Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):393-397
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005066
To evaluate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes evolution of triplet pregnancies.
A prospective observational study was conducted in triplet pregnancies delivered over 16 years in a tertiary obstetric center with differentiated perinatal support. Evaluation of demographic factors, obstetric complications, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, birth weight and immediate newborn outcome were done over a 16 years period. A global characterization of the sample was performed considering the listed parameters. Variables were categorized in three groups according to year of occurrence: 1996-2000, 2001-2006, 2007-2011, and all parameters were compared.
Of the 33 triplets included, 72.7% resulted from induced pregnancies. All except one patient received prenatal corticosteroids and five received tocolytics. All women delivered prenatally and no significant differences were seen in the mean gestational age at delivery or birth weight towards time. There were three intrauterine fetal deaths. Neonatal immediate outcomes were not significantly different over the years.
Despite remarkable progresses in perinatal and neonatal cares, no noticeable impact in triplet gestations' outcomes was seen, sustaining that triplets should be avoided due to their great risk of prematurity and neonatal morbidities, either by limiting the numbers of embryos transferred or by fetal reduction.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):423-431
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005030
Physical exercise is recommended for all healthy pregnant women. Regular practice of exercises during pregnancy can provide many physical and psychological benefits, with no evidence of adverse outcomes for the fetus or the newborn when exercise is performed at mild to moderate intensity. However, few pregnant women engage in this practice and many still have fears and doubts about the safety of exercise. The objective of the present study was to inform the professionals who provide care for Brazilian pregnant women about the current recommendations regarding physical exercise during pregnancy based on the best scientific evidence available. In view of the perception that few systematic models are available about this topic and after performing several studies in this specific area, we assembled practical information of interest to both the professionals and the pregnant women. We also provide recommendations about the indications, contraindications, modalities (aerobics, resistance training, stretching and pelvic floor training), frequency, intensity and duration indicated for each gestational trimester. The review addresses physical exercise recommendation both for low risk pregnant women and for special populations, such as athletes and obese, hypertensive and diabetic subjects. The advantages of an active and healthy lifestyle should be always reinforced during and after gestation since pregnancy is an appropriate period to introduce new habits because pregnant women are usually more motivated to adhere to recommendations. Thus, routine exams, frequent returns and supervision are recommended in order to provide new guidelines that will have long-term beneficial effects for both mother and child.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):383-386
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005099
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):387-392
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005053
To evaluate the cases of uterine rupture and dehiscence of the uterine scar at a low-risk maternity and to point out possibilities for an improved approach to these complications.
A descriptive study was conducted at a 30-bed low-risk maternity hospital that provides care to users of the public health system. The investigation was carried out by searching for cases in the delivery room registry book and later reading the medical records in order to obtain the data. The information was inserted on a form previously elaborated for this study. Cases of uterine rupure and dehiscence of the uterine scar diagnosed from 1998 to 2012 were included, with the determination of incidence, aspects related to risk factors and diagnosis, association with the use of misoprostol and oxytocin, and the outcomes observed.
A total of 39,206 deliveries were performed in this maternity during the study period, with 12 cases of uterine rupture and 16 cases of dehiscence of uterine scar being observed. The most relevant results were a high perinatal mortality associated with uterine rupture and the unsuccessful diagnosis of this complications. It was not possible to demonstrate an association with the use of misoprostol or oxytocin.
The adverse outcomes of uterine rupture could be minimized if efforts were directed at improving the diagnostic performance of the assisting teams.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):398-403
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140004996
To evaluate the impact of continued education provided by an external quality control laboratory on the indicators of internal quality control of cytopathology exams.
The internal quality assurance indicators for cytopathology exams from 12 laboratories monitored by the External Quality Control Laboratory were evaluated. Overall, 185,194 exams were included, 98,133 of which referred to the period preceding implementation of a continued education program, while 87,061 referred to the period following this intervention. Data were obtained from the Cervical Cancer Database of the Brazilian National Health Service.
Following implementation of the continued education program, the positivity index (PI) remained within recommended limits in four laboratories. In another four laboratories, the PI progressed from below the limits to within the recommended standards. In one laboratory, the PI remained low, in two laboratories, it remained very low, and in one, it increased from very low to low. The percentage of exams compatible with a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) remained within the recommended limits in five laboratories, while in three laboratories it progressed from below the recommended levels to >0.4% of the total number of satisfactory exams, and in four laboratories it remained below the standard limit. Both the percentage of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) in relation to abnormal exams, and the ratio between ASC-US and intraepithelial lesions remained within recommended levels in all the laboratories investigated.
An improvement was found in the indicators represented by the positivity index and the percentage of exams compatible with a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, showing that the role played by the external quality control laboratory in providing continued education contributed towards improving laboratory staff skills in detecting cervical cancer precursor lesions.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):404-409
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005073
To evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of functional training on body composition in postmenopausal women.
The study was conducted on 38 postmenopausal women, divided into two groups: Training Group (TG) and Control Group (CG). TG women (n=21) performed a program of physical exercise for a period of 8 weeks, 3 times a week on nonconsecutive days, with 90 minutes per session. For the same period, CG women (n=17) did not perform any systematic physical activity. All participants were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. The evaluations were performed by the same trained raters. Analysis of body composition was performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), which allows estimation of body composition in the whole body and by segment. TG participants performed a functional exercise program 3 days a week (non-consecutive), with 11 stations consisting of exercises developed in circuit format sessions. The objectives of the exercises were the development of strength, agility, coordination and proprioception, followed by aerobic exercise (walking). After normality of the data was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk test (p<0.05), we applied the Student t-test for independent samples to check for possible differences in anthropometric variables and body composition between groups at both times of intervention (pre and post-test). All analyses were performed using the SPSS software v. 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) with the level of significance set at 5%.
At baseline, no significant difference was observed between groups regarding anthropometric body variables or age composition, indicating homogeneity of the groups. After 8 weeks of training, significant differences were observed between TG and CG regarding fat - CG=0.2±0.7 and TG=-0.4±0.5, total body fat (kg) - CG=0.2±1.3 and TG=-0.7±0.8, and total weight - CG=0.4±1.4 and TG=-0.6±1.1. Percent body fat was reduced in terms of absolute values, although without significance: CG=0.1±1.5 and TG=-0.8±1.5.
Functional training in circuit format can be used as a strategy to alter body composition in postmenopausal women, particularly in terms of reduction of adipose tissue. This is a model that promotes high adhesion on the part of the participants, suggesting that it is an attractive proposal for the investigated age group.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(9):416-422
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140004995
The aim of this study was to evaluate the human papillomavirus genotypes and the frequency of multiple human papillomavirus infections, as well as to assess the association between human papillomavirus genotype, cyto-histopathological abnormalities and age range.
A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out between June 2010 and October 2013 in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed 351 results of positive human papillomavirus genotyping performed using the PapilloCheck(r) test, designed to detect 24 human papillomavirus types. The cyto-histopathological abnormalities were classified as negative (negative cytology and histopathology), low-grade lesions (cytologic low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion diagnosis or histopathologic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 or vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia 1 diagnosis) and high-grade lesions (cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion diagnosis or histopathologic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ or vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ diagnosis).
The most frequently detected high risk human papillomavirus genotype was HPBV 16, with 18.5%, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 14.6-23.0, followed by HPV 56 (14%; 95%CI 10.5-18.0) and HPV 39 (13.4%; 95%CI 9.5-16.8). HPV 18 (5.4%; 95%CI 3.3-8.3) was among the least frequent types. Among the low risk types, HPV 42 (15.7%; 95%CI 12.0-20.0), HPV 6 (11.4%; 95%CI 8.3-15.2) and HPV 44/55 (11.1%; 95%CI 8.0-14.9) were the most frequent, while HPV 11 (2.8%; 95%CI 1.4-5.2) was the least common. The proportion of HPV 16-positive women increased with severity of cyto-histopathological abnormalities: 13.8% (12/87) in low-grade lesion and 42.4% (14/33) in high-grade lesion. There was association between low- or high-grade cyto-histopathological lesion and the high risk genotypes, HPV16, HPV 52, HPV 73 and HPV 82, and the low risk type, HPV 43. Women under 30 years showed a significantly higher frequency of HPV 16 (22.2 versus 12.9%, p =0.01), HPV 42 (19.7 versus 10.9%, p=0.01) and HPV 45 (6.6 versus 1.4%, p=0.01), and multiple human papillomavirus infections (58.1 versus 47.4%, p=0.04).
We observed variability of human papillomavirus genotype distribution in women from the state of Bahia. HPV 16 was the most frequently detected high risk human papillomavirus, as also reported for other geographic areas of Brazil and for the world in general. HPV 56 and HPV 39 were the second and the third most common genotypes, whereas HPV 18 was among the least frequent types. HPV 42, 6 and 44/55 were the most frequently detected low risk human papillomavirus, and HPV 11 was the least common.