BACKGROUND: Most neonatal deaths occur among low birth weight infants. However, in resource-limited settings, these infants are commonly discharged early which further exposes them to mortality. Previous studies on morbidity and mortality among low birth weight infants after early discharge mainly focused on very low birth weight infants, and none described post-discharge neonatal mortality. This study aimed to determine the proportion and predictors of mortality among low birth weight neonates discharged from the Special Care Baby Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda.
METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 220 low birth weight neonates discharged from the Special Care Baby Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital. These were followed up to 28 completed days of life, or death, whichever occurred first. Proportions were used to express mortality. To determine the predictors of mortality, Cox hazards regression was performed.
RESULTS: Of the 220 enrolled participants, 216 (98.1%) completed the follow-up. The mean gestational age of study participants was 34 ±3 weeks. The median weight at discharge was 1,650g (IQR: 1,315g -1,922g) and 46.1% were small for gestational age. During follow-up, 14/216 (6.5%) of neonates died. Mortality was highest (7/34, 20.6%) among neonates with discharge weights less than 1,200g. The causes of death included presumed neonatal sepsis (10/14, 71.4%), suspected aspiration pneumonia (2/14, 14.3%), and suspected cot death (2/14, 14.3%). The median time to death after discharge was 11 days (range 3-16 days). The predictors of mortality were a discharge weight of less than 1,200g (adj HR: 23.47, p <0.001), a 5-minute Apgar score of less than 7 (adj HR: 4.25, p = 0.016), and a diagnosis of neonatal sepsis during admission (adj HR: 7.93, p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: Post-discharge mortality among low birth weight neonates at Mulago National Referral Hospital is high. A discharge weight of less than 1,200g may be considered unsafe among neonates. Caregiver education about neonatal danger signs, and measures to prevent sepsis, aspiration, and cot death should be emphasized before discharge and during follow-up visits.

BACKGROUND: Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) onset in the fetal and neonatal periods is sporadic, and infants are susceptible to intrauterine death. Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing complications and death in FHL patients due to the complex and diverse clinical manifestations of the disease.
METHODS: We report a rare case of a preterm infant with a low birth weight of 2,010 g and a gestational age of 32 + 4 weeks who presented with a leaky syndrome similar to sepsis after birth. Anti-infective, other support, and symptomatic treatments were not effective. Bone marrow examination results on day 13 suggested hemophago-cytosis.
RESULTS: Various compound heterozygous UNC13D genes were found by exome sequencing, which confirmed the diagnosis of FHL type 3. Genetic variants of this locus have never been reported in the literature.
CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal onset FHL is challenging to diagnose, especially in premature infants. It is necessary to complete exome sequencing if the patient has no apparent pathogen infection or effective treatment.

UNASSIGNED: To validate a serum biomarker developed in the USA for preterm birth (PTB) risk stratification in Viet Nam.
UNASSIGNED: Women with singleton pregnancies (n = 5000) were recruited between 19+0-23+6 weeks\' gestation at Tu Du Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Maternal serum was collected from 19+0-22+6 weeks\' gestation and participants followed to neonatal discharge. Relative insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) abundances were measured by mass spectrometry and their ratio compared between PTB cases and term controls. Discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC) and calibration for PTB <37 and <34 weeks\' gestation were tested, with model tuning using clinical factors. Measured outcomes included all PTBs (any birth ≤37 weeks\' gestation) and spontaneous PTBs (birth ≤37 weeks\' gestation with clinical signs of initiation of parturition).
UNASSIGNED: Complete data were available for 4984 (99.7%) individuals. The cohort PTB rate was 6.7% (n = 335). We observed an inverse association between the IGFBP4/SHBG ratio and gestational age at birth (p = 0.017; AUC 0.60 [95% CI, 0.53-0.68]). Including previous PTB (for multiparous women) or prior miscarriage (for primiparous women) improved performance (AUC 0.65 and 0.70, respectively, for PTB <37 and <34 weeks\' gestation). Optimal performance (AUC 0.74) was seen within 19-20 weeks\' gestation, for BMI >21 kg/m2 and age 20-35 years.
UNASSIGNED: We have validated a novel serum biomarker for PTB risk stratification in a very different setting to the original study. Further research is required to determine appropriate ratio thresholds based on the prevalence of risk factors and the availability of resources and preventative therapies.

BACKGROUND: To report a peculiar case of vaginal delivery of a triplet after emergency transvaginal cerclage and to find a way to optimize some extreme situations encountered in clinical practice after evaluating feasibility.
METHODS: A 33-year-old gravida 6, para 0050 woman at 21 + 6 weeks of gestation was referred to the obstetric department for opening of the cervical canal. An emergency McDonald cerclage was performed at 22 weeks of gestation after a comprehensive assessment, and the pregnancy ended with vaginal delivery at 24 + 6 weeks of gestation. The postpartum period was normal, and the newborns were discharged to home care after treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.
METHODS: After discussing the risks, the patient requested emergency transvaginal McDonald cerclage at 22 weeks of gestation.
RESULTS: Emergency McDonald cerclage was performed at 22 weeks of gestation, and the pregnancy ended with vaginal delivery at 24 + 6/25 weeks of gestation, successfully prolonging gestation by 20/21 days. The postpartum period had no exceptional circumstances, and newborns were discharged to home care after treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit for 104/98/104 days.
CONCLUSIONS: Emergency cerclage seems to be impossible in multiple pregnancies. However, in this case, after a comprehensive assessment, it was feasible to extend the gestational age by emergency cerclage, and prompt and accurate evaluation is important to avoid complications and individualize the following management. In this case, we may find a way to optimize some extreme situations encountered in clinical practice and offer a glimmer of hope for families challenged with multiple pregnancies at risk of preterm delivery. However, more high-quality studies are needed to prove the effectiveness and safety of emergency cerclages in triplets.

A 30-year-old in a second pregnancy presented with new-onset spontaneous vaginal discharge of clear liquid for two hours at a gestational age of 29 weeks + 6 days; no other symptoms were present. Movement aggravated vaginal fluid leakage. She appeared anxious but otherwise vitally stable. An immediate ultrasound scan revealed reduced liquor volume. Conservative management was followed by the surgical delivery of a live preterm neonate. The neonate was admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit and the mother was monitored post-surgically in the obstetric ward. Several studies have described the etiology, pathogenesis, and various approaches to the management of Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes (PPROM); however, there is no single global guideline for managing this condition. There is a consensus that PPROM is a notable risk factor for preterm labor, and significantly impacts both maternal and neonatal morbidity, as well as neonatal mortality. We compared epidemiology across other countries to the statistics obtained from Nigeria as well as management guidelines. Studies have also described the advantages of conservative management over proactive surgical intervention in improving neonatal outcomes. Moreover, the management of PPROM is affected by healthcare resources in different countries and their national protocol, and the impact is significant in developing countries like Nigeria such as the age of fetal viability and the lack of a national protocol. This paper explores PPROM and an uncommon presentation of spontaneous PPROM in the South-South region of Nigeria with only drainage of liquor. This case exemplifies the management approaches of PPROM in an underserved community and the factors that affect the survival of neonates in these communities. The index patient was initially managed conservatively and subsequently delivered a live preterm neonate surgically with good APGAR (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration) scores. We expect this case report to prompt a unifying guideline for managing PPROM cases while encouraging advanced research and financial support of PPROM screening and treatment in low-income countries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the type of umbilical-portal anastomosis in late-onset fetal growth restriction (LO-FGR) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses. To investigate the impact of the type of umbilical-portal anastomosis on the adverse outcomes in LO-FGR.
METHODS: This study observed 150 pregnancies with AGA fetuses and 62 pregnancies with fetuses with LO-FGR. In each case, the point of reference for measuring the abdominal circumference was established. The type of umbilical-portal anastomosis was evaluated as T-shaped, X-shaped, and H-shaped according to the shape of main portal vein and portal sinus. Incidences of the type of umbilical-portal anastomosis in AGA and LO-FGR fetuses were evaluated.
RESULTS: T-shaped anastomosis was the most common (56.7%) in the AGA group and X-shaped (66.1%) in the LO-FGR group. In LO-FGR, T-shape anastomosis was significantly lower and X-shape anastomosis was significantly higher than AGA (p < 0.001). X-shaped anastomosis was associated with LO-FGR and the RR was 2.3 (95% CI 1.5-3.6; p < 0.001). Incidences of admission to NICU and emergency C/S for fetal distress were higher in fetuses with X -shaped anastomosis in the LO-FGR (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: X-shaped umbilical-portal anastomosis have a prognostic significance in LO-FGR fetuses.

Broad ligament ectopic pregnancy is a relatively rare condition described in the literature. We did not find enough data concerning this subject in Cameroon. It is therefore important to know about its existence because late management can lead to increased maternal mortality. This paper reports the case of a 22-year-old lady at 18 weeks gestation who had generalized abdominal pain for two months. Prior to her arrival at our service, an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound done revealed a viable singleton 18-weeks intra-abdominal pregnancy with a moderate amount of abdominal fluid collection. The diagnosis of haemorrhagic shock complicating an abdominal pregnancy at 18 weeks of gestation was retained. An emergency laparotomy was done, and a right total salpingectomy and oophorectomy with resection of the right broad ligament were carried out. After surgery, dissection of the mass revealed a non-viable male foetus weighing 218 grams. In conclusion, there´s a very high morbidity and mortality rate associated with broad ligament pregnancies. Due to the fact that there is late access to antenatal care, the prognosis of pathologic pregnancies is endangered.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether acute histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) diagnosed in the placenta may be associated with an increased occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death among extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGAN).
METHODS: This Italian single-center case-control retrospective study involved ELGAN admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2019 and June 2022. Infants born from pregnant women with acute and severe HCA, identified as stage ≥2 and grade 2 HCA, (HCA-infants) were compared with infants of pregnant women without chorioamnionitis or with stage 1, grade 1 chorioamnionitis (no-HCA-infants).
RESULTS: Among 101 eligible ELGAN, 63 infants had complete clinical and histologic data relevant to the study: thirty infants were included in the HCA-infants group and 33 in the no-HCA-infants group. Neonatal and maternal demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between the two groups. Infants born from mothers with acute and severe HCA had significantly higher occurrence of composite BPD or death (18 [60%] vs. 9 [27%]; P = 0.012), as well as higher incidence of severe forms of BPD (6 [30%] vs. 2 [6%]; P = 0.045). In multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for confounding covariates, HCA was an independent risk factor for BPD or death (OR, 4.49; 95% CI: 1.47-13.71).
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that in utero exposure to acute and severe HCA is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of composite BPD or death among ELGAN.

BACKGROUND: The presence of clinically significant repeated maternal epilepsies during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. However, there are few guidelines for anesthesiologists to deal with this situation.
METHODS: A 28-year-old primigravida was transferred to the operating room for emergency cesarean section. Based on the patient\'s complaints and clinical appearance, provisional diagnosis of preeclampsia at 33 weeks\' gestation as well as frequent and repeated grand mal convulsions at 14 years of age were considered. The anesthetic modalities of the disease are also discussed.
RESULTS: Because the usual antiepileptic therapy had failed, the patient with status epilepticus underwent surgery under general anesthesia. The newborn was handed to the pediatrician and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for further observation and discharged 4 days later. No peri-operative or anesthetic complications were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Providing anesthesia to patients undergoing cesarean section poses major challenges for anesthesiologists. Close monitoring and proper treatment can help reduce risks for both the mother and baby.

Heterotopic pregnancy is an extremely rare condition in which an intrauterine and an extrauterine pregnancy co-exist. In spontaneous conceptions, heterotopic pregnancy occurs in only 1/30 000 pregnancies. The treatment of heterotopic pregnancy must be as minimally invasive as possible to preserve the development of the intrauterine pregnancy. Superfetation, defined as the coexistence of 2 or more foetuses of different gestational ages, remains particularly exceptional and poorly explained (second ovulation? embryonic diapause?). Here, we present an extremely rare case of a spontaneous heterotopic evolutive pregnancy with superfetation, consisting of an embryo in the pouch of Douglas estimated at 8 + 1 weeks of gestation (WG) and a progressive intrauterine pregnancy estimated at 5 + 4 WG. We treated the extrauterine pregnancy with an intra-cardiac injection of potassium chloride echo-guided via the vaginal route, and the patient then underwent exploratory laparoscopy 9 days later and lavage and aspiration of the abdominal heterotopic pregnancy due to pain and biological inflammatory syndrome probably caused by pelvic mass syndrome and peritoneal irritation from the foetal necrosis. She has not yet given birth and is currently at 36 WG.