Effect of second-trimester and third-trimester rate of gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of second- and third-trimester rate of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcomes using the revised Institute of Medicine guidelines. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of singleton live births in upstate New York between January 2004 and December 2008. Women were grouped by prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and rates of second- and third-trimester gestational weight gain were calculated. Women were then classified as having less than, within, or greater than recommended rates of gain. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were assessed based on rate of weight gain within each BMI class. RESULTS: Of 73,977 women meeting inclusion criteria, 4% were underweight, 48% normal weight, 24% overweight, and 24% obese: 13% class I, 6% class II, and 5% class III, respectively. After controlling for potential confounding variables, less than recommended rates of second- and third-trimester weight gain were associated with increased odds of small-for-gestational-age neonates in all BMI groups except obese classes II and III. Greater than recommended rates of weight gain were associated with increased odds of large-for-gestational-age neonates in all BMI groups and increased odds of cesarean delivery in all BMI groups with the exception of underweight and obese class III women. CONCLUSION: Suboptimal second- and third-trimester rates of gestational weight gain in the most obese women, even with net weight loss, do not increase the odds of small-for-gestational-age neonates. Excessive rates of gestational weight gain increase the odds of large-for-gestational-age neonates regardless of BMI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Does transvaginal ultrasound at 13-15 weeks improve anatomic survey completion rates in obese gravidas?

Obesity increases the difficulty of completing the fetal anatomic survey. This is of added concern in obese gravidas who are at higher risk of congenital fetal anomalies. We hypothesized that incorporation of an early transvaginal assessment could improve the completion rate of the fetal anatomic survey in obese women. We performed a prospective, longitudinal, blinded study of obese gravidas (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m) comparing the use of a single early second trimester transvaginal ultrasound in addition to midtrimester transabdominal ultrasound versus traditional serial midtrimester ultrasound alone for completion of the anatomic survey. Transvaginal ultrasound for anatomy was performed between 13 0/7 and 15 6/7 week followed by midtrimester anatomic ultrasound, with each patient serving as her own control. Structures were marked as optimally or suboptimally viewed after each ultrasound. Sonographers and reviewers were blinded to images from the transvaginal ultrasound. Completion rates and gestational age at completion were compared between groups. Fifty subjects were included. Fetal anatomic survey was completed in 62% using standard midtrimester assessment versus 78% with the addition of early transvaginal assessment ( = .04). The survey was completed at an earlier gestational age utilizing the transvaginal approach (22 0/7 ± 6 3/7) compared to traditional midtrimester transabdominal ultrasound approach (25 2/7 ± 5 3/7) \u3c .0005. Incorporation of an early transvaginal assessment of anatomy in obese women improved the rate of completion and led to earlier gestational age at completion of the fetal anatomic survey. Consideration should be given to including an early transvaginal sonogram as part of routine assessment of women with a BMI ≥ 35

Limitations of Aneuploidy and Anomaly Detection in the Obese Patient

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and can have a profound effect on pregnancy risks. Obese patients tend to be older and are at increased risk for structural fetal anomalies and aneuploidy, making screening options critically important for these women. Failure rates for first-trimester nuchal translucency (NT) screening increase with obesity, while the ability to detect soft-markers declines, limiting ultrasound-based screening options. Obesity also decreases the chances of completing the anatomy survey and increases the residual risk of undetected anomalies. Additionally, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is less likely to provide an informative result in obese patients. Understanding the limitations and diagnostic accuracy of aneuploidy and anomaly screening in obese patients can help guide clinicians in counseling patients on the screening options

Professional Bankruptcy for the Academic Physician

In modern academic medicine, the amount of academic time is decreasing as the workload and commitments are increasing. As physicians take on so many professional obligations that there is no way to meet all of the demands of the ever-expanding responsibilities, the question becomes: Should academic physicians ever consider filing for their own “professional bankruptcy”? Presented here are 10 steps to successful academic bankruptcy for the overextended junior faculty. Although somewhat fanciful, this method allows faculty to take an honest and critical assessment of their personal and professional goals and to align their career with these goals. With a critical eye to the future, this alignment will allow faculty to decrease their workload while maintaining productivity