Publications by authors named "Gundula Hebisch"
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability and reproducibility of the traditional qualitative method of assessing uterine cervical stiffness with those of a quantitative method using a novel device based on the aspiration technique.
Methods: Five silicone models of the uterine cervix were created and used to simulate different cervical stiffnesses throughout gestation. The stiffness of the five cervix models was assessed both by digital palpation (firm, medium and soft) and with the Pregnolia System.
Purpose: To identify risk factors for emergency caesarean section in women attempting a vaginal breech delivery at term.
Methods: Data from 1092 breech deliveries performed between 1998 and 2013 at a Swiss cantonal hospital were extracted from an electronic database. Of the 866 women with a singleton, full term pregnancy, 464 planned a vaginal breech delivery.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine for the first time the reliability and the diagnostic power of high-resolution microarray testing in routine prenatal diagnostics.
Methods: We applied high-resolution chromosomal microarray testing in 464 cytogenetically normal prenatal samples with any indication for invasive testing.
Results: High-resolution testing revealed a diagnostic yield of 6.
Salivary alpha-amylase levels after yohimbine challenge in healthy men.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
December 2006
Context: We and others have previously shown that standardized psychosocial stress significantly increases salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), but it remains unclear whether sAA reflects autonomic nervous system activation.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular effects and sAA and catecholamine secretion after iv injection of yohimbine.
Design And Setting: We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study at an academic research unit.
Background: Although methadone maintenance is the standard treatment of opiate addiction in pregnancy, opinion as to its utility is divided. The aim of this study was to analyze polydrug abuse, pregnancy outcome and fetomaternal complications among pregnant women in a major Swiss methadone maintenance program.
Methods: Prospective data collection of all pregnant opiate addicts and their neonates from 1996 to 2001.
Aims: To measure maternal serum interleukins (IL) in pregnancy, delivery and early puerperium, and to identify their potential determinants.
Methods: Prospective longitudinal measures of serum IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in 38 healthy pregnant women at antenatal visits, through labor and delivery, with clinical correlates (infection, vaginal hemorrhage and anemia) recorded by questionnaire.
Results: Pregnancy IL levels remained consistently low.
This review considers six main situations in which pathologists are expected to report and interpret placental messages for obstetricians, neonatologists and, indirectly, parents: (1) abortion is the body's corrective response to the embryonic defect suggested by malformed chorionic villi; (2) infection causing chorionic villous inflammation is specific and haematogenous; pathogen identification is mandatory, in contrast to chorioamnionitis caused by increased local immunosuppression allowing indiscriminate bacterial entry; (3) prematurity and (4) intrauterine growth restriction are often associated with pregnancy-specific disease (pre-eclampsia) or pre-existing maternal conditions (systemic lupus); parental studies may improve outcome in subsequent pregnancies; (5) intrauterine death near term is often due to placental dysmaturity featuring a severely reduced number of syncytiocapillary membranes; it accounts for the death in utero of 3 in 1000 pregnancies; detection helps to minimise recurrence in subsequent pregnancies; (6) twins are best confirmed as monozygous by the absence of chorionic tissue in the dividing membranes; most monochorionic twins have vascular connections whose detailed analysis is requested only if there are inter-twin differences in growth and colour. From a formal point of view, many more bits of pathology than discussed in this review can be found in placentas and, with the advances in ultrasonography, might even be seen prior to birth. The extent of such a disturbance might ultimately affect fetal growth, which is amenable to prenatal detection offering the chances for an appropriate management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To document, and explain, the pulmonary paradox whereby despite relative lung immaturity, preterm infants exposed to amniotic infection (AI) have better postnatal pulmonary function than those exposed to preeclampsia (PE).
Methods: Lung maturation was characterized in 65 preterm perinatal deaths [AI (n=40) and PE (n=25)] and postnatal respiratory function in 100 preterm survivors [AI (n=50) and PE (n=50)].
Results: At autopsy, lung architecture was in advance of gestational age in 5% of AI infants versus 40% of PE infants (P<0.
Fetal bilateral renal agenesis, phocomelia, and single umbilical artery associated with cocaine abuse in early pregnancy.
Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol
November 2003
Background: Maternal cocaine abuse in pregnancy is associated with complications such as intrauterine growth retardation, abruptio placentae, and preterm delivery.
Case: We report what is, to our knowledge, the first published observation of fetal bilateral renal agenesis associated with a vascular disruption syndrome comprising upper limb reduction defect and a single umbilical artery following maternal cocaine abuse in early pregnancy.
Conclusions: This constellation in a fetus aborted at 18 weeks extends the spectrum of complications possibly associated with cocaine abuse in pregnancy.
Objective: To describe a novel, effective, and minimally invasive surgical technique for avoiding excess blood loss and hysterectomy in intractable postpartum hemorrhage. Previously described techniques-uterine artery ligation at various levels, hypogastric (internal iliac) artery ligation, uterine compression-all require an abdominal approach.
Methods: This procedure, which is quickly learned, is performable in the delivery room with minimal preparation, with or without bladder retraction.