Preoperative ultrasound assessment of gastric content in patients with diabetes: A meta-analysis based on a systematic review of the current literature

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic literature review of the current evidence on the effect of diabetes mellitus on gastric volume observed during a preoperative ultrasound examination. Using the results of this systematic literature review, a meta-analysis was performed to investigate whether there was an association between diabetes mellitus and an increased risk of presenting with a high-risk stomach (gastric volume associated with an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration).

DESIGN

Review article and meta-analysis.

SETTING

Review of published literature.

PATIENTS

A total of 3366 patients underwent surgery.

INTERVENTION

Gastric ultrasound examination.

MEASUREMENTS

Data for the meta-analysis and literature review were collected from the PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases of the National Library of Medicine from the date of inception to January 2023. All included studies measured the gastric antral cross-sectional area and/or gastric residual volume in patients with diabetes and those without diabetes. The data utilized in the meta-analysis included all studies that evaluated the incidence of high-risk stomachs based on ultrasonographic measurements of the gastric antral cross-sectional area or gastric residual volume.

MAIN RESULTS

Most collated studies revealed that diabetes mellitus was associated with increased antral cross-sectional area and gastric residual volume. A meta-analysis of published reports indicated that patients with diabetes have an increased rate of high-risk stomachs.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased rate of high-risk stomachs. The authors recommend large prospective trials to ascertain the safety of the current fasting guidelines for patients with diabetes undergoing surgery.

Intraoperative hypotension in ambulatory surgery centers

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To measure the incidence of intraoperative hypotension (IOH) during surgery in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and describe associated characteristics of patients and procedures.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

20 ASCs.

PATIENTS

16,750 patients having non-emergent, non-cardiac surgery; ASA physical status 2 through 4.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS

We assessed incidence of IOH using the definition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)-mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg for at least 15 cumulative minutes-and three secondary definitions: minutes of MAP <65 mmHg, area under MAP of 65 mmHg, and time-weighted average MAP <65 mmHg.

MAIN RESULTS

30.9% of ASC cases had a MAP <65 mmHg for at least 15 min. The incidence of IOH varied significantly, and was higher among younger adults (age 18-39; 36.2%), females (35.2%), and patients with ASA physical status 2 (32.8%). IOH increased with increasing surgery length, even when time-weighted, and was higher among low complexity (30.6%) than moderate complexity (28.8%) procedures, and highest among high complexity procedures (44.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

There was substantial occurrence of IOH in ASCs, similar to that described in academic hospital settings in previous literature. We hypothesize that this may reflect clinician preference not to intervene in perceived healthy patients or assumptions about ability to tolerate lower blood pressures on behalf of these patients. Future research will determine whether IOH in ACSs is associated with adverse outcomes to the same extent as described in more complex hospital-based surgeries.

Incidence of intraoperative hypotension during non-cardiac surgery in community anesthesia practice: a retrospective observational analysis

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) is well-described in the academic setting but not in community practice. IOH is associated with risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. This is the first report of IOH in the community setting using the IOH measure definition from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Merit-based Incentive Payment System program.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the incidence of IOH in the community setting; assess variation in IOH by patient-, procedure-, and facility-level characteristics; and describe variation in risk-adjusted IOH across clinicians.

METHODS

Design Cross-sectional descriptive analysis of retrospective data from anesthesia records in 2020 and 2021. Setting Forty-five facilities affiliated with two large anesthesia providers in the USA. Participants Patients aged 18 years or older having non-emergent, non-cardiac surgery under general, neuraxial, or regional anesthesia. Cases were excluded based on criteria for the IOH measure: baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 65 mmHg prior to anesthesia induction; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification of I, V, or VI; monitored anesthesia care only; deliberate induced hypotension; obstetric non-operative procedures; liver or lung transplant; cataract surgery; non-invasive gastrointestinal cases. Main outcomes IOH, using four definitions. Primary definition: binary assessment of whether the case had MAP < 65 mmHg for 15 min or more. Secondary definitions: total number of minutes of MAP < 65 mmHg, total area under MAP of 65 mmHg, time-weighted average MAP < 65 mmHg.

RESULTS

Among 127,095 non-emergent, non-cardiac cases in community anesthesia settings, 29% had MAP < 65 mmHg for at least 15 min cumulatively, with an overall mean of 12.4 min < 65 mmHg. IOH was slightly more common in patients who were younger, female, and ASA II (versus III or IV); in procedures that were longer and had higher anesthesia base units; and in ambulatory surgery centers. Incidence of IOH varied widely across individual clinicians in both unadjusted and risk-adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative hypotension is common in community anesthesia practice, including among patients and settings typically considered "low risk." Variation in incidence across clinicians remains after risk-adjustment, suggesting that IOH is a modifiable risk worth pursuing in quality improvement initiatives.

Hypoventilation in the PACU is associated with hypoventilation in the surgical ward: Post-hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between early postoperative hypoventilation in the last hour of the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay and hypoventilation during the rest of the first 48 postoperative hours in the surgical ward.

DESIGN

Sub-analysis of a clinical trial.

SETTING

PACU and surgical wards of a single medical center.

PATIENTS

Adults having abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.

INTERVENTIONS

Monitoring with a respiratory volume monitor from admission to PACU until the earlier of 48 h after surgery or discharge.

MEASUREMENTS

The exposure was having at least one low minute-ventilation (MV) event during the last hour of PACU stay, defined as MV lower than 40% the predicted value lasting at least 1 min. The primary outcome was low MV events lasting at least 2 min during the rest of the first 48 postoperative hours, while in the surgical ward. The secondary outcome was the rate of low MV events per monitored hour.

MAIN RESULTS

Data of 292 patients were analyzed, of which 20 (6.8%) patients had a low MV event in PACU. Low MV events in the surgical ward were found in 81 (28%) patients. All patients who had low MV events in PACU had events again in the ward, while 61/272 (22%) had an event in the ward but not in PACU. The incidence rate of low MV events per hour was 24 (95% CI: 13, 46) among patients having an event in the PACU, and 2 (1, 4) among those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

In adults recovering from abdominal surgery, events of hypoventilation during the first postoperative hour are associated with similar events during the rest of the first 48 postoperative hours, with positive predictive value approaching 100%. Sixty-one patients had ward hypoventilation that was not preceded by hypoventilation in PACU.

Sub-chondroplasty Reduces Pain, Improves Function and Delays the Conversion to Arthroplasty in Patients with Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: A Stratified Meta-analysis and Quality Assessment

There is an ongoing interest in alternatives to total knee arthroplasty, as a means to delay inevitable replacement. A possible, minimally invasive, alternative is a sub-chondroplasty, involving interosseous injection of bone substitute materials such as calcium phosphate (CaPo4), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) or Injectable demineralized bone matrix (iDBM) into the subchondral bone. Eleven clinical trials were found, investigating the effectiveness of sub-chondroplasties performed using CaPo4, PRP, BMAC, and iDBM. A non-stratified and stratified meta-analysis of the included studies were conducted to test for confounding variables across the trials. Non-stratified analysis, regardless of injectable type, revealed a significant improvement in the average Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and postoperative Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in patients post sub-chondroplasty, as compared to baseline. This analysis demonstrates that the sub-chondroplasty procedure reduces pain, improves function, and has lower risk of conversion to arthroplasty. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 32(2):065-074, 2023).

Pain and Opioid Consumption and Mobilization after Surgery: Post Hoc Analysis of Two Randomized Trials

BACKGROUND

Early mobilization is incorporated into many enhanced recovery pathways. Inadequate analgesia or excessive opioids may restrict postoperative mobilization. The authors tested the hypotheses that in adults recovering from abdominal surgery, postoperative pain and opioid consumption are inversely related to postoperative mobilization, and that postoperative mobilization is associated with fewer potentially related complications.

METHODS

The authors conducted a subanalysis of two trials that enrolled adults recovering from abdominal surgery. Posture and movement were continuously monitored for 48 postoperative hours using noninvasive untethered monitors. Mobilization was defined as the fraction of monitored time spent sitting or standing.

RESULTS

A total of 673 patients spent a median [interquartile range] of 7% [3 to 13%] of monitored time sitting or standing. Mobilization time was 1.9 [1.0 to 3.6] h/day for patients with average pain scores 3 or lower, but only 1.2 [0.5 to 2.6] h/day in those with average scores 6 or greater. Each unit increase in average pain score was associated with a decrease in mobilization time of 0.12 (97.5% CI, 0.02 to 0.24; P = 0.009) h/day. In contrast, there was no association between postoperative opioid consumption and mobilization time. The incidence of the composite of postoperative complications was 6.0% (10 of 168) in the lower mobilization quartile, 4.2% (7 of 168) in the second quartile, and 0% among 337 patients in the highest two quartiles (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients recovering from abdominal surgery spent only 7% of their time mobilized, which is considerably less than recommended. Lower pain scores are associated with increased mobility, independently of opioid consumption. Complications were more common in patients who mobilized poorly.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Intravenous Lipid Emulsion for the Treatment of Perioperative Cocaine Intoxication

Symptomatic cocaine intoxication in the preoperative period is a potentially life-threatening condition, especially before emergent surgery. The anesthesiologist is faced with a dilemma where the patient is deemed unsafe for induction of general anesthesia but also in need of immediate surgical intervention. Cocaine is a local anesthetic and, as such, has been proposed to respond to lipid emulsion treatment as other local anesthetics would. We present a case supporting this statement and review the relevant published literature on the topic.

Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen on Postoperative Hypoxemia After Abdominal Surgery: The FACTOR Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Opioid-induced ventilatory depression and hypoxemia is common, severe, and often unrecognized in postoperative patients. To the extent that nonopioid analgesics reduce opioid consumption, they may decrease postoperative hypoxemia.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that duration of hypoxemia is less in patients given intravenous acetaminophen than those given placebo.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted at 2 US academic hospitals among 570 patients who were undergoing abdominal surgery, enrolled from February 2015 through October 2018 and followed up until February 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomized to receive either intravenous acetaminophen, 1 g (n = 289), or normal saline placebo (n = 291) starting at the beginning of surgery and repeated every 6 hours until 48 postoperative hours or hospital discharge, whichever occurred first.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the total duration of hypoxemia (hemoglobin oxygen saturation [Spo2] <90%) per hour, with oxygen saturation measured continuously for 48 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes were postoperative opioid consumption, pain (0- 10-point scale; 0: no pain; 10: the most pain imaginable), nausea and vomiting, sedation, minimal alveolar concentration of volatile anesthetic, fatigue, active time, and respiratory function.

RESULTS

Among 580 patients randomized (mean age, 49 years; 48% women), 570 (98%) completed the trial. The primary outcome, median duration with Spo2 of less than 90%, was 0.7 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.1-5.1) minutes per hour among patients in the acetaminophen group and 1.1 (IQR, 0.1-6.6) minutes per hour among patients in the placebo group (P = .29), with an estimated median difference of -0.04 (95% CI,-0.18 to 0.11) minutes per hour. None of the 8 secondary end points differed significantly between the acetaminophen and placebo groups. Mean pain scores within initial 48 postoperative hours were 4.2 (SD, 1.8) in the acetaminophen group and 4.4 (SD, 1.8) in the placebo group (difference, -0.28; 95% CI, -0.71 to 0.15); median opioid use in morphine equivalents was 50 mg (IQR, 18-122 mg) and 58 mg (IQR, 24-151 mg) , respectively, with a ratio of geometric means of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.61-1.21).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients who underwent abdominal surgery, use of postoperative intravenous acetaminophen, compared with placebo, did not significantly reduce the duration of postoperative hypoxemia over 48 hours. The study findings do not support the use of intravenous acetaminophen for this purpose.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02156154.

The use of extended release bupivacaine with transversus abdominis plane and subcostal anterior quadratus lumborum catheters: A retrospective analysis of a novel technique

Background and Aims

Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is a formulation of local anesthetic that may exert analgesia over a prolonged period. Anecdotal use of LB suggests benefit and prolonged analgesia when used to supplement infiltration blocks. Our aim was to test the effect of a bolus of LB delivered through a nerve catheter in two types of interfascial plane blocks (transversus abdominis plane and anterior subcostal quadratus lumborum). The effect was evaluated through patient self-reporting of postsurgical pain up to 48 postoperative hours.

Material and Methods

Medical records of adult postoperative patients who received LB in a peripheral nerve catheter were followed retrospectively and analysed for pain scores and spread of dermatomal numbness over 48 h following the postoperative dose. A chart review of patients who qualified between June 2015 and March 2017 was performed, and clinical data were obtained from the institutional Perioperative Health Documentation System.

Results

Pain scores decreased following LB bolus, and all patients reported efficient block analgesia after bolus injection. Dermatomal numbness decreased gradually and was minimal by 48 h following bolus.

Conclusion

LB can be injected through a peripheral nerve catheter to prolong analgesia after catheter removal.

Methylprednisolone Does Not Reduce Acute Postoperative Pain After Cardiac Surgery: Subanalysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Pain after cardiac surgery is largely treated with opioids, but their poor safety profile makes nonopioid medications attractive as part of multimodal pathways. Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce acute postoperative pain, but the role of steroids in reducing acute poststernotomy pain is unclear. We evaluated the association between the intraoperative administration of methylprednisolone and postoperative analgesia, defined as a composite of pain scores and opioid consumption, during the initial 24 hours after cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a post hoc retrospective analysis of a large clinical trial in which adults having cardiac surgery were randomized 1:1 to receive 2 intraoperative doses of 250 mg IV methylprednisolone or placebo. Pain scores and opioid consumption were collected during the initial 24 hours after surgery. Methylprednisolone was considered to be associated with better pain control than placebo if proven noninferior (not worse) on both pain scores (defined a priori with delta of 1 point) and opioid consumption (delta of 20%) and superior to placebo in at least 1 of the 2 outcomes. This test was repeated in the opposite direction (testing whether placebo is better than methylprednisolone on postoperative pain management).

RESULTS

Of 251 eligible patients, 127 received methylprednisolone and 124 received placebo. Methylprednisolone was noninferior to placebo on pain with difference in mean (CI) pain scores of -0.25 (-0.71 to 0.21); P < .001. However, methylprednisolone was not noninferior to placebo on opioid consumption (ratio of geometric means [CI]: 1.11 [0.64-1.91]; P = .37). Because methylprednisolone was not noninferior to placebo on both outcomes, we did not proceed to superiority testing based on the a priori stopping rules. Similar results were found when testing the opposite direction.

CONCLUSIONS

In this post hoc analysis, we could not identify a beneficial analgesic effect after cardiac surgery associated with methylprednisolone administration. There are currently no data to suggest that methylprednisolone has significant analgesic benefit in adults having cardiac surgery.

Real-time Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Epidural with Transverse Interlaminar View: Evaluation of an In-Plane Technique

OBJECTIVE

The anatomical landmarks method is currently the most widely used technique for epidural needle insertion and is faced with multiple difficulties in certain patient populations. Real-time ultrasound guidance has been recently used to aid in epidural needle insertion, with promising results. Our aim was to test the feasibility, success rate, and satisfaction associated with a novel real-time ultrasound-guided lumbar epidural needle insertion in the transverse interlaminar view.

DESIGN

Prospective descriptive trial on a novel approach.

SETTING

Operating room and preoperative holding area at a tertiary care hospital.

SUBJECTS

Adult patients presenting for elective open prostatectomy and planned for surgical epidural anesthesia.

METHODS

Consented adult patients aged 30-80 years scheduled for open prostatectomy under epidural anesthesia were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included allergy to local anesthetics, infection at the needle insertion site, coagulopathy, and patient refusal. A curvilinear low-frequency (2-5 MHz) ultrasound probe and echogenic 17-G Tuohy needles were used by one of three attending anesthesiologists. Feasibility of epidural insertion was defined as a 90% success rate within 10 minutes.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were enrolled into the trial, 14 (63.6%) of whom found the process to be satisfactory or very satisfactory. The median time to perform the block was around 4.5 minutes, with an estimated success rate of 95%. No complications related to the epidural block were observed over the 48 hours after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate the feasibility of a novel real-time ultrasound-guided epidural with transverse interlaminar view.

Are perioperative therapeutic doses of statins associated with postoperative pain and opioid consumption after hip surgery under spinal anaesthesia?

Background

The anti-inflammatory effects of statins have been suggested to relieve postoperative pain. This retrospective study tested the association between the perioperative routine use of statins in therapeutic doses, and opioid requirements and pain scores, after hip replacement surgery.

Methods

With IRB approval, data was obtained for adult patients who had elective hip replacement surgery under spinal anaesthesia at Cleveland Clinic between 2005 and 2015. Patients were compared using a joint hypothesis framework. We used the inverse probability of treatment weighting method to control for observed confounding factors (a total of 26).

Results

We included 611 statin users and 780 non-statin users. Pain score during the initial 72 h after surgery was 0.07 higher (95% CI: -0.02, 0.17) in statin users (noninferiority test in both directions P<0.001). The estimated ratio of geometric means in the cumulative i.v. morphine equivalent opioid consumption was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.10) for statin vs non-statin users (noninferiority test P=0.001 in the hypothesized direction and<0.001 in the other direction) during the initial 72 h after surgery. The statin and non-statin patients were deemed equivalent on postoperative opioid consumption and pain score.

Conclusions

This is the first large retrospective clinical study that investigates the effects of statin use on postoperative pain and opioid consumption. We observed no difference between statin users and non-users during the initial 72 h after hip surgery. Our findings do not support the routine use of statins as part of an analgesic regimen.

The cost-effectiveness of epidural, patient-controlled intravenous opioid analgesia, or transversus abdominis plane infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for postoperative pain management

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Intravenous patient-controlled opioid analgesia (IVPCA), epidural analgesia and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltrations are frequently used postoperative pain management modalities. The aim of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the use of epidural, IVPCA, and TAP infiltrations with liposomal bupivacaine for analgesia in the first 72 h postoperatively in patients undergoing major lower abdominal surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective cost effectiveness analysis.

SETTING

Operating room.

PATIENTS

We obtained data on major lower-abdominal surgeries performed under general anesthesia on adult patients between January 2012 and July 2014.

INTERVENTIONS

A cost-effectiveness analysis was comparing the use of epidural, IVPCA, and TAP infiltrations with liposomal bupivacaine for analgesia in the first 72 h postoperatively.

MEASUREMENTS

A decision analytic model was used to estimate the health outcomes for patients undergoing major lower abdominal surgery. The primary outcome was time-weighted pain from 0 to 72 h after surgery, as measured by numerical rating scale pain scores. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of the hospital as the party responsible for most costs related to surgery.

MAIN RESULTS

From the base case analysis, IVPCA was the optimal strategy regarding cost and effect. TAP with LB, however, was only narrowly dominated, while epidural was clearly dominated. From the sensitivity analysis at willingness-to-pay (WTP) of $150, IV PCA and TAP infiltration were each the optimal strategy for approximately 50% of the iterations. At WTP of $10,000, epidural was only the optimal strategy in 10% of the iterations.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study in the literature to compare the cost-effectiveness of epidural, IVPCA, and TAP infiltrations with LB. Within reasonable WTP values, there is little differentiation in cost-effectiveness between IVPCA and TAP infiltration with LB. Epidural does not become a cost-effective strategy even at much higher WTP values.

Postoperative Stridor and Acute Respiratory Failure After Parkinson Disease Deep Brain Stimulator Placement: Case Report and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

Parkinson disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, is commonly thought of as a motion disorder, but it can have significant effect on the respiratory system. Respiratory failure is the most common cause of death in these patients, but it can also affect laryngeal function causing dysphonia, dysphagia, and dysarthric speech. Acute upper airway obstruction is a rare finding in PD, especially in the perioperative settings. In this article we report a PD patient who developed upper respiratory obstruction postoperatively. We also review the literature and highlight the importance of preoperative evaluation to identify patients who may be at risk of this complication.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We describe a PD patient presenting for brain stimulation electrode implantation under general anesthesia, who postoperatively developed stridor and near complete upper airway obstruction despite maintenance of oral anti-Parkinson medication regimen intraoperatively. The patient was reintubated in post-anesthesia-care unit, and tracheostomy was performed after 1 week due to persistent vocal cord dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline vocal cord impairment in PD patients can be acutely aggravated perioperatively. Symptoms such as dysphagia and dysarthria, which can indicate susceptibility to postoperative upper airway obstruction, may not be well recognized by the patient and family. Surgical candidates should be carefully interviewed preoperatively, and watchful monitoring of respiratory function intraoperatively and postoperatively is of paramount importance. Neurosurgical and neuroanesthesia team should be aware of, and prepared to manage, this potentially life-threatening airway obstruction in PD patients.

Utility and Clinical Profile of Dexmedetomidine in Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Procedures: A Matched Controlled Analysis

Background. Dexmedetomidine is increasingly used in children undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures. We compared the percentage of surgical time with hemodynamic instability and the incidence of postoperative agitation between pediatric cardiac catheterization patients who received dexmedetomidine infusion and those who did not and the incidence of postoperative agitation. Materials and methods. We matched 653 pediatric patients scheduled for cardiac catheterization. Two separate multivariable linear mixed models were used to assess the association between dexmedetomidine use and intraoperative blood pressure and heart rate instability. A multivariate logistic regression was used for relationship between dexmedetomidine and postoperative agitation. Results. No difference between the study groups was found in the duration of MAP ( P = .867) or heart rate (HR) instabilities ( P = .224). The relationship between dexmedetomidine use and the duration of negative hemodynamic effects does not depend on any of the considered CHD types (all P > .001) or intervention ( P = .453 for MAP and P = .023 for HR). No difference in postoperative agitation was found between the study groups ( P = .590). Conclusion. Our study demonstrated no benefit in using dexmedetomidine infusion compared with other general anesthesia techniques to maintain hemodynamic stability or decrease agitation in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures.

A randomised controlled double-blind clinical trial of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for the prevention of preterm birth in twin gestation (PROGESTWIN): evidence for reduced neonatal morbidity

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) prolongs gestation beyond 37 weeks of gestation (primary outcome) and reduces neonatal morbidity (secondary outcome) in twin pregnancy.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled double-blind clinical trial.

SETTING

Tertiary-care university medical centre.

POPULATION

Unselected women with twin pregnancies.

METHODS

Participants received weekly injections of 250 mg 17OHPC (n = 194) or placebo (n = 94), from 16-20 to 36 weeks of gestation. Randomisation was performed using the permuted-block randomisation method. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Preterm birth (PTB) rate before 37 weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the average gestational age at delivery, or in the rates of PTB before 37, 32, and 28 weeks of gestation, between the two groups. The proportion of very-low-birthweight neonates (<1500 g) was significantly lower in the 17OHPC group (7.6%) compared with placebo (14.3%) (relative risk, RR 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.3-0.9; P = 0.01). Progestogen-treated neonates had a significantly lower composite neonatal morbidity (19.1%) compared with placebo (30.9%) (odds ratio, OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.31-0.90; P = 0.02), with significantly lower odds for respiratory distress syndrome (14.4 versus 23.4%; OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.31-0.98; P = 0.04), retinopathy of prematurity (1.1 versus 4.6%; OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.05-0.96; P = 0.04), and culture-confirmed sepsis (3.4 versus 12.8%; OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.10-0.57; P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Intramuscular 17OHPC therapy did not reduce PTB before 37 weeks of gestation in unselected twin pregnancies. Nonetheless, 17OHPC significantly reduced neonatal morbidity parameters and increased birthweight.