Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):118-122
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300003
PURPOSE: to determine the efficacy and safety of dinoprostone and misoprostol for the induction of vaginal childbirth, with or without the use of oxytocin in nulliparous women. METHODS: in this retrospective observational study, 238 patients were subjected to the induction of delivery from January 2008 to February 2010 with the use of misoprostol 25 mcg by the vaginal route or a pessary containing 10 mg of dinoprostone. A total of 184 patients were selected, with the following characteristics: nulliparous, gestational age of 37-42 weeks, singleton pregnancies, cephalic presentation, intact membranes, and Bishop score < 3. Obstetric and neonatal data were analyzed and compared between groups. The Student t-test, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: the rate of vaginal childbirth did not differ significantly in patients who used misoprostol and dinoprostone (43.2% versus 50%; p = 0.35, respectively). The ripening of cervix was higher in the group treated with misoprostol (87.3% versus 75.6%, p=0.04). The use of oxytocin was necessary in 58.8% of the misoprostol group and 57.3% in the dinoprostone group after the ripening of cervix. Failed induction was the primary indication of caesarean section delivery in both groups, with no significant difference between them. Fetal and maternal adverse events, such as tachysystole and Apgar scores were similar. CONCLUSION: dinoprostone and misoprostol are both effective for vaginal childbirth induction, although they need to be combined with oxytocin. They showed a similar safety profile, with misoprostol being more efficient regarding cervical ripening.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):111-117
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300002
PURPOSE: to assess the distance of the fetal cerebral fissures from the inner edge of the skull by three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS). METHODS: this cross-sectional study included 80 women with normal pregnancies between 21st and 34th weeks. The distances between the Sylvian, parieto-occiptal, hippocampus and calcarine fissures and the internal surface of the fetal skull were measured. For the evaluation of the distance of the first three fissures, an axial three-dimensional scan was obtained (at the level of the lateral ventricles). To obtain the calcarine fissure measurement, a coronal scan was used (at the level of the occipital lobes). First degree regressions were performed to assess the correlation between fissure measurements and gestational age, using the determination coefficient (R²) for adjustment. The 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles were calculated for each fissure measurement. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between fissure measurements and the biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC). RESULTS: all fissure measurements were linearly correlated with gestational age (Sylvian: R²=0.5; parieto-occiptal: R²= 0.7; hippocampus: R²= 0.3 and calcarine: R²= 0.3). Mean fissure measurement ranged from 7.0 to 14.0 mm, 15.9 to 28.7 mm, 15.4 to 25.4 mm and 15.7 to 24.8 mm for the Sylvian, parieto-occiptal, hippocampus and calcarine fissures, respectively. The Sylvian and parieto-occiptal fissure measurements had the highest correlations with the BPD (r=0.8 and 0.7, respectively) and HC (r=0.7 and 0.8, respectively). CONCLUSION: the distance from the fetal cerebral fissures to the inner edge of the skull measured by 3DUS was positively correlated with gestational age.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):144-149
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300008
PURPOSE: to identify the nomenclature for reporting cervical cytological diagnoses used by laboratories which render services to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and which participate in External Quality Monitoring (MEQ). To evaluate the information acquired from gynecologists of the SUS regarding the various diagnostic classifications that they receive in the cervical cytology diagnostic reports. METHODS: we evaluated 94 cytology reports issued by laboratories which participate in the MEQ in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and 126 questionnaires applied to gynecologists who work for the SUS. RESULTS: out of the 94 laboratories, 81 (86.2%) use one diagnostic classification: 79 (97.6%) use the Brazilian Nomenclature for Cytological Reports (NBLC), 1 (1.2%) uses the Papanicolaou classification and 1 (1.2%) uses the Richart diagnostic classification. Of the 13 (13.8%) laboratories that use more than one classification, 5 use 2 types and 8 use 3 to 4 types, with 9 including the Papanicolau diagnostic classification. The study showed that 52 (55.3%) laboratories presented more than one descriptive diagnosis in the same report. Out of the 126 gynecologists who filled out a questionnaire evaluating the cytopathology reports, 78 (61.9 %) stated that they received laboratory reports with only one diagnostic classification, 48 (38.1%) received reports with more than one classification and 2 received reports with all 4 classifications. Among the 93 (73.8%) gynecologists who prefer only one classification, 56 (60.2%) claimed that the NBLC contributes to clinical practice, 13 (14.0%) opted for the Richart classification, 8 (8.6%) for the Reagan classification and 16 (17.2%) for the Papanicolaou classification. Out of 33 (26.2%) gynecologists who prefer more than one classification, 5 opted for the 4 classifications. CONCLUSIONS: these data suggest that there is still resistance on the part of pathologists about using the official nomenclature in cytology reports for SUS. There is discrepancy between the information that gynecologists would like to see in the reports and the information provided by the pathologists. Greater efforts should be made to stimulate the use of the official nomenclature.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):139-143
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300007
PURPOSE: to determine the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and of core-needle biopsy (CNB) in diagnosing breast lumps and breast cancer. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study based on the review of medical records. FNAB and CNB were carried out sequentially according to the routine of the Mastology Service. Both percutaneous procedures were applied to 233 patients during the period from March 2005 to February 2007. Women aged 18 years or more with changes in the clinical and/or image examination of the breast or a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer were included. FNAB and CNB were carried out according to the technical recommendations of the National Institute of Cancer. The percentage of agreement, Cohen's Kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and the accuracy of FNAB and CNB were calculated, considering the surgical biopsy as the gold standard. RESULTS: the average age of the patients was 49.0 years (±12.7) and the tumors measured 26.9 mm on average (±23.1), being larger than 20 mm in 47.2% of cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy were higher for CNB than for FNAB, regardless of the size of the breast lesion. The diagnostic accuracy was 97.5% for CNB and 77.5% for FNAB. CONCLUSION: although the CNB showed higher rates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy than FNAB for palpable and non-palpable breast lumps, the method remains useful for the minimally invasive diagnosis of mammary lesions, especially when its results are analyzed together with the clinical and imaging examination.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(3):128-132
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000300005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the frequency of cells of the cervical transitional zone (CTZ) in cervicovaginal smears of women older than 40 years. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study with review of 24,316 Pap smear reports during the period from January 2005 to December 2008, to evaluate the cases without material of the CTZ. Exclusion criteria were: total hysterectomy, smears with severe atrophy or unsatisfactory for analysis, cases without visualization of the cervix or the external orifice of the cervix closed during examination and records without the patient's age. A total of 21,866 cervical-vaginal cytology reports were included in this study. We evaluated the relationship between the presence of material of the CTZ and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in patients aged 40 years or more and the relationship between presence of material of the CTZ and a moderate to intense inflammatory process in patients aged 39 years or less. Data were analyzed statistically by the χ2 test and Odds Ratio. RESULTS: only 11.2% of patients younger than 40 years had no material from the CTZ in their smears, while 47% patients older than 40 years had no material from the CTZ (p=0.0001). Most patients aged 40 years or more (92.1%) did not use HRT and this was not a predictor of incidence of CTZ material in these patients (p> 0.05). In contrast, most patients younger than 40 years without CTZ material (74.5%) had abundant inflammation in the smears (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: patients aged 40 years or more had a lower incidence of material from the CTZ in cervicovaginal smears, and inflammation was a factor that contributed to the absence of CTZ material in the smears from patients younger than 40 years.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(2):93-98
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000200007
PURPOSE: to estimate the prevalence and risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women. METHODS: a cross-sectional retrospective study based on the records of women screened for toxoplasmosis by the Pregnancy Protection Program in 2008, living in Goiânia (GO). These records were connected to records from the database of the National Information System on Live Births from the State of Goiás. The process occurred in three phases, with 10,316 records being paired for analysis, among the 12,846 initial records. The following variables were evaluated in this process: woman's name, age, date of birth, estimated date of delivery, date of infant birth and household information. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected with the Q-Preven Toxo IgG and IgMin tests in dried blood samples collected on filter paper. The χ2 test and χ2 test for trend were used for data analysis, and the odds ratio (OR) was used to estimate the chance of association between exposure and outcome. RESULTS: the prevalence of infection was 67.7%, with 0.7% of the samples presenting anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG reagents. Out of these, only three did not undergo confirmatory testing in venous blood. The median interval between the screening and the new collection of venous blood was of 12.5 days, and from screening to confirmatory test and avidity it was of 20 days. The variables associated with exposure were: age 20-30 years, OR=1.6 and >31 years, OR=1.8; brown skin color, OR=1.4, and black skin color, OR=1.6; and education of 8-11 years, OR=0.7, and >12 years of education, OR=0.6. CONCLUSION: a high prevalence of infection was estimated among the studied pregnant women. The associated factors that were found found should be considered during prenatal care, along with educational activities for the prevention of infection and assessment of serological status of seronegative pregnant women.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(2):87-92
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000200006
PURPOSE: to determine the dietary consumption of pregnant women, by assessing the intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, and to verify the maternal weight gain during pregnancy. METHODS: a retrospective study conducted from June 2002 to June 2008 with pregnant women who received nutritional counseling during prenatal care at a university hospital, grouped according to anthropometric nutritional status classified by pregestational body mass index (BMI). The dietary intake was analyzed according to the information obtained in food frequency interviews, performed at the first evaluation of pregnant women in the service of nutrition to obtain data about eating habits, and the intake of macronutrients and micronutrients was calculated. The pregnant women received nutritional counseling, and the maternal weight gain was investigated. RESULTS: a total of 187 pregnant women who received nutritional counseling were analyzed. Twenty-three (12.2%) were underweight, 84 (45.0%) normal weight, 37 (19.8%) overweight, and 43 (23.0%) obese. The underweight pregnant women had lower consumption of lipids when compared to the normal weight group (101.4 versus 137.3 g; p=0.043). The average iron intake was higher in normal weight pregnant women (14.6 mg/d) compared to the overweight (12.2 mg/d) or obese (10.9 mg/d; p<0.001) groups. The average intake of folate was higher in normal weight pregnant women compared to obese ones (336.5 µg/d versus 234.5 µg/d; p=0.002). Excessive maternal weight gain was significantly (p=0.009) more frequent in overweight (56.7%) and obese (39.5%) pregnant women compared to underweight (17.4%) and normal weight (31.0%) women. CONCLUSIONS: The maternal weight gain above recommended levels was associated with overweight and obesity. The dietary intake of pregnant women differs according to maternal anthropometric nutritional status, with a lower daily intake of iron in overweight and obese women and a lower intake of folate in obese ones, a fact that reinforces the importance of prenatal vitamin supplementation.