Placentas and Newborns of Patients Suffering from High Blood Pressure in University Hospital of Brazzaville

Objective: To analyze placentas and newborns of patients with high blood pressure (HBP). Materials and Methods: Case-control study conducted from 1 January to 31 October 2017 in University Hospital of Brazzaville (birth room, anatomy and pathology laboratory) and Faculty of Health Sciences of Brazzaville (laboratory of anatomy and organogenesis). It concerned 40 placentas freshly delivered and newborns of patients with HBP compared to 40 placentas and newborns of patients without HBP. The variables analyzed were related to mothers, placentas and the newborns. Results: The patients were similar in age (26.9 ± 1.2 years VS 26.5 ± 1.1 years, p = 0.17) and parity (1.26 ± 0.7 VS 1.61 ± 0.3, p = 0.26). The type of hypertension in the cases was dominated by pre-eclampsia (68%). A significant reduction in placental measurements was more observed in case of HBP: weight (431 ± 37 g VS 503 ± 26 g, p < 0.05), diameter (17.40 ± 1.2 cm VS 19.25 ± 1 cm, p < 0.05), and area (239.82 ± 15.7 cm2 VS 292.1 ± 22.2 cm2, p < 0.05). The macroscopic lesions were calcifications (75% VS 43.8%, p < 0.05) and the retro placental hematoma cup (18.8%) among the cases. Microscopic lesions were more observed in hypertensives: infarction (68.8% VS 18.8%, p = 0.004) and endarteritis (93.8% VS 12.5%, p < 0.05). The characteristics of newborns were significantly different between the two populations: prematurity (34.3% VS 9.3%, p < 0.05), mean weight (2577 ± 102 g VS 3060 ± 109 g, p < 0.05), the average APGAR score (6.7 ± 1.6 VS 7.8 ± 0.9, p 0.05). Conclusion: High blood pressure affects the placenta and the newborn. The placenta deserves to be systematically examined.

The Fate of Newborns Delivered through Cesarian Section at Brazzaville University Hospital

Objectives: To assess the fate of newborns born by emergency Cesarean section during the early neonatal period at the University Hospital Centre (UHC) in Brazzaville, with a view to improving neonatal prognosis. Patients and methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional analytical study of exposed and unexposed type, which took place from 24 March 2018 to 24 May 2018. All cases of newborns born by Cesarean section were included. Children born by extreme emergency and urgent Cesarean section were considered as exposed, and the others not exposed. The variables studied were the epidemiological characteristics of the mothers, the history of pregnancy and its management, anthropometric data on the newborn, the state of the child at birth and monitoring up to the seventh day. The test for comparing the proportions of target groups related to the child’s condition was used. Results: The mothers were aged 20 to 29 years (extreme 16 to 44 years);32 of them (22.5%) had a scarred uterus;29 pregnant women (20.4%) had a pathology associated with pregnancy. The distance travelled to consult was between 5 and 10 Km (63 cases or 44.3%). Emergency Caesarean sections were performed in 110 patients (77.5%) and scheduled Caesarean sections in 32 pregnant women (22.5%). Localoregional anaesthesia by spinal anaesthesia predominated (78.9%), by the association Bipivancaine + Fentanyl (69 cases or 48.6%) whose practitioner was often the nurse anaesthetist (131 cases or 92.3%). No accidents have occurred intraoperatively. At birth we noticed: 4.2% stillbirth, 19.7% bad, requiring resuscitation of at least 5 minutes for 16 newborns (57.1%). 26 newborns (18.3%) required care in the Neonatology Department. Early neonatal morbidity was dominated by respiratory distress (10 cases or 38.5%), early neonatal infection (5 cases or 19.1%) and a lethality rate of 19.2%. Conclusion: The future of the newborn, born by emergency Cesarean section is mixed;emergency control can improve the situation.