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Biomedical subjects

R Mashiach

Publications and source records attributed to R Mashiach.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Elective cytogenetic amniocentesis in the third trimester for pregnancies with high risk factors.

The aim of the present study was to report the findings in 14 women with extremely high risk ('precious') pregnancies, 5 of whom had twins, who underwent elective third-trimester cytogenetic amniocentesis. There were no procedure-related complications, and all newborns weighed more than 2000 g and showed normal development. This practice is accepted under Israeli law and our institutional policy. This preliminary work does not attempt to answer the moral and ethical questions surrounding the use of third (versus second) trimester amniocentesis in either 'precious' or normal pregnancies. We do show, however, that the procedure is safe and may constitute a good alternative for patients who are unwilling to accept the risks of early fetal karyotyping.

Adult↗

Improving pregnancy outcome in twin gestations with one malformed fetus by postponing selective feticide in the third trimester.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the course of pregnancy and fetal outcome in patients with twin gestations in which one abnormal fetus underwent selective feticide in the third trimester of pregnancy. DESIGN: A study of 23 consecutive late selective feticide procedures. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Israel. PATIENT(S): Twenty-three patients with twin pregnancies with one malformed fetus. INTERVENTION(S): Selective feticide with intracardiac injection of KCl was performed at 28-33 weeks of gestation after the diagnosis of fetal genetic (56.5%) or structural (43.5%) malformations made in the second trimester (18-24 weeks). All procedures were performed at the patient's request and on approval of a committee for fetal termination late in pregnancy. Betamethasone treatment was initiated to enhance lung maturity 3 weeks before selective feticide. All patients were placed on complete bed rest until 35 weeks' gestation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Early and late complications related to the procedure; outcome of pregnancy and fetal survival. RESULT(S): All 23 twin pregnancies had an uneventful course after selective feticide performed at 28-33 weeks. All birth weights were > 2,000 g (mean +/- SD, 2,628 +/- 646 g), indicating an excellent chance of survival. CONCLUSION(S): Our results suggest that late selective feticide in twin gestations is safe and efficient and results in a favorable outcome for the surviving fetus. This procedure should be performed at 28-30 weeks after treatment for enhancement of lung maturity.

Birth Weight↗

Multifetal pregnancy reduction in cases of threatened abortion of triplets.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the course of pregnancy and fetal outcome after first-trimester multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) in patients with triplet pregnancies and uterine bleeding. DESIGN: Case series of patients with threatened triplet pregnancies considered for MFPR. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tiqva, Israel. PATIENT(S): Forty-two patients with triplet pregnancies and first-trimester uterine bleeding. INTERVENTION(S): At 10-15 weeks' gestation, MFPR with intracardiac injection of potassium chloride was performed. The procedures were performed 7-10 days after cessation of bleeding (9-13 weeks) or in the presence of minimal uterine bleeding (14-15 weeks). In patients with heavy uterine bleeding, MFPR was postponed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Early- and late-pregnancy complications related to the procedure, pregnancy outcome, and fetal survival. RESULT(S): Performance of MFPR at 14-15 weeks was associated with a higher abortion rate (38.5%), lower mean gestational age at delivery (30.6 weeks), and lower mean twin birth weight (1,376+/-218 g and 1,014+/-202 g) than was performance of MFPR at 10-13 weeks (18.8%, 33.2 weeks, and 1,720+/-245 g and 1,596+/-170 g, respectively). Abortion occurred in four of the five patients with moderate to heavy uterine bleeding who did not undergo MFPR; the fifth patient gave birth prematurely at 28 weeks, and two of the newborns died. CONCLUSION(S): Pregnancy outcome and fetal mortality and morbidity in triplet pregnancy after MFPR are directly correlated with duration and amount of first-trimester bleeding.

Abortion, Threatened↗

Evaluation of the upper uterine cervix by the location of the vesicocervical fold of the urinary bladder to rule out cervical shortening during pregnancy with and without premature contractions.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the length of the upper and lower cervix, as demarcated anatomically by the lowermost edge of the urinary bladder, in second- and third-trimester pregnancies with and without premature contractions. We hypothesized that patients with active premature contractions have a shorter upper cervix, placing them at greater risk of preterm delivery. METHODS: The lengths of the total cervix and of the upper and lower cervix, separately, and funnelling of the internal os, were assessed by endovaginal ultrasonography. In 120 women with normal pregnancy (43 of which with premature contractions), cervical dilatation and effacement were determined by digital examination. The correlation of cervical variables with the course of pregnancy was analyzed by the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The mean lengths of the upper and lower cervix were 15.9 +/- 1.7 mm (median 16.0 mm) and 26.4 +/- 3.7 mm (median 27.0 mm), respectively, in patients without premature contractions and 6.9 +/- 3.7 mm (median 6.0 mm) and 24.7 +/- 4.7 mm (median 25.0 mm), respectively, in patients with premature contractions. In the latter subgroup, the upper cervix was significantly shorter (p = 0.0001) but the lower cervix remained almost unchanged. Digital palpation was less accurate than transvaginal sonography for evaluating total cervical length. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal sonography is the method of choice for assessing cervical changes during pregnancy. In this prospective study, upper cervical length was the best predictor of preterm labor of all cervical parameters studied. Its length could be accurately determined by the location of the lowermost edge of the urinary bladder (vesicocervical fold of the bladder).

Adult↗

Doppler parameters of uterine and ovarian stromal blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and normally ovulating women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the increased ovarian sensitivity to gonadotropins observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be due to changes in ovarian stromal blood flow in these patients. DESIGN: Uterine and ovarian stromal arterial blood flow (with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound) were measured in ten women with PCOS and 12 normo-ovulatory women (control group), undergoing gonadotropin stimulation before in vitro fertilization. METHODS: A careful ovarian stimulation strategy was adopted for the study group in order to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and achieve an ovarian response which was comparable to that of the control group. Resistance and pulsatility indices (RI and PI) of the uterine and ovarian stromal arteries were calculated before the onset of gonadotropin treatment, on cycle day 5 (after commencing treatment), day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection, day of ovum pick-up as well as on the day of embryo transfer, and 7 and 12 days later. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in RI and PI between the study and control groups throughout the treatment cycle. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that polycystic ovaries do not bear an inherent disturbance in blood flow dynamics of the uterine and ovarian arteries, as measured by color Doppler, which would explain the increased sensitivity of polycystic ovaries to stimulation with gonadotropins.

Adult↗

Prenatal diagnosis of crossed ectopic multicystic kidney.

The combination of multicystic kidney and crossed ectopia is very rare. In most of the affected children, diagnosis has been made postnatally by ultrasonographic examination to evaluate a palpated abdominal mass. We describe the third male newborn reported in the literature with a prenatally diagnosed crossed ectopic multicystic dysplastic kidney. As with isolated multicystic kidney, crossed ectopic multicystic kidney should be followed closely after birth by repeated ultrasound for spontaneous regression. Only in cases of anomalies of the contralateral (uncrossed) kidney should the question of surgical intervention be raised.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Conservative management of postmenopausal pelvic echo-free findings--preliminary results.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a conservative protocol for the treatment of echo-free findings in the pelvis, diagnosed by sonography in post-menopausal women, in order to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. METHODS: A prospective study where each post-menopausal-patient underwent sonographic evaluation of the pelvic mass, serum Ca-125 levels, ambulatory aspiration of the cyst, and operative laparoscopy if necessary. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-two women were included in the 3 years of the study. Only two cases of malignancy were diagnosed. There were no false-negative results. CONCLUSION: Although the results of our protocol of conservative management look promising, we cannot draw final conclusions because of the small sample size. Perhaps as our knowledge increases, physicians will feel more confident in handling adnexal findings conservatively.

Adnexa Uteri↗

How does infected bile affect the postoperative course of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate of infected bile in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and to study the influence on the postoperative infective complications in this group of patients. METHODS: Bile samples of 247 patients undergoing LC were collected and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. All patients were given prophylactic antibiotics. RESULTS: The overall rate of infected bile was 12.8% (56 positive cultures); of these, 54 were aerobic and 2 anaerobic bacteria. Only 2 patients developed infection at the umbilical site, and in both, the bile was sterile. None of the patients with positive bile cultures developed any signs of infection during a mean follow-up period of 26 months. CONCLUSION: The overall rate of septic complications following LC is extremely low, and at least in our study no correlation was found between infected bile and septic complications.

Adolescent↗

External cephalic version at term using broad criteria: effect on mode of delivery.

We sought to determine whether external cephalic version (ECV) with tocolytic agents in term patients with breech presentation could safely reduce the incidence of breech-related cesarean sections and vaginal breech deliveries. Four hundred and thirty-two patients with breech presentation at term who fulfilled broad criteria for attempted ECV and a control group of 330 patients with breech presentation at term in whom ECV was not attempted, were retrospectively reviewed. ECV was attempted following an infusion of ritodrine hydrochloride, using either the back flip of Saling and Muller-Holve or the classic forward roll. Following successful ECV, an infusion of oxytocin was administered to fix the head in the pelvis. Of the 432 patients, 311 (72%) underwent successful ECV; 86% delivered vaginally. Cesarean sections were performed in 76% of the patients with unsuccessful ECV and in 64% in whom the version was not attempted (control group). We conclude that ECV at term, using tocolytic agents, when applied to a broad spectrum of patients, is a safe and useful procedure for reducing the incidence of breech presentation, and as a direct consequence, for reducing the incidence of cesarean sections.

Breech Presentation↗

Intrapartum management of the low-birth-weight breech fetus.

Breech presentation is prevalent among preterm deliveries and contributes to neonatal mortality far beyond its prevalence. The management of a preterm breech delivery is controversial. We present our retrospective experience with 185 consecutive preterm breech deliveries, part delivered by cesarean section and part delivered vaginally as assisted breech delivery or total breech extraction), and compare the perinatal outcome between these two groups in terms of perinatal mortality (PPD) and perinatal morbidity (neonatal asphyxia). No statistically significant difference was found for either variable in the two examined groups. We therefore conclude that the method of delivery of low birth weight (1000-2500) breeches has no effect on perinatal outcome.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Prenatal diagnosis of familial congenital pyloric atresia.

Familial congenital pyloric atresia is a rare malformation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract. It usually manifests as maternal polyhydramnios and enlarged fetal stomach on ultrasound scan. Sonographic prenatal diagnosis and management of a pregnancy complicated by familial congenital pyloric atresia are presented.

Adult↗