Major obstetric hemorrhage:a follow-up survey on quality of life of women and their partners

Introduction: A description is given of the quality of life (QOL) of women who were treated with peripartum embolization or hysterectomy for major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH). Methods: Questionnaires assessing QOL, combined with questionnaires and drawings assessing illness perceptions, were used to compare women with MOH to reference groups provided by the questionnaires. Results: Women who experienced MOH have similar scores on QOL questionnaires compared to reference groups. Women treated with arterial embolization scored better than women treated with hysterectomy. Partners of women with MOH scored better on QOL questionnaires than reference groups. Drawings reflect the major emotional impact of MOH. Discussion: MOH does not seem to have a negative effect on QOL 6–8 years after the event, although drawings and verbalizations indicate major emotional impact. More extensive follow-up is advised for early recognition of the need for psychological help. Women after embolization seem to have better QOL compared to women after hysterectomy

Voorspellen van dreigende vroeggeboorte door middel van bepaling van foetaal fibronectine in vaginaal vocht

Doel\u3cbr/\u3eVaststellen van de waarde van de bepaling van foetaal fibronectine en cervixlengte om vroeggeboorte te voorspellen bij Nederlandse vrouwen die in de Nederlandse situatie doorgaans getoucheerd worden voordat verwijzing naar de 2e of 3e lijn volgt.\u3cbr/\u3e\u3cbr/\u3eOpzet\u3cbr/\u3eProspectieve observationele cohortstudie.\u3cbr/\u3e\u3cbr/\u3eMethode\u3cbr/\u3eWij includeerden zwangeren met symptomen van dreigende vroeggeboorte en een amenorroeduur van 24-34 weken, namen vaginaal vocht af voor een fibronectinebepaling en bepaalden de cervixlengte. De primaire onderzoeksuitkomst was een geboorte binnen 7 dagen na inclusie. Bij de tests werden sensitiviteit, specificiteit en een ‘receiver operating characteristics’(ROC)-curve berekend.\u3cbr/\u3e\u3cbr/\u3eResultaten\u3cbr/\u3eWij includeerden 108 patiënten. Binnen 7 dagen na inclusie bevielen 13 vrouwen (12%) spontaan. De sensitiviteit van de fibronectinebepaling was 92% en de specificiteit 60%. De positief en negatief voorspellende waarde bedroegen respectievelijk 27 en 98%. Bij de vrouwen die vóór de fibronectinetest getoucheerd waren, was de voorspellende waarde van de fibronectinetest iets minder, maar het verschil was niet significant. De cervixlengtemeting had nauwelijks voorspellende waarde; echter, bij een cervixlengte van meer dan 35 mm beviel geen van de zwangeren binnen 7 dagen.\u3cbr/\u3e\u3cbr/\u3eConclusies\u3cbr/\u3eBij vrouwen met een dreigende vroeggeboorte sluit een negatieve fibronectine-uitslag een bevalling binnen 7 dagen vrijwel uit. De fibronectinetest blijkt dan ook bruikbaar in de Nederlandse situatie. Bij vrouwen met een cervixlengte boven de 35 mm was de kans op een premature partus binnen 7 dagen zeer klein en bij hen kan men de fibronectinebepaling achterwege laten

Defining definitions: a Delphi study to develop a core outcome set for conditions of severe maternal morbidity

Objective: Develop a core outcome set of international consensus definitions for severe maternal morbidities. Design: Electronic Delphi study. Setting: International. Population: Eight expert panels. Methods: All 13 high-income countries represented in the International Network of Obstetric Surveillance Systems (INOSS) nominated five experts per condition of morbidity, who submitted possible definitions. From these suggestions, a steering committee distilled critical components: eclampsia: 23, amniotic fluid embolism: 15, pregnancy-related hysterectomy: 11, severe primary postpartum haemorrhage: 19, uterine rupture: 20, abnormally invasive placentation: 12, spontaneous haemoperitoneum in pregnancy: 16, and cardiac arrest in pregnancy: 10. These components were assessed by the expert panel using a 5-point Likert scale, following which a framework for an encompassing definition was constructed. Possible definitions were evaluated in rounds until a rate of agreement of more than 70% was reached. Expert commentaries were used in each round to improve definitions. Main outcome measures: Definitions with a rate of agreement of more than 70%. Results: The invitation to participate in one or more of eight Delphi processes was accepted by 103 experts from 13 high-income countries. Consensus definitions were developed for all of the conditions. Conclusion: Consensus definitions for eight morbidity conditions were successfully developed using the Delphi process. These should be used in national registrations and international studies, and should be taken up by the Core Outcomes in Women's and Newborn Health initiative. Tweetable abstract: Consensus definitions for eight morbidity conditions were successfully developed using the Delphi process.</p