All the right moves: why in utero transfer is both important for the baby and difficult to achieve and new strategies for change

Ambient temperature and preterm birth: A case-crossover study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between ambient temperature and preterm birth (PTB) and to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of PTBs due to low and high temperatures.

DESIGN

Time-stratified case-crossover design.

SETTING

Japan (46 prefectures, excluding Okinawa), 2011-2020.

SAMPLE

214 050 PTBs registered in the Japan Perinatal Registry Network database among 1 908 168 singleton live births.

METHODS

A quasi-Poisson regression model with a distributed lag nonlinear model was employed to assess the associations between daily mean temperature and PTBs for a lag of 0-27 days in each prefecture. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted by combining effect estimates from the 46 prefectures to estimate pooled relative risks (RRs). The PAFs of the PTBs due to below or above the mean of the 46 median temperatures (16.0°C) were calculated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Preterm singleton live births.

RESULTS

The association between daily mean temperature and PTB risk exhibited a U-shaped curve. The adjusted RRs were 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.25) at the mean of the 1st percentiles (0.8°C) and 1.08 (95% CI 1.00-1.17) at the mean of the 99th percentiles (30.2°C) of 46 prefectures, with 16.0°C as the reference temperature. Approximately 2.3% (95% CI 0.6-4.0) of PTBs were attributable to low temperatures.

CONCLUSIONS

Both low and possibly high temperatures were associated with an increased risk of PTBs. These findings may help to inform preventive measures for pregnant women.

Navigating Uncertain Waters: First-Trimester Screening's Role in Identifying Neonatal Complications

Background: Contemporary diagnostic methods aimed at assessing neonatal outcomes predominantly rely on the medical history of pregnant women. Ideally, universal biomarkers indicating an increased risk of delivering infants in poor clinical condition, with a heightened likelihood of requiring hospitalization in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), would be beneficial for appropriately stratifying pregnant women into a high-risk category. Our study evaluated whether biochemical and ultrasonographical markers universally used in first-trimester screenings for non-heritable chromosomal aberrations could serve this purpose. Methods: This study encompassed 1164 patients who underwent first-trimester screening, including patient history, ultrasound examinations, and biochemical tests for pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and the free beta-HCG subunit (fbHCG), from January 2019 to December 2021. The research concentrated on the correlation between these prenatal test results and neonatal outcomes, particularly Apgar scores, umbilical blood pH levels, and the necessity for NICU admission. Results: In our cohort, neonates scoring lower than 8 on the Apgar scale at birth exhibited lower concentrations of PAPP-A in the first trimester, both in raw and normalized values (PAPP-A MoM 0.93 vs. 1.027, p = 0.032). We also observed a higher pulsatility index in the venous duct in the first trimester in full-term neonates born with <8 points on the Apgar scale. Additionally, newborns born with an umbilical blood pH < 7.2 had lower normalized first-trimester PAPP-A concentrations (0.69 vs. 1.01 MoM, p = 0.04). We also noted that neonates requiring NICU hospitalization post-delivery had lower first-trimester bHCG concentrations (0.93 MoM vs. 1.11 MoM, p = 0.03). However, none of the correlations in our study translated into a robust prognostic ability for predicting dichotomous outcomes. All areas under the curve achieved a value < 0.7. Conclusions: Low concentrations of PAPP-A and free bHCG subunit in the first trimester may be associated with poorer clinical and biochemical conditions in neonates post-delivery. However, the relationship is weak and has limited predictive capability. Further research evaluating these relationships is necessary for the appropriate stratification of pregnant women into high-risk categories for neonatological complications.

Improving the Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis in Resource-Limited Settings: Gaps and Recommendations

Neonatal sepsis causes significant global morbidity and mortality, with the highest burden in resource-limited settings where 99% of neonatal deaths occur. There are multiple challenges to achieving successful treatment of neonates in this setting. Firstly, reliable and low-cost strategies for risk identification are urgently needed to facilitate treatment as early as possible. Improved laboratory capacity to allow identification of causative organisms would support antimicrobial stewardship. Antibiotic treatment is still hampered by availability, but also increasingly by antimicrobial resistance - making surveillance of organisms and judicious antibiotic use a priority. Finally, supportive care is key in the management of the neonate with sepsis and has been underrecognized as a priority in resource-limited settings. This includes fluid balance and nutritional support in the acute phase, and follow-up care in order to mitigate complications and optimise long-term outcomes. There is much more work to be done in identifying the holistic needs of neonates and their families to provide effective family-integrated interventions and complete the package of neonatal sepsis management in resource-limited settings.

Trends in neonatal mortality and morbidity in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants over a decade: Singapore national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Very preterm infants are at risk for neurodevelopmental impairment because of postnatal morbidities. This study aims to (1) compare the outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in Singapore during two time periods over a decade; 2) compare performances among Singaporean neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); and 3) compare a Singapore national cohort with one from the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN).

METHODS

Singapore national data on VLBW infants born during two periods, 2007-2008 (SG2007, n = 286) and 2015-2017 (SG2017, n = 905) were extracted from patient medical records. The care practices and clinical outcomes among three Singapore NICUs were compared using SG2017 data. Third, using data from the ANZNN2017 annual report, infants with gestational age (GA) ≤29 weeks in SG2017 were compared with their Oceania counterparts.

RESULTS

SG2017 had 9.9% higher usage of antenatal steroids (p < 0.001), 8% better survival for infants ≤26 weeks (p = 0.174), and used 12.7% lesser nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for patent ductus arteriosus closure (p < 0.001) than those of SG2007 cohort. Rate of late-onset sepsis (LOS) was almost halved (7.4% vs. 14.0%, p < 0.001), and exclusive human milk feeding after discharge increased threefold (p < 0.001). SG2017, in contrast, had a higher rate of chronic lung disease (CLD) (20.0% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.098). Within SG2017, the rates of LOS, CLD, and human milk feeding varied significantly between the three NICUs. When compared with ANZNN2017, SG2017 had significantly lower rates of LOS for infants ≤25 weeks (p = 0.001), less necrotizing enterocolitis for infants ≤27 weeks (p = 0.002), and less CLD across all GA groups.

CONCLUSION

Postnatal morbidities and survival rates for VLBW infants in Singapore have improved over a decade. Outcomes for VLBW infants varied among three Singapore NICUs, which provide a rationale for collaboration to improve clinical quality. The outcomes of Singaporean VLBW infants were comparable to those of their ANZNN counterparts.

Multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary care: A successfully managed aortic dissection in the third trimester of pregnancy

Multi-disciplinary collaborative care for pregnant women with complex and emergent conditions is essential. Logistical planning, clear communication and human factor awareness are all non-clinical skills which need to be utilised in order to maximise outcomes. We describe the case of a proximal aortic dissection in the late third trimester of pregnancy diagnosed in a peripheral hospital that was transferred to a cardiothoracic centre for successful operative management 160 km away. This required the time-sensitive mobilisation and liaison of a receiving cardiothoracic, anaesthesiology and perfusionist team in conjunction with obstetric and midwifery support from an affiliated maternity hospital, as well as the national neonatal transport team. We emphasise the importance of multidisciplinary team management in complex cases and how imperative good inter-disciplinary communication is to ensure safe inter-hospital transfer.

The use of fetal fibronectin and cervical length measurements in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in women with an Arabin pessary in situ

OBJECTIVES

The ability to predict spontaneous PTB (sPTB) has improved greatly, allowing women at risk to be managed with prophylactic interventions such as cervical cerclage and the Arabin pessary. Cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin (qfFN) concentration and ultrasound measurement of cervical length (CL) are the two most established tools to predict sPTB. There is however limited data regarding the predictive value of qfFN and CL tests following insertion of an Arabin pessary. Our aim was therefore to determine the clinical use of qfFN and CL measurements to predict sPTB in women fitted with an Arabin pessary.

STUDY DESIGN

This study is a secondary analysis on the SUPPORT trial data. Data were prospectively collected from women attending high-risk preterm surveillance clinics in 3 London centres between July 2015 and April 2020. The matched control group was pregnant women attending the same high-risk preterm surveillance clinics who had not received an Arabin pessary. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for prediction of birth by 34 and by 37 weeks' gestation were generated for qfFN and CL measurements combined for both study groups. A formal comparison of area under the curve before 34 weeks' gestation (AUC < 34 weeks) was made between the two study groups.

RESULTS

At our primary endpoint of sPTB < 34 weeks' gestation, qfFN was a good predictor of sPTB in cases with an Arabin pessary in situ (AUC, 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62-0.90) and no worse than the control group who did not have an Arabin pessary, (AUC 0.74, 95% CI: 0.48-0.96). CL had good prediction for sPTB < 34 weeks' gestation in the control group (AUC 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.88) but was lower and non-significant in the Arabin pessary case group (AUC 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that cervicovaginal qfFN concentration is equally reliable in the prediction of sPTB in pregnant women at increased risk of sPTB with and without an Arabin pessary in situ, and significantly better than CL measurement alone for predicting delivery before 34 weeks. This commonly used test therefore has utility in predicting sPTB in pregnant women fitted with an Arabin pessary.

Protecting the brain of the micropreemie

Advances in perinatal care have seen substantial improvements in survival without disability for extremely preterm infants. Protecting the developing brain and reducing neurodevelopmental sequelae of extremely preterm birth are strategic priorities for both research and clinical care. A number of evidence-based interventions exist for neuroprotection in micropreemies, inclusive of prevention of preterm birth and multiple births with implantation of only one embryo during in vitro fertilisation, as well as antenatal care to optimize fetal wellbeing, strategies for supporting neonatal transition, and neuroprotective developmental care. Avoidance of complications that trigger ischemia and inflammation is vital for minimizing brain dysmaturation and injury, particularly of the white matter. Neurodevelopmental surveillance, early diagnosis of cerebral palsy and early intervention are essential for optimizing long-term outcomes and quality of life. Research priorities include further evaluation of putative neuroprotective agents, and investigation of common neonatal interventions in trials adequately powered to assess neurodevelopmental outcome.

Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Preterm Birth in Women With Threatened Preterm Labor: A Prospective Cohort Study in Iranian Tertiary Referral Hospitals

In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to investigate external validity of the Allouche's nomogram to predict preterm birth in symptomatic women in Iran. We employed six variables of cervical length, uterine contractions, rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding, gestational age, and multiple pregnancy to draw the nomograms. These variables were examined in the first day of women's hospitalization and participants followed up until giving birth. The concordance index of area under the curve (AUC) was used for validation of the nomograms. Of the participants 10% gave birth within 48 hours and 29% before 34 weeks. The nomogram had sufficient accuracy in predicting birth within 48 hours (AUC 0.89 [95% CI 0.82-0.96]) and birth before 34 weeks (AUC 0.89 [95% CI 0.84-0.94]). The optimal risk threshold for nomogram predicting birth within 48 hours was 0.16. Use of these two nomograms, can improve the health of women and their neonates.

Temporal trends of in utero and early postnatal transfer of extremely preterm infants between 2011 and 2016: a UK population study

OBJECTIVE

Early postnatal transfer (PNT) of extremely preterm infants is associated with adverse outcomes compared with in utero transfer (IUT). We aimed to explore recent national trends of IUT and early PNT.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study using the National Neonatal Research Database.

SETTING

Neonatal units in England, Scotland and Wales.

PATIENTS

Extremely preterm infants 23⁺⁰-27⁺⁶ weeks' gestation admitted for neonatal care from 2011 to 2016.

MAIN OUTCOME

The incidence of IUT or PNT within 72 hours of life. Secondary outcomes included mortality, hospital transfer level between centres and temporal changes across two equal epochs, 2011-2013 (epoch 1 (Ep1)) and 2014-2016 (epoch 2 (Ep2)).

RESULTS

14 719 infants were included (Ep1=7363 and Ep2=7256); 4005 (27%) underwent IUT; and 3042 (20.7%) had PNT. IUTs decreased significantly between epochs from 28.3% (Ep1=2089) to 26.0% (Ep2=1916) (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.97, p<0.01). Conversely, PNTs increased from 19.8% (Ep1=1416) to 21.5% (Ep2=1581) (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.20, p=0.01). PNTs between intensive care centres increased from 8.1% (Ep1=119) to 10.2% (Ep2=161, p=0.05). Mortality decreased from 21.6% (Ep1=1592) to 19.3% (Ep2=1421) (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.97, p=0.01). Survival to 90 days of age was significantly lower in infants undergoing PNT compared with IUT (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.46), with the greatest differences observed in infants <25 weeks' gestational age.

CONCLUSION

In the UK, IUT of extremely preterm infants has significantly decreased over the study period with a parallel increase in early PNT. Strategies to reverse these trends, improve IUT pathways and optimise antenatal steroid use could significantly improve survival and reduce brain injury for these high-risk infants.

Perceived stress and its predictors in women with threatened preterm labour: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To determine prevalence and predictors of perceived stress in women with threatened preterm labour.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

METHODS

We recruited 409 women with threatened preterm labour, hospitalized at two tertiary hospitals. We assessed their socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics, and their perceived stress, perceived social support, experience of violence using validated scales. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the predictors.

RESULTS

Data from all recruited women were analysed. Most of them had borderline (36%) or high (42%) level stress. Overall, 17 predictors were identified explaining 89.5% of variation in the stress score. Predictors of the higher stress score included: urban living, experience of sexual and psychological violence, perceived insufficient social support, experience of vaginal bleeding during current pregnancy, abnormal results in initial pregnancy tests, having multiple roles at home, being less than 28 weeks pregnant, being parous, sleep disorders, history of health problems, insufficient income and unwanted pregnancy.

How can obstetricians improve outcomes for infants born extremely preterm?

Prematurity remains a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, and also has significant implications for long-term health. Obstetricians have a key role to play in improving outcomes for infants born at extremely preterm gestations. This review explores the evidence for interventions available to obstetricians caring for women at risk of birthing at extremely preterm gestations, including antenatal corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate, tocolysis and antibiotics. It also addresses the importance of strategies to facilitate safe in-utero transfer, to maximise the chance of extremely preterm births occurring in tertiary centers, and the clinical value of strategies by which preterm birth can be predicted. The paper concludes with an appraisal of evidence for different modes of birth at extremely preterm gestations, and for delayed cord clamping.

Evaluating the use of the QUiPP app and its impact on the management of threatened preterm labour: A cluster randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Preterm delivery (before 37 weeks of gestation) is the single most important contributor to neonatal death and morbidity, with lifelong repercussions. However, the majority of women who present with preterm labour (PTL) symptoms do not deliver imminently. Accurate prediction of PTL is needed in order ensure correct management of those most at risk of preterm birth (PTB) and to prevent the maternal and fetal risks incurred by unnecessary interventions given to the majority. The QUantitative Innovation in Predicting Preterm birth (QUIPP) app aims to support clinical decision-making about women in threatened preterm labour (TPTL) by combining quantitative fetal fibronectin (qfFN) values, cervical length (CL), and significant PTB risk factors to create an individualised percentage risk of delivery.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

EQUIPTT was a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving 13 maternity units in South and Eastern England (United Kingdom) between March 2018 and February 2019. Pregnant women (n = 1,872) between 23+0 and 34+6 weeks' gestation with symptoms of PTL in the analysis period were assigned to either the intervention (762) or control (1,111). The mean age of the study population was 30.2 (+/- SD 5.93). A total of 56.0% were white, 19.6% were black, 14.2% were Asian, and 10.2% were of other ethnicities. The intervention was the use of the QUiPP app with admission, antenatal corticosteroids (ACSs), and transfer advised for women with a QUiPP risk of delivery >5% within 7 days. Control sites continued with their conventional management of TPTL. Unnecessary management for TPTL was a composite primary outcome defined by the sum of unnecessary admission decisions (admitted and delivery interval >7 days or not admitted and delivery interval ≤7 days) and the number of unnecessary in utero transfer (IUT) decisions/actions (IUT that occurred or were attempted >7 days prior to delivery) and ex utero transfers (EUTs) that should have been in utero (attempted and not attempted). Unnecessary management of TPTL was 11.3% (84/741) at the intervention sites versus 11.5% (126/1094) at control sites (odds ratio [OR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-1.42, p = 0.883). Control sites frequently used qfFN and did not follow UK national guidance, which recommends routine treatment below 30 weeks without testing. Unnecessary management largely consisted of unnecessary admissions which were similar at intervention and control sites (10.7% versus 10.8% of all visits). In terms of adverse outcomes for women in TPTL <36 weeks, 4 women from the intervention sites and 12 from the control sites did not receive recommended management. If the QUiPP percentage risk was used as per protocol, unnecessary management would have been 7.4% (43/578) versus 9.9% (134/1,351) (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.45-1.16). Our external validation of the QUiPP app confirmed that it was highly predictive of delivery in 7 days; receiver operating curve area was 0.90 (95% CI 0.85-0.95) for symptomatic women. Study limitations included a lack of compliance with national guidance at the control sites and difficulties in implementation of the QUiPP app.

CONCLUSIONS

This cluster randomised trial did not demonstrate that the use of the QUiPP app reduced unnecessary management of TPTL compared to current management but would safely improve the management recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Interpretation of qfFN, with or without the QUiPP app, is a safe and accurate method for identifying women most likely to benefit from PTL interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN17846337.