Management of late-onset fetal growth restriction: pragmatic approach

OBJECTIVES

There is limited prospective evidence to guide the management of late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) and its differentiation from small-for-gestational age. The aim of this study was to assess prospectively a novel protocol in which ultrasound criteria were used to classify women with suspected late FGR into two groups: those at low risk, who were managed expectantly until the anticipated date of delivery, and those at high risk, who were delivered soon after 37 weeks of gestation. We also compared the outcome of this prospective cohort with that of a historical cohort of women presenting similarly with suspected late FGR, in order to evaluate the impact of the new protocol.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of women with a non-anomalous singleton pregnancy at ≥ 32 weeks' gestation attending a tertiary hospital in London, UK, between February 2018 and September 2019, with estimated fetal weight (EFW) ≤ 10th centile, or EFW > 10th centile in addition to a decrease in fetal abdominal circumference of ≥ 50 centiles compared with a previous scan, umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index > 95th centile or cerebroplacental ratio < 5th centile. Women were classified as low or high risk based on ultrasound and Doppler criteria. Women in the low-risk group were delivered by 41 weeks of gestation, unless they subsequently met high-risk criteria, whereas women in the high-risk group (EFW < 3rd centile, umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index > 95th centile or EFW between 3rd and 10th centiles (inclusive) with abdominal circumference drop or abnormal Dopplers) were delivered at or soon after 37 weeks. The primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcome and included hypothermia, hypoglycemia, neonatal unit admission, jaundice requiring treatment, suspected infection, feeding difficulties, 1-min Apgar score < 7, hospital readmission and any severe adverse neonatal outcome (perinatal death, resuscitation using inotropes or mechanical ventilation, 5-min Apgar score < 7, metabolic acidosis, sepsis, and cerebral, cardiac or respiratory morbidity). Secondary outcomes were adverse maternal outcome (operative delivery for abnormal fetal heart rate) and severe adverse neonatal outcome. Women managed according to the new protocol were compared with a historical cohort of 323 women delivered prior to the implementation of the new protocol, for whom management was guided by individual clinician expertise.

RESULTS

Over 18 months, 321 women were recruited to the prospective cohort, of whom 156 were classified as low risk and 165 were high risk. Adverse neonatal outcome was significantly less common in the low-risk compared with the high-risk group (45% vs 58%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.9); P = 0.022). There was no significant difference in the rate of adverse maternal outcome (18% vs 24%; aOR, 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.2); P = 0.142) or severe adverse neonatal outcome (3.8% vs 8.5%; aOR, 0.5 (95% CI, 0.2-1.3); P = 0.153) between the low- and high-risk groups. Compared with women in the historical cohort classified retrospectively as low risk, low-risk women managed under the new protocol had a lower rate of adverse neonatal outcome (45% vs 58%; aOR, 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4-0.9); P = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Appropriate risk stratification to guide management of late FGR was associated with a reduced rate of adverse neonatal outcome in low-risk pregnancies. In clinical practice, a policy of expectantly managing women with a low-risk late-onset FGR pregnancy at term could improve neonatal and long-term development. Randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the effect of an evidence-based conservative management protocol for late FGR on perinatal morbidity and mortality and long-term neurodevelopment. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Carbetocin versus oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage following caesarean section: the results of a double-blind randomised trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of carbetocin and oxytocin when they are administered after caesarean section for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

STUDY DESIGN

Double-blind randomised single centre study (1:1 ratio).

SETTING

Teaching hospital in Bristol, UK with 6000 deliveries per annum.

POPULATION

Women at term undergoing elective or emergency caesarean section under regional anaesthesia, excluding women with placenta praevia, multiple gestation and placental abruption.

METHODS

Women were randomised to receive either carbetocin 100 microg or oxytocin 5 IU intravenously after the delivery of the baby. Perioperative care was otherwise normal and use of additional oxytocics was at the discretion of the operating obstetrician. Analysis was by intention to treat.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

The proportion of women in each arm of the trial that needed additional pharmacological oxytocic interventions.

RESULTS

Significantly more women needed additional oxytocics in the oxytocin group (45.5% versus 33.5%, Relative risk 0.74, 95% CI 0.57-0.95). The majority of women had oxytocin infusions. There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes, including major PPH, blood transfusions and fall in haemoglobin.

CONCLUSIONS

Carbetocin is associated with a reduced use of additional oxytocics. It is unclear whether this may reduce rates of PPH and blood transfusions.

A simple tool to measure patient perceptions of operative birth

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and validity of a maternal satisfaction measurement tool, the SaFE study Patient Perception Score (PPS), after operative delivery.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

A large maternity unit in England.

SAMPLE

150 women who had had an operative birth.

METHODS

We recruited women within 24 hours of birth and quantified their satisfaction with two questionnaires: PPS, and the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale (CSRS; modified).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participation rate to determine feasibility; Cronbach's alpha as measure of internal consistency; PPS satisfaction scores for groups of accoucheurs of different seniority to assess construct validity; correlation coefficient of PPS scores with total scores from the CSRS questionnaire to establish criterion validity.

RESULTS

Participation rate approached 85%. We observed high scores for most births except a few outliers. Internal consistency of the PPS was high (Cronbach's alpha=0.83). Total PPS scores correlated strongly with total CSRS scores (Spearman's r=0.64, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The PPS is a simple and valid tool for patient-centred assessments. High scores were observed for most births but there were a small minority of accoucheurs who consistently scored poorly and these data could be used during appraisal and training.

A randomised controlled trial of a new handheld vacuum extraction device

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of a new handheld vacuum delivery device.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.

POPULATION

One hundred and ninety-four women requiring delivery with vacuum extraction.

METHODS

Women were recruited into the study while still in early labour. If during delivery, vacuum extraction was indicated they were then randomly allocated to either a new handheld vacuum device, the Kiwi Omnicup, or to a 'standard' vacuum cup selected by the obstetrician. The 'standard group' consisted of the silastic (66/98, 67%) or the metal cups (32/98, 33%). Study data were recorded at completion of the delivery and at 24-48 hours. An additional brief symptom questionnaire was completed by the mother at 10 days postnatally. Statistical analyses were done on an 'intention-to-treat' basis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the successful completion of delivery with the allocated instrument. Secondary outcomes were substantial fetal scalp trauma and substantial maternal trauma.

RESULTS

The Omnicup was associated with a significantly higher failure rate than the standard cup [34%vs 21%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.9 (1.01-3.6)]. This difference persisted after adjusting for confounding factors [adjusted OR = 2.25 (1.01-5.0)] and resulted in significantly more forceps deliveries in the Kiwi Omnicup group [22%vs 10%, unadjusted OR = 2.5 (1.1-5.5)]. The caesarean section rates were similar in both groups [9.4%vs 8.2%, OR = 1.2 (0.4-3.2)]. Rates of substantial scalp trauma and maternal trauma were similar in both groups. However, there were more cases of jaundice in the standard cup group [2.3%vs 12.0%, unadjusted OR = 0.18 (0.04-0.82) and adjusted OR = 0.10 (0.01-0.88)].

CONCLUSIONS

The Omnicup is not as successful at achieving a vaginal delivery as the combination of the currently used vacuum cups.

Clinical performance indicators at hysterectomy

The short-term complications of hysterectomy in 184 women have been documented over 12 months against a panel of clinical performance indicators in a district general hospital. One hundred and fifty-nine operations (159/184, 86.4%) were performed by the abdominal route; 25/184 (13.6%) by the vaginal route. Clinical indications for hysterectomy varied from menorrhagia (75/184, 40.7%) to Stage III/IV endometriosis (10/184, 5.4%). Clinical performance indicators (cPI) were triggered in 32/184 (17.4%) cases; 19/ 184 (10.3%) triggered a single performance indicator, 9/184 (4.9%) triggered two performance indicators and 4/184 (2.2%) triggered three performance indicators. Combining the number of hysterectomies performed per annum (HYST 1), with the proportion of cases triggering three or more clinical performance indicators (HYST 2) and the rate of hysterectomy for histologically normal uteri weighing less than 120 g excluding genital prolapse (HYST 3) provides a profile of the operation for comparison with other clinical services.