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BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020 Jul 8;20(1):394. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Department Of Reproductive Medicine Center, Hubei Clinic Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Embryonic Development, Renmin Hospital Of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.

Background: Compared with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) spread more rapidly and widely. The population was generally susceptible. However, reports on pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 were very limited. Read More

Curr Health Sci J 2020 Jan-Mar;46(1):90-98. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Department of Pathology, Emergency County Hospital, Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania.

Introduction: Sweet syndrome (SS), also denominated as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, is a rare disease characterized by the sudden onset of painful, erythematous, firm skin lesions (papules, plaques, and nodules) which show, upon histologic examination, the presence of a diffuse infiltrate of mature neutrophils. The cutaneous manifestation typically involves the face, neck, trunk, and upper limbs and is associated with fever, general malaise, arthralgia.

Case Report: A female patient, 60 years old, attended the Dermatology Clinic due to the appearance of violaceous erythematous-oedematous infiltrated plaques, located on the face, neck, upper limbs, trunk and knees. Read More

Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2020 Jun 4;18:100573. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.

Crohn's disease (CD), a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract that is caused by the loss of mucosal tolerance towards the commensal bacteria resulting in inflammatory responses. It has long been postulated that the gut microbiota, a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Maternal diagnosis of IBD has been identified as the greatest risk factor for IBD in offspring increasing the odds of developing the disease >4. Read More

Cureus 2020 May 28;12(5):e8336. Epub 2020 May 28.

Gastroenterology, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, USA.

A 29-year-old woman with developmental delay presented with 2.5 weeks of jaundice of the skin with accompanying microcytic anemia (hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume 70. Read More

J Surg Oncol 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Tumors can rarely overexpress human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) resulting in false-positive pregnancy tests. Here, we report a 44-year-old female with a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who presented with a positive urine pregnancy test before radiotherapy. Further workup ruled out pregnancy. Read More

Ter Arkh 2019 Apr 15;91(4):114-117. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Obstetric Clinic, University Hospital "Dr. Georgi Stranski", Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Medical University.

Pregnancy in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension occurs very rare, because of their significantly derailed reproductive functions. Тhe risks for the mother and the fetus are connected with worsening of the portal hypertension, progression of decompensated liver cirrhosis and development of its complications: liver failure, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy and variceal hemorrhage, and with increased incidence of spontaneous abortions and abnormal uterine bleeding. The decision for continuation of the pregnancy in cirrhotic patients must be based on individual approach and a multidisciplinary team consisting of obstetricians, hepatologists, anesthesiologists, surgeons and hematologists must participate in the therapy. Read More

Cureus 2020 May 24;12(5):e8261. Epub 2020 May 24.

Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, USA.

Colorectal cancer during pregnancy is rare. Because of a pattern of delay in childbearing and because colorectal cancer is now diagnosed more often in young adults, the incidence is expected to rise. Diagnosis during pregnancy is challenging as many of the symptoms mimic common pregnancy symptoms. Read More

J Emerg Med 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Background: Successful airway management is critical to the practice of emergency medicine. Thus, emergency physicians must be ready to optimize and prepare for airway management in critically ill patients with a wide range of physiologic challenges. Challenges in airway management commonly encountered in the emergency department are discussed using a pearl and pitfall discussion in this second part of a 2-part series. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 22;8:294. Epub 2020 May 22.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affects people at all ages and it may be encountered in pregnant women and newborns also. The information about its clinical features, laboratory findings and prognosis in children and newborns is scarce. All the reported cases in pregnant women were in the 2nd or 3rd trimester and only 1% of them developed severe disease. Read More

Acta Cir Bras 2020 5;35(4):e202000401. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

PhD, Division of Pediatric Surgery, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil. Conception and design of the study, final approval.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in newborn rats submitted to hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) conditions in an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Methods: Eight pregnant rats and their 70 cubs were used (5 groups) and exposed to H/R conditions and received NAC at different times. The animals in the H/R groups were placed in a gas chamber (100% CO2) for 10 minutes and then reoxygenated for 10 minutes (100% O2), twice a day for the first three days of life, with a six-hour span between events. Read More

Infez Med 2020 Jun;28(suppl 1):6-17

Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran.

Since December 2019, the emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been reported unexpectedly in Wuhan, China, with staggering infection speed across China and around the world. To date, seven known strains of HCoVs belonging to four genera (i.e. Read More

Ceska Gynekol 2020 ;85(2):144-148

Objective: To bring actual summary of pre and perinatal care of women with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Design: Review.

Setting: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, General Faculty Hospital and 1st Faculty of Medicine, Prague. Read More

Ceska Gynekol 2020 ;85(2):120-123

Objective: Author demonstrates case of enteral cystic duplicature located between coccyx and rectum in peripartal period.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Masarykova městská nemocnice, Jilemnice. Read More

Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Depts of Medicine and Microbiology, APC Microbiome Ireland, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.

Rationale: Allergic diseases are an increasing public health concern and early life environment is critical to immune development. Maternal diet during pregnancy has been linked to offspring allergy risk. In turn, maternal diet is a potentially modifiable factor, which could be targeted as an allergy prevention strategy. Read More

Trials 2020 Jun 10;21(1):513. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Section of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.

Objectives: The aim of this randomised GCP-controlled trial is to clarify whether combination therapy with the antibiotic azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine via anti-inflammation/immune modulation, antiviral efficacy and pre-emptive treatment of supra-infections can shorten hospitalisation duration for patients with COVID-19 (measured as "days alive and out of hospital" as the primary outcome), reduce the risk of non- invasive ventilation, treatment in the intensive care unit and death.

Trial Design: This is a multi-centre, randomised, Placebo-controlled, 2-arm ratio 1:1, parallel group double-blind study.

Participants: 226 participants are recruited at the trial sites/hospitals, where the study will take place in Denmark: Aalborg, Bispebjerg, Gentofte, Herlev, Hillerød, Hvidovre, Odense and Slagelse hospitals. Read More

Trials 2020 Jun 3;21(1):472. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Av. Valdecilla, 25, 39008, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection presents a high transmission in the group of health professionals in Spain (12-15% infected). Currently there is no accepted chemoprophylaxis but hydroxychloroquine (HDQ) is known to inhibit the coronavirus in vitro. Our hypothesis is that oral administration of hydroxychloroquine to healthcare professionals can reduce the incidence and prevalence of infection as well as its severity in this group. Read More

PLoS One 2020 1;15(6):e0233612. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease of neonates, especially premature neonates. To date, there is no prophylactic treatment against NEC, except breast milk and slow increase in enteral feeding, and there is no antenatal prophylaxis.

Aims: To assess possible protective effects of antenatal N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) against the intestinal pathophysiological changes associated with NEC in a rat model of NEC and against its associated mortality. Read More

Nutrition 2020 Mar 25;78:110812. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

Ulm University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Centre for Hormonal Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Ulm, Germany.

Objectives: This paper reviews the published evidence on early-life intestinal microbiota development, as well as the different factors influencing its development before, at, and afterbirth. A literature search was done using PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE databases. A growing body of evidence indicates that the intrauterine environment is not sterile as once presumed, but that maternal-fetal transmission of microbiota occurs during pregnancy. Read More

Am J Med 2020 05;133(5):e209

Am J Med 2020 05;133(5):e208

Cambridge Colorectal Unit, Addenbrooke's University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 May 20;17(10). Epub 2020 May 20.

Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.

Methylmalonic Acidurias (MMAs) are a group of inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs), specifically of propionate catabolism characterized by gastrointestinal and neurometabolic manifestations resulting from a deficiency in the function of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase, and cobalamin metabolism. In Expanded Newborn Screening (NBS), increased levels of propionylcarnitine (C3) and/or of its ratios by MS/MS analysis of dried blood spots (DBS) samples are suggestive for either Propionic Acidemia or MMAs. C3 elevation is not considered a specific marker for these disorders, resulting in high false-positive rates. Read More

Inflamm Bowel Dis 2020 06;26(7):971-973

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY.

First detected in Wuhan, China, the novel 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped RNA beta-coronavirus responsible for an unprecedented, worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19. Optimal management of immunosuppression in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with COVID-19 infection currently is based on expert opinion, given the novelty of the infection and the corresponding lack of high-level evidence in patients with immune-mediated conditions. There are limited data regarding IBD patients with COVID-19 and no data regarding early pregnancy in the era of COVID-19. Read More

Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2020 Apr;55(4):246-252

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.

To explore the correlation between prenatal clinical data with etiological diagnosis and neonatal outcome in isolated fetal ascites. Totally, 36 pregnancy cases diagnosed as isolated fetal ascites by ultrasound in Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from June 22nd, 2016 to September 28th, 2018 were collected. Invasive prenatal diagnosis was performed by taking fetal cord blood, amniotic fluid, and fetal ascites respectively for cytogenetics, molecular genetics and biochemical examination and the impact of intrauterine therapeutic procedures on neonatal outcomes was evaluated as well. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2020 May 5. Epub 2020 May 5.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.

Infantile colic is a functional gastrointestinal disease of the infancy that its cause has not yet been properly identified. It leads to severe discomfort in the infants and anxiety in their mothers. Probiotics have recently been recommended as an effective treatment for the improvement of infantile colic. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(18):e19944

Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.

Introduction: Slow transit constipation is a major cause of chronic constipation. During pregnancy, changes in hormone levels and the physical effects of an enlarged uterus could cause new onset slow transit constipation or aggravate a pre-existing constipation. The management of slow transit constipation-induced ileus during pregnancy is a medical dilemma. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2020 Apr 30. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

IBD MOM Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center Affiliated with the Medical School, Digestive Diseases Institute, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background: The factors associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) relapse throughout gestation in those with preconception remission remain unknown.

Aims: We aimed to investigate disease and pregnancy course among IBD women with quiescent disease at conception.

Methods: Women with IBD attending a multidisciplinary clinic for preconception, antenatal and postnatal treatment were prospectively recruited during 2011-2018. Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2020 Apr 28. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne Australia.

Background And Aims: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affects women during their childbearing years. Gastrointestinal ultrasonography (GIUS) accurately identifies disease activity in non-pregnant patients with IBD. The utility of GIUS in pregnancy has not been established. Read More

Mol Clin Oncol 2020 Jun 30;12(6):581-587. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, P.R. China.

Krukenberg tumours are not uncommon, but pregnancy-complicating Krukenberg tumours are rare. To identify management strategies of pregnancies with Krukenberg tumours, the medical records of patients treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital over the past 20 years were collected and analysed. Four patients were enrolled. Read More

Ir Med J 2019 12 16;112(10):1018. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Department of General & Colorectal Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.

Aim The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining appendicitis during pregnancy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course for all pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis from 2013-2018. We evaluated the efficacy of MRI and Alvarado scoring and its impact on management. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2020 Apr 17;9(8):e015069. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Denmark.

Background It is unclear how recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) impacts disease risk and whether there is a difference in risk between women with or without a live birth before RPL (primary versus secondary RPL). We investigated the disease risk following RPL, and whether there was a difference between primary and secondary RPL. Methods and Results Using population-wide healthcare registries from Denmark, we identified a cohort of 1 370 896 ever-pregnant women aged 12 to 40 years between 1977 and 2016. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2020 Jan-Mar;57(1):107-109

Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic enteropathy in response to ingestion of gluten. CD was associated with gynecological disorders.

Objective: In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the age of menarche, age of menopause, number of pregnancies and abortions in Brazilian celiac patients. Read More

J Infect 2020 07 12;81(1):e40-e44. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Department of prenatal diagnosis, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 745, Wuluo Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address:

Background: 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a worldwide pandemic. Under such circumstance pregnant women are also affected significantly.

Objective: This study aims to observe the clinical features and outcomes of pregnant women who have been confirmed with COVID-19. Read More

Rev Invest Clin 2020 ;72(2):80-87

Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN), Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Several studies have evaluated the effect of infectious diseases and vaccine protocols during pregnancy on maternal milk immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, to understand the protection conferred by lactation on newborns. Colostrum is the primary source of maternal IgA for the newborn. IgA participates in protection mechanisms in the neonate's mucosa. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2020 Apr 13;35(14):e105. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Periodontitis is reported to be associated with preterm birth (spontaneous preterm labor and birth). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common during pregnancy and is expected to be related to periodontitis. However, little research has been done on the association among preterm birth, GERD and periodontitis. Read More

Rev Gastroenterol Mex 2020 Apr 6. Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Servicio de Gastroenterología y Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.

Background And Objective: Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions requiring hospitalization. Even though its presentation during pregnancy is uncommon, it is a medical challenge. Currently, no studies compare the clinical outcomes between pregnant patients with acute pancreatitis and nonpregnant patients with acute pancreatitis. Read More

Am J Surg 2020 05 26;219(5):855-859. Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Division of General Surgery, Providence Health Care, St Paul's Hospital, Room C303-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: The diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in pregnancy remains challenging. We investigated which preoperative clinical factors are most predictive of AA in pregnant women.

Methods: 164 pregnant patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging for suspected AA were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Lancet Haematol 2020 Apr;7(4):e342-e350

Department of Renal Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, UK.

For decades intravenous iron was considered dangerous. Newer formulations with carbohydrate cores binding elemental iron more tightly allow complete iron replacement within 15-60 min in one visit. Meta-analyses and prospective comparisons of different formulations support equivalent safety to placebo with less toxicity than oral iron. Read More

Nat Commun 2020 03 24;11(1):1452. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.

In mice, the maternal microbiome influences fetal immune development and postnatal allergic outcomes. Westernized populations have high rates of allergic disease and low rates of gastrointestinal carriage of Prevotella, a commensal bacterial genus that produces short chain fatty acids and endotoxins, each of which may promote the development of fetal immune tolerance. In this study, we use a prebirth cohort (n = 1064 mothers) to conduct a nested case-cohort study comparing 58 mothers of babies with clinically proven food IgE mediated food allergy with 258 randomly selected mothers. Read More

Gland Surg 2020 Feb;9(1):124-135

Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland produces and secretes inappropriately high amounts of thyroid hormone which can lead to thyrotoxicosis. The prevalence of hyperthyroidism in the United States is approximately 1.2%. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2020 May 2;65:79-97. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, United Kingdom.

Due largely to the rise in obesity and prolonged life expectancy, endometrial cancer (EC) rates have increased by 56% since the early 90s. Women at high risk (Lynch Syndrome) have a 12-47% lifetime risk of developing EC and professional societies recommend annual surveillance using transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and endometrial biopsy (outpatients hysteroscopy) from the age of 30-35 years with hysterectomy from the age of 40 years. In women at low risk, screening is not currently advocated. Read More

J Family Reprod Health 2019 Sep;13(3):167-172

Students Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

To compare the difference in Vitamin D level between women with ectopic pregnancy and control group. In the present case-control study, 150 patients with ectopic pregnancy were included as case group and 150 women with normal pregnancy as a control group. Then, serum vitamin D levels were measured in both groups and they were then compared with each other. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 May 6;248:102-105. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is an uncommon and heterogeneous disease characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. There are very few reports in literature describing pregnancies in EGE patients, and no review has ever been published. We found a total of 12 cases including one that occurred in our clinic. Read More

Gastroenterol Res Pract 2020 8;2020:5819819. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, School of Medicine, Van, Turkey.

Aim: The reproductive hormone levels and systemic physiology of women with hepatic cirrhosis are altered. Existing data have indicated the adverse effects of cirrhosis on both the mother and the fetus. Pregnancy is successful in most of the patients with chronic liver disease. Read More

Drugs Context 2020 2;9. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Section of IBD - Division of Gastroenterology, The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Manchester, UK.

Inflammatory bowel diseases, comprising Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic, relapsing and remitting immune-mediated inflammatory diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Vedolizumab is the first licensed drug in a group of 'gut-selective' biological agents used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases. The GEMINI registrational trials established the efficacy of vedolizumab for the induction and maintenance of remission in both CD and UC, with the most favourable results in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-antagonist-naive patients. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020 Mar 14;20(1):162. Epub 2020 Mar 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People's Republic of China.

Background: Early diagnosis is important to lower the mortality rate of acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). The Swansea criteria is commonly used to diagnose AFLP, but some terms could only be reached when symptoms and signs have progressed, or are not efficient in clinical practice. Therefore, it is necessary to select cost effective tests to simplify and facilitate early suspicion of acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Read More

Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi 2020;117(3):230-236

Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College.

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2019 Dec;46(13):2565-2567

Dept. of Surgery, Suita Municipal Hospital.

A 28-year-oldwoman visiteda clinic with a complaint of epigastralgia 3 months after delivery. She was diagnosedwith gastritis andtreatedwith medication. Two months later, in January 2006, she was admittedto our hospital with a complaint of dysphagia. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2020 03;90(3):395-396

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020 06 3;222(6):580.e1-580.e5. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, OB/Gyn & Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries represent the minority of obstetric lacerations, but can have a significant long-term impact on urinary and fecal continence, as well as pelvic organ support. Accurate diagnosis of lacerations, appropriate repair, and close follow-up are essential to healthy healing and to improve outcomes for women. The infrequency of these injuries has resulted in a lack of familiarity with laceration repair and postpartum care of this population at all levels of practice. Read More