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Objective: The objective of the study was to determine total hospital costs and net hospital income for different types of minimally invasive hysterectomy and financial impact if a subset of patients underwent total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH) instead of their selected procedure., Study Design: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign disease by TVH, laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), and robotic hysterectomy (RH) between Jan. 1, 2007, and April 30, 2010, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The hospital decision support database was used to calculate net hospital income. A subset of patients with at least 1 prior vaginal delivery, no more than 1 laparotomy, and a uterine size less than 14 weeks who had undergone RH, TLH, or LAVH was identified as potential TVH candidates. The financial impact of performing TVH over the selected hysterectomy was calculated., Results: Three hundred thirty-four cases of minimally invasive hysterectomy were identified. Fifty-five percent were TVH, 33% LAVH, 3% TLH, and 9% RH. Mean total hospital costs for TVH were $7903, $10,069 for LAVH, $11,558 for TLH, and $13,429 for RH (P < .0001). Net hospital income was $1260 for TVH. The hospital incurred losses of $-1306 for LAVH, $-4049 for TLH, and $-4564 for RH (P = .03). Our criteria to determine the mode of hysterectomy increased TVH from 57% to 76% of all minimally invasive hysterectomy., Conclusion: Hospital costs were greater with LAVH, TLH, and RH than for TVH. The hospital incurred financial losses with LAVH, TLH, and RH. TVH was the only minimally invasive modality of hysterectomy that generated net hospital income. Our conservative criteria to determine the route of hysterectomy would increase the number of TVHs by more than 30%., (Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

After uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), the development of intra-abdominal adhesions, especially those involving the bowel, is a very rare complication. Seven months after UFE, a patient had a complete small bowel obstruction develop that was caused by an adhesive band between the posterior fibroid and cul-de-sac. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy, lysis of adhesion, and myomectomy. No bowel resection was needed. Inflammation after UFE may cause the development of intraperitoneal adhesions. We report an unanticipated case of a complete small bowel obstruction caused by an adhesion observed after UFE.

A premenopausal 45-year-old woman underwent uterine artery embolization for suspected symptomatic leiomyomata. Fourteen months later, with renewed symptoms and a new pelvic mass, metastatic leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed. A lack of clinical response to a technically successful embolization should alert care providers that further evaluation and/or therapy is needed.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare pregnancy outcomes in women with fibromyomata who were treated with uterine artery embolization to the outcomes in women who were treated with laparoscopic myomectomy., Study Design: We compiled data from 53 pregnancies after uterine artery embolization and 139 pregnancies after laparoscopic myomectomy. We calculated and compared rates for spontaneous abortion, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, small for gestational age, and malpresentation., Results: Pregnancies after uterine artery embolization had higher rates of preterm delivery (odds ratio, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.4, 27.7) and malpresentation (odds ratio, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.0, 20.5) than did pregnancies after laparoscopic myomectomy. The risks of postpartum hemorrhage (odds ratio, 6.3; 95% CI, 0.6, 71.8) and spontaneous abortion (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.8, 3.9) after uterine artery embolization were similarly higher than the risks after laparoscopic myomectomy; however, these differences were not statistically significant., Conclusion: Pregnancies in women with fibromyomata who were treated by uterine artery embolization, compared with pregnancies after laparoscopic myomectomy, were at increased risk for preterm delivery and malpresentation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal race and rates of third- and fourth-degree laceration after vaginal delivery., Study Design: An electronic audit of the medical procedures database at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital from 1983 through 2000 was completed. Univariate and multivariable models were computed with the use of logistic regression models., Results: From the database, 34,048 vaginal deliveries were identified, with 3487 deliveries resulting in third- or fourth-degree laceration (10.2%). Overall severe laceration rates by race with all vaginal deliveries for patients without and with episiotomy were as follows: white, 4.3% and 15.1%; black, 2.0% and 19.3%; Asian 9.1% and 32.3%; Hispanic, 3.4% and 17.0%, respectively. After being controled for other variables with multivariable logistic regression in all vaginal deliveries, Asian race (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.43-2.92), forceps (odds ratio, 3.71; 95% CI, 3.39-4.05), vacuum-assisted delivery (odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.64-2.10), large size for gestational age (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.21-3.09), and episiotomy (odds ratio, 3.09; 95% CI, 2.66-3.59) were associated significantly with severe lacerations., Conclusion: Race is an independent risk factor for severe perineal lacerations after vaginal delivery, with Asian women at highest risk. Asian women who undergo episiotomy and operative vaginal delivery are especially at high risk for rectal sphincter injury.

Complications of uterine artery embolization (UAE) for treatment of leiomyoma uteri include contrast reactions, hematoma, postembolization syndrome, infection, pulmonary embolus, premature ovarian failure, and uterine necrosis. We present a case of vesicouterine fistula and extrusion of a degenerating leiomyoma into the bladder after UAE, necessitating hysterectomy and partial cystectomy for repair.

Persistent low back pain developed in a 51-year-old woman after she had undergone abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Four months postoperatively, necrotizing myofascitis developed in her gluteal muscles. The infected mesh, which had eroded into the vagina, was removed. Cultures of the infected mesh and abscesses grew common vaginal flora, including Gardnerella vaginalis and Actinomyces.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate a decade of data on multifetal pregnancy reductions at centers with extensive experiences., Study Design: A total of 3513 completed cases from 11 centers in 5 countries were analyzed according to year (before 1990, 1991-1994, and 1995-1998), starting and finishing numbers of embryos or fetuses, and outcomes., Results: With increasing experience there has been a considerable improvement in outcomes, with decreases in rates of both pregnancy loss and prematurity. Overall loss rates in the last few years were correlated strongly with starting and finishing numbers (starting number > or =6, 15.4%; starting number 5, 11.4%; starting number 4, 7.3%; starting number 3, 4.5%; starting number 2, 6.2%: finishing number 3, 18.4%; finishing number 2, 6.0%; finishing number 1, 6.7%). Birth weight discordance between surviving twins was increased with greater starting number. The proportion of cases with starting number > or =5 diminished from 23.4% to 15.9% to 12.2%. The proportion of patients >40 years old increased in the last 6 years to 9.3%. Gestational age at delivery did not vary with increasing maternal age but was inversely correlated with starting number., Conclusion: Multifetal pregnancy reduction outcomes at our centers for both losses and early prematurity have improved considerably with experience. Reductions from triplets to twins and now from quadruplets to twins carry outcomes as good as those of unreduced twin gestations. Patient demographic characteristics continues to change as more older women use assisted reproductive technologies. In terms of losses, prematurity, and growth, higher starting numbers carry worse outcomes.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the outcomes of selective termination for fetal anomalies at 8 centers with the largest known experiences worldwide., Study Design: Outcomes in 402 cases of selective termination in pregnancies with dizygotic twins from 8 centers in 4 countries were analyzed by year, gestational age at procedure, and indication. Reductions of fetuses were as follows: 2 to 1, n = 345; 3 to 2, 39; >/=4 to 2 or 3, n = 18. Potassium chloride was used in all procedures., Results: Selective termination resulted in delivery of a viable infant or infants in >90% of cases. Loss up to 24 weeks occurred in 7.1% of cases in which the final result was a singleton fetus and in 13.0% of cases in which the final result was twins. Loss was 6.6% as a result of structural abnormalities, 7.0% for chromosomal abnormalities, and 10% for mendelian abnormalities (difference not statistically significant). Loss rates for procedures were as follows: 9-12 weeks, 5.4%; 13-18 weeks, 8.7%; 19-24 weeks, 6.8%; and >/=25 weeks, 9.1% (difference not statistically significant). Mean gestational age at delivery was 35.7 weeks. No differences were seen in outcomes by maternal age. The rate of very early premature deliveries has fallen in recent years. There were no known cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation or serious maternal complications., Conclusion: (1) Selective termination, in the most experienced hands, can be technically performed in all 3 trimesters with good outcomes in >90% of cases. (2) The previously observed increase in second- versus first-trimester losses has diminished. (3) Third-trimester procedures, where legal, can be performed with a good outcome for the surviving fetus.

Objective: Our purpose was to prospectively evaluate the interobserver reliability of digital and endovaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurements., Study Design: Forty-three women were recruited from our antepartum clinic to participate in this study. Two independent and blinded digital cervical examinations were performed by the first author and a second examiner. Instructions were given to estimate the cervical length in millimeters. After micturition endovaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurements were performed by two independent, blinded registered diagnostic medical sonographers. Cervical lengths were compared with the Student t test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. A kappa statistic was calculated for interobserver reliability at three levels of agreement +/- 1 mm, +/- 4 mm, and +/- 10 mm. Data are expressed as means +/- SD., Results: Digital cervical lengths were not different between the two examiners (18.7 +/- 4.8 mm, 20.5 +/- 6.2 mm) nor between the two ultrasonographic measurements (38.6 +/- 6.1 mm, 39.2 +/- 5.4 mm). The digital cervical lengths agreed (+/- 1 mm) 35% of the time (R2 0.10, p = 0.02). The endovaginal ultrasonographic measurements agreed (+/- 1 mm) 74% of the time with a stronger correlation (R2 0.53, p = 0.0001). The kappa statistic for interobserver variability was marginal for both digital and endovaginal cervical length measurements when agreement was defined as +/- 1 mm. Endovaginal ultrasonography was significantly more reliable than digital examination when agreement between examiners was defined as either +/- 4 mm or +/- 10 mm., Conclusion: Although both digital and endovaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurements show correlation between examiners, endovaginal ultrasonography is significantly more reliable when agreement is defined as > or = +/- 4 mm. Serial cervical length measurements to predict preterm labor will be enhanced by the interobserver reliability of endovaginal ultrasonography.

Objective: Chromosomal mosaicism has been reported in about 1% to 3% of chorionic villus sampling specimens. This report provides incidence and outcome information that should be useful in counseling patients found to have mosaicism on chorionic villus sampling., Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 11,200 consecutive patients undergoing chorionic villus sampling at the University of California, San Francisco, during the period from Jan. 1, 1984, to June 1, 1996, was undertaken., Results: A total of 140 cases of mosaicism were identified for an incidence of 1.3%. Follow-up information was available for 130 cases, 26 of which (20%) were confirmed in fetal tissue. Confirmation rates for specific types of mosaicism were as follows: autosomal trisomy 7.6%, sex chromosome 25%, structural abnormality 27.3%, and marker chromosome 77.8%. Neonatal outcome was normal in all cases for which pregnancy continued., Conclusion: The data indicate that in most cases of chromosomal mosaicism found by chorionic villus sampling the mosaicism is unlikely to be clinically significant in the fetus.

Objectives: Our purposes were (1) to compare the safety of transabdominal and transcervical chorionic villus sampling with the use of a consistent technique at one center and (2) to determine whether the training of fellows can be accomplished without an increase in the loss rate., Study Design: We performed a retrospective comparison of transabdominal and transcervical chorionic villus sampling loss rates from procedures performed by three principal operators between 1984 and 1992. The type of procedure was chosen by the operator at the time of the procedure on the basis of placental location., Results: Procedures 1 through 2573 were performed solely by transcervical chorionic villus sampling and had an overall fetal loss rate of 5.12%. With the addition of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling the overall fetal loss rate dropped to 3.07% (p < 0.0001). Three and one half years after the start of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (about 1300 transabdominal chorionic villus sampling procedures), the transabdominal chorionic villus sampling loss rate was significantly better than the transcervical loss rate (p = 0.035), and the difference widened steadily after that. During the same time period seven fellows performed 716 procedures for a fetal loss rate among fellows of 2.72%., Conclusions: (1) Under optimal circumstances (one center, large numbers, few operators, consistent technique, operator choice of best approach), transabdominal chorionic villus sampling may be inherently safer than transcervical chorionic villus sampling. (2) The addition of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling decreases overall chorionic villus sampling loss rates. (3) Although the number of procedures performed by fellows is small, it appears that with close supervision by experienced operators successful training of fellows can be accomplished without adverse effects on loss rates.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether viral deoxyribonucleic acid is detectable in the amniotic fluid of pregnancies at low risk for fetal viral infection., Study Design: Amniotic fluid samples were prospectively collected from 277 patients. Selected primer pairs amplified deoxyribonucleic acid sequences unique to adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and parvovirus. Amplified deoxyribonucleic acid was detected by gel electrophoresis. Sensitivity of the adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes virus primers were determined by serial dilution of 10(3) PFU/ml controls., Results: Of the 277 extracted samples, 243 had detectable deoxyribonucleic acid. None of these samples had detectable viral deoxyribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction. The sensitivity of the adenovirus primer pairs was 10(-3) PFU/ml, cytomegalovirus 10(-2) PFU/ml, and herpes simplex virus 10(-1) PFU/ml., Conclusion: This study did not detect viral deoxyribonucleic acid in a low-risk population, supporting the clinical significance of detecting viral deoxyribonucleic acid in pregnancies at risk for infection.

Objective: Our goal was to develop the most comprehensive database possible to counsel patients about selective termination for fetal abnormalities, because no one center has sufficient data to assess much more than crude loss rates., Study Design: A total of 183 completed cases of selective termination from 9 centers in 4 countries were combined (169 twins, 11 triplets, 3 quadruplets). Variables included indications, methods, (potassium chloride, exsanguination, air embolus), gestational age at procedure, pregnancies lost (< or = 24 weeks), gestational age at delivery, and neonatal outcome., Results: Indications for selective termination were 96 chromosomal, 76 structural, and 11 mendelian. Selective termination was technically successful in 100% of cases. In 23 of 183 (12.6%) miscarriage occurred before 24 weeks; 2 of 37 (5.4%) occurred when the procedure done at < or = 16 weeks and 21 of 146 (14.4%) when it was done thereafter. Air embolization had a higher loss rate: 10 of 24 (41.7%) compared with 13 of 156 (8.3%) by potassium chloride (chi 2 = 117, p < 0.0001). Three cases of selective termination performed in monochorionic pregnancies all resulted in pregnancy loss. Among 183 potentially viable deliveries, 7 occurred before 28 weeks, 19 at 29 to 32 weeks, 41 at 33 to 36 weeks, and 93 at > or = 37 weeks. Gestational age at delivery was not influenced by the technique used or the indication but was negatively correlated with gestational age at the time of selective termination. No coagulopathy or ischemic damage was observed in survivors. There was no maternal morbidity., Conclusions: (1) Selective termination in experienced hands for a dizygotic abnormal twin is safe and effective when done with potassium chloride. A total of 83.8% of viable deliveries occurred after 33 weeks and only 4.3% at 25 to 28 weeks. (2) Gestational age at the procedure correlated positively with loss rate and inversely with gestational age at delivery; this emphasizes the need for early diagnosis in multifetal pregnancies. (3) Coagulopathy tests are probably unnecessary.

Objectives: Two major approaches for multifetal pregnancy reduction have been developed over the past several years: transabdominal potassium chloride by injection and pelvic procedures by either transcervical aspiration or transvaginal potassium chloride injection or by an automated spring-loaded puncture device. The purpose of this study was to create the largest database from among the world's largest centers to assess possible differences in efficacy and complication rates by transabdominal or transcervical or multifetal pregnancy reduction., Study Design: Data on over 1000 completed pregnancies that underwent multifetal pregnancy reduction by both methods from major centers with among the highest worldwide experience were combined. Transabdominal cases were divided temporally (1986 through 1991 and 1991 through 1993)., Results: Transabdominal multifetal pregnancy reduction was successfully performed on 846 patients and transcervical or transvaginal on 238 patients. Transcervical or transvaginal reduction is performed earlier and starts and finishes with fewer embryos. In 12.6% of cases transcervical or transvaginal reduction left a singleton as opposed to 4.4% for transabdominal reduction. Pregnancy losses (up to 24 weeks) were observed in 13.1% of transcervical or transvaginal cases and in 16.2% of transabdominal cases early in the series and 8.8% of late transabdominal cases. Transcervical or transvaginal reduction may be safer very early in gestation and transabdominal safer later in the first trimester. Premature deliveries were comparable, with only about 5% delivered between 25 and 28 weeks. The smaller starting numbers for transcervical and transvaginal reduction may explain a slightly higher term delivery rate. The transabdominal route tends to reduce the fundal embryos and the transcervical and transvaginal the lower ones. The significance of this is not clear., Conclusions: (1) Multifetal pregnancy reduction by either method is a relatively safe and efficient method for improving outcome in multifetal pregnancies. (2) More than 84% are delivered at > 33 weeks. (3) The experience and preference of the operator are probably the key determinants for an individual patient. (4) An inverse relationship of starting and finishing number to loss rates and gestational age at delivery suggests that there still is a cost of iatrogenic multifetal pregnancies, even if multifetal pregnancy reduction can be successfully performed.

Objective: Twenty-two cases of antenatally diagnosed congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations are reported., Study Design: Case management is reviewed., Results: Eighteen women continued pregnancy after diagnosis. In nine cases nonimmune hydrops fetalis did not develop and all infants survived. Nonimmune hydrops fetalis developed in the other nine; fetal intervention was performed in eight cases. In the single case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis without intervention, the neonate died. In four cases aspiration of macrocystic lesions was performed. In two cases cystoamniotic shunts were placed. Neither aspiration or shunting provided long-term benefit. In six cases fetal lobectomy was ultimately performed and four survived. Two fetuses did not undergo in utero surgery; one was delivered prematurely after cyst aspiration and lived, and the other previable fetus was delivered soon after shunting., Conclusions: Fetal survival is best related to development of nonimmune hydrops fetalis. Aspiration of cystic lesions and cystoamniotic shunts generally provide short-term benefit. Early experience with fetal surgery for congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations has been encouraging.

Objective: The null hypothesis of our study is that the success of in vitro and in vivo murine fertilization and embryo development is not decreased by gamete exposure to peritoneal fluid from superovulated patients with endometriosis., Study Design: A murine in vitro fertilization model was used to test the effects of endometriosis versus nonendometriosis peritoneal fluid at concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% versus an unsupplemented control. Fertilization and blastocyst formation were compared by analysis of variance. In a second experiment superovulated mice were given intraperitoneal injections of endometriosis or nonendometriosis fluid or saline solution 8 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin and then mated. Some mice were killed 3 days after coitus to assess embryo number, cleavage stage, and uterine versus tubal position by means of analysis of variance and covariance with repeated measures. Others were killed 12 days after coitus with the mean number of implantations per animal between groups compared by Student's t test., Results: In vitro fertilization rates decreased as peritoneal fluid concentration increased in both the endometriosis (65%, 43%, 33%) and nonendometriosis (65%, 52%, 35%) groups at 1%, 5%, and 10% peritoneal fluid concentration, respectively. Mice receiving intraperitoneal endometriosis or nonendometriosis fluid or saline solution injections showed no differences in embryo number, cleavage, uterine versus tubal position, or mean implantation number., Conclusion: Peritoneal fluid from superovulated patients had no differentially negative effect when compared with the effect of nonendometriosis peritoneal fluid on murine in vitro or in vivo fertilization and embryo development, tubal embryo transport, or implantation.

Coculturing one- and two-cell embryos with various cell lines has been shown to overcome species-specific developmental blocks and to improve blastocyst transformation rates. The objective of this study was to assess whether human fallopian tube epithelium organ explants influence in vitro fertilization and subsequent early embryo development in a murine model. Fertilization, blastocyst transformation, and blastocyst expansion and hatching rates were significantly higher in the coculture group when compared with rates for culture in standard media or media conditioned by human tubal explant cultures. The results from conditioned and unconditioned media were not significantly different.

Intrauterine insemination is widely used for the treatment of infertility as a result of cervical or male factors or empirically before in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer. This study was designed to confirm or refute the theoretical concern that intrauterine insemination may induce antisperm antibodies in such women. Serum and cervical mucus were obtained at the first, fourth, and sixth intrauterine inseminations. The serum was screened by the Immunobead test for IgG and IgA. If screening results were positive (greater than 10% binding), antisperm antibodies were titered by the microimmobilization and microagglutination tests. The Immunobead test was performed on the cervical mucus after liquefication with bromelin. Ninety-three patients were followed up prospectively. Of these, 40 completed six intrauterine insemination cycles and the remaining 53 completed four cycles. Low transient antisperm antibody levels were detected in 10.8% of the patients and would not be expected to affect the prognosis for fertility. It is concluded that intrauterine insemination does not induce significant antisperm antibody production in women.

A severely Rh-isoimmunized pregnancy is described in which an intrauterine transfusion of blood was given by the intravascular route directly into an umbilical vessel. Fetoscopy was not used, and the procedure was performed percutaneously under direct ultrasound visualization.

Two groups of 58 gestational diabetic women matched for age, prepregnancy weight, height, and parity were studied. The home glucose monitoring study group performed fasting and 1-hour postprandial capillary blood glucose testing after every meal. The control group was followed by conventional treatment. The incidence of macrosomia (birth weight of greater than or equal to 4000 gm) and large (greater than or equal to 90%) for gestational age infants was significantly reduced in the home glucose monitoring group. The mean birth weight of the study group was 3231 +/- 561 gm, while that of the control group was 3597 +/- 721 gm (p less than 0.002). Significantly more patients in the home glucose monitoring group were receiving insulin therapy (50% versus 21%). We believe that intensive home glucose monitoring will allow for the early identification of those gestational diabetic patients needing insulin and thus reduce the incidence of macrosomia and large for gestational age infants.

Birth defects caused by human teratogens are an important and potentially preventable cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Case reports provide an initial suggestion that a specific agent may be a human teratogen and provide the basis for further study. This review discusses the importance of case reports in human teratology and provides guidance in evaluating new case reports.

The charts of 229 patients who attempted a vaginal birth after a cesarean section were reviewed. A total of 103 patients had a prior cesarean section for either failure to progress or cephalopelvic disproportion. On the basis of the maximum cervical dilatation in the prior labor, the patients were categorized into three groups: 0 to 5 cm, 6 to 9 cm, and 10 cm. The success rates for vaginal delivery of 61%, 80%, and 69%, respectively, were not significantly different among groups (p = 0.31). When arrest of labor was not the indication for primary cesarean section, 78% of the patients were subsequently delivered of their infants vaginally. This was not significantly different from the 70% overall success rate achieved by the group with failure to progress or cephalopelvic disproportion (p = 0.17). Similarly, when the success rate for a trial of labor was plotted against neonatal birth weight, the trends were comparable in the groups with and without failure to progress or cephalopelvic disproportion. These data suggest that patients with a prior cesarean section for arrest of labor are good candidates for a trial of labor and that the cervical dilatation previously reached does not determine the likelihood of success.

Between 1974 and 1982, 273 patients with epithelial cancer of the ovary (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Stages III and IV) were randomized in four therapeutic trials. In Trial I Adriamycin plus cisplatin versus cisplatin alone versus thiotepa plus methotrexate was tested. The superiority of Adriamycin plus cisplatin in producing the best response rate led to its use as the reference arm in subsequent trials. All investigational arms included cisplatin plus other drugs (cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, hexamethylmelamine, and thiotepa) in various combinations. Eligibility for second look required complete clinical remission and completion of at least 10 cycles of chemotherapy. To date, 73 second-look operations have been performed on randomized patients. An additional 43 nonrandomized patients underwent second-look procedures and are analyzed separately. Between 40% and 46% of patients treated with cisplatin regimens had no disease at second look. Cell differentiation and volume of postoperative disease did not influence response.

Patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma, Stage III or IV (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics), were randomized to primary chemotherapy with doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cisplatin plus or minus hexamethylmelamine, and cyclophosphamide (CHAP). The four-drug CHAP regimen produced a 57% complete clinical response rate and a 26% partial response rate for clinically evaluable patients. The median survival of CHAP patients is 25 months. The two-drug Adriamycin-cisplatin (AP) regimen produced a 43% complete response rate and a 35% partial response rate. The median survival is 18 months. The four-drug regimen produced a significantly longer median survival (28 versus 18 months) for patients with poorly differentiated tumors than for patients with well-differentiated tumors on either treatment. Examination of treatment failure or death by treatment, histology, and size of largest residual tumor and comparison to similar patients treated with AP in this and two preceding controlled trials also suggest that CHAP is superior to AP for patients with poorly differentiated tumors.

The factors that influence women in choosing between first-trimester chorionic villi sampling and second-trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis were investigated. Five hundred twenty women of advanced maternal age who had previously undergone prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis and were delivered of a normal infant were requested to complete a questionnaire concerning their attitudes toward amniocentesis and chorionic villi sampling. The majority of respondents indicated that the time at which chorionic villi sampling is performed (76%), the rapid availability of diagnostic results (72%), and the type of abortion procedure available (68%) would make them choose this method. In contrast, the factors that influenced women to choose amniocentesis included the known low risk of spontaneous abortion (76%) and confidence in the skill of the obstetrician who would perform the procedure (56%). When all factors were considered together, 68% of the respondents chose amniocentesis based on the known low risk of spontaneous abortion, whereas for those who chose chorionic villi sampling (32%), the major criterion was the fact that the procedure is performed in the first trimester. However, 87% of women who preferred amniocentesis indicated that if the risk of spontaneous abortion associated with chorionic villi sampling. These results indicate that for many women of advanced maternal age, the acceptability and the use of chorionic villi sampling will be dependent on the demonstration that the risk of fetal loss is low, approaching that of amniocentesis.

Most sacrococcygeal teratomas diagnosed before birth can be managed by planned delivery and postnatal surgery. However, large tumors early in gestation may result in placentomegaly, hydrops, and fetal death and a preeclampsia-like syndrome in the mother. This chain of events may result from high output cardiac failure in the fetus caused by arteriovenous shunting through the tumor. We recently encountered this situation in a fetus at 21 weeks' gestation and performed fetal surgery in an attempt to reverse the process. Excision of the teratoma resulted in reversal of hydrops, diminution of descending aortic flow on Doppler echocardiography, and decrease in placental thickness. Despite these changes, uterine irritability after hysterotomy resulted in labor and delivery of a nonviable premature infant. This case demonstrates that when fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma becomes very large early in gestation, high output cardiac failure can endanger both fetus and mother. In the future, use of Doppler echocardiography may allow appropriate selection of high-risk fetuses. Intervention to prevent arteriovenous shunting through the tumor may offer these fetuses an improved chance for survival.

Fetal urine was sampled 12 times in nine fetuses with sonographically diagnosed urinary tract obstruction to assess renal function. By previously proposed criteria, four fetuses were predicted to have poor renal function. Two of these fetuses were found to have renal dysplasia on autopsy after elective termination. The other two died in the neonatal period but only one of these had histologic evidence of renal dysplasia. Five fetuses were predicted to have good renal function. Three of these developed renal failure after birth, one was found to have renal dysplasia on autopsy after elective termination, and one is alive and well. We conclude that fetal urine electrolytes are not necessarily an accurate predictor of neonatal renal function.

Eight pregnancies with severe red blood cell isoimmunization were managed with use of an intravascular approach for intrauterine transfusions. Fetoscopy was not employed, and the procedures were performed percutaneously under direct ultrasound visualization. A total of 16 of 18 attempted transfusions were successfully performed, with four fetuses requiring more than one transfusion. Technical aspects of the procedure as well as its indications, advantages, and drawbacks are discussed.