Epidural analgesia during labor: a retrospective cohort study on its effects on labour, delivery and neonatal outcome.

Objectives: to evaluate the impact of epidural analgesia (EA) on labor delivery and neonatal status.

Material And Methods: retrospective, observational, cohort study comprising 5593 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria (singleton pregnancy cephalic presentation, 37-42 weeks of gestation). Out of them, 2496 had EA and 3097 constituted the control group.

48-hours administration of fenoterol in spontaneous preterm labor - Doppler blood flow assessment of placental and fetal circulation.

Objectives: The aims were to investigate whether any changes in placental and fetal circulation were observed during fenoterol tocolysis within the first 48 hours of therapy.

Material And Methods: Doppler evaluation of placental and fetal circulation was performed prior to fenoterol administration and then after 24 and 48 hours. Maternal heart rate and pulsatility index (PI) in uterine arteries were assessed.

New onset Addison's disease presenting as prolonged hyperemesis in early pregnancy.

Unlabelled: A 32-year-old Caucasian was admitted at 14 weeks of gestation with hypotension and weight loss. Family members noted that she appeared "tired" prior to pregnancy Past medical history included primary hypothyroidism treated with thyroxine (100 microg/day). She had a healthy daughter aged 2.

Maternal obesity as a perinatal risk factor.

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of maternal obesity on pregnancy course, delivery and newborn well-being.

Material And Methods: Data about women who delivered in PMMH was analyzed and obese pregnant women (pre-pregnancy BMI > or =30) were included in the study group; the rest of the mothers constituted the control group. The pregnancy course, labor and delivery, and newborn well-being were taken into consideration.

[Evaluation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) levels and sonographic assesement of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) in singleton pregnancies between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation--Polish multi-centre research].

Unlabelled: Evaluation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta hCG) levels and sonographic assessment of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) in singleton pregnancies between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation--Poland's multi-centers research.

Objectives: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A has been reported to be low in Down syndrome affected pregnancies during the first trimester of pregnancy. Enlarged nuchal translucency (NT) is observed in about 80% of fetuses affected with chromosomal abnormalities and congenital heart defects (CHD).

[The use of steroids in the treatment of HELLP syndrome--case report].

The HELLP syndrome is a variant of severe preeclampsia. Its leading symptoms are: hemolysis, increased liver enzymes and low platelet count. The treatment of the HELLP syndrome remains controversial as there are no standards of proven efficacy.

[Cervical ectopic pregnancy--a case report].

Authors present a case of a viable cervical pregnancy in a 31 year old woman. Conservative management with intramuscular methotrexate and local injection of KCl was applied. We describe the ultrasound and biochemical findings in this case and discuss those reported in the literature along with the available treatment options.

[The pregnancy and delivery course in patients with reproductive tract anomalies].

Objectives: The goal of our study was to analyse the course of pregnancy and delivery in women with reproductive tract anomalies.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the pregnancy and delivery course of 16 patients with previously diagnosed reproductive tract anomalies. The control group constisted of 200 healthy pregnant women.

[Unconjugated serum estriol in the prediction of preterm delivery].

Objective: The objective was to analyze the serum estriol levels among patients with sings and symptoms of preterm labor and/or preterm rupture of membranes.

Study Design: A prospective study included pregnant women with sings and symptoms of preterm labor. The main end point of the study was the delivery <28 days from testing.

[Pregnancy and delivery after bariatric surgery].

The obesity in Europe is established for 15-20% of population. About 20% of women in reproductive age have accrued body weight. Obesity in this group leads to increased obstetrical risk.

[Umbilical cord entanglement in monoamniotic twin preganacy--case presentation and literature review].

Monoamniotic twins are at most increased risk of perinatal complications with perinatal mortality of 28-60 % reported in literature. The most specific complication to monoamniotic twins is entanglement and (or) knotting of the cords leading to intrauterine death of both (more often) or one twin. In first presented case 1, 23-year-old primigravida in 33wks of twin monoamniotic gestation was reffered to our Institute due to intrauterine death of one co-twin caused by umbilical cord entanglement.

[Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage--case report].

Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage is defined as a loss of more than 30-50ml of fetal blood, transferred into maternal circulation. It can lead to severe anemization of the fetus and its consequences such as fetal hydrops or stillbirth. We present a case in which the diagnosis was based on the decresased fetal movement and pathological cardiotocography record.

[Prenatal ultrasound findings in complete trisomy 9].

This case report describes a 40-year-old woman, primigravida. On 13,3 weeks of gestation we diagnosed an abnormal flow pattern in the umbilical artery and abnormal hyperechogenic structure in fetal abdomen. In next sonographic examination on 16 weeks of gestation we diagnosed ventriculomegaly and ahydramnion.

[Doppler assessment of the fetal asphyxia in pregnancies complicated by gestational hypertension and intrauterine growth retardation].

Objectives: Gestational hypertension is associated with a high morbidity for both mother and fetus. Doppler ultrasound has allowed the fetal circulation to be examined. Now it is possible to monitor the response of the fetal circulation to hypoxia.

[Pregnancy and childbirth course after IVF-ET patients admitted to KMMP ICZMP on Lodz between 1996-2002].

The Aim: The evaluation of pregnancy course and the birth body weight of the infants from the women, which got pregnant as a result of IVF-ET procedures.

Materials And Methods: 72 female patients admitted to KMMP ICZMP in Łódź between January 1996 and December 2002 were put to the analysis (group I). The control group consisted of 400 random chosen female patients admitted to the Clinic during the examined period (group II).

Two-step test: the combined use of fetal fibronectin and sonographic examination of the uterine cervix for prediction of preterm delivery in symptomatic patients.

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the possibility of combined use of fetal fibronectin testing and sonographic examination of the uterine cervix for prediction of preterm deliveries.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 82 patients with preterm labor. In each case fibronectin testing and sonographic examination of the cervix were performed.