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Objective: Postpartum hypertension is a leading cause of readmission in the postpartum period. We aimed to examine the prevalence of racial/ethnic differences in postpartum readmission due to hypertension in women with antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension., Study Design: This was a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of all women with antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension diagnosed prior to initial discharge from January 2009 to December 2016. Antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension, such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia (with or without severe features), hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, and eclampsia was diagnosed based on American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Task Force definitions. Women with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia were excluded. Our primary outcome was postpartum readmission defined as a readmission due to severe hypertension within 6 weeks of postpartum. Risk factors including maternal age, gestational age at admission, insurance, race/ethnicity (self-reported), type of antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension, marital status, body mass index (kg/m 2 ), diabetes (gestational or pregestational), use of antihypertensive medications, mode of delivery, and postpartum day 1 systolic blood pressure levels were examined. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs)., Results: Of 4,317 women with pregnancy-associated hypertension before initial discharge, 66 (1.5%) had postpartum readmission due to hypertension. Risk factors associated with postpartum readmission due to hypertension included older maternal age (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.20-1.73 for every 5 year increase) and non-Hispanic black race (aOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.16-3.87)., Conclusion: In women with pregnancy-associated hypertension before initial discharge, non-Hispanic black women were at increased odds of postpartum readmission due to hypertension compared with non-Hispanic white women., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The study aimed to examine the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also known as COVID-19)., Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of all women who delivered at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC from April 8, 2020 to July 31, 2020. Starting April 8, 2020, universal testing for COVID-19 infection was initiated for all women admitted to labor and delivery. Women who declined universal testing were excluded. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were diagnosed based on American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Task Force definitions.1 Maternal demographics, clinical characteristics, and labor and delivery outcomes were examined. Neonatal outcomes were also collected. Laboratory values from admission were evaluated. Our primary outcome was the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among women who tested positive for COVID-19. The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was compared between women who tested positive for COVID-19 and women who tested negative., Results: Of the 1,008 women included in the analysis, 73 (7.2%) women tested positive for COVID-19, of which 12 (16.4%) were symptomatic at the time of admission. The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 34.2% among women who tested positive for COVID-19 and 22.9% women who tested negative for COVID-19 ( p  = 0.03). After adjusting for race, antenatal aspirin use, chronic hypertension, and body mass index >30, the risk of developing any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy was not statistically significant (odds ratio: 1.58 [0.91-2.76])., Conclusion: After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of developing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy in women who tested positive for COVID-19 compared with women who tested negative for COVID-19 was not significantly different., Key Points: · There is an increased incidence of hypertensive disorders in women who test positive for COVID-19.. · Characteristics of pregnant women with COVID-19 are similar to those with hypertensive disorders.. · Liver function tests were similar between pregnant women with COVID-19 and women without COVID-19.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the association of a resident-driven quality initiative with cesarean delivery surgical site infections., Methods: This was a quasi-experimental, preintervention and postintervention study of women undergoing cesarean delivery at 23 weeks of gestation or greater between January 2015 and June 2018 at a single tertiary care center. We implemented a resident-driven, evidence-based surgical bundle, excluding women who underwent emergency cesarean or had chorioamnionitis. The bundle included routine prophylactic antibiotics (both cefazolin and azithromycin), chlorhexidine alcohol skin preparation, use of clippers instead of a razor, vaginal cleansing with povidone iodine, placental removal by umbilical cord traction, subcutaneous tissue closure if wound thickness greater than 2 cm, suture skin closure, dressing removal between 24 and 48 hours, and use of postoperative chlorhexidine soap. Our primary outcome was surgical site infections (superficial incisional, deep incisional, and organ or space surgical site infections) occurring up to 6 weeks postpartum. Outcomes were compared between the preimplementation period (January 2015-August 2016) and postimplementation period (December 2016-June 2018). Coarsened Exact Matching with k-to-k solution was performed using age, race-ethnicity, body mass index, rupture of membranes, and labor., Results: In total, 1,624 underwent cesarean delivery in the preimplementation and 1,523 postimplementation periods, respectively; 1,100 women in the postimplementation period were matched to 1,100 women in the preimplementation period. The rate of surgical site infections in the unmatched cohort was significantly lower in the postimplementation period compared to those in the preimplementation period (2.2% [33/1,523] vs 4.5% [73/1,624]; odds ratio [OR] 0.47 [95% CI 0.31-0.71]; P<.001). This decrease in the rate of surgical site infections remained statistically significant after matching (1.9% [21/1,100] vs 4.1% [45/1,100]; OR 0.46 [0.27-0.77]; P<.001)., Conclusion: After implementation of a resident-driven quality initiative using a surgical bundle, we observed a significant decrease in cesarean surgical site infections.