Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(1):49-57
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000100008
This is a traditional (narrative) review with the objective of highlighting the contribution of obstetric ultrasonography (US) between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy, commonly called first trimester anomaly scan. In addition to being used for the screening of chromosomal anomalies, US can be employed during this period to confirm or determine gestational age, evaluate fetal anatomy, diagnose malformations, screen major structural abnormalities and genetic syndromes, define the prognosis of pregnancy, diagnose and characterize multiple pregnancies, and screen preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The most important studies about this subject published between 1990 and 2010 in the Cochrane and PubMed libraries were included. The selected studies can be classified with scientific levels I to III.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(7):381-387
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000700003
Objective: to evaluate the diagnosis, characteristics of pregnancy, maternal complications and perinatal outcome in cases of congenital hydrocephalus, and to associate them with pregnancy and delivery variables. Methods: 116 pregnancies with this diagnosis were evaluated before or after delivery, 112 of them occurring at the Maternity ward of CAISM/UNICAMP during the period between 1986 and 1995. For perinatal variables, complete data of 82 newborns were used. For data analysis, distributions and means were calculated and c² and Fisher exact tests were applied. Results: generally the diagnosis was made before delivery, confirmed by ultrasound and the delivery was through a cesarean section in cases. Cephalocentesis was performed in 11 cases and complications were more frequent in vaginal delivery than cesarean section. Low Apgar scores were more frequent among newborn babies delivered vaginally. Congenital hydrocephalus was also associated with important neonatal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, with other malformations, and a very low number of children without sequelae. Conclusions: the evaluation of these factors may be of great value for the obstetrician who is following pregnant women with this fetal malformation. This could better support the decisions that, although medical and ethical, should take into account the risk-benefit ratio of measures to be taken.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):481-484
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800009
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is characterized by multiple joint contractures present at birth. Prenatal diagnosis is difficult. There are few reports in the literature. Fetal akinesia, abnormal limb position, intrauterine growth retardation, and polyhydramnios are the main findings of the ultrasonographic diagnosis. The authors describe a case of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita ultrasonographically diagnosed in the third gestational trimester. The main findings were absence of fetal movements, polyhydramnios, symmetrical and non-symmetrical fetal growth retardation with marked decrease of abdominal and thoracic circumference, low-set ears, micrognathia, continuous flexure contracture of limbs, internal rotation of the femur, and clubfoot on the right.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(2):75-79
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000200006
PURPOSE: to evaluate perinatal outcomes in cases of oligohydramnios without premature rupture of membranes. METHODS: a total of 51 consecutive cases of oligohydramnios (amniotic fluid index, AFI < 5 cm) born between March 1998 and September 2001 were studied retrospectively. Data were compared to 61 cases with intermediate and normal volume of amniotic fluid AFI >5). Maternal and neonatal variables, as well as fetal mortality, early neonatal, and perinatal mortality rates were analyzed. For statistical analysis the c² test with Yates correction and Student's t test were used with level of signicance set at 5%. RESULTS: there were no significant differences between groups when the presence of gestational hypertensive syndromes, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, 1- and 5-minute Apgar score, need of neonatal intensive center unit, and preterm birth were analyzed. Oligohydramnios was associated with the way of delivery (p<0.0002; RR=0.3), fetal distress (p<0.0004; RR=2.2) and fetal malformations (p<0.01; RR=5.4). Fetal malformation rates were 17.6 and 3.3% in oligohydramnios and normal groups, respectively. Fetal mortality (2.0 vs 1.6%), early neonatal (5.9 vs 1.6%) and perinatal mortality (7.8 vs 3.3%) rates in both groups did not show statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Oligohydramnios was related to increased risk factor for cesarean section, fetal distress and fetal malformations.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(5):257-263
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000500002
Purpose: to evaluate the evolution of gestation, metabolic control and perinatal outcome of pregestational diabetic patients and to perform a comparative study of the results of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (type I) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type II). Methods: retrospective analysis of 57 pregestational diabetic woman charts who began a prenatal follow-up in the Service of Maternofetal Medicine of the Maternidade-Escola Assis Chateaubriand of the Universidade Federal do Ceará, in the period from January 1995 to December 1998. The 57 pregnant women included in the study were divided into groups: the first, composed of 28 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (type I), and the second with 29 pregnant women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type II), controlled with diet or with oral hypoglycemics before pregnancy. Results: there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in relation to the need of hospitalization for glycemia control (39.2% x 27.5%) and maternal complications, such as: chronic arterial hypertension (14.2% x 27.5%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (14.2% x 17.2%), premature rupture of membranes (3.5% x 10.3%), urinary tract infection (10.7% x 6.8%), and preterm labor (3.5% x 6.8%). However, episodes of maternal hypoglycemia were more frequent among insulin-dependent patients (35.7% x 3.4%). The perinatal results were similar. We observed a great number of congenital anomalies and increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: there was no difference in the incidence of obstetric and clinical complications between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent patients, except for maternal hypoglycemia.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(6):365-371
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000600007
Purpose: to evaluate the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of nephrouropathies. Methods: the authors followed-up 127 pregnancies referred to the Fetal Medicine Center of UFMG with suspicion of these anomalies. Fetal biometry, growth, vitality, and associated malformations were evaluated. Finally, a detailed description of the renal system was made to define the prenatal morphologic diagnosis of the malformations to be compared with the postnatal diagnosis. Results: based on the kappa index (statistical method that measures the concordance between different measurements, methods or measurement instruments: below 0.40, poor agreement; between 0.40 and 0.75, good agreement; above 0.75, excellent ageement), the authors found an excellent concordance (kappa index 0.95). Among the 127 cases, there were only 9 misdiagnoses, all of them of obstructive uropathies: 6 cases showed different obstruction levels after delivery and in three cases there were confounding diagnosis with multicystic kidney. Conclusions: the detailed ultrasonographic description of the renal system is a good method for prenatal diagnosis of the fetal nephropathies, allowing some options to modify the outcome of these fetuses, like to send them to specialized centers, to anticipate delivery and even to apply intrauterine therapy, in order to preserve the renal function. Serial echography and amnioinfusion can be used to improve the precision of prenatal diagnosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(7):421-428
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000700004
Purpose: to evaluate 24 cases of gastroschisis, in relation to the prognostic factors that interfered with postnatal outcome. Patients and Method: twenty-four pregnancies with fetal prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of gastroschisis, during an 8-year period, were analyzed. Gastroschisis was classified into isolated, when there were no other structural abnormalities, or associated, when other abnormalities were present. For both groups the following parameters were examined: ultrasound bowel dilatation (>18 mm), obstetric complications and postnatal outcome. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney and exact Fisher's tests were used for statistical analyses. Results: in 9 cases (37.5%) gastroschisis was associated with other abnormalities, and in 15 cases it was isolated (62.5%). All cases of associated gastroschisis had a letal prognosis, therefore the overall mortality rate was 60.8%. In the group of isolated gastroschisis, all were born alive and were submitted to surgery, but the survival rate after surgical correction was 60%. The median gestational age at birth was 35 weeks and birth weight 2,365 grams. Premature delivery was observed in 10 cases, mainly as a consequence of obstetric complication. Two newborns were small for gestational age, and only 3 had birth weight >2,500 grams. Oligohydramnios was found in 46.6% and it was more frequent in the group of postnatal death (66.7%). Ultrasound assessment of bowel showed bowel dilatation in 86.6%, however, without relation to the prognosis and postnatal bowel findings. There was no significant difference between gestational age at birth and birth weight comparing the survivor and postnatal death groups. Conclusions: isolated gastroschisis had a better prognosis when compared to associated, therefore this prenatal differentiation is important. Isolated gastroschisis was often associated with prematurity, small birth weight and obstetric complications. Prenatal diagnosis allows better monitoring of fetal and obstetric conditions. Delivery should be at term, unless presenting with obstetric complications.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(10):647-651
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000001000008
Purpose: to study the effects of ciprofloxacin on abortion percentage, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, fetal and maternal death, gross fetal malformation, newborn number, weight and neurological reflexes. Methods: we used 30 Wistar rats, divided into three groups: D50-treated (ciprofloxacin, 50 mg/kg); D100-treated (ciprofloxacin 100 mg/kg) and control group which received physiological saline per os, from the 1st to the 7th day after mating. We studied abortion percentage, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, fetal and maternal death, gross fetal malformation, newborn number and weight at 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th day of life and newborn neurological reflexes at 1st, 3rd, 5th and 10th day of life. Results: there was no difference between groups in the number of rats that became pregnant. The same was found for maternal weight gain and newborn number. There was a difference in newborn mean weight on day 3rd, 5th and 10th (p = 0.006, 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). The D100 newborn group was the one with less weight gain up to the 10th day of life. We found a significant difference (p = 0.002) in the newborn orientation reflex on the 1st day of life, that disappeared afterwards. No abortion or gross malformation was found in this study. Conclusions: ciprofloxacin modified the newborn weight and reflex on the first days of life. In conclusion, we consider that the use of ciprofloxacin should be restricted during the pregnancy.