Objective: To analyze the effect of nuchal cords on perinatal features at delivery of term and postterm pregnancies. Methods: A total of 11,748 women with planned vaginal deliveries, including 9,574 term and 2,174 pos...Objective: To analyze the effect of nuchal cords on perinatal features at delivery of term and postterm pregnancies. Methods: A total of 11,748 women with planned vaginal deliveries, including 9,574 term and 2,174 postterm deliveries, were analyzed for intrapartum events, clinical peripartum management, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcome. The presence of nuchal cords was diagnosed clinically at the time of delivery. Data were obtained from our perinatal database between 1995 and 2004 for retrospective analysis. Results: The incidence of nuchal cords in term and postterm deliveries was 33.7% and 35.1% , respectively. Multiple nuchal cords were present in 5.8% of term and 5.5% of postterm deliveries. Intrapartum signs of fetal compromise were increased in all groups, albeit not all reaching statistical significance in postterm deliveries. Meconium staining was significantly increased only in multiple nuchal cords of postterm deliveries (42.1% compared with 30.1% , P < .05). Mode of delivery was unchanged in all nuchal cord groups. Unfavorable neonatal blood gas values were significantly more frequent in all nuchal cord groups. Nevertheless, 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7 were not more common, and admission to neonatal unit was not required more frequently. Neonatal mean birth weight was significantly lower in all nuchal cord groups. Conclusion: Nuchal cords do not influence clinical management at delivery, and neonatal primary adaption is not imapired. Our data show that ultrasonographic nuchal cord assessment is not necessary at the time of admission for delivery.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide may be a factor in cervical ripening. We compared the nitric oxide metabolite levels in cervical fluid in women going beyond term and in women delivering spontaneously at term. METHODS: We stud...OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide may be a factor in cervical ripening. We compared the nitric oxide metabolite levels in cervical fluid in women going beyond term and in women delivering spontaneously at term. METHODS: We studied a total of 208 women with singleton pregnancies: 108 women who went beyond term (294 days or longer), and 100 women who went spontaneously into labor at term. Cervical fluid samples, collected well before the initiation of labor, were assessed for nitric oxide metabolites using an assay with a detection limit of 3.8 μmol/L. RESULTS: Women going beyond term had detectable levels of nitric oxide metabolites in their cervical fluid (60%) less often (P = .001) than women delivering at term (87%). The nitric oxide metabolite concentration in cervical fluid in women going beyond term (median 23.5 μmol/L; 95%confidence interval less than 3.8, 31.8) was 4.5 times lower (P < .001) than that in women delivering at term (median 106.0 μmol/L; 95%confidence interval 81.8, 135.0). Such a difference (14.0 versus 106.0 μmol/L) also existed when only the 66 women going into spontaneous postterm labor were included in the comparison. Both nulliparous (median less than 3.8 μmol/L) and parous (median 31.3 μmol/L) women going beyond term had lower (P < .01) cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite levels than nulliparous and parous women delivering at term (medians 76.1 and 101.3 μmol/L, respectively). In the postterm group, women with cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations at or below the median failed more often (P < .001) to progress in labor and had longer (P = .02) duration of labor than those with cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations above the median. CONCLUSION: Reduced cervical nitric oxide release may contribute to prolonged pregnancy.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the characteristics most associated with vaginal birth in patients undergoing induction of labor after 1 prior cesarean delivery. METHODS: All patients who presented for induction of labor from ...OBJECTIVE: To estimate the characteristics most associated with vaginal birth in patients undergoing induction of labor after 1 prior cesarean delivery. METHODS: All patients who presented for induction of labor from 1996 to 2001 with a history of 1 prior cesarean delivery were identified. Relevant demographic and obstetric data were abstracted from the charts. Univariate analysis was used to identify predictive factors associated with vaginal birth after cesarean. Binary logistic regression was further used to identify which factors were independently associated with the outcome measure. RESULTS: Of the 429 women included in the study, 334 (77.9%) had a successful trial of labor. In the final binary logistic regression equation, prior vaginal delivery (odds ratio [OR] 3.75; 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.96, 7.18) remained independently associated with an increased chance of a vaginal delivery after a trial of labor. Conversely, prior cesarean delivery for dystocia (OR 0.46; 95%CI 0.27, 0.79), induction on or past the estimated date of delivery (OR 0.46; 95%CI 0.27, 0.78), need for cervical ripening (OR 0.35; 95%CI 0.20, 0.61), and maternal gestational or preexisting diabetes (OR 0.16; 95%CI 0.06, 0.40) were all factors associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving a successful trial of labor. CONCLUSION: Several factors are available which may assist in identifying patients with the best chance of vaginal delivery after an induction of labor in the presence of a prior low-iransverse cesarean scar.展开更多
文摘Objective: To analyze the effect of nuchal cords on perinatal features at delivery of term and postterm pregnancies. Methods: A total of 11,748 women with planned vaginal deliveries, including 9,574 term and 2,174 postterm deliveries, were analyzed for intrapartum events, clinical peripartum management, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcome. The presence of nuchal cords was diagnosed clinically at the time of delivery. Data were obtained from our perinatal database between 1995 and 2004 for retrospective analysis. Results: The incidence of nuchal cords in term and postterm deliveries was 33.7% and 35.1% , respectively. Multiple nuchal cords were present in 5.8% of term and 5.5% of postterm deliveries. Intrapartum signs of fetal compromise were increased in all groups, albeit not all reaching statistical significance in postterm deliveries. Meconium staining was significantly increased only in multiple nuchal cords of postterm deliveries (42.1% compared with 30.1% , P < .05). Mode of delivery was unchanged in all nuchal cord groups. Unfavorable neonatal blood gas values were significantly more frequent in all nuchal cord groups. Nevertheless, 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7 were not more common, and admission to neonatal unit was not required more frequently. Neonatal mean birth weight was significantly lower in all nuchal cord groups. Conclusion: Nuchal cords do not influence clinical management at delivery, and neonatal primary adaption is not imapired. Our data show that ultrasonographic nuchal cord assessment is not necessary at the time of admission for delivery.
文摘OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide may be a factor in cervical ripening. We compared the nitric oxide metabolite levels in cervical fluid in women going beyond term and in women delivering spontaneously at term. METHODS: We studied a total of 208 women with singleton pregnancies: 108 women who went beyond term (294 days or longer), and 100 women who went spontaneously into labor at term. Cervical fluid samples, collected well before the initiation of labor, were assessed for nitric oxide metabolites using an assay with a detection limit of 3.8 μmol/L. RESULTS: Women going beyond term had detectable levels of nitric oxide metabolites in their cervical fluid (60%) less often (P = .001) than women delivering at term (87%). The nitric oxide metabolite concentration in cervical fluid in women going beyond term (median 23.5 μmol/L; 95%confidence interval less than 3.8, 31.8) was 4.5 times lower (P < .001) than that in women delivering at term (median 106.0 μmol/L; 95%confidence interval 81.8, 135.0). Such a difference (14.0 versus 106.0 μmol/L) also existed when only the 66 women going into spontaneous postterm labor were included in the comparison. Both nulliparous (median less than 3.8 μmol/L) and parous (median 31.3 μmol/L) women going beyond term had lower (P < .01) cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite levels than nulliparous and parous women delivering at term (medians 76.1 and 101.3 μmol/L, respectively). In the postterm group, women with cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations at or below the median failed more often (P < .001) to progress in labor and had longer (P = .02) duration of labor than those with cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite concentrations above the median. CONCLUSION: Reduced cervical nitric oxide release may contribute to prolonged pregnancy.
文摘OBJECTIVE: To estimate the characteristics most associated with vaginal birth in patients undergoing induction of labor after 1 prior cesarean delivery. METHODS: All patients who presented for induction of labor from 1996 to 2001 with a history of 1 prior cesarean delivery were identified. Relevant demographic and obstetric data were abstracted from the charts. Univariate analysis was used to identify predictive factors associated with vaginal birth after cesarean. Binary logistic regression was further used to identify which factors were independently associated with the outcome measure. RESULTS: Of the 429 women included in the study, 334 (77.9%) had a successful trial of labor. In the final binary logistic regression equation, prior vaginal delivery (odds ratio [OR] 3.75; 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.96, 7.18) remained independently associated with an increased chance of a vaginal delivery after a trial of labor. Conversely, prior cesarean delivery for dystocia (OR 0.46; 95%CI 0.27, 0.79), induction on or past the estimated date of delivery (OR 0.46; 95%CI 0.27, 0.78), need for cervical ripening (OR 0.35; 95%CI 0.20, 0.61), and maternal gestational or preexisting diabetes (OR 0.16; 95%CI 0.06, 0.40) were all factors associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving a successful trial of labor. CONCLUSION: Several factors are available which may assist in identifying patients with the best chance of vaginal delivery after an induction of labor in the presence of a prior low-iransverse cesarean scar.
