Serial amniocenteses in the management of twin-twin transfusion syndrome: when is it valuable?

Serial decompressive amniocenteses were performed at 18-23 weeks of gestation in 23 pregnancies referred due to echographic signs typical of twin-twin transfusion syndrome. The procedures were repeated until delivery or permanent normalization of the amniotic fluid volume both in the donor and the recipient twin sac. The overall survival rate was 57%, but in only 39% of the pregnancies did both twins survive without handicaps.

Cervical changes throughout pregnancy as assessed by transvaginal sonography.

Objective: To evaluate changes in cervical dimensions by transvaginal ultrasound in non-randomly selected pregnant women.

Methods: This longitudinal study included 154 pregnant women undergoing transvaginal ultrasound assessment of the cervix at a mean gestational age of 12, 16, 20, 25, and 31 weeks. On each occasion, the longitudinal and anteroposterior diameters of the cervix were measured.

Measurements of fetal limb bones in early pregnancy.

The fetal humerus, radius/ulna, femur, tibia/fibula and foot were measured in 296 pregnant women at 64-108 days' menstrual age, using vaginal sonography. All limb measurements correlated significantly with gestational age and biparietal diameter independently. Ratios of limb segment lengths did not change with gestation.

Enoxacin in the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis genitourinary infection.

Twenty women with Chlamydia trachomatis genitourinary infection were treated with oral enoxacin 800 mg/day in two divided doses for 12 days starting on day 1 of the menstrual cycle. A physical examination was performed before the start and 28-30 days after the end of the treatment. At the final examination cultures of urethral and endocervical swabs and endometrial samples were negative in all cases, demonstrating that Chlamydia trachomatis infection had been eradicated.