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Biomedical subjects

Julian N Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to Julian N Robinson.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prior cesarean delivery is not associated with an increased risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy: analysis of U.S. perinatal mortality data, 1995-1997.

OBJECTIVE: An association between cesarean delivery and an increased risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy has been reported in the United Kingdom. This study investigated the association between prior cesarean delivery and unexplained intrauterine fetal demise at term in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the U.S. perinatal mortality data (1995 to 1997). Women aged 15 to 44 years with singleton term (37 weeks or longer) pregnancies were included in the analysis. Study groups were defined as pregnant women with a prior cesarean delivery (prior cesarean delivery) and women with no prior cesarean delivery (no cesarean delivery). Adjustments were made for maternal age, race, underlying medical conditions, and fetal congenital abnormalities. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method was used for relative risk estimation at the 95% confidence interval calculation. RESULTS: A total of 11,061,599 deliveries of singleton pregnancies were recorded in the United States from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 1997. The cesarean delivery rate was 19.6%. The crude term intrauterine fetal demise rate was 1.5 per 1000 births for no cesarean delivery and 1.3 per 1000 births for prior cesarean delivery. After correction for parity greater than 1, congenital anomalies, and underlying maternal medical conditions, term intrauterine fetal demise rates were 0.6 and 0.4 per 1000 births for no cesarean delivery and prior cesarean delivery, respectively. Restriction of the analysis to women with only 1 prior delivery resulted in term intrauterine fetal demise rates of 0.8 and 0.7 per 1000 births for no cesarean delivery and prior cesarean delivery, respectively (relative risk 0.90; 95% confidence interval 0.76-1.06). CONCLUSION: A prior cesarean delivery is not associated with an increased risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Postterm pregnancy: practice patterns of contemporary obstetricians and gynecologists.

The purpose of this study was to determine the management of postterm pregnancy by contemporary practicing obstetricians. A questionnaire investigating practice patterns pertaining to postterm pregnancy was mailed to 1000 randomly selected American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Fellows and Junior Fellows in March 2004. The response rate was 52.2% (522/1000). Statistical analysis included the answers from the 420 practicing obstetricians. Males comprised 55.7% (234/420) of the responding obstetricians. The majority of responding obstetricians (95.4%) rated their residency training regarding management of postterm pregnancy as adequate or comprehensive. Forty-eight percent define postterm pregnancy as 42 weeks gestation or greater, whereas 43.1% consider 41 weeks gestation or greater to be postterm. Seventy-three percent routinely induce low-risk patients with singletons at 41 weeks gestation. If patients decline induction at 41 weeks or if the practitioner does not induce patients until after 41 weeks gestation, the majority of respondents (64.8% and 65.0%, respectively) start postterm pregnancy fetal testing in singletons at 41 weeks and obtain testing twice weekly. Most (64.6%) use cervical ripening agents when inducing both nulliparous and multiparous patients with unfavorable cervices. The majority of practitioners (97.3%) do not use prostaglandins when inducing postterm patients with one previous cesarean delivery. Although most respondents manage postterm pregnancy according to recent ACOG educational materials with regard to antenatal fetal surveillance and methods of induction, the majority induce patients with singleton postterm pregnancies at 41 weeks gestation rather than at 42 weeks gestation.

Female↗
PubMed2006

Screening for Down syndrome: practice patterns and knowledge of obstetricians and gynecologists.

OBJECTIVE: To assess obstetricians' practice patterns and knowledge regarding screening for Down syndrome. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 1,105 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Fellows and Junior Fellows in 2004. RESULTS: Sixty percent of questionnaires were returned. Statistical analyses were limited to the 532 practicing obstetricians. Greater than 80% felt their training and experience qualified them to counsel patients about genetic issues in pregnancy. However, 45% rated their residency training regarding prenatal diagnosis as barely adequate or nonexistent. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publications were rated by 86% as an important source of information on genetic counseling. Seventy-eight percent of practitioners counsel all obstetric patients about risks for fetal aneuploidy, and 67% provide counseling for heritable genetic abnormalities. Although the majority (99%) offer second-trimester Down syndrome screening, only 55% also offer first-trimester screening for Down syndrome. Almost one half (49%) use the quad screen, and 6% offer integrated first- and second-trimester screening. The majority (88%) routinely offer amniocentesis to patients who are at elevated risk for genetic abnormalities, whereas 44% also offer chorionic villus sampling. Few (2%) perform chorionic villus sampling. CONCLUSION: Most obstetricians manage patients at risk for fetal genetic abnormalities according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists educational materials. This survey identified deficiencies related to Down syndrome screening, including a limited number of practitioners performing chorionic villus sampling and physicians' own perception that training regarding genetic counseling should be improved. Educational strategies are needed to address these deficiencies before first-trimester screening programs are widely implemented. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed2005

Rate of dyspareunia after delivery in primiparae according to mode of delivery.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of mode of delivery on sexual function. DESIGN: One thousand six hundred and thirteen questionnaires containing 16 questions about sexual behavior and dyspareunia before, during and after pregnancy were sent out to primiparous, ethnically homogeneous (fluent in German) patients who delivered in a large tertiary referral center between 6 months and 2(1/2) year before. The returned questionnaires were merged to clinical data from our obstetric database in an anonymous fashion. The patients were subdivided into four groups (A) "spontaneous without injuries (except minor labial laceration)", (B) "c-section", (C)"episiotomy or perineal laceration", and (D) "operative vaginal delivery". RESULTS: The response rate of primiparae was 41% (655/1613). Forty-seven percent of women resumed sexual intercourse (SI) within 8 weeks after delivery. Altogether 31% of the women did not experience any pain during the first SI post-partum whereas 49% of all patients noted significant pain (medium, considerable or severe), depending on the mode of delivery (p = 0.007). Persistence of dyspareunia longer than 6 months was 3.5% (4/115; group A), 3.4% (2/58; group B), 11% (34/316; group C), and 14% (20/114; group D). CONCLUSIONS: Recently, female sexuality may not have been prominent in any discussion concerning possible advantages and disadvantages of different modes of childbirth. Our results should be taken into consideration when counseling patients antenatally regarding mode of delivery.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Previous cesarean delivery: understanding and satisfaction with mode of delivery in a subsequent pregnancy in patients participating in a formal vaginal birth after cesarean counseling program.

The objective of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with delivery experience in a pregnancy subsequent to primary cesarean and to evaluate knowledge about a trial of labor after cesarean in patients enrolled in a formal vaginal birth after cesarean educational program. During a 12-month period, women with a history of cesarean delivery who were participating in a formal counseling program regarding the risks and benefits of vaginal birth after cesarean were surveyed in the antepartum and postpartum periods. Patient demographics, past birth experience, understanding of the risks and benefits of vaginal birth after cesarean, pregnancy outcomes, and ratings of satisfaction and recovery following the current delivery were collected. Patients were divided into four groups depending on their mode of delivery in the current pregnancy: group 1 succeeded at vaginal birth, group 2 underwent repeat cesarean in labor, group 3 delivered by cesarean before labor, and group 4 chose repeat cesarean. Ninety-five patients enrolled in the study. There were 26 patients in group 1, 18 patients in group 2, 16 patients in group 3, and 35 patients in group 4. The four groups had significant differences in patient satisfaction following the current delivery compared with the previous cesarean delivery ( p = 0.001). The patients who had a successful trial of labor exhibited the largest median change in score. The patients who delivered by cesarean during labor had the smallest median change in score. Nonetheless, 92% of these patients were pleased that they had attempted a vaginal birth. When questioned about the risks associated with a trial of labor after cesarean delivery, 92% of postpartum patients answered all questions correctly. Patients participating in a formal counseling program exhibit a high level of understanding about the risks and benefits of a trial of labor. Although the most satisfied patients were those who succeeded at vaginal birth, most women valued the opportunity to attempt a vaginal birth regardless of outcome.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed2004

Multiple pregnancy: knowledge and practice patterns of obstetricians and gynecologists.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess knowledge and practices of obstetricians regarding multiple gestation. METHODS: A questionnaire investigating knowledge and practice patterns pertaining to multiple gestation was mailed to randomly selected American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Fellows and Junior Fellows in January 2003. Fifty-one percent (589/1,146) of the surveys were returned. RESULTS: Statistical analysis included the responses from 430 practicing obstetricians. More than 60% rated their training regarding management of multiples as adequate. Men (56.5%) were older and had been in practice longer than females. Sixty-two percent of general obstetrician-gynecologists managed twins without input from a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. An understanding of chorionicity was less than anticipated. The majority of practitioners managed twins according to recent ACOG educational materials. They did not use prophylactic cerclage, home uterine-activity monitoring, or tocolytics. Fort-six percent encouraged prophylactic bed rest. The management of breech second twins varied. CONCLUSION: Most obstetricians manage multiples according to current ACOG educational materials independent of maternal-fetal medicine specialists. This survey identified knowledge gaps, specifically in chorionicity, indicating the need to develop educational strategies addressing these insufficiencies.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Detection of fetal lactate with two-dimensional-localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal surveillance is inefficient for accurately detecting fetal compromise. A noninvasive technique for assessing fetal metabolic status would be useful for clinical management. CASE: Fetal magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed at 20 weeks in a pregnancy complicated by severe intrauterine growth restriction to determine if lactate, a metabolite associated with fetal hypoxia, was present. Two-dimensional, single-slice proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was carried out at 1.5 T using a volume-selective, double-spin echo technique. Lactate was detected in fetal back muscle. Fetal death occurred the next day. CONCLUSIONS: Although this initial report is purely experimental, further development of this technique may prove to be a valuable noninvasive tool in the management of suspected fetal hypoxia.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Pitfalls in management of shoulder dystocia with occiput-posterior position.

BACKGROUND: The protocol for shoulder dystocia assumes an anterior shoulder entrapped above the pubic symphysis. If the shoulders lie in a different position, a different strategy is required. Such a situation can occur in shoulder dystocia with an occipito-posterior position. CASE: An operative vaginal delivery in a nulliparous woman resulted in a shoulder dystocia with the head in the occipito-posterior position, and the usual maneuvers were unsuccessful. The shoulders were transverse and after being manipulated into the oblique plane, an atraumatic vaginal delivery resulted. CONCLUSION: In the rare situation of an occipito-posterior shoulder dystocia, the shoulders may be in the transverse position. This situation can be addressed by manipulating the shoulders and by making an episiotomy to facilitate the maneuver. If unsuccessful, cephalic replacement may be an option.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Prospective risk of fetal death in singleton, twin, and triplet gestations: implications for practice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prospective risk of fetal death in singleton, twin, and triplet pregnancies and to compare this risk with fetal and neonatal death rates. METHODS: We analyzed 11,061,599 singleton, 297,622 twin, and 15,375 triplet gestations drawn from the 1995-1998 National Center for Health Statistics linked birth and death files. Prospective risk of fetal death was expressed as a proportion of all fetuses still at risk at a given gestational age and compared with fetal death rate. Fetal death risk and neonatal death rates were represented graphically for singletons, twins, and triplets. RESULTS: The prospective risk of fetal death at 24 weeks was 0.28 per 1000, 0.92 per 1000, and 1.30 per 1000 for singletons, twins, and triplets, respectively. At 40 weeks, the corresponding risk was 0.57 per 1000 and 3.09 per 1000 for singletons and twins, respectively and, at 38 or more weeks, 13.18 per 1000 for triplets. Plots of gestation-specific prospective risk of fetal death and neonatal mortality converged for singletons and twins at term but crossed for triplets at approximately 36 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSION: Prospective risk of fetal death is greater for triplets and twins than for singletons and greater for triplets than for twins during the third trimester. The pattern corroborates with uteroplacental insufficiency as a suspected underlying mechanism. When prospective risk of fetal death exceeds neonatal mortality risk, delivery might be indicated. When this model is used, this data set suggests that it might be reasonable to consider delivery of twins by 39 weeks and triplets by 36 weeks to improve perinatal outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The role of episiotomy in current obstetric practice.

This review traces the clinical use of episiotomy from the eighteenth century to the present and explains why the procedure has a restricted function in current practice. The types of episiotomy are described, and the controversies surrounding the sequelae associated with the procedure are explored. The modern indications for episiotomy including the procedure's place at operative vaginal delivery are discussed. Although the role of the episiotomy in modern obstetrics may be limited, the procedure is important in situations involving nonreassuring fetal status, shoulder dystocia, and perhaps operative vaginal delivery. The optimal type of episiotomy, if any, at forceps or vacuum delivery is yet to be determined.

Episiotomy↗
PubMed2003

Rotational forceps: should these procedures be abandoned?

Forceps delivery remains an important part of the obstetric armamentarium. When applied by practitioners skilled in their use, forceps delivery can quickly and safely deliver a fetus at risk. Unfortunately, forceps can also be an instrument of harm for the women or her infant. This is particularly true of rotational forceps. The goal of this monograph is to review in detail the indications, contraindications, technique, as well as risks and complications of forceps delivery, with particular attention to rotational forceps. We conclude by asking the question: Should rotational forceps be abandoned altogether?

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed2003

Obstetric outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus-1-serodiscordant couples following in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

The objective of this article is to report obstetric outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-serodiscordant couples who underwent in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at a tertiary care center. We reviewed the outcomes of seronegative women after IVF-ET with ICSI from January 1, 1997 to June 1, 2002. Serodiscordant couples (n = 25) successfully conceived 27 pregnancies delivering 40 neonates (16 singletons, 9 twins, and 2 triplets). The mean gestational age at delivery was 37 0/7 weeks +/- 3 6/7 weeks (range 26 0/7 to 41 2/7 weeks). The mean birth weight was 2646 g +/- 952 g (range 678 to 4396 g). The cesarean section rate was 70%. Preterm delivery (<37 weeks) occurred in 7 pregnancies, and low birth weight (<2500 g) was observed in 8 pregnancies. There were no HIV-1 seroconversions detected at delivery. One hundred percent of the mothers and offspring were beyond 3 months postpartum and remained seronegative. IVF-ET with ICSI seems safe and effective for serodiscordant couples. Obstetric outcomes are favorable, and HIV-1 infection risk is limited.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed2002

Contemporary trends in the management of delivery at 23 weeks' gestation.

The objective of this study is to investigate the current understanding of neonatal survival and the willingness to provide aggressive obstetric intervention at the limit of fetal viability among practicing perinatologists in the United States. A pretested survey was mailed to members of the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine. The survey identified the practitioner's opinion of the lowest limit of viability and gestational ages at which antenatal steroids and cesarean section would first be provided. We also attempted to identify practitioner knowledge of survival at 23 and 24 weeks' gestation and years of perinatal practice. Of the 1244 surveys mailed to members of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine practicing in the United States, 462 practitioners replied for a 37% response rate. Fifty percent considered the lower limit of viability to be 24 weeks' and 44.3% believed the lower limit of viability to be 23 weeks' gestation. Among respondents, the majority estimated a 0 to 10% survival rate at 23 weeks' and 25 to 50% survival rate at 24 weeks. Only 13% of respondents correctly estimates survival at 23 weeks' gestation as >25%, and only 17% correctly estimated survival at 24 weeks' at >50%. Among practitioners, 43.6% would first give antenatal steroids after 24 weeks' gestation but 55.6%would administer steroids before the beginning of week 24. Twenty-eight percent would routinely monitor a fetus less than 24 weeks' gestation. Consistent with this observation, 21% would perform a cesarean section before 24 weeks' gestation. We find that respondents underestimate the consensus in the most recent literature on survival of infants born at 23 to 24 weeks. This underestimation may lead to a limitation in interventions offered.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗