Body-piercing associated appendicitis in the pregnant patient incidentally discovered during Caesarian section.

Appendicitis is the most common general surgery condition encountered in pregnant patients. Its presentation and diagnosis can be confounded by physiological changes of pregnancy causing atypical symptoms and overlap between pregnancy symptoms and appendicitis. Diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy is important, as pregnant persons have a much higher rate of complication from appendicitis.

Adverse maternal outcomes associated with major fetal malformations after singleton live birth.

Background: Major fetal malformations complicate 2% to 5% of live births. It is unclear what effect fetal malformations have on severe maternal morbidity.

Objective: This study aimed to compare maternal outcomes between individuals with a fetus with major or minor fetal malformations and those with a fetus without major or minor fetal malformations.

Termination of Pregnancy as a Means to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Pregnant Women With Medical Comorbidities.

The United States is the world's only developed country with a rising maternal mortality rate, with an increase of 26% between 2000 and 2014. Of the approximately 700 pregnancy-related deaths per year in the United States, nearly 30% are attributable to preexisting disease. Maternal-fetal medicine physicians are in a unique position-they are tasked with counseling patients regarding the risks of pregnancy in the context of their medical comorbidities.

Uterine trauma with fetal loss associated with chronic perforation of the inferior vena cava by an infrarenal vena cava filter.

Gestational complications in pregnant women have been considered a theoretical sequelae of vena cava filters (VCFs) positioned in the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava. We describe a 32-year-old woman who became pregnant with the known existence of an asymptomatic but chronically perforated, permanent infrarenal VCF. At 24 weeks gestation, uterine trauma leading to massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage and fetal loss occurred.

Vagal nerve stimulator use during pregnancy for treatment of refractory seizure disorder.

Background: In patients with medically refractory seizures, vagal nerve stimulation is becoming an increasingly common adjunctive therapy. Although its safety and efficacy have been proven in the general population, little is known about its use during pregnancy.

Case: A 19-year-old primigravid woman presented during the first trimester for routine prenatal care.

Hypnotic analgesia during first-trimester termination: Marc et al.

The article below summarizes a roundtable discussion of a study published in this issue of the Journal in light of its methodology, relevance to practice, and implications for future research. Article discussed: Marc I, Rainville P, Masse B, et al. Hypnotic analgesia intervention during first-trimester pregnancy termination: an open randomized trial.

Discussion: 'Hypnotic analgesia during first-trimester termination' by Marc et al.

In the roundtable that follows, clinicians discuss a study published in this issue of the Journal in light of its methodology, relevance to practice, and implications for future research. Article discussed: Marc I, Rainville P, Masse B, et al. Hypnotic analgesia intervention during first-trimester pregnancy termination: an open randomized trial.