Prenatal diagnosis of cervical masses by magnetic resonance imaging and 3D virtual models: perinatal and long-term follow-up outcomes

Objective: To assess perinatal and long-term follow-up outcomes of fetal cervical masses diagnosed by three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3D virtual models.Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 15 pregnant women (age, 21-38 years) at 29-40 weeks of singleton gestation, whose fetuses exhibited congenital oral and cervical masses. These women were referred to our facility because of suspected fetal malformations on routine obstetric ultrasound, and the cases were confirmed, excluded, or complemented by MRI. Demographic data and perinatal and long-term follow-up outcomes were assessed.Results: Cervical masses were predominant in females (3:2), and the most frequent diagnosis was lymphatic-venous malformation (71%). The masses were cystic in 53.3% of the cases and solid in 46.7%. The esophagus and trachea were displaced in 46.6% of the cases. Associated malformations were diagnosed in 13.3% of the cases. There was complete agreement between prenatal MRI and postnatal diagnoses. Among the newborns, 40% had complications and 46.6% were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Two infants died from complications due to epignathus. Surgical resection was performed in 33.3% of the cases, including complete resection in 26.6%. Sclerotherapy was administered to 53.3% of the cases, with complete remission achieved in 50% of these cases.Conclusion: Cervical masses diagnosed in the prenatal period had good postnatal outcomes except for cases of epignathus, which were associated with high mortality. MRI demonstrated the relationship between cervical masses and adjacent organs and allowed 3D virtual reconstruction of the airways. There was complete agreement between the prenatal diagnosis of cervical masses on MRI and postnatal diagnosis. Surgical treatment was effective in most cases, and sclerotherapy was satisfactory in cases with intrathoracic components.

Evaluation of the fetal abdomen by magnetic resonance imaging. Part 2: abdominal wall defects and tumors

Although ultrasound is still the gold standard for the assessment of fetal malformations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained great prominence in recent years. In situations in which ultrasound has low sensitivity, such as maternal obesity, abdominal scarring, and oligohydramnios, MRI has proven to be a safe and accurate method. Regarding fetal abdominal wall defects, MRI appears to be widely used in the prognostic assessment of gastroschisis with intestinal atresia or of complications of omphalocele, allowing better perinatal management and parental counseling. In addition, MRI allows the assessment of local invasion of fetal abdominal tumors, with significant prognostic value for the postnatal period. In this article, we review the main MRI findings in the evaluation of fetal abdominal wall defects and tumors.

Evaluation of the fetal abdomen by magnetic resonance imaging. Part 1: malformations of the abdominal cavity

Although ultrasound continues to be the mainstay modality for the evaluation of fetal disorders, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has often been used as a valuable adjunct in recent years. The exponential growth of the use of fetal MRI has been facilitated by technological advancements such as ultrafast T2-weighted sequences and diffusion-weighted imaging. Fetal MRI can achieve results that are comparable to or better than those of ultrasound, particularly in cases of maternal obesity, severe oligohydramnios, or abnormal fetal position. Because of its superior soft tissue contrast, wide field of view, and multiplanar imaging, fetal MRI is able to evaluate the large fetal organs, such as the lungs, liver, bowel, and kidneys. In addition, fetal MRI allows large or complex malformations to be examined, facilitating the understanding of the malformation within the context of the body as a whole. Initial fetal MRI studies were focused on the central nervous system. With advances in software and hardware, fetal MRI gained importance in the evaluation of the fetal abdomen. The purpose of this article is to review the recent literature and developments in MRI evaluation of the fetal abdomen, with an emphasis on imaging aspects, protocols, and common clinical indications.

Programação fetal e alterações metabólicas em escolares: metodologia de um estudo caso-controle

RESUMO: Objetivo: Descrever a metodologia de um estudo sobre associações entre crescimento intrauterino restrito (CIUR) e prevalência de sobrepeso, obesidade e hipertensão arterial em escolares. Métodos: O estudo, conduzido em dois estágios, foi desenvolvido em 2 escolas municipais de Niterói (RJ) de junho a dezembro de 2010, sendo elegíveis todos os escolares de 6 a 14 anos. O primeiro estágio consistiu em um inquérito nutricional e de potenciais fatores de risco. Foram aplicados questionários aos responsáveis e adolescentes. Concomitantemente, foram selecionados os participantes de um estudo caso-controle, com casos prevalentes definidos como todos os escolares que apresentaram excesso de peso (Z-score de índice de massa corporal -IMC/idade/sexo > +1,00). O grupo controle consistiu em uma amostra aleatória da população de estudo do inquérito, o que permitiu o cálculo de razões de prevalências. Foram realizados bioimpedância elétrica, exames de sangue, ultrassonografia da carótida e entrevistas. As variáveis proxy de CIUR foram definidas a partir de informações sobre peso ao nascer (PN) e idade gestacional (IG). Adicionalmente, foram coletadas informações sobre os dois primeiros anos de vida dos escolares a partir de seus prontuários médicos. Resultado s: Entre os 1.040 escolares elegíveis, participaram do estudo 795 escolares (76,4%). A taxa de retorno do questionário enviado para os responsáveis foi de 85,1%. Para o estudo caso-controle, 62,5% (n = 363) dos selecionados participaram, resultando em uma razão caso:controle de 1:1,8. Foram localizados 55,8% (n = 444) dos prontuários, dos quais em 65,7% (n = 292) foram coletadas informações dos primeiros anos de vida. Conclusão: O presente estudo permitirá a análise de múltiplos desfechos e exposições relacionados ao CIUR e alterações metabólicas.

Transplacental Distribution of Lidocaine and Its Metabolite in Peridural Anesthesia Administered to Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Neonatal effects of drugs administered to mothers before delivery depend on the quantity that crosses the placental barrier, which is determined by the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the mother, fetus, and placenta. Diabetes mellitus can alter the kinetic disposition and the metabolism of drugs. This study investigated the placental transfer of lidocaine and its metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) submitted to peridural anesthesia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 10 normal pregnant women (group 1) and 6 pregnant women with GDM (group 2) were studied, all at term. The patients received 200 mg 2% lidocaine hydrochloride by the peridural locoregional route. Maternal blood samples were collected at the time of delivery and, after placental expulsion, blood samples were collected from the intervillous space, umbilical artery, and vein for determination of lidocaine and MEGX concentrations and analysis of the placental transfer of the drug.

RESULTS

The following respective lidocaine ratios between the maternal and the fetal compartments were obtained for groups 1 and 2: umbilical vein/maternal peripheral blood, 0.60 and 0.46; intervillous space/maternal blood, 1.01 and 0.88; umbilical artery/umbilical vein, 0.77 and 0.91; and umbilical vein/intervillous space, 0.53 and 0.51. The following MEGX ratios for groups 1 and 2 were, respectively, fetal/maternal, 0.43 and 0.97; intervillous space/maternal blood, 0.64 and 0.90; umbilical artery/umbilical vein, 1.09 and 0.99; and umbilical vein/intervillous space, 0.55 and 0.78.

CONCLUSION

Gestational diabetes mellitus did not affect the transplacental transfer of lidocaine but interfered with the transfer of MEGX, acting as a mechanism facilitating the transport of the metabolite.

[Evaluation of perinatal factors that influence the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the perinatal factors that influence the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in newborns infants (NBI) weighing less than 1,500 g.

METHODS

A prospective study that analyzed all infants with birth weight (BW) less than 1,500 g born between January 2006 to December 2010 (n=183). They were divided into two groups, i.e. infants diagnosed with NEC (n=18) and infants without a diagnosis of NEC (n=165), which were compared in terms of perinatal factors that could influence the incidence of NEC. Mean data were compared by Student's t-test or nonparametric tests and percentages of categorical variables were compared by the χ² test. When the variables showed differences between groups, they were analyzed using logistic regression with the dependent variable as the presence of NEC. The statistical package used was SPSS 16.0 for Windows.

RESULTS

The two groups were similar in terms of most of the clinical and demographic neonatal and maternal data, except for the presence of preeclampsia (PE), which was higher in patients whose children developed NEC (61.1 versus 35,6%). The presence of PE increased the chance of occurrence of NEC by 2.84 times (95%CI 1.0 - 7.7).

CONCLUSION

The only factor that can interfere with the incidence of NEC in infants of very low birth weight was the presence of PE. Awareness of this fact can guide the perinatal team in providing more judicious care regarding the prevention of NEC in this specific population.

[Inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease and pregnancy: case report]

The Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, is frequent in women of childbearing age. Its management requires greater attention during pregnancy. We report a case of refractory Crohn's disease in a pregnant patient that evolued to ileocolectomy at puerperium. The literature regarding pregnant patients with Crohn's disease was reviewed, including counseling of patients and investigation of active disease, and the existing data was summarized on the safety of medications used to treat Crohn's disease in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Distribution of fentanyl in the placental intervillous space and in the different maternal and fetal compartments in term pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Fentanyl is used in obstetrical practice to promote analgesia and anesthesia during labor and in cesarean delivery, with rapid and short-term effects.

OBJECTIVE

To determine fentanyl concentrations in maternal plasma, in the placental intervillous space, and in the umbilical artery and vein in term pregnant women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten healthy pregnant women underwent epidural anesthesia with fentanyl plus bupivacaine and lidocaine, and fentanyl concentrations were determined in the various maternal and fetal compartments, including the placental intervillous space, which has not been previously studied in the literature.

RESULTS

The ratios of fentanyl concentrations in the various maternal and fetal compartments revealed an 86% rate of placental fentanyl transfer. The highest fentanyl concentrations were detected in the placental intervillous space, being 2.19 times higher than in maternal plasma, 2.8 times higher than in the umbilical vein and 3.6 times higher than in the umbilical artery, with no significant differences between the umbilical vein and artery, demonstrating that there was no drug uptake by fetal tissues nor metabolism of the drug by the fetus despite the high rates of placental transfer.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that the placental intervillous space acted as a site of fentanyl deposit, a fact that may be explained by two hypotheses: (1) the blood collected from the placental intervillous space is arterial and, according to some investigators, the arterial plasma concentrations of the drugs administered to patients undergoing epidural anesthesia are higher than the venous concentrations, and (2) a possible role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp).

Pharmacokinetics of lidocaine and its metabolite in peridural anesthesia administered to pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Peridural blockade with lidocaine, bupivacaine, and fentanyl is an anesthetic procedure extensively used in obstetrics, justifying the pharmacokinetic study of these drugs during labor.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of the physiopathological changes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the pharmacokinetics of lidocaine and its metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) in pregnant women subjected to peridural anesthesia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten normal pregnant women (group 1) and six pregnant women with GDM (group 2) were studied, all of them at term. The patients received 200 mg 2% lidocaine hydrochloride without a vasoconstrictor by the peridural locoregional route. Maternal blood samples were collected at predetermined times for the analysis of lidocaine and MEGX by chromatography and pharmacokinetic analysis.

RESULTS

The median pharmacokinetic parameters of lidocaine for groups 1 and 2 (P </= 0.05), respectively, were as follows: for Cmax 879.11 and 1,145.58 ng/ml, AUC(0-infinity) 256.01 and 455.95 mug min(-1) ml(-1), Cl/f/kg 10.61 and 5.64 ml min(-1) kg(-1), and Vd/f/kg 3.26 and 2.19 L/kg. The median pharmacokinetic parameters of MEGX for groups 1 and 2 (P </= 0.05), respectively, were as follows: for Cmax 82.71 and 141.38 ng/ml, Tmax 44.71 and 193.14 min, t(1/2)alpha 7.64 and 59.77 min, alpha 0.097 and 0.012/min, and AUC(0-infinity) 29.91 and 108.23 mug min(-1) ml(-1).

CONCLUSION

The present data permit us to conclude that the apparent clearance of lidocaine and MEGX was reduced in diabetic patients compared to normal women, suggesting that GDM inhibits the CYP1A2/CYP3A4 isoforms responsible for the metabolism of this drug and its metabolite.

Kinetic disposition of lorazepam with focus on the glucuronidation capacity, transplacental transfer in parturients and racemization in biological samples

The present study investigates the kinetic disposition with focus on the racemization, glucuronidation capacity and the transplacental transfer of lorazepam in term parturients during labor. The study was conducted on 10 healthy parturients aged 18-37 years with a gestational age of 36-40.1 weeks, treated with a single oral dose of 2 mg racemic lorazepam 2-9 h before delivery. Maternal venous blood and urine samples were obtained over a 0-48 h interval and the umbilical cord sample was obtained immediately after clamping. Lorazepam enantiomers were determined in plasma and urine samples by LC-MS/MS using a Chiralcel OD-R column. In vitro racemization of lorazepam required the calculation of the pharmacokinetic parameters as isomeric mixtures. The data were fitted to two-compartment model and the pharmacokinetic parameters are reported as means (95% CI): t(1/2a) 3.2h (2.6-3.7 h), K(a) 0.23 h(-1) (0.19-0.28 h(-1)), t(1/2) 10.4h (9.4-11.3h), beta 0.068 h(-1) (0.061-0.075h(-1)), AUC(0-infinity) 175.3(ngh)/ml (145.7-204.8(ngh)/ml), Cl/F 2.6 ml/(minkg) (2.3-2.9 ml/(minkg)), Vd/F178.8l (146.5-211.1l), Fel 0.3% (0.1-0.5%), and Cl(R) 0.010 ml/(minkg) (0.005-0.015 ml/(minkg)). Placental transfer of lorazepam evaluated as the ratio of vein umbilical/maternal vein plasma concentrations, obtained as an isomeric mixture, was 0.73 (0.52-0.94). Pregnancy changes the pharmacokinetics of lorazepam, with an increase in the apparent distribution volume, an increase in apparent oral clearance, and a reduction of elimination half-life. The increase in oral clearance may indicate an increase in glucuronidation capacity, with a possible reduction in the plasma concentrations of drugs depending on glucuronidation capacity as the major metabolic pathway.

Pharmacokinetics and transplacental distribution of fentanyl in epidural anesthesia for normal pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Fentanyl is an opioid drug widely used as a co-adjuvant in abdominal delivery, a fact that justifies its pharmacokinetic study under these conditions.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and placental transfer of fentanyl in parturients whose pregnancies were resolved by cesarian section with epidural anesthesia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten clinically normal parturients who delivered at term received 5 ml of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride without a vasoconstrictor for skin and subcutaneous blockade, followed by epidural injection of 2 ml fentanyl citrate (0.05 mg/ml), 15 ml 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride with 1:200,000 epinephrine, and 10 ml 2% lidocaine hydrochloride without a vasoconstrictor. Maternal blood samples were collected at various times after injection (1--840 min), and the fentanyl plasma concentrations were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using the bi- or tri-compartmental model. The fetal/maternal ratio of the plasma fentanyl was determined at birth.

RESULTS

The values of the pharmacokinetic parameters were: t(1/2)alpha=13.5 min, t(1/2)beta=192.5 min, t(1/2)gamma=620 min, AUC(0-infinity)=137.404 ng.min per milliliter, C(l)/f=464.984 ml/min, V(d)/f=299.974 l, C(l)/f/kg=6.875 ml/min per kilogram, and V(d)/f/kg=4.441 l/kg. The latency between drug administration and birth was 28.5 min, with a maternal and fetal plasma concentration of 0.310 and 0.245 ng/ml, respectively, at a median fetal/maternal ratio of 0.892.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated a rapid passage of fentanyl from the epidural space to maternal blood and a significant transplacental transfer of maternal fentanyl of about 90%, which should serve as an alert to obstetricians.