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Background: Respiratory distress is commonly encountered among premature babies immediately after birth resulting in significant neonatal morbidity or mortality., Objectives: To evaluate the possible correlation between three dimensional fetal lung volumes (FLVs) and neonatal respiratory outcomes., Study Design: A cohort study included 100 pregnant women who participated in the study and were divided into two groups; group A (n: 50 - women pregnant ±34-37 weeks) and group B (n: 50 - women pregnant ±37 +1 to 40 weeks). A three dimensional measurement of the right fetal lung was made using virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) software then correlated to neonatal respiratory functions namely Apgar score at birth and the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)., Results: In group A, FLV was negatively correlated with Apgar score and the occurrence of RDS. In group B, FLV showed no statistical correlation with Apgar score and the occurrence of RDS., Conclusions: Three dimensional fetal lung volumes might be an accurate noninvasive predictor for the development of RDS among preterm fetuses.

Objective: To evaluate efficiency and safety of the new approach of laparoscopic cerclage., Study Design: Fifteen women were operated with our new technique. Their age ranged from 22 years to 35 years. Inclusion criteria included those with history of two or more second trimesteric abortions or early preterm labor. These women had at least two previous unsuccessful vaginal cerclage or vaginal insertion of cerclage is not possible because of congenitally short cervix, cervical conization or excessive cervical scarring., Results: Twelve of the participants delivered vaginally with the removal of cerclage, two had CS due to breech presentation and the cerclage was left in place and the last one has surgical evacuation. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered namely; excessive bleeding, injury of uterine vessels or postoperative peritonitis. No technical difficulties upon doing the procedure or cerclage removal were met apart from one case where removal of the vaginal stitch was not possible [incision was done in the cervix over the tape and the Mersilene tape was cut followed by repair of the cervical tissue using (00) Vicryl stitches]., Conclusion: The new approach for laparoscopic cerclage is a safe, effective and reasonable treatment after failure of vaginal cerclage.

Objective: To study the preconceptual & early conceptional risk factors predisposing to the development of spina bifida (SB) among Egyptian population., Study Design: The study involved 197 pregnant women undergoing fetal anatomy scan; 97 women proved to have fetal SB and 100 women with normal fetuses as a control group. The control group was recruited randomly in the same period from patients undergoing anatomical scan. Risk factors that might lead to SB were investigated including maternal age, gravidity, parity, residence, history of diabetes mellitus or drug intake, smoking, infections, exposure to X-ray, history of congenital anomalies in other offspring, parental consanguinity, positive family history, and folate supplementations., Results: SB affected the lumbo-sacral region in the majority of cases (89.7%). It was associated with hydrocephalus in 66 cases (68%), polyhydramnios in 12 cases (12.4%). The SB group showed significantly higher parity (p = 0.005), more frequent history of drug intake (p < 0.001), higher frequency of infection with CMV (p = 0.004), and HSV (p = 0.013) and less proportion of folate supplementation (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The rate of SB in the tested group was five per 1000. Risk factors were lack of folate supplementation and history of antiepileptic drugs intake.