IMPORTANCE Treatment with noninvasive oxygenation strategies such as noninvasive ventilation and high-flow nasal oxygen may be more effective than standard oxygen therapy alone in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.OBJECTIVE To compare the association of noninvasive oxygenation strategies with mortality and endotracheal intubation in adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. DATA SOURCESThe following bibliographic databases were searched from inception until April 2020: MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Web of Science, and LILACS. No limits were applied to language, publication year, sex, or race.STUDY SELECTION Randomized clinical trials enrolling adult participants with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure comparing high-flow nasal oxygen, face mask noninvasive ventilation, helmet noninvasive ventilation, or standard oxygen therapy. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESISTwo reviewers independently extracted individual study data and evaluated studies for risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Network meta-analyses using a bayesian framework to derive risk ratios (RRs) and risk differences along with 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were conducted. GRADE methodology was used to rate the certainty in findings. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome was all-cause mortality up to 90 days. A secondary outcome was endotracheal intubation up to 30 days.

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Purpose To describe the postnatal outcome of fetal meconium peritonitis and identify prenatal predictors of neonatal surgery. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all fetuses with ultrasound findings suspicious for meconium peritonitis at a single center over a 10-year period. A systematic review and meta-analysis were then performed pooling our results with previous studies assessing prenatally diagnosed meconium peritonitis and postnatal outcome. Prenatal sonographic findings were analyzed to identify predictors for postnatal surgery. Results 34 cases suggestive of meconium peritonitis were diagnosed at our center. These were pooled with cases from 14 other studies yielding a total of 244 cases. Postnatal abdominal surgery was required in two thirds of case (66.5 %). The strongest predictor of neonatal surgery was meconium pseudocyst (OR [95 % CI] 6.75 [2.53–18.01]), followed by bowel dilation (OR [95 % CI] 4.17 [1.93–9.05]) and ascites (OR [95 % CI] 2.57 [1.07–5.24]). The most common cause of intestinal perforation and meconium peritonitis, found in 52.2 % of the cases, was small bowel atresia. Cystic fibrosis was diagnosed in 9.8 % of cases. Short-term neonatal outcomes were favorable, with a post-operative mortality rate of 8.1 % and a survival rate of 100 % in neonates not requiring surgery. Conclusion Meconium pseudocysts, bowel dilation, and ascites are prenatal predictors of neonatal surgery in cases of meconium peritonitis. Fetuses with these findings should be delivered in centers with pediatric surgery services. Though the prognosis is favorable, cystic fibrosis complicates postnatal outcomes.

Introduction: Barbed sutures are used in cesarean delivery with the intended benefits of better tissue approximation, hemostasis, and strength, as well as reduced operative time. A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the safety and efficacy of the use of barbed suture compared with conventional sutures in cesarean delivery.

Background Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease which can impact pregnancy. Methods Six databases were systematically searched for studies with at least five subjects reporting pregnancy outcomes for women with myasthenia gravis in pregnancy. Assessment of bias was performed for all included studies. Forty-eight cases from our own centre were also included in the analysis. Results In total, 32 publications met inclusion criteria for systematic review, for a total of 33 unique data sets including 48 cases from our institution. Outcome data was available for 824 pregnancies. Spontaneous vaginal delivery occurred in 56.3% of pregnancies. Overall risk of myasthenia gravis exacerbation was 33.8% with a 6.4% risk of myasthenic crisis in pregnancy and 8.2% postpartum. The incidence risk of transient neonatal myasthenia gravis was 13.0%. Conclusions The current systematic review provides the best estimates of risk currently available to aid in counselling women with myasthenia gravis in pregnancy.

Introduction Antiretroviral therapy‐naïve pregnant women living with HIV are at an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. It remains controversial whether this risk persists with antiretroviral therapy. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate whether pregnant women living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy antenatally, are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes compared with HIV‐negative controls. Material and methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, EBM Reviews, PubMed (non‐MEDLINE records), EBSCO CINAHL Complete, Clarivate Web of Science, African Index Medicus, LILACS and Google Scholar for all observational studies comparing pregnant women living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy with HIV‐negative controls from 1 January 1994 to 10 August 2021 with no language or geographic restrictions. Perinatal outcomes included preterm birth (PTB), low birthweight, small‐for‐gestational age and preeclampsia. Using a random‐effects model we pooled raw data to generate odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each outcome. Sub‐analyses for high and low resource countries and time of antiretroviral therapy initiation were performed. This systematic review and meta‐analysis is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42020182722. Results Of the 7900 citations identified, 27 were eligible for analysis (12 636 pregnant women living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy and 7 812 115 HIV‐negative controls). ORs (95% CI) of PTB (1.88 [1.63–2.17]), small‐for‐gestational age (1.60 [1.18–2.17]) and low birthweight (2.15 [1.58–2.92]) were significantly higher in pregnant women living with HIV than in HIV‐negative women, while the risk of preeclampsia (0.86 [0.57–1.30]) was comparable. The risk of PTB and low birthweight was higher in both high resource and low resource countries, while the risk of small‐for‐gestational age was higher only in the former. Preconceptional antiretroviral therapy was associated with a higher risk of PTB compared with antenatal initiation. Conclusions Pregnant women living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy have an increased risk of PTB, low birthweight and small‐for‐gestational age in high resource countries, as well as PTB and low birthweight in low income countries compared with HIV‐negative controls.

Introduction To evaluate the effect of antibiotic regimens for chorioamnionitis on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Material and methods We conducted a systematic review, wherein we searched six bibliographic databases until June 2020 and included randomized clinical trials describing antibiotic regimens for treating chorioamnionitis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool V2.0. Random‐effects meta‐analysis was performed and results were presented as risk ratio (RR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% CI. Results Fourteen trials at low‐to‐high risk of bias were included. Three trials (n = 244), comparing different intrapartum antibiotic regimens, showed no difference in outcomes except for lower composite maternal morbidity (endometritis, pneumonia, sepsis, blood transfusion, and ileus) with ampicillin/sulbactam vs ampicillin/gentamicin in one study (0/43 vs 6/49, P = .03). Three trials (n = 295) comparing different doses of intrapartum antibiotics showed no differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes, although one study showed a shorter duration of antibiotic treatment in the experimental arm (4 mg/kg gentamicin q24h + 1200 mg clindamycin q12h) vs conventional arm (1.33 mg/kg gentamicin + 800 mg clindamycin q8h) (48.0 ± 36 hours vs 55.2 ± 48 hours, P = .04). Four trials (n = 484) comparing postpartum antibiotics vs no antibiotics showed no difference in outcomes except for a shorter hospital stay (two studies, MD −7.90 hours, 95% CI −13.52 to −2.27 hours). Three trials (n = 447) comparing single vs multiple doses of postpartum antibiotics showed shorter hospital stay [MD −19.14 hours, 95% CI −29.88 to −8.41 hours), but no differences in treatment failure (RR 1.73, 95% CI 0.69‐4.30) or total antibiotic dose (MD −9.24, 95% CI −19.49 to 1.01). One trial (n = 48) comparing intrapartum vs postpartum initiation of treatment found benefits to intrapartum (vs postpartum) initiation of antibiotics, in terms of postpartum maternal hospital stay (MD −24 hours, 95% CI −45.56 to −1.44 hours), neonatal hospital stay (MD −45.6 hours, −93.84 to −11.76 hours), and neonatal pneumonia or sepsis (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.00‐0.95). Conclusions Upon diagnosis of chorioamnionitis, there is limited evidence to recommend the prompt initiation of intrapartum antibiotics, and to consider a single dose of postpartum antibiotics over multiple doses or no treatment. Well‐designed trials using standard definitions of chorioamnionitis, outcome measures, and newer antibiotics are required to inform clinical practice with regard to the preferred antibiotic regimen, dose, and duration to optimize maternal and neonatal outcomes.