Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) encompasses a group of diseases characterized by extreme fragility of skin and mucous membranes, resulting in blister formation following minimal injury. There are 4 types of EB, with epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) being the most common. We report our experience with the care of a parturient woman diagnosed with EBS. There is little literature on pregnancy in women with this condition. Special precautions are necessary during diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to avoid bullae formation or exacerbation of existing lesions. Frictional or shearing forces are typically more damaging than compressive forces. Multidisciplinary planning was done for our patient to ensure uneventful labor and delivery. Elective induction of labor was started at 40 weeks of gestation. She eventually underwent a cesarean delivery after failed trial of labor. We present this case to highlight the obstetric and anesthetic implications of caring for a parturient with EBS.

Induction of labor with the double-balloon catheter in nulliparous women with an unfavorable cervix is associated with a shorter time to delivery compared to dinoprostone.

Successful development of pharmacotherapy for the prevention of PTB rests upon the pursuit of multiple strategies to solve this important clinical challenge.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is idiopathic systolic congestive heart failure around pregnancy. Comparisons with matched controls are lacking. We investigated maternal characteristics and outcomes up to 12 months in a cohort admitted to Montefiore Health System in Bronx, New York 1999–2015 (n = 53 cases and n = 92 age and race-matched controls, >80% Black or Hispanic/Latina). Compared to peers, women with PPCM had more chronic hypertension (24.5% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.001), prior gestational hypertension (20.8% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.001), prior preeclampsia (17.0% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.001), familial dilated cardiomyopathy (5.7% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.04), smoking (15.1% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.001), lower summary socioeconomic scores (−4.12 (IQR −6.81, −2.13) vs. −1.62 (IQR −4.20, −0.74), p < 0.001), public insurance (67.9% vs. 29.3% p = 0.001), and frequent depressive symptoms. Women with PPCM were often admitted antepartum (34.0% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.001) and underwent Cesarean section (65.4% vs. 30.4%, p = 0.001), but had less preterm labor (27.3% vs. 51.1%, p = 0.001). Women were rarely treated with bromocriptine (3.8%), frequently underwent left ventricular assist device placement (9.4% and n = 2 with menorrhagia requiring transfusion and progesterone) or heart transplantation (3.8%), but there were no in-hospital deaths. In sum, women with PPCM had worse socioeconomic disadvantage and baseline health than matched peers. Programs addressing social determinants of health may be important for women at high risk of PPCM.