Planned preterm delivery for women with prenatally diagnosed vasa previa resulted in elective delivery for singletons in 62% and for twins 32%. Gestational age at birth on average was 34.7 weeks for singletons and 32.8 weeks of gestation for twins. Major anomalies were frequent as was respiratory distress syndrome. Elective delivery between 34 and 35 weeks of gestation for singletons is reasonable. As a result of the high rate of nonelective delivery in twins, delivery at 32-34 weeks of gestation may be risk-beneficial. The high rate of singletons without risk factors for vasa previa reinforces the recommendation to screen routinely for cord insertion site.
Objectives. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are not routinely administered to patients at risk for delivery between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks. Our objective was to determine whether ACS are cost-effective for late-preterm infants at risk for imminent preterm delivery. We hypothesized that the preferred strategy <36 weeks would include ACS while the preferred strategy ≥36 weeks would not. Methods. We performed decision-analytic and cost-effectiveness analyses to determine whether ACS was cost-effective at 34, 35, and 36 weeks. We conducted a literature review to determine probability, utility, and cost estimates absent of patient-level data. Base-case cost-effectiveness analysis, univariable sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation were performed. A threshold of $100,000/QALY was considered cost-effective. Results. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio favored the administration of a full course of ACS at 34, 35, and 36 weeks ($62,888.25/QALY, $64,425.67/QALY, and $64,793.71/QALY, resp.). A partial course of ACS was not cost-effective. While ACS was the consistently dominant strategy for acute respiratory outcomes, all models were sensitive to changes in variables associated with chronic respiratory disease. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that the administration of ACS to patients at risk of imminent delivery 34-36 weeks could significantly reduce the cost and acute morbidity associated with late-preterm birth.
The sRAGE can be used to help predict adverse perinatal outcomes. Patients with higher levels of sRAGE - who therefore may have an enhanced capability to regulate their immune response - appear less likely to experience PTB and neonatal sepsis.
Normal changes in blood pressure during pregnancy are well documented in the second and third trimesters. Little is known about first-trimester changes, particularly compared with preconceptional values. This knowledge might allow for early prediction of conditions such as preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction. Prior studies utilized a laboratory setting. We conducted this retrospective study to compare blood pressure readings in early pregnancy with preconceptional values in the clinical setting. The records of 44 healthy normotensive nonsmoking women with a body mass index <30 and an uncomplicated appropriately grown singleton term delivery were reviewed. Preconceptional blood pressures values were compared with values at five periods (weeks 1 to 8, 9 to 16, 17 to 23, 24 to 32, 33 to 40). There was no difference in blood pressure parameters when comparing preconceptional values with period 1. The mean and systolic arterial pressures decreased significantly in periods 2 and 3. We were unable to demonstrate significant change in any blood pressure parameter in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. This work should be repeated in patients who subsequently develop preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion, or intrauterine growth restriction to determine if early changes might be evident in early pregnancy to identify patients destined to develop pregnancy complications.
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