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multiple routes (vaginal, oral, sublingual), frequencies (every 3-12 h), and dosages (100-400 mcg).[4] Pain management in patients undergoing induction of labor for fetal demise is usually easier to manage than in patients with live fetuses. Higher doses of narcotics are available to the patient and often a morphine or Dilaudid PCA is sufficient for successful pain control. Should a patient desire superior pain control to intravenous narcotics, epidural anesthesia should be offered. See the image below for an example of a checklist that can be used in the management of fetal demise.
This is an example of a checklist to be used following fetal death. Courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
Maternal
Prolonged pregnancy (>42 wk) Diabetes (poorly controlled) Systemic lupus erythematosus Antiphospholipid syndrome Infection Hypertension
Preeclampsia Eclampsia Hemoglobinopathy Advanced maternal age Rh disease Uterine rupture Maternal trauma or death Inherited thrombophilias
Fetal
Multiple gestations Intrauterine growth restriction Congenital abnormality Genetic abnormality Infection (ie, parvovirus B19, CMV, Listeria) Hydrops
Placental
Cord accident Abruption Premature rupture of membranes Vasa previa Fetomaternal hemorrhage Placental insufficiency
African American race Advanced maternal age History of fetal demise Maternal infertility History of small for gestational age infant Small for gestational age infant Obesity Paternal age
This is an example of a checklist to be used following fetal death. Courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Another useful resource is a grief packet that can be given to the parents following the demise. This usually includes referrals for counseling, support groups, and other resources. A container or folder can be included so that the family can preserve keepsakes such as photos, footprints, or a lock of hair. Spiritual support is an important resource during such difficult times and should always be offered to patients and their families. Currently, which tests are most effective in evaluating a fetal demise have not been agreed upon. Therefore, authorities vary in their recommendations. Most of the testing recommendations in the past have been based on expert opinion rather than scientific studies. The Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network currently has ongoing studies, which will hopefully define the optimal diagnostic evaluation for this difficult clinical problem. In an effort to better understand the underlying pathophysiology that leads to fetal demise and thereby create appropriate interventions, experts proposed a uniform international classification system and recommended a complete stillbirth workup for every case of fetal demise.[7] Up to 60% of stillbirths have no identifiable etiology. Attempting to determine the cause of fetal death remains important because it may influence estimates of recurrence and future preconceptional counseling, pregnancy management, prenatal diagnostic procedures, and neonatal management. Many institutions use a selective workup based on clinical findings. For example, when clinical findings strongly suggest a cause for the fetal demise at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, either no further testing or limited testing is performed. Causes deemed fairly obvious include cord accident (ie, prolapse, entanglement, true knot, tight nuchal cord), anencephaly, or previously known lethal karyotype. In such cases, no further workup is necessary. If severe clinical abruption is present, testing can be limited to toxicology screening and possibly a thrombophilia workup. The most important part of the workup of a fetal demise is the autopsy of the fetus. The decision to proceed with an autopsy must be made by the parents and informed consent is necessary. With parents who are resistant to the idea of a complete autopsy, a limited fetal evaluation should be discussed with the family. Although uncommon, postmortem MRIs can
provide valuable information in the evaluation of a fetus when an autopsy cannot be performed. The placenta and the membranes should be carefully examined, including cultures. Again, an algorithm or checklist is helpful to avoid omissions (see image below). This inspection is even more important if the family declines an autopsy.
This is an example of a checklist to be used following fetal death. Courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Fetal karyotype can be obtained from a sample of amniotic fluid (preferred), fetal blood, or fetal tissue (skin or fascia lata). Fetal karyotype should be considered in all cases. It is especially important if the fetus is dysmorphic, has growth retardation, is hydropic, or has anomalies or other signs of chromosomal abnormality. Chromosomal analysis should also be considered in patients with multiple pregnancy losses, especially with a history of secondand third-trimester losses or when a parent has a balanced translocation or mosaic chromosomal pattern. Many authorities (including the ACOG committee on evaluation of stillbirth) recommend obtaining this test in every fetal demise. A summary of the protocol for the fetus and placenta is as follows:
Careful inspection Placental cultures for suspected listeria infection (To obtain placental cultures, separate the amnion and the chorion and submit a culture specimen using Stuart media.) Radiographs, if indicated Autopsy MRI, if no autopsy Fetal karyotype
Maternal Studies
Maternal studies that should also be considered during the workup of a fetal demise include the following:
Diabetes testing using hemoglobin A1C and a fasting blood glucose Syphilis screening using the VDRL or rapid plasma reagent test Thyroid function testing (ie, TSH, FT4) Urine toxicology screening
The above tests have traditionally been a part of an evaluation for the etiology of fetal demise. If diabetes screening has been performed during the prenatal period, repeat testing for diabetes is probably not necessary. Similarly, if the patient has no signs or symptoms of thyroid disease, thyroid dysfunction is unlikely to be the cause of the demise. However, these tests are inexpensive and normal results may be reassuring to the patient. Additional tests that should be considered are as follows:
Antibody screening CBC count with platelet count Kleihauer-Betke test Laboratory tests for antiphospholipid syndrome: See Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and Pregnancy. Inherited thrombophilia panel o The enthusiasm for laboratory testing for inherited thrombophilias for adverse pregnancy outcome is waning. Inherited thrombophilias are common in the general population but are probably rare causes of fetal demise. A multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study concluded that there was no association between prothrombin G20210A mutation and pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, abruption, or SGA neonates in a low-risk population.[8] The current ACOG Practice Bulletin, Management of Stillbirth, is now recommending inherited thrombophilia testing only in selected cases.[9] In a more recent ACOG Practice Bulletin, Inherited Thrombophilias in Pregnancy, there is no recommendation to screen for inherited thrombophilias with pregnancy loss.[10] o While some authorities recommend maternal testing in all cases of fetal demise, a more selective approach is to limit testing to patients who have a history of venous thrombosis, positive family history, severe placental pathology, severe preeclampsia in the second or early third trimester, abruption, or significant intrauterine growth retardation. The value of thrombophilia testing in any circumstance in obstetrics has recently been questioned.[11] Infection: See Bacterial Infections and Pregnancy. Infection is a cause of fetal demise. The frequency is higher in developing countries. Autopsy and histologic evaluation of the placenta is probably the best way to document an infectious etiology for a fetal demise.
Authority opinions vary as to which panel of tests is appropriate. Traditionally, most authorities have recommended obtaining TORCH (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus,
and herpes simplex virus) antibody titers. In reality, this is rarely helpful in the diagnosis. In addition, it is questionable whether cytomegalovirus virus causes fetal demise. If no obvious cause for the demise is established or if clinical signs or symptoms suggest infection, consider testing for (1) cytomegalovirus (acute and chronic titers), (2) rubella virus (acute and chronic titers, if not immune), (3) parvovirus (acute and chronic titers), and (4) Toxoplasmosis gondii (acute and chronic titers) and (5) syphilis. A more cost-effective approach is to limit testing for cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and T gondii to those patients in whom clinical findings suggest the possibility of intrauterine infection (ie, those with intrauterine growth restriction, microcephaly).
Thorough maternal history Fetal autopsy Placental evaluation Karyotype Indirect Coombs test Serologic test for syphilis Testing for fetal-maternal hemorrhage (Kleihauer-Betke or other) Urine toxicology screen Parvovirus serology Lupus anticoagulant, for antiphospholipid testing Anticardiolipin anticoagulant, for antiphospholipid testing Anti-B 2 -glycoprotein 1 IgG or IgM antibodies
Factor V Leiden Prothrombin mutation Protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III deficiency TSH Hemoglobin A1C TORCH titers Placental cultures Testing for other thrombophilias
Developing technology
Comparative genomic hybridization Testing for single gene mutations Testing for confined placental mosaicism Nucleic acid-based testing for infection