Objective: To report the incidence of fetal and maternal complications after selective fetoscopic laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Methods: A total of 150 cases of TTTS were treated from January 2004 to June 2009 (period 1, 2004–2006, 62 cases; period 2, 2007 to June 2009, 88 cases). Fetal complications (double and single intrauterine fetal death, recurrence of TTTS, twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS), reversal of TTTS, cerebral lesions in one twin) and maternal complications were recorded, and retrospectively analyzed. Results: Nineteen (12.6%), 58 (38.7%), 61 (40.7%) and 12 cases (8.0%) were classified preoperatively as Quintero stage I, II, III and IV, respectively. The anterior placenta was described in 73 cases (48.6%). Double and single fetal death occurred overall in 7.3 and 36.0% of cases, respectively. The rate of recurrence was 11.3%, of TAPS 3.3%, and of reversal of TTTS 1.3%. Cerebral lesions were diagnosed in 3 donors (2.0%). Eighteen cases (12.0%) of fetal complications had a second procedure (6 repeat laser, 4 serial amnioreduction, 8 bipolar cord coagulation). Pregnancies undergoing a second procedure delivered at a median gestational age of 30.2 weeks compared to 32.1 weeks for those not repeating (p = 0.04). Perinatal survival of at least one twin improved from 66.1 to 79.5% (p = 0.06) in the two consecutive periods. For every 10 laser surgeries performed, there was an average improvement of 1.5% in the predicted percentage of survival of at least one twin (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00–1.19). Major maternal complications occurred in 9 cases (6.0%), 3 of which required admission to intensive care unit. Conclusions: Fetal complications are common after fetoscopic laser surgery. In this experience, an increasing number of procedures improved the performance of a new fetoscopic laser center.
Prophylactic regimen of LMWH significantly reduced the recurrence rate of severe composite APO in pregnancies affected in the index pregnancy by APO and FGR or small for gestational age newborns. This result was independent from the patients' inherited thrombophilic conditions.
This study indicates that CLB 0.05% and MMF 0.1% in a short protocol regimen are effective, safe, and reliable treatments for VLS, with no significant difference between the 2 steroids in their efficacy. However, a moisturizing cream should be an integral part of the treatment.
Background: Vestibulodynia (VBD) and painful bladder syndrome (PBS) are two common and often concomitant conditions. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an enzymatic combination of papain, bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin and quercetin in the supportive treatment of VBD/PBS, patients underwent TENS + amitriptyline and pregabalin therapy as a multimodal treatment strategy. Method: 40 patients were randomly assigned to receive a systemic therapy: amitriptyline + pregabalin (Group A) versus amitriptyline + Pregabalin plus a systemic enzyme preparation (Group B). All patients received a transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy in a self-administered domiciliary protocol. Results: The VAS and the dyspareunia score after the treatment showed a significant difference in the two groups (VAS: Group A difference of 4.3, Group B difference of 3.1, p = 0.005; dyspareunia: Group A and Group B 1.8 vs. 0.8, p = 0.005). Conclusion: The positive results of our study prove the utility effectiveness of an enzyme combination to decrease and normalize the biomarkers of inflammation in VBD and PBS patients in a multimodal approach.
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