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. 2004;26(6):477-482
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000600009
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the neonatal morbidity and mortality related to mothers at the age of 35 or older than that. METHODS: in 2377 births in a year, 316 newborns (13.26%) from mothers at the age of 35 or more were selected for the study. These women were compared to pregnant controls aged 20 to 29, randomly selected among the 1170 women in the same age group (49,2%). For the inclusion criteria, pregnancies should have been over 22 weeks and the newborns should have weighted 500g or more at birth. Fourteen twin cases were excluded. To evaluate mortality and morbidity the following variables were considered: Apgar Index, birth weight, newborn health conditions, fetal malformations and neonatal mortality until hospital discharge. RESULTS: when analyzed as a whole, nulliparous and multiparous women showed significantly less favorable perinatal results for the selected group of women at 35 or more years old as compared with pregnant controls, what was not sustained when the nulliparous were excluded. Multiparous at the age of 35 or over presented a higher rate of low Apgar index in the 1st minute: 21.3 and 13.1%: (p<0,0033); small NB for the gestational age: 15.2% and 6.7% (p<0,02); big NB for the gestational age: 5.7 and 0.0% (p<0,02); low weight at birth: 23.8 and 14,5% (p<0,01), and prematurity, 16,7 and 6,7%, (p<0,005). Significant differences were not found for the Apgar index in the 5th minute, fetal malformations, newborn health conditions at hospital discharge and neonatal mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal morbidity increased among pregnant women at the age of 35 and older, but not the neonatal mortality.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(6):383-390
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000600007
Purpose: to evaluate the ultrasonographic parameters associated with perinatal mortality increase in cases of fetal hydrocephalus. Method: 45 cases of fetal hydrocephalus were followed-up between January 1996 and December 1999. Fetal hydrocephalus was diagnosed when the ratio of lateral ventricles and the corresponding cerebral hemispheres was above 0.35 or when the measurement of the atrium of the lateral ventricles was above 10 mm. In all examinations the type of hydrocephalus, severity, symmetry, evolution and time of diagnosis were defined. The patients were submitted to morphologic ultrasound in the search of other anatomical abnormalities. The amniotic fluid index and fetal deaths were registered. The main ultrasonographic findings were correlated with perinatal mortality. For statistical analysis, chi² test and exact Fisher test were used. The value of p<0,05 was considered to be significant. Results: a total of 20 deaths were observed (44.4%), 6 occurred intra-uterus and 14 in the neonatal period. The diagnosis of hydrocephalus was established at a mean gestational age of 29 weeks. There was no association between perinatal mortality and alterations in the amniotic fluid volume, time of diagnosis, symmetry and type of hydrocephalus and the presence of other intra- or extracranial anomalies. On the other hand, the severity of the disease was associated significantly with perinatal death (p<0.0001). Conclusion: among all the analyzed ultrasonographic parameters, only the severity of hydrocephalus presented statistical association with perinatal death.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(7):423-427
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000700003
Purpose: to evaluate the impact of birth time interval between twins in relation to the morbidity and mortality of the second newborn twin. Methods: this is a retrospective study of 50 women with twin pregnancy at the `Maternidade Pró-Matre de Vitória' who gave birth to 100 alive newborns through the vaginal canal, weighing each over 500 g and not having any major malformations. The newborns were separated into two groups: G1 (first twin) and G2 (second twin). The following criteria were considered to be indicative of newborn morbidity: asphyxia at birth, characterized by Apgar index lower than 7 in the first minute of life; respiratory distress syndrome detected by clinical and radiological findings, and hospitalization period longer than 4 days. In-hospital mortality was analyzed as well. Cut off was at every 5 minutes, up to 35 minutes, to study the time interval between the twin (deltat) delivery. A time-span (deltat) analysis was also carried out up to 5 minutes: 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 21-150 minutes. Results: there were no statistically significant differences between the second twin's morbidity/mortality in relation to the first, considering the aforesaid cutoff and time-span levels. Conclusion: delivery time interval between G1 and G2 did not influence the second twin's morbidity and mortality; however, in the assistance of the second twin's delivery, it is absolutely necessary to individualize the characteristics of each case, not allowing any anxiety to set in through untimely and potentially damaging procedures.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(5):293-299
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500002
Purpose: to study the prenatal care among Public Health Service ("Sistema Único de Saúde") users from Caxias do Sul - RS. Methods: a transversal study of 702 pregnancies attended at the Hospital Geral -Universidade de Caxias do Sul from March 2000 to March 2001 based on the criteria set by the "Programa Nacional de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento (PNHPN)" of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Results: the observed prenatal coverage was 95.4%, whereas the average of visits was 6.2. The main reported reason for not following prenatal care was the lack of information about its importance (65.6%). In 51.5% of the cases, prenatal care started in the third month of pregnancy, whereas 44.3% of the pregnant women carried out all the proposed complementary tests. Prenatal care was considered inappropriate in 64.8% and appropriate in 35.2% of the cases. The quality of prenatal attention was significantly associated with the mother's education, as well as with the number of previous deliveries. The higher the educational level, the better the quality of observed prenatal care (p=0.0148). In addition, the higher number of previous deliveries showed to be associated with a later beginning of prenatal care and a lower number of visits (p=0.0008). Conclusions: the prenatal care available at Caxias do Sul in spite of its good coverage, should be reviewed in terms of quality. Special attention should be given to education in health along the prenatal assistance.