2024年 · 第06卷第02期

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of an evidence-based bundle in minimizing cesarean section (CS)-related surgical site infections (SSIs) with that of standard routine care. Methods: This was a single-center, parallel, and randomized clinical trial conducted at KAHER’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital, Belagavi, India, from January 2021 to December 31, 2021. Three hundred twenty women undergoing CS delivery were selected and allocated into two groups (1:1) using simple randomization with fixed allocation. An evidence-based surgical bundle (a combination of more than three perioperative interventions) was used for the intervention group, whereas the control group received routine standard perioperative care. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI (superficial, deep, and organ or space SSIs) within 6 weeks postpartum in both groups. Categorical and continuous data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests with a significance threshold set at P < 0.05. Results: In this study, 16 and 17 participants each from the control and intervention groups, respectively, were lost to follow-up, resulting in a total of 144 and 143 study participants included in the respective groups. Twenty-eight (19.4%) and 14 (9.8%) women developed SSI in the control and intervention groups, respectively (P = 0.02). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause of SSI in both groups (63.6% (7/11) and 100% (3/3) in the control and intervention groups, respectively). Conclusion: The use of the evidence-based bundle for CS-related SSI prevention effectively decreased the incidence of SSI by half compared to standard routine practice. Implementing the use of this bundle in routine perioperative care will reduce the cost of CS and improve health outcomes in CS. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry-India (www.ctri.nic.in). Registration number: CTRI/2020/11/029246.

Objective: To determine the role of regular diet recovery after restoration of normal muscle strength of both lower extremities in promoting postoperative recovery in women undergoing elective cesarean section. Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study. Patients who underwent elective cesarean section at Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from October 2022 to December 2022, were categorized into two groups based on the duration of postoperative fasting: the observation group resumed eating after regaining lower extremity muscle strength, while the control group adhered to traditional postoperative fasting guidelines, waiting 6 hours before eating. Primary outcomes included postoperative pain levels assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and time to first flatus. Demographic characteristics, time to first lactation, hospital stay length, and patient satisfaction were also assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student’s t test and Chi-squared test, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Out of a total of 300 patients, 240 were included in the analysis, comprising 112 in the control group and 128 in the observation group. There were no significant differences in baseline demographic characteristics. The median values of the first flatus time and the first lactation time were 33.37 ± 1.22 vs. 18.06 ± 6.34 hours (P = 0.003) and 26.34 ± 8.21 vs. 7.05 ± 1.26 hours (P = 0.001) in the control and observation groups, respectively. The median hospital stay duration in the control and observation groups was 6.54 ± 0.53 vs. 4.84 ± 0.18 days (P = 0.000), respectively. Median postoperative VAS pain scores and patient satisfaction values were 8.57 ± 0.11 vs. 4.91 ± 0.27 (P = 0.000) and 9.36 ± 0.16 vs. 9.72 ± 0.08 (P = 0.005) in the control and observation groups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in other postoperative outcomes, such as intestinal obstruction, infection, and readmission within 42 days (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Food intake after restoration of lower extremity muscle strength improves first flatus, relieves postoperative pain, shortens hospital stay, and enhances satisfaction after elective cesarean section, without adverse effects. It is crucial for postoperative rehabilitation and should be encouraged.

Preeclampsia (PE), a multisystem disorder in pregnancy, is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality that poses financial and physical burdens worldwide. Preterm PE with delivery at <37 weeks of gestation is associated with a higher risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes than term PE with delivery at ≥37 weeks of gestation. A myriad of first trimester screening models have been developed to identifying women at risk of preterm PE. In fact, the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) first trimester prediction model has undergone successful internal and external validation. The FMF triple test enables the estimation of patient-specific risks, using Bayes theorem to combine maternal characteristics and medical history together with measurements of mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, and serum placental growth factor. Establishing a quality control process for regular monitoring and to ensure data standardization, reliability, and accuracy is key to maintaining optimal screening performance. The rate of preterm PE can be reduced by 62% by using the FMF prediction model, followed by the administration of low-dose aspirin. Recent evidence has also demonstrated that metformin has the potential for preventing PE in patients at high-risk of the disorder. In this article, we will summarize the existing literature on the different screening methods, different components of risk assessment, therapeutic interventions, and clinical implementation of the first trimester screening and prevention program for PE with specific considerations for Chinese mainland.

Over the past two decades, population-based studies employing semiautomatic computer-assisted programs have uncovered associations between retinal microvascular features and various systemic conditions. As the recognition of retinal imaging in cardiometabolic health grows, there is increasing evidence supporting its application in women’s health, particularly during the reproductive age. This review aims to summarize the indications of retinal imaging in women’s health and intergenerational health, where suboptimal retinal imaging has been found to mirror pathological systemic changes, such as suboptimal hemodynamic circulation, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and hypoxia in vivo. Findings from Singapore Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes and Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes cohorts have reported serial changes in retinal conventional microvascular features (e.g., retinal arteriolar narrowing, retinal venular widening) and retinal geometric microvascular features (e.g., sparse fractal dimension, enlarged branching angle, and increased curvature tortuosity) during the preconception and antenatal phases. These morphological abnormalities were found to be related to female fertility, maternal antenatal health conditions, postnatal maternal cardiometabolic health, and intergenerational health in the fetus. Given the compelling evidence of the ability to detect microvascular changes through noninvasive methods at an early stage, retinal imaging holds the potential to facilitate timely interventions, mitigate the progression of complications, and prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Looking ahead, the convergence of artificial intelligence and advanced imaging techniques heralds a promising era in women’s health research and clinical practice.

The recent increase in placenta accreta spectrum has been correlated with a rise in the rate of cesarean sections. A recent study provides evidence that hampered wound healing results in cesarean scar defects that lead to a failure in the normal process of decidualization and deeper adherence of trophoblasts. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is crucial in every step of wound healing as it alters the wound matrix, facilitating cell migration, as well as tissue remodeling. MMP-9 expression is higher in placental and decidual tissue in cases of placenta accreta. Based on these findings, assessment of MMP-9 expression can shed new light on the etiopathology of placenta accreta spectrum disorder and can be a potential diagnostic marker.