Spontaneous Heterotopic Pregnancy: Dual Case Report and Review of Literature.

Introduction. Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare complication usually seen in populations at risk for ectopic pregnancy or those undergoing fertility treatments. It is a potentially dangerous condition occurring in only 1 in 30,000 spontaneous pregnancies.

Predicting survival of periviable fetuses using NICHD fetal heart rate categories.

Objective: To evaluate whether National Institute of Child Health and Human Health and Development (NICHD) fetal heart rate categories were predictive of neonatal survival in periviable pregnancies.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 57 infants delivered at 23 and 24 weeks' gestation. Fetal heart rate tracings were evaluated following the NICHD 2008 criteria, using the acceleration height of 10 bpm and duration of 10 s.

A new obstetrical polyurethane versus stainless steel forceps: a comparison of forces generated to the base of the fetal skull during simulated deliveries.

Background: Decreasing the maximum force applied during traction to the base of the fetal skull using a less rigid polyurethane forceps is the basis of this study. Our hypothesis was that less force would be generated with polyurethane forceps than with steel forceps.

Objective: To test a new soft polyurethane obstetrical forceps for maximal force generated to the base of the skull during simulated occiput anterior deliveries and to compare this to a similar shaped steel forceps.

Utility of two-dimensional echocardiography in pregnancy and post-partum period and impact on management in an inner city hospital.

Aim: Evaluate the practice and appropriateness of requesting echocardiograms in patients with suspected or documented cardiac disease during gestation and puerperium, using the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) appropriateness criteria, in conjunction with clinical picture.

Methods: Retrospective observational study, to analyze echocardiograms performed during pregnancy and puerperium at a teaching hospital from 2001 to 2006 for appropriateness criteria and studying its impact on management. Sixty-seven patients pregnant or in the puerperal stage had an echocardiogram performed during that period; 58 met our criteria for inclusion.