Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the quadruple test for potential use as a Thai national policy for Down syndrome (DS) screening and establish an accurate equation for risk estimation of Down syndrome based on gestational age, weight and the ethnic-specific reference range of our population. Methods A prospective study was conducted on singleton pregnancies at 14 to 21 weeks of gestation to evaluate the efficacy of quadruple DS screening using the automatically calculated Western European descent factor (WF) in our population and the impact of screening using a specific Thai ethnic factor as well as to establish an equation for the risk estimation of DS based on gestational age, weight and a local Thai ethnic factor to correct for the impact of ethnic factor on the screening efficacy. Results Of a total of 5,515 women, 12 cases of DS and 8 cases of other aneuploidies were found. The detection rate, false positive rate and specificity were 75.0%, 9.1% and 90.9%, respectively, by automatic calculation with the widely used WF; the screening efficacy was lower when used in Asian populations than in other studies. The best-fitted regression equation of serum quadruple screening of AFP, free β-hCG, uE3 and inhibin A was established by adjustment for gestational age (GA) in days, maternal weight and our Thai-specific ethnic reference range which was created for this study. Calculations with our Thai-specific ethnic model gave a better detection rate of 83.3%, a false positive rate of 9.6% and specificity of 90.4%. Conclusion The serum quadruple test had a lower detection rate than expected when the risk estimation was based on the WF reference range. The serum quadruple test using WF had significantly different levels when corrected with our ethnic-specific factor. Using our local ethnic specific model could increase the detection rate of DS screening in Thailand with a minimal increase in false positive rates. Our findings indicate that DS screening should be adjusted with an appropriate individual ethnic factor when used for national screening.

Objective To evaluate certain two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound signs as predictors of massive peri-operative blood loss (PBL) in pregnant women with placenta previa suspicious of PAS disorder. Materials and methods A single center retrospective study was done in pregnant women who had undergone prenatal diagnosis with 2D ultrasound grey scale and color Doppler using the EW-AIP (which has been changed to IS-PAS (International Society for the Placenta Accreta Spectrum)) criteria between January 2007 and May 2021. The patients were divided into 2 groups, non-massive hemorrhage with PBL ≤ 2500 mL and massive PBL >2500 mL. All PAS cases had pathological confirmation. Ultrasound signs and hemorrhagic outcomes were compared between the two groups. A PAS scoring system to predict massive PBL was constructed and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of the scoring system. Results Of 534 women, 146 (28.3%) had PBL > 2500 mL and 388 (71.7%) had PBL ≤ 2500 mL. In the massive PBL group, 101 (69.2%) were diagnosed as PAS and 45 (30.8%) as placenta previa alone. From 10 evaluated 2D ultrasound signs, 3 had the highest odds ratios (ORs) associated with massive PBL, ‘focal exophytic mass’ OR 8.17 (p = 0.024), ‘placental bulge’ OR 2.47 (p = 0.011), and ‘placental lacunae feeder vessels’ OR 2.38 (p = 0.01). When using the PAS scoring system, the AUC to predict massive PBL was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76–0.85,). Conclusion Our PAS scoring system based on 2-dimensional ultrasound signs combined with grey scale and color Doppler is useful to predict massive PBL and can help optimize pre-operative management in cases of previa suspicious of PAS.

Objectives To evaluate the incidence, etiologies, and clinical outcomes of secondary postpartum hemorrhage in a hospital with a high cesarean section rate and to compare the etiologies of secondary postpartum hemorrhage following cesarean delivery versus vaginal delivery. Materials and methods This retrospective study included 123 women with secondary postpartum hemorrhage who were treated at a tertiary-level hospital between January 2004 and June 2018. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used for data analysis. Results The incidence of secondary postpartum hemorrhage was 0.21%. The median onset of bleeding was 12 days after delivery. Fifty-two percent of the deliveries were by cesarean section. The most common etiology of secondary postpartum hemorrhage was endometritis (67.5%), followed by retained placental tissue (21.1%). Women who delivered by cesarean section had a higher rate of endometritis (80.0% vs 53.4%) and a lower rate of retained placental tissue (10.8% vs. 32.8%) than those who delivered vaginally. Surgical intervention included uterine evacuation in 29.3% and hysterectomy in 8.1% of the patients. Five percent of women were treated by embolization. Conclusions Endometritis was the most common cause of secondary postpartum hemorrhage. Women who delivered by cesarean section were less likely to have retained placental tissue but were at higher risk for endometritis and uterine pseudoaneurysm than those who delivered vaginally.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of the uterine sliding sign for predicting intra‐abdominal adhesions in women undergoing repeat cesarean section (CS) and the association of the sliding sign with other operative and neonatal outcomes. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women with at least one previous CS. Transabdominal ultrasonography was performed and classified as a positive or negative sliding sign. Surgeons blinded to the sonographic results assessed intra‐abdominal adhesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Operative and neonatal outcomes of the positive and negative sliding sign groups were compared. Factors associated with intraoperative adhesions were also analyzed. Results A total of 380 women were recruited. The sensitivity and specificity of the uterine sliding sign to detect moderate‐to‐thick adhesions were 60.6% and 91.9%, respectively. A negative sliding sign was significantly associated with a higher incidence of adhesions, longer skin‐to‐delivery time, longer total operative time, and lower 5‐min APGAR score in newborns. A negative sliding sign and history of two or more previous CS were significant predictors of moderate‐to‐thick adhesions. Conclusion The uterine sliding sign is an independent predictor of intraoperative adhesions, with acceptable sensitivity and high specificity and negative predictive value.

No abstract