Top pregnancy Articles in Anesthesiology

Embryonic development and pregnancy test sensitivity: the importance of earlier pregnancy detection
Women's Health, 11/04/2009

Minkin MJ – This article discusses this critical, often–overlooked window of development and will review the various types of teratogens that affect pregnancy. Over–the–counter pregnancy tests are ... widely used to determine pregnancy status. Earlier test models detected only the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, but it is now known that there are other key forms of human chorionic gonadotropin that are relevant when determining pregnancy status. This article will ... of pregnancy status is important for both woman and embryo, and the role that patient education and pregnancy test choice can have on normal embryonic development. [more...]

Management of back pain in pregnancy
Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management, 11/20/2009

Darwich AA et al. – Back pain during pregnancy is a common problem experienced by many pregnant women. Physiological changes during pregnancy are a contributing factor for the development of back pain. Laxity of the sacroiliac joints causes instability ... may indicate herniated disc, which is rare during pregnancy. Noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging is safe in pregnancy. Most back pain in pregnancy can be treated conservatively. Acetaminophen is the drug of choice to treat pain during pregnancy. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) may be considered ... deficient regarding the use of ESI in pregnancy, but it appears to be safe based on expert clinical experience. More work is needed to examine the long–term effect of ESI on the mother and the fetus. Surgery is usually postponed until the postpartum period, unless there is progressive ... ortho/rheum,obstetrics,perinatal,spine,family medicine,obstetrics/gynecology,orthopedic/physical med,orthopedics,gyn,pain management [more...]

Medical treatments for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura during pregnancy
Cochrane Reviews, 10/27/2009

Marti–Carvajal AJ et al. – Current evidence from one randomised controlled trial indicates that betamethasone does not reduce the risk of neonatal thrombocytopenia and neonatal bleeding in ITP during pregnancy when compared to no medication ... evidence on other medical treatments for ITP during pregnancy. This review included one controlled trial in which 38 women (41 pregnancies) were randomised, with only 26 women (28 pregnancies) being analysed. There was also a severe imbalance between comparison groups. Giving the mother ... clinical and pregnancy outcomes reported. The researchers used no treatment in the control group, which may have increased the risk of performance bias in the trial. [more...]

Trauma in Pregnancy
American Journal of Nursing, 11/10/2009

Criddle LM – Although serious trauma during pregnancy is uncommon, it remains a major cause of maternal and fetal death and presents a variety of patient care challenges. The anatomic and physiologic changes of pregnancy can affect both the nature of an injury and the ... of traumatic injury during pregnancy, discusses the normal changes of pregnancy and their implications in the care of pregnant trauma patients, and offers strategies for assessment and treatment. [more...]

Sexuality During Pregnancy
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10/23/2009

The authors determined in their study that sexual satisfaction do not change in pregnancy compared with the pre–pregnancy patterns despite a decline of sexual activity during the third trimester. A discussion of expected changes in sexuality should be routinely ... in order to improve couples' perception of possible sexual modifications induced by pregnancy. [more...]

Routine pre-pregnancy health promotion for improving pregnancy outcomes
Cochrane Reviews, 10/22/2009

Whitworth M et al. – The review looks at randomised controlled trials examining routine health promotion before pregnancy to see whether it changes behaviour and leads to improved health for mothers and babies. Four ... through to more general advice and education on health and lifestyle over several sessions. In only one study were women followed up through pregnancy and there was little evidence of any differences between groups, although the babies of women who had received the health promotion intervention had ... of pre–pregnancy health promotion on the health of mothers and babies, and more evidence is needed before its widespread implementation can be recommended. [more...]

What you should know about heterotopic pregnancy
OBG Management, 10/09/2009

Avery DM et al. – Ectopic pregnancy and extrauterine gestation are life–threatening emergencies that require timely diagnosis and treatment. The traditional treatment for ectopic pregnancy is laparotomy or laparoscopy with removal of the ectopic pregnancy, followed by ... cast and clots and is intended to prevent postoperative bleeding. However, curettage could destroy any intrauterine pregnancy that is not yet diagnosed. Therefore, D&C should be withheld until the uterus is confirmed to be empty. [more...]

Soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-G Isoforms in Maternal Plasma in Early and Late Pregnancy
American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 10/13/2009

Rizzo R et al. – This study shows in line with other published studies that a high, detectable soluble HLA–G concentration in maternal plasma or serum is not mandatory for a successful pregnancy. This study indicates that sHLA–G1 is ... HLA–G5 at the end of pregnancy seem to be associated with an uncomplicated normal pregnancy, whereas in severe pre–eclampsia and possibly other pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth and IUGR, the level of HLA–G5 is higher. [more...]

The identification of pregnancies within the general practice research database
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 10/27/2009

Devine S et al. – The authors were successful in identifying a large number of pregnancies in the GPRD. The use of a hierarchical approach to identify pregnancy outcomes builds upon the methods suggested in ... implementing additional steps to minimize potential misclassification of pregnancy outcomes. [more...]

Rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy: a mystery diagnosis
Fertility and Sterility, 10/12/2009

Arslan T et al. – Rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy should always be considered as a differential diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy in a bicornuate uterus. A thorough ultrasonographic examination should be performed on the aspects of the pregnancy and ... pelvic anatomy. Lack of knowledge of and experience with mullerian anomalies still makes these anomalies difficult to recognize even with laparoscopy. [more...]