Outcomes of surrogate pregnancies in California and hospital economics of surrogate maternity and newborn care

AIM:To describe maternity and newborn charges for an economic analysis of surrogate pregnancies on the health care resource utilization.METHODS:A retrospective chart review of all women identified as being surrogates and the infants born from these pregnancies was performed between January 1,2012 and December 31,2013.Selected maternity diagnoses,mode of delivery,duration of hospitalization,and hospital charges were collected together with infants' birth weights,gestational age,length of hospital stay,and hospital charges.Charges associated with the in vitro fertilization cycles,artificial insemination,or embryo(s)transfer into the surrogate were not considered in the maternity charges.A ratio contrasting the maternity hospital charges for the surrogate carrier was compared as a ratio to the mean charges for 2540 infants delivered in 2013 after naturalconception and adjusted to the baseline hospital charges for both maternity and newborn care.RESULTS:Analysis of sixty-nine infants delivered from both gestational and traditional surrogate women found an increased in multiple births,NICU admission,and length of stay with hospital charges several multiples beyond that of a term infant conceived naturally and provided care in our nursery.Among singletons and twins(per infant)hospital charges were increased 26 times(P < 0.001)and in triplets charges were increased 173 times(P < 0.0001)when compared to a term infant provided care in a normal nursery at our center.CONCLUSION:Maternity costs for surrogates exceed those of women who conceive naturally,and these costs are especially magnified in women with triplets and multiple births.

Previable Premature Rupture of Membranes in Dichorionic Diamniotic Twin Gestation, Loss of Leading Twin, Emergency Cervical Cerclage and Ceaserean Delivery at Term

Introduction: Multiple pregnancies have a higher risk of premature delivery and a weakened cervix has been associated with it. In most cases, emergency cerclage has proved to be beneficial as the birth of the first twin is usually followed by the unavoidable delivery of the second twin and most fetus dies shortly after delivery. Studies have noted that delayed delivery of the second fetus in a twin pregnancy is an effective management choice and the use of cervical cerclage after the first delivery is associated with a longer inter-delivery interval. We present a case of previable premature rupture of membrane of a dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation leading to the loss of the leading twin and subsequently having emergency cervical cerclage for the second twin and caesarean delivery at term. Case Presentation: She was a case of a 29 years old, G6P1+4 with 1 living child at a gestational age of 17 weeks plus 5 days who initially was diagnosed with dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation following an early ultrasound but presented with a history of bleeding and passage of liquor per vaginam. Ultrasound done on admission showed cervical funneling and a stable state of the second twin. She subsequently had emergency cervical cerclage after stabilization on account of previable premature rupture of membrane of a dichorionic diamniotic twin gestation with the loss of the leading twin. A repeat ultrasound done prior to discharge showed closed cervical os and a good state of the fetus. She then had elective caesarean delivery at term with a good feto-maternal outcome. Conclusion: Emergency cervical cerclage should be part of the options of management after stabilization in cases of previable premature rupture of membrane in a dichorionic or multichoronic gestation so as to save the viable once.

Risk Assessment and Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth

Preterm parturition is the consequence of pathological signals that activate the common pathway of parturition and considered as a syndrome.Many risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth(sPTB)have been identified.Two significant risk factors for sPTB are history of prior sPTB and short cervical length at midtrimester.17 hydroxyprogesterone caproate,vaginal progesterone,cerclage,and pessary have all been studied for prevention of sPTB.Difference in patient populations likely contributes to the conflicting study results.Further studies are needed to establish strategies in prevention of sPTB in singleton as well as multiple pregnancies.