256 patients and was successful in 35.5% of women with 51.1% being multigravidas and 26.8% in primigravidas. 76.9% of women with successful ECV delivered vaginally.  There was no significant fetal or maternal morbidity documented as a result of ECV in this study.

Induction of labour versus conservative management for mild gestational hypertension at term

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remain a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to find out whether immediate induction of labour in women with singleton pregnancy complicated by mild gestational hypertension at term reduced maternal and neonatal morbidity, mortality and expenditure when compared to conservative management without increasing instrumental delivery and caesarean section rates.Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial to compare immediate induction of labour to conservative management for mild gestational hypertension in women between 18-35 years of age with singleton pregnancy with mild gestational hypertension at 37-39.5 weeks without any other complications. Eligible patients presenting to the obstetric outpatient department or labour room of Christian Medical College, Vellore with gestational hypertension were randomized (49 patients in the induction arm and 51 patients in the conservative arm) and followed up. The maternal and neonatal outcomes in both groups were compared.Results: There was no maternal mortality in both the groups. There was increased incidence of composite maternal morbidity (pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, pulmonary oedema, renal failure, thromboembolic disease, abruption, need for ICU care and major postpartum haemorrhage) in the conservative arm when compared to induction arm (14 versus 8), though not statistically significant (p 0.23).There was no significant difference in the caesarean section rates between the two groups (p 0.313 and 0.306 respectively) despite the much favorable Bishop score in the conservative group (p 0.054). There was no significant difference in neonatal morbidity and mortality. A slight increase by about 600 rupees in the median total cost was found with conservative management when compared to induction group.Conclusions: The study did not show a statistically significant difference in maternal mortality, composite maternal morbidity, neonatal mortality and morbidity as well as treatment cost between immediate induction of labour and conservative management for mild gestational hypertension at term

Vitamin D status of pregnant women and their infants in South India: VIPIS study

Background: Aim was to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their infants and to analyse the effect of maternal vitamin D deficiency on the infant.Methods: A prospective study was done in the Department of Obstetrics and Neonatology in a tertiary centre in South India with 150 women seen in the antenatal clinic after 36 weeks of pregnancy were recruited. Serum vitamin D levels were obtained. Babies were followed up and sampled once between 10 and 20 weeks of age for vitamin D, calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase. Vitamin D levels less than 20 ng/ml was considered as deficiency. Analysis of the data was done using SPSS 16.0 version.Results: Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 64.8% of the pregnant women. Follow up of 76 babies showed vitamin D deficiency in 72.6% infants. Significantly high levels of alkaline phosphatase were noted in infants who were born to mothers with vitamin D deficiency, which indicates risk of developing bone disease.Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and their infants in South India in a region with abundant sunshine. This study also emphasises treating vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy to reduce the risk of developing rickets in infancy

Low Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Non-Urban Pregnant Women in Vellore, S. India

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in pregnant women and the rate of transmission of CT to infants. Methods: Pregnant women ($28 weeks gestation) in Vellore, South India were approached for enrollment from April 2009 to January 2010. After informed consent was obtained, women completed a socio-demographic, prenatal, and sexual history questionnaire. Endocervical samples collected at delivery were examined for CT by a rapid enzyme test and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Neonatal nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swabs were collected for NAAT testing. Results: Overall, 1198 women were enrolled and 799 (67%) endocervical samples were collected at birth. Analyses were completed on 784 participants with available rapid and NAAT results. The mean age of women was 25.8 years (range 18– 39 yrs) and 22 % (95 % CI: 19.7–24.4%) were primigravida. All women enrolled were married; one reported.one sexual partner; and six reported prior STI. We found 71 positive rapid CT tests and 1/784 (0.1%; 95 % CI: 0–0.38%) true positive CT infection using NAAT. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest study on CT prevalence amongst healthy pregnant mothers in southern India, and it documents a very low prevalence with NAAT. Many false positive results were noted using the rapid test. Thes

CT Prevalence Studies in India.

<p>This table shows a review on Indian data which show a wide variation in CT prevalence and methods of laboratory confirmation.</p

Study Flow Chart.

<p>April 2009 to January 2010, 7955 women delivered during the recruitment period. 1198 (88%) women were enrolled; 799 endocervical samples from the 1198 enrolled subjects were collected and data on 784 participants with both RDT and NAAT results are reported.</p

Baseline characteristics of Enrolled Mothers, Enrolled Tested mothers, and Enrolled and not Tested.

*<p>(50Rs = 1 USD).</p><p>This table shows that tested mothers were significantly older, multiparous, and higher socio-economic group compared to untested mothers (p = 0.03, p = <0.0001, and p = 0.03; respectively).</p