Surrogate pregnancy: clinical features of forty-four cases

Article Abstract:

Surrogate pregnancy programs are designed to help infertile couples have biologically related children. A surrogate mother is paid to be artificially inseminated with the husband's sperm, complete the pregnancy and relinquish the child to the biological father after delivery. Although much has been written regarding the legal, psychological and social consequences of surrogacy, little is known about the maternal and fetal health risks. The pregnancy outcomes of 41 surrogate pregnancies are reported. Most of the women were white, in their mid-twenties with a high school education. A majority of the surrogate mothers were married and had at least one child. Of the 41 women, 12 were receiving welfare at the time of the insemination. The remaining 29 women had an average annual income of $15,709. At least one risk factor for preterm delivery such as smoking (19 patients), low income (15 patients) or unmarried status (12 patients) was present in 29 out of 44 prenatal medical records (66 percent). There were 37 single infants and one set of twins born the 37 women. Three infants had low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams, or 5.5 lbs). There were 14 obstetrical complications related to abnormal labor, defects of the fetal membrane, and problems in the functioning of the placenta. The magnitude of fetal and maternal health risks cannot be realized with this small sample size, but surrogate mothers tend to have a high health-risk profile. The criteria used to select candidates for surrogacy must be corrected to improve health and psychological screening. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Surrogate motherhood

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Pregnancy does not alter lidocaine toxicity

Article Abstract:

The action of bupivacaine, a potent local anesthetic used during spinal anesthesia, can be enhanced during pregnancy. In a study using pregnant sheep, less bupivacaine was needed to produce an effect on heart functioning and circulatory collapse. To see if this is true of all local anesthetics, the toxic threshold of lidocaine was measured in pregnant and nonpregnant sheep. The central nervous system changes and changes in heart functioning were studied among sheep receiving continuous infusion of lidocaine. Toxic reactions followed an organized pattern in all sheep. Convulsions were followed by decreasing blood pressure, breathing stoppage, and circulatory collapse. The circulatory collapse occurred at similar doses and blood concentrations of lidocaine in both the pregnant and nonpregnant sheep. Therefore, pregnancy does not alter the toxicity of lidocaine. These results are similar to previous findings from a study examining the effects of pregnancy on mepivacaine, another local anesthetic. Lidocaine and bupivacaine infused into pregnant sheep do not produce similar toxic thresholds during pregnancy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Models, Physiological aspects, Local anesthesia, Lidocaine, Anesthesia in obstetrics, Obstetrical anesthesia

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Primary uterine lymphoma: Report of 2 cases and review of literature

Article Abstract:

Two cases of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the uterus and uterine cervix managed by chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone is discussed. Combination chemotherapy followed by involved field radiation appears to be effective treatment for this disease.

Care and treatment, Diagnosis, Cancer, Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, Chemotherapy, Disease/Disorder overview

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