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Johnson KM, Delaney K, Fischer MA. "It feels like you have to choose one or the other": a qualitative analysis of obstetrician focus groups on periviability counseling. J Perinat Med 2024; 0:jpm-2023-0322. [PMID: 38884418 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2023-0322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to gain knowledge and ascertain challenges about periviability counseling among obstetricians to inform curricular development. METHODS Focus groups were utilized. A series of open-ended questions was posed to each group of obstetricians; responses were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions were analyzed by two coders using thematic analysis. RESULTS Four focus groups were convened. Prominent themes included: (1) Obstetrician knowledge about neonatal outcomes is limited, (2) Periviability counseling is both time intensive and time-challenged, (3) Patient processing of information relies on the content, delivery and patient readiness, and (4) Obstetrician bias is toward advocating for maternal safety, which may run counter to parental instinct to "do everything." The last theme was specifically focused on the role of cesarean delivery. CONCLUSIONS Curricula focused on improving obstetrician periviability counseling should focus on neonatal outcomes, the role of cesarean delivery, and utilization of shared decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Johnson
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 12262 University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School , Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn Delaney
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 12262 University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School , Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Melissa A Fischer
- Department of Internal Medicine, 12262 University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School , Worcester, MA, USA
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Kornhauser Cerar L, Lucovnik M. Ethical Dilemmas in Neonatal Care at the Limit of Viability. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10050784. [PMID: 37238331 DOI: 10.3390/children10050784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Advances in neonatal care have pushed the limit of viability to incrementally lower gestations over the last decades. However, surviving extremely premature neonates are prone to long-term neurodevelopmental handicaps. This makes ethics a crucial dimension of periviable birth management. At 22 weeks, survival ranges from 1 to 15%, and profound disabilities in survivors are common. Consequently, there is no beneficence-based obligation to offer any aggressive perinatal management. At 23 weeks, survival ranges from 8 to 54%, and survival without severe handicap ranges from 7 to 23%. If fetal indication for cesarean delivery appears, the procedure may be offered when neonatal resuscitation is planned. At a gestational age ≥24 weeks, up to 51% neonates are expected to survive the neonatal period. Survival without profound neurologic disability ranges from 12 to 38%. Beneficence-based obligation to intervene is reasonable at these gestations. Nevertheless, autonomy of parents should also be respected, and parental consent should be sought prior to any intervention. Optimal counselling of parents involves harmonized cooperation of obstetric and neonatal care providers. Every fetus/neonate and every pregnant woman are different and have the right to be considered individually when treatment decisions are being made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilijana Kornhauser Cerar
- Department of Perinatology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Zaloska 11, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Lucovnik
- Department of Perinatology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Zaloska 11, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Geurtzen R, van Heijst AFJ, Draaisma JMT, Kuijpers LJMK, Woiski M, Scheepers HCJ, van Kaam AH, Oudijk MA, Lafeber HN, Bax CJ, Koper JF, Duin LK, van der Hoeven MA, Kornelisse RF, Duvekot JJ, Andriessen P, van Runnard Heimel PJ, van der Heide-Jalving M, Bekker MN, Mulder-de Tollenaer SM, van Eyck J, Eshuis-Peters E, Graatsma M, Hermens RPMG, Hogeveen M. Development of Nationwide Recommendations to Support Prenatal Counseling in Extreme Prematurity. Pediatrics 2019; 143:peds.2018-3253. [PMID: 31160512 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To develop a nationwide, evidence-based framework to support prenatal counseling in extreme prematurity, focusing on organization, decision-making, content, and style aspects. METHODS A nationwide multicenter RAND-modified Delphi method study was performed between November 2016 and December 2017 in the Netherlands. Firstly, recommendations were extracted from literature and previous studies. Secondly, an expert panel (n = 21) with experienced parents, obstetricians, and neonatologists rated the recommendations on importance for inclusion in the framework. Thirdly, ratings were discussed in a consensus meeting. The final set of recommendations was approved and transformed into a framework. RESULTS A total of 101 recommendations on organization, decision-making, content, and style were included in the framework, including tools to support personalization. The most important recommendations regarding organization were to have both parents involved in the counseling with both the neonatologist and obstetrician. The shared decision-making model was recommended for deciding between active support and comfort care. Main recommendations regarding content of conversation were explanation of treatment options, information on survival, risk of permanent consequences, impossibility to predict an individual course, possibility for multiple future decision moments, and a discussion on parental values and standards. It was considered important to avoid jargon, check understanding, and provide a summary. The expert panel, patient organization, and national professional associations (gynecology and pediatrics) approved the framework. CONCLUSIONS A nationwide, evidence-based framework for prenatal counseling in extreme prematurity was developed. It contains recommendations and tools for personalization in the domains of organization, decision-making, content, and style of prenatal counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mallory Woiski
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amalia Children's Hospital and
| | | | | | - Martijn A Oudijk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam University Medical Center and University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Caroline J Bax
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vrije Universteit Medical Center and Vrije Universteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Leonie K Duin
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Prenatal Diagnosis, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Johannes J Duvekot
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Mireille N Bekker
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Jim van Eyck
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Isala Woman and Children's Hospital Zwolle, Zwolle, Netherlands; and
| | - Ellis Eshuis-Peters
- Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Rosella P M G Hermens
- Scientific Institute for Quality of Care, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Berry MJ, Saito-Benz M, Gray C, Dyson RM, Dellabarca P, Ebmeier S, Foley D, Elder DE, Richardson VF. Outcomes of 23- and 24-weeks gestation infants in Wellington, New Zealand: A single centre experience. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12769. [PMID: 28986579 PMCID: PMC5630631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimal perinatal care of infants born less than 24 weeks gestation remains contentious due to uncertainty about the long-term neurodevelopment of resuscitated infants. Our aim was to determine the short-term mortality and major morbidity outcomes from a cohort of inborn infants born at 23 and 24 weeks gestation and to assess if these parameters differed significantly between infants born at 23 vs. 24 weeks gestation. We report survival rates at 2-year follow-up of 22/38 (58%) at 23 weeks gestation and 36/60 (60%) at 24 weeks gestation. Neuroanatomical injury at the time of discharge (IVH ≥ Grade 3 and/or PVL) occurred in in 3/23 (13%) and 1/40 (3%) of surviving 23 and 24 weeks gestation infants respectively. Rates of disability at 2 years corrected postnatal age were not different between infants born at 23 and 24 weeks gestation. We show evidence that with maximal perinatal care in a tertiary setting it is possible to achieve comparable rates of survival free of significant neuroanatomical injury or severe disability at age 2 in infants born at 23-week and 24-weeks gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Judith Berry
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Maria Saito-Benz
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Clint Gray
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Rebecca Maree Dyson
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
- Graduate School of Medicine and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paula Dellabarca
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Stefan Ebmeier
- The Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - David Foley
- Department of Microbiology, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Dawn Elizabeth Elder
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
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