Temporal trends and determinants of peripartum hysterectomy in Lombardy, Northern Italy, 1996-2010. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013;287:223-228. [PMID: 22990474 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-012-2547-4]

Uterine Factor Infertility, a Systematic Review

Uterine factor infertility (UFI) is defined as a condition resulting from either a complete lack of a uterus or a non-functioning uterus due to many causes. The exact prevalence of UFI is currently unknown, while treatments to achieve pregnancy are very limited. To evaluate the prevalence of this condition within its different causes, we carried out a worldwide systematic review on UFI. We performed research on the prevalence of UFI and its various causes throughout the world, according to the PRISMA criteria. A total of 188 studies were included in qualitative synthesis. UFI accounted for 2.1 to 16.7% of the causes of female infertility. We tried to evaluate the proportion of the different causes of UFI: uterine agenesia, hysterectomies, uterine malformations, uterine irradiation, adenomyosis, synechiae and Asherman syndrome, uterine myomas and uterine polyps. However, the data available in countries and studies were highly heterogenous. This present systematic review underlines the lack of a consensual definition of UFI. A national register of patients with UFI based on a consensual definition of Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility and Non-Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility would be helpful for women, whose desire for pregnancy has reached a dead end.

Old and novel insights into emergency peripartum hysterectomy: a time-trend analysis

PURPOSE

To assess changing trends, role of the triad patient-pregnancy-health professionals and health care cost in emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH).

METHODS

Demographics, indications, perinatal outcomes, perioperative complications in EPH cases performed in a 10-year period were extracted from the local birth registry. Experience of health professionals in the management of the post-partum haemorrhage was valued. Two subgroups (Period I, 2009-2013 vs. Period II, 2014-2018) were recognized. Overall and detailed EPH ratios/1000 deliveries were calculated. Cost analysis was achieved in agreement with the diagnosis-related group (DGR) system.

RESULTS

A total of 39 EPH were performed among 36,053 deliveries. EPH incidence increased from 0.8 to 1.32‰ across study periods (p < 0.001). The mean maternal age (36.9 ± 4.7 vs. 38.9 ± 5.9 years, p = 0.035) and the high socio-economic status (0 vs. 19.2%, p = 0.027) were statistically different. Multiparity (84.6 vs. 96.2%, p = 0.005), previous caesarean section (CS) (0.9 ± 0.9 vs. 1.2 ± 1.6, p = 0.049), and emergent CS (7.7 vs. 19.2%, p = 0.048) were found statistically different. In Period II, increased attempts in conservative approaches (7.7 vs. 36.8%, p = 0.007), reduction in blood loss (3184 ± 1753 vs. 2511 ± 1252 mL, p = 0.045), advanced age of gynecologists performing EPH (54.5 ± 9.2 vs. 60.3 ± 6.4 years, p = 0.024), and augmented health care costs (mean DRG of € 2.782 vs. 3.371,95, p < 0.001) were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

As a "near-miss" event, advances on identification of EPH factors are mandatory. Time-trend analyses might add information and address novel strategies.

Trends in conservative procedures and peripartum hysterectomy rates in severe postpartum haemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to explore whether increase in use of second-line conservative surgical procedures will alter the rate of peripartum hysterectomies in management of severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort. All pregnant patients with gestation > = 28 weeks with severe PPH (> = 1.5 L) within 72 h of delivery from year 2000 to 2015 (16-year period) in an obstetric training unit was recruited. Basic patient anthropometric characteristics and the main causes for PPH were calculated. The incidence of any second-line conservative surgical procedures and peripartum hysterectomies were evaluated. The total number of patients in each category was then stratified into four 4 years-intervals (4 quadrennium) to compare trends.

RESULTS

The incidence of severe PPH gradually increased over the study period (lowest 0.21% in 2002 to 0.76% in 2015) (p < .001). There is an obvious increasing trend in the overall use of second-line surgical procedures from nil to 82% (p < .001), with balloon tamponade constituting up to 48%. The incidence of successful second-line procedures increased gradually from 72.2% in the second quadrennium to 89% in the fourth quadrennium. The total peripartum hysterectomy rate among cases of severe PPH could be seen to drop from 40.2% in the first to 10.9% in the fourth quadrennium (p = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the increasing trends in PPH, the increasing utilisation of second-line conservative surgical procedures in severe PPH should be able to reduce the need for peripartum hysterectomy.

Damage Control Surgery for the Management of Major Obstetric Hemorrhage: Experience from the Fundación Valle Del Lili, Cali, Colombia

Objective

The aim of this case series is to describe the experience of implementing damage control resuscitation (DCR) in patients with major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH) between January 2005 and December 2015 in the Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia.

Materials and methods

This is a prospective descriptive study of a case series from 108 patients with MOH who were subjected to DCR. All patients were operated on using a standardized surgical technique in accordance with the institutional protocol.

Results

The median age was 28 years, with a gestational age of 38 weeks. The principal associated diagnosis was severe preeclampsia (in 39% of cases). A total of 96 patients presented massive postpartum hemorrhage, and 75% of these cases presented after a cesarean section. In all patients, normal control of bleeding was achieved, 60% during the first surgical period. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score was 14, with an overall mortality of 6.48%, far below the expected mortality according to the clinical severity of these patients.

Conclusion

This study includes the biggest series of pregnant women with MOH, in a critical condition, in whom DCR was used, during which rapid control of bleeding was achieved, associated with a significantly lower mortality than expected.

How to cite this article

Escobar MF, Carvajal JA, Burgos JM, Messa A, Ordoñez CA, García AF, Granados M, Forero AM, Casallas JD, Thomas LS, Nieto AJ. Damage Control Surgery for the Management of Major Obstetric Hemorrhage: Experience from the Fundación Valle Del Lili, Cali, Colombia. Panam J Trauma Crit Care Emerg Surg 2017;6(1):1-7.

Changing trends in emergency peripartum hysterectomy in a tertiary obstetric center in Turkey during 2000-2013

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) cases over a 14-year period in a tertiary center in İstanbul, Turkey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this retrospective descriptive study, the records of all cases of EPH performed at the Zeynep Kamil Women and Children's Training and Research Hospital between January 2000 and January 2014 were analyzed. Results for 2000-2006 and 2007-2013 were compared to identify changing trends. Demographic and clinical factors associated with EPH were assessed.

RESULTS

During the 14-year study period, a total of 161,836 births occurred, out of which 104,783 (64.8%) were vaginal deliveries and 57,053 (35.2%) were cesarean section (CS). EPH was performed in 81 patients with an overall incidence of 0.5 in 1000 deliveries. The EPH rate in 2007-2013 (0.07%) was significantly higher than in 2000-2006 (0.03%). The major difference in the EPH populations between the two periods was the higher number of previous CS in 2007-2013 compared with 2000-2006 (p=0.01). Indications for EPH did not differ between the two periods. There were 7 (8.6%) maternal deaths in 2000-2013, with significantly fewer maternal deaths in 2007-2013 than in 2000-2006 (19.2% vs. 3.6%).

CONCLUSION

Rate of EPH increased considerably from 2000 to 2013. This increase was mostly related to the increasing rate of CS. Indications for EPH did not change over the study period, and the number of maternal deaths markedly decreased.

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy: our experience

PURPOSE

To investigate the incidence of and reasons for emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) between 2009 and 2013 in our hospital, one of the three hospitals with the highest rates of delivery in Turkey.

METHODS

A retrospective study. Seventy-six peripartum hysterectomies were evaluated. We compared the modes of delivery and examined whether bilateral internal iliac artery ligation was performed.

RESULTS

The incidence of EPH was 0.77 in 1000. The majority of cases involved multiparity, uterine rupture, placenta praevia, or placental invasion abnormalities. The most frequent reason for EPH was uterine atony (64.5 %). There was no statistically significant relationship with mode of delivery; however, the complication rate and requirement for fresh frozen plasma were significantly (p < 0.01) related to whether bilateral internal iliac artery ligation was performed.

CONCLUSION

Uterine atony was the most common indication for EPH. The most important step to avoid performing EPH is to calculate patients' risks for postpartum bleeding. Postpartum haemorrhage may not be preventable, but when it happens, obstetricians must be prepared to perform EPH, and in high-risk patients, to perform internal iliac artery ligation.

Mode of delivery and level of neonatal care in Lombardy: a descriptive analysis according to volume of care

BACKGROUND

Using data from the Hospital Discharge data-base (SDO) and from the Certificate of Delivery Assistance data-base (CedAP) we analysed mode of delivery and neonatal care in public and private hospitals in Lombardy Region during 2012.

METHODS

In Lombardy a standard form is used to register all discharges from public or private hospitals (the SDO data-base which contained information on inpatient activity provided to each patient by any hospital or clinic included in the Regional Health System. Further, information on maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcome are available for all deliveries in CedAP data-base. We obtained data regarding all deliveries (mother discharge data-base M-SDO)and newborns discharge (N-SDO) and the CedAP data-base over the period January-December 2012 by the Lombardy Health Directorate. After linkage (using an anonymous key) of the three data-base using anonymized codes we obtained a data-base by the linkage of CedAP and N-SDO records, which includes, after elimination of incorrect codes, information on 90863 neonates and a data-base obtained by the linkage of CedAP and M-SDO records, which includes information on 90868 mother and deliveries. Using these data-base we have analysed mode of delivery and neonatal care in Lombardy according to the volume of care (VoC = number of delivery per year in the care unit).

RESULTS

In 2012, in Lombardy, less than 3% of newborns were born in hospitals reporting less than 500 deliveries/year and less than 30% in hospitals reporting < 1000 deliveries per year. Cesarean section rate was higher in units reporting less than 1000 deliveries/year (28.7% versus 27.5% in hospitals with more than 1000 deliveries/year). In hospitals reporting 500, 500-799, 800-999 deliveries/year the percentage of preterm births with gestational age <33 weeks ranged from 0.1% to 0.2%, but was 3.4% in hospitals reporting 2500 deliveries per year or more. A total of 0.6% of newborns weighing less than 1000 grams and 3.2% of newborns with birth weight between 1000 and 1499 grams was born in hospitals which reported 1000 deliveries or more.

CONCLUSIONS

This article provides an overview of delivery and neonatal care in the Lombardy Region with a focus on volume of care.

Advances in the management of peritoneal mesothelioma

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) is an infrequent disease which has historically been associated with a poor prognosis. Given its long latency period and non-specific symptomatology, a diagnosis of PM can be suggested by occupational exposure history, but ultimately relies heavily on imaging and diagnostic biopsy. Early treatment options including palliative operative debulking, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and systemic chemotherapy have marginally improved the natural course of the disease with median survival being approximately one year. The advent of cytoreduction (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has dramatically improved survival outcomes with wide median survival estimates between 2.5 to 9 years; these studies however remain largely heterogeneous, with differing study populations, tumor biology, and specific treatment regimens. More recent investigations have explored extent of cytoreduction, repeated operative intervention, and choice of chemotherapy but have been unable to offer definitive conclusions. CRS and HIPEC remain morbid procedures with complication rates ranging between 30% to 46% in larger series. Accordingly, an increasing interest in identifying molecular targets and developing targeted therapies is emerging. Among such novel targets is sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) which regulates the production of sphingosine-1-phosphate, a biologically active lipid implicated in various cancers including malignant mesothelioma. The known action of specific SphK inhibitors may warrant further exploration in peritoneal disease.

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy: our 12-year experience

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, indications and the risk factors and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH).

METHODS

We analyzed retrospectively 44 cases of EPH performed at tertiary obstetric center between January 2001 and April 2013. Data related to demographics, reproductive histories, indications for EPH, and postoperative follow-up were obtained by analyses of hospital records.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of EPH was 0.48 per 1,000 deliveries during the study period. The most common indications of EPH were abnormal placentation (50 %), uterine atony (36 %) and uterine rupture (9 %). All patients who underwent EPH with abnormal placentation had one or more previous cesarean sections (CS) except one. In our series, 24 cases (54 %) underwent total hysterectomy, most of which had the diagnosis of abnormal placentation (75 %), whereas subtotal hysterectomy was the choice of management of bleeding in cases with uterine atony (60 %). Maternal mortality was seen in 2 patients (4.5 %). The causes were disseminated intravascular coagulation in one and adult respiratory distress syndrome in the other patient. Perinatal mortality was observed in 7 patients (16 %). The causes for perinatal mortality were placental abruption in 4 and prematurity in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In our series, abnormal placentation was the most common indication for EPH. The risk factors for EPH were previous CS for abnormal placentation and placental abruption for uterine atony and peripartum hemorrhage. Limiting the number of CS deliveries would bring a significant impact on decreasing the risk of EPH.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes following peripartum hysterectomy from a single tertiary centre

BACKGROUND

We investigated the indications for and maternal and perinatal outcomes following peripartum hysterectomy in a single large tertiary centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All cases of peripartum hysterectomy between 2000 and 2011 were investigated. Data regarding maternal demographics, previous obstetric and gynaecological history, indications for hysterectomy, and details of haemorrhage, surgical complications and neonatal outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

There were 47 cases of peripartum hysterectomy of 55 262 births giving an incidence of 0.85 per 1000 births. Forty-one cases were total hysterectomies, while six were subtotal procedures. A total of 70.2% of cases were performed because of a morbidly adherent placenta, 27.7% for uterine atony and 2.1% for uterine rupture. The median estimated blood loss was 7290 mL. The overall surgical complication rate was 44.6% with bladder injury (19.1%) and sepsis (12.8%) commonest. Intensive care admission was required in 57.4% of women.

CONCLUSIONS

Peripartum hysterectomy is a major procedure carrying a high morbidity rate. In this series, maternal survival was 100%.