Despite patient interest, there is little evidence regarding waterbirth. This review sought to compare maternal and perinatal outcomes in waterbirth, compared with landbirth. This search was conducted using MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, OVID, and Cochrane Library from inception to November 15, 2021, with no language or geographic restrictions. Review was registered with PROSPERO under registration number: CRD42021288576. Selection criteria included randomized controlled trials of women with singleton cephalic gestations at ≥36 weeks comparing waterbirth to landbirth. The primary outcome was a perinatal composite outcome. Secondary outcomes included maternal and individual perinatal outcomes. Summary measures were reported as relative risk or mean difference with 95% confidence intervals using random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird. I
2 (Higgins I
2) > 0% was used to identify heterogeneity. Six trials including 706 patients were included. When reported, all patients were ≥ 37 weeks' gestation. Labor augmentation (41.7 vs. 84.7%, p < 0.0001) and neuraxial anesthesia (10.5 vs. 72.4%, p < 0.0001) were less common with waterbirth. Estimated blood loss, postpartum hemorrhage, perineal laceration, episiotomy, mode of delivery, and perinatal outcomes did not differ between groups. Chorioamnionitis and endometritis were not reported by any trial. Maternal satisfaction was higher (p = 0.01) and pain scores lower (p = 0.003) with waterbirth. Length of first stage (p < 0.00001), third stage (p = 0.02), and labor (p = 0.04) were shorter with waterbirth. The composite perinatal outcome could not be calculated due to lack of individual patient data. Compared with landbirth, waterbirth was associated with lower rates of neuraxial anesthesia and lower pain scores, with improved maternal satisfaction.
Key Points
Background: Keloids are common and have significant negative effects on quality of life. There is a need for more effective treatment approaches for keloids.
Aims:We investigated treatment outcomes of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (IL TAC) compared with combination IL TAC and cryotherapy, including changes in pruritus, pain, and keloid size.Patients/Methods: We performed a prospective study of patients referred to one provider who treated patients with combination therapy and compared them to a historic control cohort treated with IL TAC alone. All patients were seen at Thomas Jefferson University between 2019 and 2021. Patient demographics, location of keloids, and inciting events were recorded. Pruritus and pain scores were self-reported by patients using a 10-point Likert scale administered as standard of care. Changes in keloid size were denoted as "No change," "up to 50% decrease," "more than 50% decrease," and "completely flattened."Results: While both treatments produced a significant reduction in mean pruritus and pain scores, there was no difference between the two treatment groups (p = 0.3933 and p = 0.2123, respectively). A greater percentage of keloids in the combination therapy group had a post-treatment size difference greater than 50% compared with those in the IL TAC only treatment group (p = 0.0021). In the subgroup of pubic keloids, all lesions treated with combination IL TAC and cryotherapy responded remarkably well to treatment.Conclusions: While both IL TAC and IL TAC with cryotherapy were effective at reducing pruritus and pain, combination therapy was more effective in reducing keloid size, specifically for pubic keloids.
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