BackgroundLow haemoglobin has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study aimed to assess the association of haemoglobin (Hb) in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and restoration of low Hb levels, with pregnancy outcomes in Australia.MethodsClinical data for singleton pregnancies from two tertiary public hospitals in New South Wales were extracted for 2011–2015. The relationship between the lowest Hb result in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and adverse outcomes was determined using adjusted Poisson regression. Those with Hb <110 g/L were classified into ‘restored’ and ‘not restored’ based on Hb results from 21 weeks onwards, and risk of adverse outcomes explored with adjusted Poisson regression.ResultsOf 31,906 singleton pregnancies, 4.0% had Hb <110 and 10.2% had ≥140 g/L at ≤20 weeks. Women with low Hb had significantly higher risks of postpartum haemorrhage, transfusion, preterm birth, very low birthweight, and having a baby transferred to higher care or stillbirth. High Hb was also associated with higher risks of preterm, very low birthweight, and transfer to higher care/stillbirth. Transfusion was the only outcome where risk decreased with increasing Hb. Risk of transfusion was significantly lower in the ‘restored’ group compared with the ‘not restored’ group (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.22–0.70), but restoration of Hb did not significantly affect the other outcomes measured.ConclusionsWomen with both low and high Hb in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy had higher risks of adverse outcomes than those with normal Hb. Restoring Hb after 20 weeks did not improve most adverse outcome rates but did reduce risk of transfusion.

Acute appendicitis is the commonest nongynaecological surgical problem occurring during pregnancy. Almost 10 year's experience at a large teaching hospital is supplemented with an extensive review of the literature to offer guidelines for diagnosis and management. Symptoms, signs and investigations are unhelpful in diagnosis. The overwhelming message is that because perinatal mortality rises from less than 3% in both uncomplicated appendicitis and negative laparotomy, to 20% in perforated disease, the maxim regarding acute appendicitis--if in doubt, take it out--is never more true than in pregnancy.

This retrospective study was conducted to identify the incidence and characteristics associated with readmissions for surgical site infections following caesarean section in a tertiary hospital from 2012 to 2015. Of 6334 patients who underwent caesarean section, 165 (2.6%) were readmitted, most commonly for surgical site infection (25.5%, n = 42). Thirty-seven of these patients (88%) had an emergency caesarean compared to five (12%) following an elective caesarean section. Of the women with surgical site infections, 69% were overweight and 14% had diabetes. Emergency caesarean sections were responsible for the majority of readmissions, particularly in women with co-morbidities that predisposed them to infection.

Objective Determination of lactate in fetal scalp blood (FBS) during labour has been recognised since the 1970s. The internationally accepted cutoff of >4.8 mmol/l indicating fetal acidosis is exclusive for the point‐of‐care device (POC) LactatePro™, which is no longer in production. The aim of this study was to establish a new cutoff for scalp lactate based on neonatal outcomes with the use of the StatstripLactate®/StatstripXpress® Lactate system, the only POC designed for hospital use. Design Observational study. Setting January 2016 to March 2020 labouring women with indication for FBS were prospectively included from seven Swedish and one Australian delivery unit. Population Inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancy, vertex presentation, ≥35+0 weeks of gestation. Method Based on the optimal correlation between FBS lactate and cord pH/lactate, only cases with ≤25 minutes from FBS to delivery were included in the final calculations. Main outcome measures Metabolic acidosis in cord blood defined as pH <7.05 plus BDecf >10 mmol/l and/or lactate >10 mmol/l. Results A total of 3334 women were enrolled of whom 799 were delivered within 25 minutes. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) and corresponding optimal cutoff values were as follows; metabolic acidosis AUC 0.87 (95% CI 0.77–0.97), cutoff 5.7 mmol/l; pH <7.0 AUC 0.83 (95% CI 0.68–0.97), cutoff 4.6 mmol/l; pH <7.05 plus BDecf ≥12 mmol/l AUC 0.97 (95% CI 0.92–1), cutoff 5.8 mmol/l; Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes AUC 0.74 (95% CI 0.63–0.86), cutoff 5.2 mmol/l; and pH <7.10 plus composite neonatal outcome AUC 0.76 (95% CI 0.67–0.85), cutoff 4.8 mmol/l. Conclusion A scalp lactate level <5.2 mmol/l using the StatstripLactate®/StatstripXpress® system will safely rule out fetal metabolic acidosis. Tweetable abstract Scalp blood lactate <5.2 mmol/l using the StatstripLactate®/StatstripXpress system has an excellent ability to rule out fetal acidosis.