No abstract

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the endometrium in 56 IVF patients was performed prospectively. Endometrial thickness and pattern were analysed in 18 natural-cycle and 38 stimulated-cycle patients. Thickness was measured from the echogenic interface of the endometrium-myometrium junction on a transverse section at the level of the fundus. Patterns were classified as A (homogeneous, hyperechogenic), B (mixed, with an outer hyperechogenic and inner hypoechogenic layer) or C (fluid-filled cavum with ring configuration). The thickness and pattern distributions were similar in natural- and stimulated-cycle patients. There was no correlation between thickness and serum oestradiol levels, the diameter of the largest follicle or the pregnancy outcome in either group. However, the occurrence of endometrial pattern A on the day prior to oocyte retrieval had a predictive value of 100% for a non-conceptional cycle. In contrast, pattern B occurred in a significantly greater proportion of pregnant than non-pregnant patients.

In order to assess the complication rates of cerebrospinal fluid diversion techniques used at our institution, a retrospective study of the surgical management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus was conducted from a population of 547 premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from 1987 to 1989. The incidences of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage in the 3 years studied were 44%, 37%, and 27%, respectively. Thirty-nine of the infants developed posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus as determined by serial cranial ultrasonography; 22 required cerebrospinal fluid diversion. During the study period, we began using subcutaneous ventricular reservoirs and a low-pressure Neonatal Shunt (customized device) in infants weighing less than 1500 g at the time of instrumentation. This change in management was associated with a significant reduction (P < 0.005) in the morbidity and mortality compared to the use of external ventricular drainage devices. On the basis of these findings, the use of external ventricular drainage devices was discontinued.

We sought to determine whether an association exists between the location of intracardiac echogenic foci and fetal aneuploidy or structural cardiac lesions. A search of the English language literature since 1980 revealed nine studies reporting location of intracardiac echogenic foci, fetal chromosomal abnormalities, and cardiac anomalies. Aneuploidy was noted in 10 of 217 fetuses with left ventricular and in one of 18 with right ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci. Three of 11 fetuses with biventricular intracardiac echogenic foci were aneuploid, which is significantly more frequently than when intracardiac echogenic foci were present in either ventricle alone (P = 0.02). There were nine cases of trisomy 21, four of trisomy 13, and one of trisomy 18. Structural cardiac lesions were recognized in eight of 217 fetuses with left ventricular foci, two of 18 with right ventricular foci, and one of 11 with biventricular intracardiac echogenic foci (P = 0.16). Biventricular intracardiac echogenic foci are more frequently associated with fetal aneuploidy but not structural lesions, as compared to isolated left or right ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci.

A Tyrell vein collar at the venous anastomosis of a forearm AVG resulted in premature graft failure. The use of a Tyrell vein collar may accelerate venous anastomosis intimal hyperplasia.