Women´s experiences of fetal screening for Down's syndrome by means of an early ultrasound examination

The general aim of this thesis was to explore women's reactions to and experiences of fetal screening for Down's syndrome PS) by means of an ultrasound examination, including measurement of fetal nuchal translucency (NT). The effect of this screening on maternal worry about the baby's health was investigated, as well as reactions to a false positive test and interpretation of information about riskAlso, an instrument measuring worry during pregnancy, the Cambridge Worry Scale, was translated into Swedish and tested on a sample of pregnant women. A sub-sample of 2026 women was drawn from a larger randomised controlled trial including 39,572 women, which investigated medical outcomes of the new fetal screening policy. Of these women, 1030 were randomly allocated to the intervention group, and 996 to routine care. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups regarding major worry about something being wrong with the baby, general anxiety and depressive symptoms m midpregnancy and two months postpartum. Twenty-four women who had received information about an increased risk according to NT were interviewed during pregnancy and after birth. Twenty of these women had false positive tests, and for 16 the risk was higher than expected considering their age. These women expressed major worry, and many said they chose to reject their pregnancy, to take "time out", while waiting for the results of fetal karyotyping. Two months after the birth, most of these women seemed to have overcome the stressful situation. In the intervention group of the above trial 796 women had a risk score for DS recorded in a clinical database. Of these women 620 said they had received information about the risk score, and 64 percent stated the figure almost correctly. The actual risk was associated with women's perception of the risk. Worry about the baby's health and depressive symptoms did not differ statistically between women who were at high risk (1:250 or higher) and at low risk. However, women who perceived that the risk was high were more worried about the baby's health and also seemed to have more depressive symptoms in mid-pregnancy compared with those who perceived the risk to be low. No differences were observed at two months after birth. The translated version of the Cambridge Worry Scale was tested on 200 Swedish pregnant women in Stockholm. The three main sources of worry were about the baby's health, giving birth and miscarriage. The internal- consistency reliability was 0.81 (Cronbach's alpha). Three items were added to the original scale to capture women's worry about the maternity services. In conclusion, the intervention with an early ultrasound examination including risk assessment for DS by measuring the NT did not affect maternal worry about the baby's health, general anxiety or depressive symptoms 'm mid-pregnancy or two months after birth. However, a false positive test could cause strong reactions of anxiety and rejection of the pregnancy for some weeks. Many had problems to recall and interpret a given risk score. An actual high risk score was not associated with major worry about the baby's health or depressive symptoms, whereas a woman's perception of being at high risk had such an association. The Swedish version of the Cambridge Worry Scale was considered to be useful and well suited for its purpose

Development of an observational instrument to assess gastro-esophageal reflux disease in premature infants

Abstract: Background: Premature infants are at increased risk of developing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which for these children is associated with a number of severe symptoms. There is great need for effective instruments and clear symptom criteria to assess the presence and degree of severity of GERD. Aim: To develop and pilot test an observation instrument for early detection of symptoms of GERD in premature infants. Method: A combination of three research methods was used – systematic literature review, observation instrument development and a pilot test. Results: The systematic review identified specific symptoms of GERD. The development of the observational instrument started with the establishment of concordance between the criteria of symptoms according to the literature review and to NIDCAP, “Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program”. In the pilot test the criteria of symptoms were revised by comparing the result and the criteria between infants that clinically were estimated to have had a reflux problem and the ones who did not. Conclusion: An observation instrument was developed. The clinical evaluation by a pilot test showed that the instrument could be useful to record significant symptoms and combinations of symptoms that may occur in premature infants assessed as having reflux problems

Implementation of combined ultrasound and biochemistry for risk evaluation of chromosomal abnormalities during the first trimester in Sweden

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how the first trimester risk evaluation for Down syndrome is offered and performed. SETTING: Sweden. SAMPLE: All 52 known units working with obstetric ultrasound. METHODS: Study-specific questionnaire and descriptive statistical analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Routines for offering combined ultrasound and biochemistry (CUB), questions about information, questions about tests and analysis used for diagnosis. RESULTS: CUB was performed in 28 600 (26%) of the expected 110 000 pregnancies in Sweden during 2011. Of all pregnant women, 15% were living in a county not offering CUB (only invasive prenatal diagnosis); 44% regardless of age; 15% to women ≥33 years; 24% to women ≥35 years; and 2% to women ≥38 years old. Amniocentesis was the most common method offered when the risk was estimated as high. Of the 47 units that replied, 29 (61.7%) offered only amniocentesis. On the questions about information, 40 (95.2%) stated that they gave verbal information. In addition to verbal information, 17 (40.5%) gave written information. Forty-one of the units (71.9%) stated that the CUB is offered to non-Swedish-speaking women. CONCLUSION: Without consistent national guidelines, the prenatal diagnostic CUB method is offered in an inequitable manner to pregnant women in Sweden. More than half of all pregnant women live in a county where CUB is not offered or is only offered based on age. The results demonstrate the importance of national consistency before the introduction of new prenatal tests, to enhance equal care for all pregnant women

Risk factors for persistent pain and its influence on maternal wellbeing after cesarean section

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the overall incidence and risk factors for persistent pain and its interference with daily life after cesarean section. DESIGN: Prospective long-term follow-up study. SETTING: Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. POPULATION: 260 healthy women who underwent elective cesarean section. METHODS: Information on demographics, medical history, postoperative pain and analgesic requirements was collected. A questionnaire consisting of the Brief Pain Inventory was posted at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Women rated pain intensity as well as interference with factors related to general function and quality of life. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The overall incidence and risk factors for persistent postoperative pain at three time points. Persistent pain was considered a secondary outcome. RESULTS: At 3, 6 and 12 months 40%, 27% and 22% of patients, respectively, reported pain in one or more locations, in the surgical site as well as in other areas. A psychological indication, as well as a first cesarean section, increased the risk for pain at 3 months. Severe postoperative pain in the immediate postoperative period or undergoing a first cesarean section were significant independent risk factors for the development of persistent pain up to 6 months after cesarean section. Parameters related to quality of life were significantly impaired in women with persistent pain. CONCLUSION: Several factors, including severe postoperative pain, were shown to influence the risk for persistent pain after cesarean section. Long-term pain markedly affected women's wellbeing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Oral oxycodone for pain after caesarean section : A randomized comparison with nurse-administered IV morphine in a pragmatic study

Background and aims The present randomized open label parallel group study was conducted to evaluate if an oral oxycodone (OXY) regimen can be at least equally effective and as safe for postoperative analgesia after caesarean section (CS) as a standard of care program using nurse-administered intravenous morphine (IVM), followed by oral codeine. Methods Eighty women (40 + 40) were scheduled for elective CS under spinal anaesthesia. All patients received postoperative multimodal analgesic therapy, including ibuprofen and paracetamol. The OXY group got standardized extended release and short acting oral treatment (and in a few cases intravenous OXY) as needed and the other group received current standard of care, IVM as needed for 24 h, followed by codeine. Opioid treatment lasted maximum five days. Outcome measures were pain intensity (numerical rating scale, NRS), opioid requirements, duration of administering opioids and safety for mother and newborn. All opioids in the study were expressed in OXY equivalents, using a conversion table. As the bioavailability of each opioid has a certain extent of interindividual bioavailability this conversion represents an approximation. The possible influence of opioids on the newborns was evaluated by the Neurological Adaptive Capacity Score at birth and at 24 and 48 h. Results During the first 24 h, there were no differences between treatments in opioid requirements or mean pain intensity at rest but pain intensity when asking for rescue medication was lower in the OXY than in the IVM group (mean ± SD; 5.41 ± 6.42 vs. 6.42 ± 1.61; p = 0.027). Provoked pain (uterus palpation) during the first 6 h was also less in the OXY group (3.26 ± 2.13 vs. 4.60 ± 2.10; p = 0.007). During the 25–48 h period postoperatively, patients on OXY reported significantly lower pain intensity at rest (2.9 ± 1.9 vs. 3.8 ± 1.8; p = 0.039) and consumed less opioids (OXY equivalents; mg) (31.5 ± 9.6 vs. 38.2 ± 38.2; p = 0.001) than those on IVM/codeine. The total amount of opioids 0–5 days postoperatively was significantly lower in the OXY than in the IVM/codeine group (108.7 ± 37.6 vs. 138.2 ± 45.1; p = 0.002). Duration of administering opioids was significantly shorter in the OXY group. Time to first spontaneous bowel movement was shorter in the OXY group compared with the IVM/codeine group. No serious adverse events were recorded in the mothers but the total number of common opioid adverse effects was higher among women on IVM/codeine than among those receiving OXY (15 vs. 3; p = 0.007). No adverse outcomes in the newborns related to treatment were observed in either group. Conclusions In a multimodal protocol for postoperative analgesia after CS better pain control and lower opioid intake was observed in patients receiving oral OXY as compared to those on IVM/codeine. No safety risks for mother and child were identified with either protocol. Implications Our findings support the view that use of oral OXY is a simple, effective and time saving treatment for postoperative pain after CS

Intraoperative injection of bupivacaine-adrenaline close to the fascia reduces morphine requirements after cesarean section : a randomized controlled trial

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a single injection of bupivacaine with adrenaline close to the fascia could decrease opiate consumption and pain in patients undergoing cesarean section in spinal anesthesia. Design. Randomized double-blind controlled study. Settings. Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden. Population. 260 women scheduled for elective cesarean section were enrolled in the study. Methods. The treatment group (n= 130) received 40 mL bupivacaine (2.5 mg/mL) with adrenaline (5 μg/mL) (Marcain® adrenalin) and the control group (n= 130) received 40 mL saline solution (0.9%), which was, in both groups, injected close to the fascia before closure of the wound. Main outcome measures. Morphine consumption and mean resting pain intensity numerical rating scale at 12 and 24 hours were the primary outcome variables. Other assessments for pain as well as mobilization parameters were considered secondary. Results. Morphine requirements were significantly less in the bupivacaine group, 19.0 mg/woman, compared with 24.0 mg/woman in the placebo group, during the first 12 postoperative hours. During this time period there was also a trend towards a difference between groups in mean pain intensity, but significant only during the first six hours. Over the whole first postoperative 24 hours, there were no differences in either morphine requirement or pain intensity between groups. Conclusions. A single injection of bupivacaine with adrenaline in the surgical wound decreases the need for morphine requirements for the first 12 postoperative hours and contributes to safe and effective pain management in women undergoing cesarean section

Posttraumatic stress among women after induced abortion : a Swedish multi-centre cohort study

BACKGROUND: Induced abortion is a common medical intervention. Whether psychological sequelae might follow induced abortion has long been a subject of concern among researchers and little is known about the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and induced abortion. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of PTSD and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) before and at three and six months after induced abortion, and to describe the characteristics of the women who developed PTSD or PTSS after the abortion. METHODS: This multi-centre cohort study included six departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Sweden. The study included 1457 women who requested an induced abortion, among whom 742 women responded at the three-month follow-up and 641 women at the six-month follow-up. The Screen Questionnaire-Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (SQ-PTSD) was used for research diagnoses of PTSD and PTSS, and anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Measurements were made at the first visit and at three and six months after the abortion. The 95% confidence intervals for the prevalence of lifetime or ongoing PTSD and PTSS were calculated using the normal approximation. The chi-square test and the Student's t-test were used to compare data between groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of ongoing PTSD and PTSS before the abortion was 4.3% and 23.5%, respectively, concomitant with high levels of anxiety and depression. At three months the corresponding rates were 2.0% and 4.6%, at six months 1.9% and 6.1%, respectively. Dropouts had higher rates of PTSD and PTSS. Fifty-one women developed PTSD or PTSS during the observation period. They were young, less well educated, needed counselling, and had high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. During the observation period 57 women had trauma experiences, among whom 11 developed PTSD or PTSS and reported a traumatic experience in relation to the abortion. CONCLUSION: Few women developed PTSD or PTSS after the abortion. The majority did so because of trauma experiences unrelated to the induced abortion. Concomitant symptoms of depression and anxiety call for clinical alertness and support

The prevalence of posttraumatic stress among women requesting induced abortion

Objectives To describe the prevalence and pattern of traumatic experiences, to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), to identify risk factors for PTSD and PTSS, and to analyse the association of PTSD and PTSS with concomitant anxiety and depressive symptoms in women requesting induced abortion. Methods A Swedish multi-centre study of women requesting an induced abortion. The Screen Questionnaire - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was used for research diagnoses of PTSD and PTSS. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results Of the 1514 respondents, almost half reported traumatic experiences. Lifetime- and point prevalence of PTSD were 7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8-8.5) and 4% (95% CI: 3.1-5.2), respectively. The prevalence of PTSS was 23% (95% CI: 21.1-25.4). Women who reported symptoms of anxiety or depression when requesting abortion were more likely to have ongoing PTSD or PTSS. Also single-living women and smokers displayed higher rates of ongoing PTSD. Conclusions Although PTSD is rare among women who request an induced abortion, a relatively high proportion suffers from PTSS. Abortion seeking women with trauma experiences and existing or preexisting mental disorders need more consideration and alertness when counselled for termination