[Hyaline membrane disease in full-term neonates]

Prophylactic occlusion balloons of both internal iliac arteries in caesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum disorder reduces blood loss: A retrospective comparative study

Background

The placenta accreta spectrum is a complex disorder characterized by abnormal invasion of the placenta into the uterine wall, posing a significant risk of life-threatening haemorrhage for patients. Its incidence is on the rise, largely attributed to the increasing rates of caesarean sections. Management of this spectrum involves a multidisciplinary approach, although standardized protocols are not yet established. While caesarean hysterectomy remains the standard Gold, several adjunctive treatments have emerged in recent years to mitigate bleeding risk and associated morbidity. Among these, prophylactic occlusion balloons placed in the internal iliac arteries have shown promise. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the effect of prophylactic occlusion balloons in both uterine iliac arteries in the management of placental accreta spectrum disorders.

Methods

A retrospective monocentric cohort study was conducted in the Department "C" of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at the Maternity Center of Tunis. The study spanned three years, from January 2nd, 2020, to December 31st, 2022. The study population consisted of two groups: Control Group (CG) comprised patients who underwent caesarean hysterectomy without internal-iliac prophylactic occlusion balloons, and Occlusion balloons of both internal iliac arteries Group (OBIIAG) included patients who underwent caesarean hysterectomy with internal-iliac prophylactic occlusion balloons.

Results

A total of 38 patients were included in the study, all of whom exhibited similar epidemiological characteristics and comparable personal and obstetric histories. The most prevalent risk factor among the patients was a history of caesarean section (92%). On average, patients were diagnosed at 30 weeks of gestation, with third-trimester bleeding being the most common presentation (71% of cases). The median gestational age at delivery was between 36 and 37 weeks. We observed a significant difference in blood loss between the two groups (2888 ml in the control group and 1828 ml in the group with internal-iliac prophylactic occlusion balloons, p < 0.05). Implementation of this technique resulted in a reduced need for massive transfusions (p < 0.01) and shorter operating times (126 min for the control group and 92 min for the group with internal-iliac prophylactic occlusion balloons; p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in morbidity between the two groups.

Conclusion

The intra-iliac prophylactic occlusion balloons can help reduce the risk of hemorrhage and the morbidities that come with the placenta accreta spectrum disorder.

The Role of Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborn Infants

BACKGROUND

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is one of the most common causes of neonatal respiratory failure and mortality. The risk of developing RDS decreases with both increasing gestational age and birth weight.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborn infants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From March 2012 to May 2013, 100 newborn infants were divided into two groups: RDS group (50 cases) and control group (50 cases). According to the findings of chest x-ray, there were 10 cases of grade II RDS, 15 grade III cases, and 25 grade IV cases in RDS group. Lung ultrasound was performed at bedside by a single expert. The ultrasound indexes observed in this study included pleural line, A-line, B-line, lung consolidation, air bronchograms, bilateral white lung, interstitial syndrome, lung sliding, lung pulse etc.

RESULTS

In all of the infants with RDS, lung ultrasound consistently showed generalized consolidation with air bronchograms, bilateral white lung or alveolar-interstitial syndrome, pleural line abnormalities, A-line disappearance, pleural effusion, lung pulse, etc. The simultaneous demonstration of lung consolidation, pleural line abnormalities and bilateral white lung, or lung consolidation, pleural line abnormalities and A-line disappearance co-exists with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Besides, the sensitivity was 80% and specificity 100% of lung pulse for the diagnosis of neonatal RDS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that using an ultrasound to diagnose neonatal RDS is accurate and reliable too. A lung ultrasound has many advantages over other techniques. Ultrasound is non-ionizing, low-cost, easy to operate, and can be performed at bedside, making this technique ideal for use in NICU.

High-risk Factors of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Term Neonates: A Retrospective Case-control Study

BACKGROUND

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common critical disease in term neonates, but reasons for the occurrence of RDS remains unclear.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the cause of RDS in full-term neonates by a retrospective case-control study.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study.

METHODS

Among the patients admitted to Bayi Children's Hospital between January 2008 and December 2010, a total of 205 full-term neonates with RDS were assigned to the study group, and 410 full-term neonates without RDS were assigned to the control group. Clinical information, including the presence or absence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM), gender of the neonates, mode of delivery, birth weight, and any conditions suffered by the neonates were recorded.

RESULTS

THE RESULTS OF LOGISTIC REGRESSION ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE FOLLOWING CAUSES WERE CLOSELY CORRELATED WITH TERM NEONATAL RDS: selective cesarean section (OR: 8.737; 95% CI: 5.232-14.588), severe birth asphyxia (OR: 6.988; 95% CI: 2.990-16.333), small gestational age (OR: 6.222; 95% CI: 2.001-8.993), maternal-fetal infection (OR: 5.337; 95% CI: 1.999-8.233), PROM (OR: 3.380; 95% CI: 1.986-5.754), male sex (OR: 2.641; 95% CI: 1.721-4.053), gestational glucose intolerance or diabetes (OR: 2.415; 95% CI:1.721-4.053), and low birth weight (OR: 2.323; 95% CI: 1.329-4.060).

CONCLUSION

Several high-risk factors, such as selective cesarean section, severe birth asphyxia, maternal-fetal infection, PROM, and male sex are closely correlated with full-term neonatal RDS. These could provide a significant reference for the diagnosis and treatment of term neonatal RDS.

[Risk factors for developing pneumothorax in full-term neonates with respiratory distress]

OBJECTIVES

To describe respiratory distress (RD) in full-term neonates hospitalized in the NICU and to determine risk factors in this population for pneumothorax.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective inclusion for 4 years of full-term neonates hospitalized for RD before the 2nd day of life. Neonates were separated into Group I (RD with no pneumothorax) and Group II (RD with pneumothorax). Data collected from maternal and newborn medical records were obstetrical, perinatal, and postnatal. P<0.05 was set as the significance level.

RESULTS

Ninety-six neonates were included. In this population, 64 (66.7%) were male, 45 (46.9%) were born by cesarean section, and 30 (31.3%) by elective cesarean section. Neonatal outcome was 4.6 days of hospital stay, 47.4% odds of mechanical ventilation, and 17.7% of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN). A central catheter was needed in 25% of the patients and amine treatment in 3.1%. The number of neonates born by cesarean section was lower as term increased. Those born by cesarean section were more likely to develop PPHN (26.7 vs 9.8%; P=0.03), and those born without labor were more likely to require oxygen (83.3 vs 63.6%; P=0.05). When comparing Group I and Group II (32 neonates), absence of labor (RR 1.5) and birth outside of a level III maternity unit (RR 1.6) were risk factors for pneumothorax. These results were confirmed in multivariate analysis. In Group II, birth before 39 weeks was a risk factor for bilateral pneumothorax (P=0.01). The median length of hospitalization was significantly longer in Group II than in Group I (5.8 days vs 4 days, P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

RD at term exposes the infant to high morbidity and pneumothorax, especially if born outside of a level III maternity unit and absence of labor.

Severe respiratory disorders in term neonates

Few prospective population-based studies of respiratory diseases have been conducted in term neonates. We aimed to describe mechanically ventilated respiratory disorders in term neonates and associated risk factors in a regional-based study of livebirths between 37 and 41 weeks. The study was prospective for epidemiological data recording, and retrospective for collecting additional data from charts of neonates with severe (mechanically ventilated) respiratory disorders. A total of 14,813 neonates with gestational age (GA) 37-38 weeks and 50,187 neonates with GA 39-41 weeks were included. The overall incidences (per thousand livebirths) of mechanically ventilated transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) were 0.72 per thousand[95% CI 0.53 per thousand, 0.96 per thousand], 0.38 per thousand[95% CI 0.25 per thousand, 0.57 per thousand] and 0.61 per thousand[95% CI 0.44 per thousand, 0.84 per thousand], respectively. Increasing GA from 37 to 41 weeks was associated with a significant decrease in incidence of RDS and TTN without any significant change for MAS. Multivariable analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with severe respiratory disorders: in the 37-38 weeks group - Apgar score < or =3 at 1 min, elective caesarean section (CS), emergency CS and placental abruption; in the 39-41 weeks group - Apgar score < or =3 at 1 min, elective CS, emergency CS, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and abnormal cardiotocography. Comparing the population attributable risks, the main risk factor of severe respiratory disorders was elective CS in the 37-38 weeks group and meconium-stained amniotic fluid in the 39-41 weeks group.