Transcutaneous Discrimination of Fetal Heart Rate from Maternal Heart Rate: A Fetal Oximetry Proof-of-Concept.

Intrapartum care uses electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (EFHRM) for over 50 years to indirectly assess fetal oxygenation. However, this approach has been associated with an increase in cesarean delivery rates and limited improvements in neonatal hypoxic outcome. To address these shortcomings, a novel transabdominal fetal pulse oximeter (TFO) is being developed to provide an objective measurement of fetal oxygenation.

Association of Parity and Previous Birth Outcome With Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Risk.

Objective: To evaluate the association of maternal delivery history with a brachial plexus birth injury risk in subsequent deliveries and to estimate the effect of subsequent delivery method on brachial plexus birth injury risk.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all live-birth deliveries occurring in California-licensed hospitals from 1996 to 2012. The primary outcome was recurrent brachial plexus birth injury in a subsequent pregnancy.

Maternal Epidemiology of Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries in California: 1996 to 2012.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) and its associations with maternal demographic factors. Additionally, we sought to determine whether longitudinal changes in BPBI incidence differed by maternal demographics.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of over 8 million maternal-infant pairs using California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Linked Birth Files from 1991 to 2012.

Pregnancy and Severe ARDS with COVID-19: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Outcomes and Treatment.

Pregnancy-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is fast becoming a growing and clinically relevant subgroup of ARDS amidst global outbreaks of various viral respiratory pathogens that include H1N1-influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the most recent COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnancy is a risk factor for severe viral-induced ARDS and commonly associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes including fetal growth-restriction, preterm birth, and spontaneous abortion. Physiologic changes of pregnancy further compounded by mechanical and immunologic alterations are theorized to impact the development of ARDS from viral pneumonia.

Positive predictive value of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based NIPT for aneuploidy in twins: Experience from clinical practice.

Objective: Twins account for approximately 1 in 30 live births in the United States. However, there are limited clinical experience studies published in noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for detecting aneuploidies in twins. This study reports the performance of an SNP-based NIPT in the largest cohort with known outcomes for high-risk aneuploidy results.

Reflex single-gene non-invasive prenatal testing is associated with markedly better detection of fetuses affected with single-gene recessive disorders at lower cost.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical benefits and achievable cost savings associated with the adoption of a carrier screen with reflex single-gene non-invasive prenatal test (sgNIPT) in prenatal care.

Method: A decision-analytic model was developed to compare carrier screen with reflex sgNIPT (maternal carrier status and fetal risk reported together) as first-line carrier screening to the traditional carrier screening workflow (positive maternal carrier screen followed by paternal screening to evaluate fetal risk). The model compared the clinical outcomes and healthcare costs associated with the two screening methods.

Towards Noninvasive Accurate Detection of Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxic Distress.

Current intrapartum fetal well-being assessment is performed using electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), technically referred to as cardiotocography (CTG), which transabdominally monitors fetal heart rate (FHR) in relationship to maternal uterine contractions. Sometimes the deceleration in FHR following a uterine contraction can be sign of fetal hypoxic distress, but it may also be a normal physiological response. Multiple studies have shown that EFM has a high false positive rate for detecting fetal hypoxia.

Key Features on the 3-Vessel View and 3-Vessel Tracheal View of Isolated Right Aortic Arch Anomalies.

Right aortic arch anomalies are a spectrum of malformations that include right aortic arch with mirror image branching, right aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery, and double aortic arch. Although these are rare anomalies, they are of importance as they form vascular rings, which can cause symptoms in the newborn period. These anomalies are not detected with routine cardiac views, and it is only with the 3-vessel, and the 3-vessel tracheal view that they can be identified and characterized.

Design and In Vivo Evaluation of a Non-Invasive Transabdominal Fetal Pulse Oximeter.

Objective: Current intrapartum fetal monitoring technology is unable to provide physicians with an objective metric of fetal well-being, leading to degraded patient outcomes and increased litigation costs. Fetal oxygen saturation (SpO2) is a more suitable measure of fetal distress, but the inaccessibility of the fetus prior to birth makes this impossible to capture through current means. In this paper, we present a fully non-invasive, transabdominal fetal oximetry (TFO) system that provides in utero measures of fetal SpO2.

Validation of a Novel Transabdominal Fetal Oximeter in a Hypoxic Fetal Lamb Model.

Current intrapartum fetal oxygen saturation (SaO2) monitoring methodologies are limited, mostly consisting of fetal heart rate monitoring which is a poor predictor of fetal hypoxia. A newly developed transabdominal fetal oximeter (TFO) may be able to determine fetal SaO2 non-invasively. This study is to validate a novel TFO in determining fetal SaO2 in a hypoxic fetal lamb model.

Cell-free DNA fetal fraction in twin gestations in single-nucleotide polymorphism-based noninvasive prenatal screening.

Objectives: The performance of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) for fetal aneuploidy in twin pregnancies is dependent on the amount of placentally derived cell-free DNA, the "fetal fraction (FF)," present in maternal plasma. We report FF values in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) pregnancies.

Methods: We reviewed FF in pregnancies at 10 to 20 completed weeks gestational age based on single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based NIPS where zygosity was routinely established in twin pregnancies.

Validation of a Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism-Based Non-Invasive Prenatal Test in Twin Gestations: Determination of Zygosity, Individual Fetal Sex, and Fetal Aneuploidy.

We analyzed maternal plasma cell-free DNA samples from twin pregnancies in a prospective blinded study to validate a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) for zygosity, fetal sex, and aneuploidy. Zygosity was evaluated by looking for either one or two fetal genome complements, fetal sex was evaluated by evaluating Y-chromosome loci, and aneuploidy was assessed through SNP ratios. Zygosity was correctly predicted in 100% of cases (93/93; 95% confidence interval (CI) 96.

Hyperreactio luteinalis in a monochorionic twin pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia: A case report.

Hyperreactio luteinalis (HL) is a rare benign complication of pregnancy that is characterized by progressive ovarian enlargement and hyperandrogenism. We present a case of a 30-year-old woman with a spontaneous monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy who presented with early-onset preeclampsia, concern about possible twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and bilateral enlarged ovarian masses. Both ovaries had multiple thin-walled unilocular cysts; one ovary measured 17.

A Standardized Approach for Category II Fetal Heart Rate with Significant Decelerations: Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.

Objective: To determine if a standardized intervention process for Category II fetal heart rates (FHRs) with significant decels (SigDecels) would improve neonatal outcome and to determine the impact on mode of delivery rates.

Study Design: Patients with Category II FHRs from six hospitals were prospectively managed using a standardized approach based on the presence of recurrent SigDecels. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between pre- (6 months) and post-(11 months) implementation.

A Comparison of the Nulliparous-Term-Singleton-Vertex and Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Cesarean Birth Metrics Based on Hospital Size.

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to compare the nulliparous-term-singleton-vertex (NTSV) and the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) cesarean birth metrics as tools for quality improvement efforts based on hospital size.

Materials And Methods:  Cesarean birth rates from 275 hospitals from six states were used to evaluate the NTSV metric and 81 hospitals from four states for the SMFM metric. Data were assessed based on delivery volume, their use as an effective tool for ongoing quality improvement programs, and their ability to serve as performance-based payline indicators.

Early standardized treatment of critical blood pressure elevations is associated with a reduction in eclampsia and severe maternal morbidity.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy result in significant maternal morbidity and mortality. State and national guidelines have been proposed to increase treatment of patients with hypertensive emergencies or critically elevated blood pressures. There are limited data available to assess the impact of these recommendations on maternal morbidity.

Decreased rates of shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injury via an evidence-based practice bundle.

Objective: To evaluate whether a standardized approach to identify pregnant women at risk for shoulder dystocia (SD) is associated with reduced incidence of SD and brachial plexus injury (BPI).

Methods: Between 2011 and 2015, prospective data were collected from 29 community-based hospitals in the USA during implementation of an evidence-based practice bundle, including an admission risk assessment, required "timeout" before operative vaginal delivery (OVD), and low-fidelity SD drills. All women with singleton vertex pregnancies admitted for vaginal delivery were included.

Use of Maternal Early Warning Trigger tool reduces maternal morbidity.

Background: Maternal mortality in the United States has increased unabated for the past 20 years. Maternal morbidity is also affecting an increasingly large number of women in the United States. A number of national and state organizations have recommend the use of maternal early warning tools as a method to combat this problem.

Baseline assessment of a hospital-specific early warning trigger system for reducing maternal morbidity.

Objective: To determine whether predefined maternal early warning triggers (MEWTs) can predict pregnancy morbidity.

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, obstetric patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between 2012 and 2013 at seven pilot US hospitals were compared with control patients who had a normal delivery outcome. Six MEWTs were assessed.

Is there value for serial ultrasonographic assessment of cervical lengths after a cerclage?

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the value of serial ultrasonographic cervical length (CL) measurements after cerclage to predict preterm delivery.

Study Design: Retrospective ultrasonographic and outcome data from singleton pregnancies with cerclage were reviewed. Using transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), overall CL obtained before cerclage placement, 2 weeks after cerclage, and before delivery were compared between women who delivered preterm (less than 37 weeks) and term.

A retrospective review of isoimmunized pregnancies managed by middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical outcome of isoimmunized pregnancies managed primarily by middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity.

Study Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted of isoimmunized pregnancies that underwent ultrasound examinations from January 1, 2001, through May 1, 2003. Ultrasound reports, laboratory tests, and maternal and neonatal charts were reviewed.