Correlation of intra partum electronic fetal monitoring with neonatal outcome

Background: The importance of fetal monitoring during labour has been realized since long. The stress of uterine contractions may affect the fetus adversely especially if the fetus is already compromised, when the placental reserves are suboptimal, or when cord undergoes compression as in those associated with diminished liquor amnii or iatrogenic uterine hyperstimulation due to injudicious use of oxytocin. Even a fetus which is apparently normal in the antenatal period may develop distress during labour. Hence fetal monitoring during antepartum and intrapartum periods is of vital importance for timely detection of fetal distress so that appropriate management may be offered.Methods: This study was a prospective observational study included 100 patients of more than 34 weeks period of gestation were divided into two groups. Patients in labour were analyzed on an Electronic Monitor. Delivery conducted was either by vaginal route, instrumental or by caesarean section depending upon the fetal heart rate tracings and their interpretations as per the case. At the time of delivery umbilical cord blood was taken for the pH analysis. All new born babies were seen by the paediatrician immediately after the delivery and 1 and 5 minute APGAR score assessed for the delivered baby. The various EFM Patterns obtained were compared with the neonatal status at birth using the parameters already mentioned. The false positives and false negatives if any were tabulated. Data so obtained was analyzed statistically thereafter. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 13.0 was used for the purpose of analysis.Results: Results revealed that among the 50 subjects of the case group, 7 subjects showed the absence of the beat to beat variability, 12 subjects showed early deceleration, 32 subjects showed late deceleration, and 6 subjects showed the presence of variable deceleration. No significant association of beat to beat variability, early and variable deceleration could be established with meconium staining/NICU admissions/low APGAR. A significant positive association between persistent late deceleration with MSL, APGAR <7 at 1 min, and Instrumental/LSCS delivery was seen. A significant positive association between any CTG abnormality and APGAR at 1 min, type of delivery, and meconium staining was seen.Conclusions: EFM should be used judiciously. Cardiotocography machines are certainly required in the labour room. Equally important is the proper interpretation of the CTG tracings so that unjustified caesarean sections can be minimized, at the same time picking up cases of fetal distress in time which is likely to improve fetal outcome

Let Them In: Family Presence During Intensive Care Unit Procedures

Families have for decades advocated for full access to intensive care units (ICUs) and meaningful partnership with clinicians, resulting in gradual improvements in family access and collaboration with ICU clinicians. Despite such advances, family members in adult ICUs are still commonly asked to leave the patient’s room during invasive bedside procedures, regardless of whether the patient would prefer family to be present. Physicians may be resistant to having family members at the bedside due to concerns about trainee education, medicolegal implications, possible effects on the technical quality of procedures due to distractions, and procedural sterility. Limited evidence from parallel settings does not support these concerns. Family presence during ICU procedures, when the patient and family member both desire it, fulfills the mandates of patient-centered care. We anticipate that such inclusion will increase family engagement, improve patient and family satisfaction, and may, on the basis of studies of open visitation, pediatric ICU experience, and family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, decrease psychological distress in patients and family members. We believe these goals can be achieved without compromising the quality of patient care, increasing provider burden significantly, or increasing risks of litigation. In this article, we weigh current evidence, consider historical objections to family presence at ICU procedures, and report our clinical experience with the practice. An outline for implementing family procedural presence in the ICU is also presented

Risk of stillbirth following in vitro methods of conception: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine if there is an increased risk of stillbirth among singleton gestations following in vitro methods of conception (including in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection) compared with non-in vitro methods of conception (including spontaneous conception, intrauterine insemination, or ovarian stimulation). Methods Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to June 2019. Reference lists of included studies and obstetric guidelines were also reviewed. Metaanalysis was undertaken using a random effects model and inverse variance methods to produce a summary odds ratio. Subgroup analyses were completed by type of in vitro or non-in vitro method. Results Thirty-three cohort studies, and one case-control study met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. There was an increased odds of stillbirth associated with in vitro methods of conception, (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.23-1.67). A subgroup analysis demonstrated no increased risk when comparing in vitro methods to those conceiving with a history of infertility. Conclusion Compared to non-in vitro methods of conception, in vitro methods are associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether this risk is due to the treatment modality or underlying infertility