Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Childbirth is a natural phenomenon without the medical intervention but someone a cesarean section is necessary when a vaginal delivery might put mother and baby at risk. Given the increased rate of cesarean section and post-operative complications, prolonged recovery, high cost of labor through surgery, Childbirth education classes can prepare parents for normal or complicated labor and delivery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of delivery preparation classes on choosing a delivery method.
Methods: This study compared the experimental and control groups of pregnant women who were referred to Zabol health centers and it was performed from May 2017 to November 2017. The statistical population included 70 pregnant women of which 35 cases were selected as the experimental group and 35 cases as the control group. For the experimental group, 8 sessions of counseling and training for natural childbirth were held. Data in two stages were collected. Up until the end of pregnancy, both groups were followed and the method of delivery was evaluated. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test in SPSS software, version 23 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Case Presentation: The patient was a 30-years old woman who presented with twin pregnancy in 31 weeks of gestation with a history of IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) in the current pregnancy. She referred to Ghaem hospital of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in March 2017 because of severe lower extremities edema and 3+ proteinuria. Considering severe proteinuria (more than 6 gr/24 hr), edema, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia, the nephrotic syndrome was diagnosed and she was treated with methylprednisolone, Hydrochlorothiazide and Fenofibrate. At last, premature rupture of membrane occurred at 36 weeks of gestation. Cesarean was done because of the breech presentation of both fetuses and two healthy neonates were born with an optimal Apgar score.

Background: Sigmoid volvulus is a rare complication in pregnancy. The clinical presentation is similar to that of non-pregnant volvulus, although the symptoms can be masked by the enlarged uterus and physiological changes during pregnancy and it can be challenged and delayed in diagnosis and treatment. Delay in diagnosis can also lead to ischemia, necrosis and perforation of the intestine, which can have adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
Case Presentation: A primigravid woman with gestational age of 31 weeks was admitted to a 3^rd level center with abdominal pain and abdominal distention. From the beginning of pregnancy, the patient complained of bloating and epigastric pain, And had used herbal medicine for defecation. The patient's constipation had worsened since six days before admission to the hospital. She had no vomiting and her general condition was good. Abdominal Supine X-rays were reported completely dilated sigmoid and she was treated with a possible diagnosis of ileus. Due to the progression of symptoms and abdominal distension, rectosigmoidoscopy was performed for her, and scattered mucosal erythema was seen. Discoloration of the purple mucosa was seen from a distance of about 35 cm from the annulus and the secretions inside the sigmoid lumen were seen as blood. Ischemic necrosis and sigmoid volvulus were strongly suggested for the patient and she was immediately transferred to the operating room. The abdomen was opened with a midline incision. A 30 weeks uterus was seen and sigmoid volvulus was confirmed. Detorsion and colostomy were done. Due to the unprepared intestine and the possibility of leakage from the site of anastomosis, sigmoidectomy was not performed. After 4 days, the patient was discharged in a good general condition and became a candidate for sigmoid colon resection after delivery.

Background: The aim of this study was to find the causes of failure of natural childbirth in late-term pregnancy that can be useful for managing childbirth in these pregnant mothers and to design a solution to increase natural childbirth.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the community of pregnant women with a late-term pregnancy of more than 41 weeks. The studied sample includes 148 pregnant mothers who were referred to Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital in Babol from March 2018 to February 2020. Mother's age, Body Mass Index, gestational age, number of pregnancies, number of deliveries, length of hospitalization, the state of the cervix and preparation method of the cervix for termination of pregnancy were extracted and recorded from patients' files. Data were compared in two groups of pregnancy termination methods (natural childbirth and cesarean delivery). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software, version 22 (IBM SPSS, Armonk, NY, USA) and Chi-square test and Student’s t-test statistical tests and logistic regression model fitting. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: In this study, 167 pregnant women with late-term pregnancy were studied. The age of pregnant women is reported with mean of 26.03 and standard deviation 5.98 of years. The high Bishop variable, with odds ratio of 0.44, is a variable protective factor for cesarean delivery (P=0.001). Higher body mass index with odds ratio of 1.09, is also known as a risk factor for cesarean delivery (P=0.01), so that for each unit of increase in Bishop score, the chance of cesarean delivery decreases by 56% and for each unit of increase in body mass index, the chance of cesarean delivery increases by 9%. Conclusion: This study showed that nearly half of cases of late pregnancies lead to normal delivery. High body mass index reduces the chance of normal delivery in late term pregnancies. But a higher Bishop score can be effective in the success of natural delivery.

Background: Maternal and neonatal complications in twin and multiple pregnancies are higher than in singleton pregnancies. The purpose of this study is to investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes in twin or multiple births.
Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, 266 pregnant women with twins and multiples were selected in a goal-based manner who had medical records in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahwaz from March 2020 to March 2022. This study is based on the purpose of selection and then the required information was extracted from the archive department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahwaz. A two-part checklist was used to collect data, and then the collected information was analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical tests.

Results:  The observations of this study show that the highest frequency of the total number of births is from March 2020 to March 2021 (6729 people), while the highest ratio of the number of twin or multiple births to the total number of births is from March 2021 to March 2022 (4.63 percent). The frequency of stillbirths is the highest from March 2021 to March 2022 (62.96 percent). There is a significant difference in fetal complications of twin and multiple births, premature birth, low birth weight and intrauterine growth delay between twin and multiple births (P-value<0.05) and for fetal anomaly and death from March 2021 to March 2022. Comparison of the two years under study shows no significant difference was observed between twin and multiple births (P-value>0.05). Pre-eclampsia was observed in 7.8 percent for twin births and 6 percent for multiple births, which statistically has no significant difference between them (P-value=0.331) and for diabetes, placental abruption and placenta Previa. There is a significant difference between twin and multiple births (P-value<0.05). Conclusion: The frequency of multiple pregnancy shows an increase compared to previous studies in Iran, and prevention of premature birth and careful monitoring of the fetus can improve the outcome of twin or multiple births.

Background: Changes in the heart during pregnancy, especially changes in the left side of the heart, have been evaluated in various studies. However, alterations in the right ventricle have not been well studied. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the changes in echocardiographic indices of the right ventricle in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 30 pregnant women, as case group, in their second trimester who were referred to the perinatology clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, were examined by trans-thoracic echocardiography From April 4, 2023, to April 10, 2024. The results of the control group were compared with 30 age-matched non-pregnant and healthy women, as the control group. Exclusion criteria included multiple gestation, maternal age > 40, underlying cardiovascular disease, and significant obstetric or fetal complications. Hemodynamics and demographic data including age, height, weight, and body mass index were recorded and compared. Also, the anatomical and functional indices of the right ventricle were evaluated and compared.
Results: 60 participants were enrolled in this study. The two investigated groups were similar in terms of age, but the weight, height, and BMI were significantly different in the two groups; Such that weight and body mass index were significantly higher in pregnant women and height in non-pregnant women (p<0.05). Comparison of echocardiographic indices showed that tricuspid regurgitation gradient (TRG) and fractional area change (FAC) were significantly different in the two groups (in pregnant women, TRG index was higher and FAC index was lower (p<0.05)). Right atrium area, RV length, base of RV, mid of RV, and Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion showed no significant differences between case and control group.
Conclusion: FAC and TRG indices were significantly different between pregnant women and the control group. Paying attention to the changes in the normal values of these variables in pregnant women can be useful in improving the diagnosis of disorders and preventing the occurrence of cardiac events during pregnancy.
 

Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. Early diagnosis and treatment has been associated with reduction in maternal mortality and has shifted treatment to conservative methods. The most widely used drug for Medical treatment is methotrexate (MTX). This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of early changes (day 1/4) in serum β-HCG levels in managing tubal pregnancy with single-dose MTX.
Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 135 eligible women with tubal pregnancy who received a single dose of methotrexate, were included. Methotrexate was administered intramuscularly (50 mg/m²), and serum β-HCG levels were measured on days 1, 4, and 7 following the injection. The percentage change in serum β-HCG levels compared to the initial values was calculated. Treatment failure was defined as the need for surgery and/or additional dose of methotrexate.
Results: The treatment success rate was 67% while the treatment failure rate was 33%. Among patients whose β-HCG levels increased on day 4 compared to day 1, the treatment failure rate was 86%. In contrast, for patients with decreased β-HCG levels, the failure rate was only 19%. The changes in β-HCG levels from day 1 to day 4 indicated that a decrease of less than 20% in β-h-CG levels on day 4 compared to day 1 was associated with a sensitivity of 72.2% ( CI95%: 62.2% to 82.4%) and a specificity of 80% (CI95%: 66.18% to 89.1%). This change in β-HCG levels also exhibited a positive predictive value of 60% and a negative predictive value of 88% for predicting treatment failure.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, changes in β-HCG levels on days four and seven may serve as predictive factors for the failure of single-dose methotrexate treatment in patients with tubal pregnancy.