Abstract

BACKGROUND Heavy menstrual bleeding affects one in four women and negatively impacts quality of life. Ulipristal acetate is prescribed to treat symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. We compared the effectiveness of ulipristal acetate and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system at reducing the burden of heavy menstrual bleeding, irrespective of the presence of fibroids. METHODS This randomised, open-label, parallel group phase III trial enrolled women over 18 years with heavy menstrual bleeding from 10 UK hospitals. Participants were centrally randomised, in a 1:1 ratio, to either three, 12-week treatment cycles of 5 mg ulipristal acetate daily, separated by 4-week treatment-free intervals, or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. The primary outcome, analysed by intention-to-treat, was quality of life measured by the Menorrhagia Multi-Attribute Scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included menstrual bleeding and liver function. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 20426843. FINDINGS Between June 5th, 2015 and February 26th, 2020, 236 women were randomised, either side of a recruitment suspension due to concerns of ulipristal acetate hepatoxicity. Subsequent withdrawal of ulipristal acetate led to early cessation of recruitment but the trial continued in follow-up. The primary outcome substantially improved in both groups, and was 89, (interquartile range [IQR] 65 to 100, n = 53) and 94, (IQR 70 to 100, n = 50; adjusted odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-1.17; p = 0.12) in the ulipristal and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system groups. Rates of amenorrhoea at 12 months were higher in those allocated ulipristal acetate compared to levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (64% versus 25%, adjusted odds ratio 7.12, 95% CI 2.29-22.2). Other outcomes were similar between the two groups and there were no cases of endometrial malignancy or hepatotoxicity due to ulipristal acetate use. INTERPRETATION Our findings suggested that both treatments improved quality of life. Ulipristal was more effective at inducing amenorrhoea. Ulipristal has been demonstrated to be an effective medical therapeutic option but currently its use has restrictions and requires liver function monitoring. FUNDING UK Medical Research Council and National Institute of Health Research EME Programme (12/206/52).

Abstract

BACKGROUND Preterm infants often have long hospital stays and frequent blood tests; they often develop anemia requiring multiple blood transfusions. Placental transfusion via delayed cord clamping (DCC) or umbilical cord milking (UCM) helps increase blood volume. We hypothesized umbilical cord milking (UCM), together with DCC, would be superior in reducing blood transfusions. OBJECTIVES To compare the effects of DCC and DCC combined with UCM on hematologic outcomes among preterm infants. METHODS One hundred twenty singleton preterm infants born at 280/7- 336/7 weeks of gestation at Thammasat University Hospital were enrolled in an open-label, randomized, controlled trial. They were placed into three groups (1:1:1) by a block-of-three randomization: DCC for 45 s, DCC with UCM performed before clamping (DCM-B), and DCC with UCM performed after clamping (DCM-A). The primary outcomes were hematocrit levels and number of infants receiving blood transfusions during the first 28 days of life. Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were secondary outcomes. Analyses were performed with an intent-to-treat approach. RESULTS One hundred twenty preterm infants were randomized. There was no statistically significant difference in neonatal outcomes; hematocrit on admission 54.0 ± 5.5, 53.3 ± 6.0, and 54.3 ± 5.8 (p = 0.88), receiving blood transfusions 25%, 20%, and 12.5% (p = 0.24), incidence of NEC 7.5, 0 and 10% (p = 0.78) in the DCC, DCM-B and DCM-A groups, respectively. There were no preterm infants with severe IVH, polycythemia, maternal or neonatal death. CONCLUSION The placental transfusion techniques utilized, DCC and DCC combined with UCM, provided the same benefits for preterm infants born at GA 28 and 33 weeks in terms of reducing the need for RBC transfusions, severities of IVH and incidence of NEC without increasing comorbidity. TRIAL REGISTRATION TCTR20190131002 . Registered 31 January 2019-Retrospectively registered.

Abstract

BACKGROUND The levonorgestrel intrauterine system and combined oral contraceptives are the two most commonly used non-surgical treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding in the United States. However, there are limited data on their relative effectiveness and on their impact on bleeding-specific quality of life. OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of the 52-mg levonorgestrel intrauterine system to combined oral contraceptives for improving quality of life among individuals who self-report heavy menstrual bleeding. We hypothesized that the levonorgestrel intrauterine system would be more effective than combined oral contraceptives at 6 months and 12 months post-treatment. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a pragmatic randomized trial of individuals who self-reported heavy menstrual bleeding. Individuals were eligible if they did not have contraindications to either the levonorgestrel intrauterine system or combined oral contraceptives and were determined to have a non-structural cause of heavy menstrual bleeding. Eligible and consenting participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a 52 mg levonorgestrel intrauterine system or a monophasic 30 or 35 mcg ethinyl-estradiol containing combined oral contraceptive. The main outcome was mean change in bleeding-related quality of life, measured by the 20-question Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire (score range 0-75), at 6 and 12 months. Differences in group means and confidence intervals for the Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire score were computed by multivariable linear mixed effects regression. Twenty-four participants per group were needed to detect a 10-point difference in change in mean Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire score between individuals treated with the LNG IUS and individuals treated with COCs at each follow-up timepoint. RESULTS Sixty-two individuals were randomized to treatment (n=29 allocated to levonorgestrel intrauterine system and n=33 allocated to combined oral contraceptives) and included in the intention-to-treat analyses. Nineteen (of the 29) received the levonorgestrel intrauterine system and 31(of the 33) received combined oral contraceptives. Eleven percent identified as Black or African American and 44% identified as Hispanic or Latina. Participant characteristics were similar between study groups. Bleeding- quality of life increased in both study arms as reflected by a significant decrease in Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire scores beginning at 6 weeks follow-up. In the main intention to treat analyses (n=62), there were no differences in mean change in Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire scores at 6 months (difference=-2.5, 95% CI -10.0 to +5.0) or 12 months (difference=-1.1, 95% CI -8.7 to +6.5). Findings were similar in the subsets of participants with any follow-up visits (n=52) and who completed all follow-up visits (n=42). In the per-protocol analyses (n=47), a significantly greater decrease in Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire score was seen in the levonorgestrel intrauterine system arm at 6 months post-treatment (difference= -7.0, 95% CI -13.8 to -0.2) but not at 12 months (difference=-4.8, 95% CI -11.8 to 2.3) when compared to the combined oral contraceptive arm. CONCLUSION No significant differences in change of bleeding-related quality of life were observed between the levonorgestrel intrauterine system and combined oral contraceptives at 6 or 12 months. Patients should be counseled that the levonorgestrel intrauterine system and combined oral contraceptives are both effective options for improving bleeding-related quality of life.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Literature supports numerous benefits of skin-to-skin contact for neonatal adaptation to extrauterine life and bonding/attachment, but few studies explore the effects of skin-to-skin contact on maternal outcomes. This review aims to map the evidence on skin-to-skin contact in the third stage of labor for postpartum hemorrhage prevention. METHODS Scoping review, which covered stages recommended by the Institute Joanna Briggs, including studies from the PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, using the descriptors "Postpartum hemorrhage", "Labor stages, third", "Prevention" and "Kangaroo care/Skin-to-skin". RESULTS 100 publications on the subject found, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria, with 10,169 dyads were assessed in all studies. Publications from 2008 to 2021 were mostly written in English and designed as a randomized controlled trial. Skin-to-skin contact was effective and significant in: reducing the duration of the third stage of labor; placenta delivery; uterine contractility and physiological involution; absence of atony, decreasing blood loss with lower rates of erythrocyte and hemoglobin drop; reducing the need for synthetic oxytocin and/or ergometrine to control bleeding; and reducing changing pads per period and length of stay. DISCUSSION Skin-to-skin contact was considered an effective, low-cost, and safe strategy, with positive effects already established in the literature for infants and extremely favorable results in postpartum hemorrhage prevention cases, being highly recommended in assistance for the dyad. Open Science Framework Registry ( https://osf.io/n3685 ).

Abstract

BACKGROUND Many questions remain about the appropriate utilization of intrauterine balloon devices in postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery refractory to first-line uterotonics. Available data suggest that an early use of intrauterine balloon tamponade might be beneficial. OBJECTIVE To compare, in women with PPH after vaginal delivery refractory to first-line uterotonics, the impact of IUBT used in combination with second-line uterotonics versus IUBT used after the failure of second-line uterotonics on the rate of severe PPH. STUDY DESIGN This multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, nonblinded trial took place at 18 hospitals and enrolled 403 women who had just given birth vaginally at 35-42 weeks of gestation. Inclusion criteria were a postpartum hemorrhage refractory to first-line uterotonic (oxytocin) and requiring a second-line uterotonic treatment with sulprostone (E1 prostaglandin). In the study group, the sulprostone infusion was combined with intrauterine tamponade by an ebb® balloon performed within 15 minutes of randomization. In the control group, the sulprostone infusion was started alone within 15 minutes of randomization, and if bleeding persisted 30 minutes after the sulprostone infusion started, intrauterine tamponade by the ebb® balloon was performed. In both groups, if the bleeding persisted 30 minutes after the insertion of the balloon, an emergency radiological or surgical invasive procedure was performed. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who either received ≥ 3 units of packed red blood cells or had a calculated peripartum blood loss > 1000 mL. Prespecified secondary outcomes were the proportions of each of the following groups of women: those with a calculated blood loss ≥ 1500 mL; any transfusion; an invasive procedure; and transferred to an intensive care unit. Analysis of the primary outcome with the triangular test took place sequentially throughout the trial period. RESULTS At the eighth interim analysis, the independent data monitoring committee concluded that the incidence of the primary outcome did not differ between the two groups and stopped inclusions. After 11 women were excluded because they met an exclusion criterion or withdrew their consent, 199 and 193 women remained in the study and control groups, respectively, for the intention-to-treat analysis. Women's baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Peripartum hematocrit change, needed for the calculation of the primary outcome, was missing for 4 women in the study group and 2 in the control group. The primary outcome occurred in 67.2% (131/195) of the study group and 74.3% (142/191) of the control group (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.79-1.03). The groups did not differ significantly for rates of calculated peripartum blood loss ≥ 1500 mL, any transfusion, invasive procedure, and admission to an intensive care unit. Endometritis occurred in 5 (2.7%) women in the study group and none in the control group (P= .06). CONCLUSIONS The early use of intrauterine balloon tamponade did not reduce the incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage compared with its use after failure of second-line uterotonics and before recourse to invasive procedures.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Placental cord drainage (PCD) after vaginal birth accelerates placental delivery by 2.85 minutes, but reduces blood loss by only 77 mL. AIMS To determine if PCD at elective caesarean section accelerates placental delivery, compared to delayed cord clamping (DCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS This randomised controlled trial randomised 100 women undergoing elective caesarean sections to receive either PCD for 60 sec after birth, or DCC for 60 sec. The primary outcome was time from birth until placental delivery. Secondary outcomes included estimated blood loss (EBL), postoperative haemoglobin drop, rates of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), manual removal of placenta and blood transfusion. RESULTS There was no significant difference in timing of placental delivery (PCD 122 sec vs DCC 123.5 sec, P = 0.717). There were no significant differences in EBL (PCD 425 mL vs DCC 400 mL, P = 0.858), postoperative haemoglobin drop (PCD 12 g/L vs DCC 15 g/L, P = 0.297), PPH rate (PCD 45.8% vs DCC 44.4%, P = 0.893, relative risk (RR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-1.62), manual removal rate (PCD 2.1% vs DCC 4.4%, P = 0.609, RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.04-4.99) or transfusion rate (PCD 4.2% vs DCC 0%, P = 0.495). CONCLUSIONS PCD did not accelerate placental delivery at caesarean compared with DCC. Given that both PCD and DCC groups had faster placental deliveries than quoted in the literature at caesarean (200 sec), it could be postulated that DCC is mimicking the effect of PCD through passive transfusion to the neonate. This supports routine use of DCC at elective caesarean section.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Our hypothesis was that delayed cord clamping (DCC) (not earlier than 30 s; at 30-60 s) in premature neonates (born between 26.0 and 32.6 weeks of gestation), as compared with the usual early cord clamping (ECC), significantly reduces the need for blood transfusions and incidence of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) without an increased rate of maternal postpartum haemorrhage. MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled trial was conducted at Vall d'Hebron Hospital from July 2014 to December 2018. All pregnant women at risk of impending preterm birth (≥26.0-<33.0 weeks of gestation) who were admitted to the obstetrics emergency department were evaluated for eligibility. If they met the eligibility criteria, they were invited to participate in the study and, if they agreed, they signed an informed consent. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: ECC group and DCC group. RESULTS Our study included a total of 57 patients: 30 in the ECC group and 27 in the DCC group. Due to a lack of funding and low recruitment rates, the study was discontinued in 2018. Maternal characteristics and obstetric outcomes were similar between both groups. The intention-to-treat analysis did not reveal any differences between groups for neonatal red blood cell transfusions, neonatal IVH or maternal postpartum haemorrhage. There were no differences for secondary outcomes. Similarly, no differences were observed in the as-treated analysis. CONCLUSION The primary and secondary outcomes of our study were not achieved. Therefore, more meta-analysis and trials are needed to evaluate the appropriate timing of cord clamping in preterm birth.

Abstract

BACKGROUND There is debate on whether uterine gauze packing or intrauterine balloon tamponade is safer and more effective as a surgical management option for treating postpartum hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare intra- and postoperative outcomes of intrauterine balloon tamponade and uterine gauze packing in patients with postpartum hemorrhage. STUDY DESIGN A range of databases such as Cochrane and PubMed were searched using terms including "post-partum haemorrhage," "uterine balloon tamponade," and "uterine gauze packing." All observational studies comparing intrauterine balloon tamponade with uterine gauze packing were included. Five studies were identified enrolling 821 adult patients diagnosed with postpartum hemorrhage. Primary outcomes included blood loss volume, success rates, and maternal mortality. Secondary outcomes comprised requiring additional interventions, postoperative hemoglobin levels, and requiring blood transfusions. Fixed and random models were used for analysis. RESULTS Intrauterine balloon tamponade seemed to be a superior option to uterine gauze packing. Intrauterine balloon tamponade was better in reducing intraoperative blood loss, with a statistically significant improvement (P<.0001). Cases managed with intrauterine balloon tamponade seemed to have statistically significant shorter operative time (P=.023) and hospital length of stay (P=.020) in one study. CONCLUSION Intrauterine balloon tamponade remains more effective and safer as a first-line surgical management option for postpartum hemorrhage compared with uterine gauze packing.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Given the failure of initial measures and uterotonic therapy in order to control postpartum hemorrhage, the present study compared the manufacturing, infusion, and total times of handmade balloons for uterine tamponade using the El Hennawy and Alves techniques. METHODS An open clinical trial (clinical article) was conducted among 30 physicians, residents and assistants in Obstetrics Department. Each participant manufactured and infused one of two different balloons compared in the study, in a randomly pre-defined sequence. The manufacturing and infusion times were timed by the researchers and their medians were compared using the T test or Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS The manufacturing time of the El Hennawy balloon was 72 seconds lower in relation to the Alves balloon (p < 0.010). Regarding the infusion time, the Alves balloon was filled faster than the El Hennawy balloon (p < 0.010). The total time (manufacturing and infusion) of Alves balloon was also lower than El Hennawy device (p < 0.010). CONCLUSIONS Although the El Hennawy balloon was manufactured more quickly, the total time of manufacturing and infusing the Alves balloon was much faster, which makes it the most suitable device to be used in critical situations of postpartum hemorrhage.

Abstract

Routine practice of delayed cord clamping (DCC) is the standard of care in vigorous neonates. However there is no consensus on the recommended approach to placental transfusion in non-vigorous neonates. In this trial, we tried to examine the effect of cut umbilical cord milking (C-UCM) as compared to early cord clamping (ECC) on hematological and clinical hemodynamic parameters in non-vigorous preterm neonates of 30-35 weeks gestation. The primary outcome assessed was venous hematocrit (Hct) at 48 (± 4) hours of postnatal age. The important secondary outcomes assessed were serum ferritin at 6 weeks of age, mean blood pressure in the initial transitional phase along with important neonatal morbidities and potential complications. In this single centre randomized controlled trial, 134 non vigorous neonates of 30-35 weeks gestation were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either C-UCM (n = 67) or ECC (n = 67). For statistical analysis, unpaired Student t and Chi square or Fisher's exact test were used. The mean Hct at 48 h was higher in the C-UCM group as compared to the control group, 50.24(4.200) vs 46.16(2.957), p < .0001. Also significantly higher was the mean Hct at 12 h, 6 weeks and mean serum ferritin at 6 weeks of age in the milked group (p < .0001). Mean blood pressure at 1 h and 6 h was also significantly higher in the milked arm. Need for transfusion and inotropes was less in the milked group but not statistically significant. No significant difference in potential complications was observed between the groups. Conclusion: C-UCM stabilizes initial blood pressure and results in higher hematocrit and improved iron stores. It can be an alternative to DCC in non-vigorous preterm neonates of 30-35 weeks' gestation. Further large multicentric studies are needed to fully establish its efficacy and safety. Trial registration: CTRI/2021/12/038606; registration date December 14, 2021. What is Known: • DCC is the routinely recommended method of placental transfusion for vigorous neonates but no consensus exist for neonates requiring resuscitation at birth. • C-UCM is easier to perform in non-vigorous neonates but there is paucity of studies in the preterm population. What is New: • C-UCM is effective as well as safe in non-vigorous preterm neonates of 30-35 weeks gestational age. • C-UCM holds promise as an alternative to DCC, especially in resource limited settings and in situations where the later is not feasible.