Hygroscopic dilators vs balloon catheter ripening of the cervix for induction of labor in nulliparous women at term: Retrospective study.

To compare the efficacy and safety of hygroscopic dilators and balloon catheters for ripening of the cervix in induction of labor.This retrospective, observational study used data from the Successive Pregnancy Birth Registry System of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2012 to 2014. Nulliparous women in whom labor was induced by mechanical methods of cervical ripening at term were enrolled. The eligible women were divided into dilator, balloon 0.05). The vaginal instrumental delivery rate was higher in the two-balloon groups than in the dilator group. The volume of intrapartum hemorrhage was lowest in the dilator group. No significant difference in the frequencies of uterine rupture and intrauterine infection were observed among the dilator and two-balloon groups. With regard to neonatal outcomes, the frequency of a low Apgar score was statistically significantly lower in the dilator group than in the two-balloon groups. Moreover, the frequency of neonatal death tended to be lower in the dilator group than in the two-balloon groups.With regard to cervical ripening for labor induction in nulliparous women at term, the vaginal delivery rate on using a dilator and on using a balloon seems to be equivalent. Concerning maternal complications and neonatal outcomes, cervical ripening with hygroscopic dilators in labor induction might be safer

Emergent Uterine Arterial Embolization Using N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate in Postpartum Hemorrhage with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Although it is widely accepted that uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective therapeutic strategy for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), no consensus has been reached regarding the efficacy of UAE in patients with PPH with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients treated with UAE using NBCA for PPH between 2010 and 2015. The patients were divided into DIC and non-DIC groups, according to the obstetrical DIC score and the overt DIC diagnostic criteria issued by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), and their clinical outcomes were compared. There were 28 patients treated with UAE using NBCA. Complete hemostasis was achieved by UAE in 19 of 28 patients. In eight of nine patients with unsuccessful hemostasis, surgical hemostatic interventions were performed after UAE, and hemostasis was achieved in seven patients. UAE using NBCA showed no significant intergroup differences in complete hemostasis according to the presence or absence of DIC based on obstetrical DIC score (70% versus 62.5%, P=1.000) or ISTH DIC score (54.5% versus 76.5%, P=0.409). UAE using NBCA may be a useful first-choice treatment for PPH with DIC

Antithrombin deficiency in pregnancy

Background and Aim: Liver dysfunction with decreased antithrombin activity (AT) and/or thrombocytopenia is life-threatening in pregnant women. Whether AT is clinically useful for prediction of liver dysfunction remains unclear. Methods: A total of 541 women were registered prospectively at gestational week 34.7 (20.0 - 41.4) with available data on antenatal AT and platelet count (PLC). Results: Liver dysfunction defined as serum AST > 45 IU/L concomitant with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 400 IU/L occurred in five women antenatally (≤ 2 weeks before delivery) and in 17 women postpartum (within 1 week postpartum). Median (5th - 95th) antenatal value was 85 (62 - 110)% for AT and 202 (118 - 315)×10^9/L for PLC in the 541 women, and was significantly lower in women with than without perinatal liver dysfunction; 75 (51 - 108) vs. 86 (62 - 110)% and 179 (56 - 244) vs. 203 (121 - 316)×10^9/L, respectively. Nineteen (86%) women with liver dysfunction showed AT ≤ 62% or thrombocytopenia (PLC ≤ 118×10^9/L) perinatally, but five lacked thrombocytopenia throughout the perinatal period. The best cut-off (AT, 77%; PLC, 139×10^9/L) suggested by receiver operating characteristic curve gave antenatal AT and PLC sensitivity of 59% and 41% with positive predictive value (PPV) of 8.6% and 14%, respectively, and combined use of AT and PLC improved sensitivity to 73% (16/22) with PPV of 9.2% for prediction of perinatal liver dysfunction. Conclusions: Reduced AT not accompanied by thrombocytopenia can precede liver dysfunction. Clinical introduction of AT may enhance safety of pregnant women

Delivery outcome.

<p>Delivery outcome.</p