BACKGROUND: Amnioinfusion, or transcervical infusion of saline into the amniotic cavity, has been proposed as a method for reducing the risk of meconium aspiration syndrome.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effect of intrapartal amnioinfusion with meconium stained amniotic fluid on cesarean section rate, incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome, neonatal ICU admission, perinatal death and adverse maternal outcomes.
METHODS: This study is a randomized controlled trial from June to September 2013, conducted in the service wards of a university hospital. The study population consists of parturients 19-45 years old with singleton term low-risk pregnancies, in cephalic presentation, with cervical dilatation at 2-6 cm, with ruptured membranes showing meconium stained amniotic fluid.
RESULTS: Meconium aspiration syndrome occurred in one infant in the amnioinfusion group and in three infants in the control group (9% vs. 25%). There was a lower rate of neonatal pneumonia and neonatal sepsis in the treatment arm (0% vs. 8% and 9% vs. 17%, respectively). There were no perinatal deaths in both groups. Neonatal lCU admission was seen less in;the treatment arm (9% vs. 25%). The cesarean section rate did not differ significantly in both groups (9% vs. 8%). Maternal morbidity was seen less in the treatment group. None of the patients in the amnioinfusion arm had fever while two patients in the control group had pyrexia (0% vs. 17%). Hospital stay was also shorter for patients in the treatment group with an average duration of 3 days, as opposed to 4 days in the control arm.
CONCLUSION: Amnioinfusion is a relatively simple technique of reducing perinatal and maternal morbidity in patients with meconium stained amniotic fluid. Although this study did not show any significant difference between the two groups, there is a trend towards better neonatal outcomes and decreased maternal morbidity with amnioinfusion.

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Meconium ; Amniotic Fluid ; Perinatal Death ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Neonatal Sepsis ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid ; Fever ; Pneumonia

Prompt diagnosis using an accurate and quick laboratory test would promote timely intervention and result in a decrease in maternal moralities caused by pregnancy induced hypertension. The 24-hour urine collection, the gold standard in diagnosing proteinuria in preeclampsia, is both tedious and time-consuming resulting to delayed management or poor compliance.

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether 4-hour, 8-hour and 12-hour urine protein values correlate with the 24-hour urine protein value in women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Pregnancy patients diagnosed with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy admitted at the Obstetrics Ward and Labor Room of the Philippine General Hospital who are more than 20 weeks age of gestation were included in the study. The 24-hour urine collection was modified accordingly and subdivided into the 4-,8-,12- and 24-hour collection. Total volume, total protein, and urine creatinine for the samples were obtained and the results were analyzed using the Pearson collection. Only the 4- and the 8- hour samples were found to be statistically significant variables associated with the 24-hour sample. Cut-off values for the 8-hour sample were determined to be 657 mg for severe proteinuria.

Human ; Pre-eclampsia ; Creatinine ; Urine Specimen Collection ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-induced ; Hospitals, General ; Philippines ; Proteinuria ; Urinalysis ; Kidney Function Tests