Biomedical subjects

Ema Ferreira

Publications and source records attributed to Ema Ferreira.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine during pregnancy in term and preterm neonates.

OBJECTIVES: Our goals were to (a) describe neonatal behavioral signs in a group of newborns exposed in utero to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine at the time of delivery, (b) compare the rate of neonatal behavioral signs, prematurity, and admission to specialized neonatal care between a group of exposed and unexposed newborns, and (c) compare the effects in exposed preterm and term newborns. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study including mothers taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine during the third trimester and mothers who were not taking any antidepressants, psychotropic agents, or benzodiazepines at the time of delivery of their newborns. Neonatal behavioral signs included central nervous, respiratory, and digestive systems, as well as hypoglycemia and the need for phototherapy. RESULTS: Seventy-six mothers taking antidepressants and 90 untreated mothers and their newborns were analyzed. Smoking, alcohol intake, and substance abuse were more frequent among treated mothers. In infants in the exposed group, signs involving the central nervous and the respiratory systems were often observed (63.2% and 40.8%, respectively). These signs appeared during the first day of life, with a median duration of 3 days for exposed newborns. The signs resolved in 75% of cases within 3 to 5 days for term and premature newborns, respectively. All exposed premature newborns presented behavioral manifestations compared with 69.1% of term exposed newborns. Median length of stay was almost 4 times longer for exposed premature newborns than for those who were unexposed (14.5 vs 3.7 days). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal behavioral signs were frequently found in exposed newborns, but symptoms were transient and self-limited. Premature infants could be more susceptible to the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Sublingual nitroglycerin versus intravenous ritodrine as tocolytic for external cephalic version: a double-blinded randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of sublingual nitroglycerin with that of intravenous ritodrine as a tocolytic agent for external cephalic version in nulliparous women. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a double-blinded, randomized trial. Nulliparous patients, between 36 and 40 weeks of gestation, were assigned randomly to receive either (1) an intravenous infusion of ritodrine (111 microg/min) for 20 minutes, followed by two puffs of sublingual placebo or (2) an intravenous infusion of sodium chloride 0.9% (placebo) for 20 minutes, followed by two puffs of sublingual 0.4 mg of nitroglycerin. Three minutes after the administration of the sublingual spray, an external cephalic version was attempted. The rate of successful external cephalic version and side effects was compared between groups. RESULTS: Of 74 randomly assigned patients, 38 patients received intravenous ritodrine, and 36 patients received sublingual nitroglycerin. Although not statistically significant, the rate of the successful external cephalic version was higher in the ritodrine group compared with the nitroglycerin group (45% vs 25%, P =.075). The rate of headaches was higher in patients who received nitroglycerin (28% vs 8%, P =.02). Mean blood pressure and maternal heart rate were lower in the nitroglycerin group 10 minutes after the administration of the medication. However, there was no significant difference in the rate of palpitations, hypotension, or fetal bradycardia between the two groups. CONCLUSION: When compared with intravenous ritodrine, sublingual nitroglycerin was associated with a higher rate of headache, lower blood pressure, and a trend toward a lower rate of successful external cephalic version.

Administration, Sublingual↗

PubMed2003

Sublingual nitroglycerin versus placebo as a tocolytic for external cephalic version: a randomized controlled trial in parous women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sublingual nitroglycerin as a tocolytic agent for external cephalic version in parous women. STUDY DESIGN: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients with parity of >or=1 at 36 to 40 weeks of gestation who were eligible for external cephalic version were included. Patients were randomized to receive either two sublingual sprays of 400 mug of nitroglycerin or two sprays of placebo 3 minutes before the trial of external cephalic version. Rates of successful external cephalic version and side effects were compared between groups. RESULTS: Of 99 patients in the study, 50 patients received sublingual nitroglycerin, and 49 patients received placebo. There were no differences in maternal age, gestational age, estimated fetal weight, amniotic fluid index, and placental location between the two groups. The success rate of external cephalic version was 48% in the nitroglycerin group compared with 63% in the placebo group (P=.13). There was a higher incidence of headaches in the nitroglycerin group (42% vs 4%, P<.001). CONCLUSION: Sublingual nitroglycerin was associated with a higher rate of headache and did not improve the rate of successful external cephalic version.

Administration, Sublingual↗

PubMed2002

Do we use too much antenatal betamethasone?

OBJECTIVE: To review and rationalize the liberal use of antenatal betamethasone in the setting of threatened preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed using the charts of all patients at Ste-Justine Hospital, Montreal QC, who received antenatal betamethasone between 01 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. Initial treatment consisted of 2 doses of 12 mg IM given 24 hours apart. Repeat doses of 12 mg weekly were administered at the discretion of the treating physician. Optimal antenatal betamethasone therapy was defined as delivery within 1 week of initial treatment, prior to 34 weeks. Aside from number and timing of doses, other factors analyzed included: gestational age at admission and delivery, diagnosis associated with threatened preterm birth (PTB), number of hospital admissions, and delay between re-admission and delivery. RESULTS: Of the 334 patients identified, 82 (25%) received optimal treatment. Of the remaining 252 patients, 204 (81%) received repeat doses. In the repeat dose group, 112 (55%) women delivered after 34 weeks, while 70 of the 92 remaining patients were hospitalized until delivery. The other 22 patients who received serial doses were discharged at least once prior to delivery; of these patients, 8 were re-admitted more than 24 hours pre-delivery (i.e., adequate time for re-treatment), while 14 were not, but only 6 of these were delivered urgently. Thus, a maximum of 60 patients (25% of repeat doses) could potentially have benefited from this approach. Of the 48 patients not receiving repeat doses, 37 (77%) delivered after 34 weeks. Five remained hospitalized, and 6 were discharged prior to delivery and re-admitted (2 patients > 24 hr and 4 patients < 24 hr from delivery). This represented a potential underutilization of betamethasone by 3% (11/334) of the patients, but only 1.8% (6/334) were of less than 32 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the difficulty in predicting which of the patients presenting with threatened preterm birth would actually go on to deliver during the window of benefit of antenatal betamethasone therapy. Our desire to permit all premature fetuses to profit from the positive effects of this therapy must be balanced by a reserve in exposing too many to too much. Use of antenatal betamethasone in our unit has significantly decreased since this review.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗