Defeitos do Tubo Neural. Experiência de 10 Anos numa Maternidade Central

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine trends in prevalence of neural tube defects and the impact of therapeutic abortion. 2) To review perinatal management of spina bifida. DESIGN: All spontaneous and therapeutic abortions, still births and live births affected by neural tube defects registered in Alfredo da Costa Maternity in Lisbon, from 1983 to 1992, were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Eighty-two cases with neural tube defects are reported and myelomeningocele and anencephaly++ were the most frequent ones. Total prevalence for all defects was 0.78:1000 births with a small upward trend during the last two years. Birth prevalence was 0.6:1000, with a clear downward trend, due to therapeutic abortion. Prenatal diagnosis improved significantly, from 9% of all defects detected in 1983-87 to 77.5% in 1988-92. Since 1989, all cases of anencephaly were detected before birth. Most cases of spina bifida were vaginally delivered, and elective cesarean section occurred in 4. Early closure of the defect was undertaken in 87.6% of the newborns with open spina bifida. CONCLUSION: While total prevalence of neural tube defects remained stable, with only a small upward trend, prenatal diagnosis and therapeutic abortion resulted in a 56.3% fall in birth prevalence. Optimal management of open spina bifida demands a multidisciplinary team with an individual program for each case.

How Were Conflicts of Interest Handled?

Conflicts of interest were potentially great but they were minimized by the great conviction from both Doctors and Health Ministry that something had to be done to improve data on perinatal health. To decrease the number of hospitals where deliveries took place, to concentrate doctors, nurses and equipment, to define staff and to acquire equipment and to train nurses and paediatricians was the way. One the point of view of cost-effectiveness, centralization of expensive technologies, and development of expertise concentrating cases in a same centre - Surgery, VLBW, etc- and lowering mortality rates and get better outcomes were clear health gains. In 1989 after the political decision of closing small maternities the committee return to villages and cities to explain to political local power and people, the decision, which kind of care they will have in the future, why and expected gains. Level I hospitals and Health Centers stop to have deliveries; Health Centers were given a great responsibility: the follow up of the most part of the normal pregnancies by GP. There was no economic pressure because the National Health Service is free, there are no economic incentives for obstetrical or neonatal care, hospitals are financed through ICD, hospital level is defined according to both delivery and newborn care. In 1989 the rule was “No results can be obtained without the interested and responsible participation of all – institutions and people”. At that time the emphasis was on training. There are geographic influences on regionalization for example for islands and inner and far geographic areas. Also we would like to emphasize the influence of demographics on regionalization. As birth rate continues to decrease the hospitals left open 20 years ago with more than 1500 deliveries have to be closed now because the number of deliveries decreased. It was much more difficult and unacceptable to close some few maternities now than 20 years ago. All the difference was that at that time reasons were explained and now it was a Minister order. Other fearful events are the opening of private hospitals, the lowering gross national income, the economic difficulties and financial problems.

Regionalización del Cuidado Perinatal en Portugal - Resultados

Lo Servicio Nacional de Salud en Portugal fue criado en 1979, universal e gratis. Las primeras UCIN surgieran en 1980, en 1985 fue criada la Sociedad Portuguesa de Neonatología, en 1987 lo sistema de transporte neonatal, en mismo año fue nominada una Comisión de Peritos en Perinatología. En 1989 fue nominado el Comité Nacional de la Mujer y del niño y empezó la Reforma de los cuidados de salud perinatal. Era un programa de 9 años en etapas de 3 años que incluía el ccierre de Hospitales con menos de 1500 partos/año, categorización de los hospitales en niveles de cuidados e la creación de Unidades Coordinadoras entre Centros de Salud y Hospitales. Las UCIN y Intermedios neonatales fueran equipados y definido el número necesario de obstetras, pediatras y enfermeras e fue hecha formación en Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales. Los Centros de Salud no tienen partos e controlan el embarazo normal; los hospitales Nivel I no tienen partos; los de Nivel II tienen partos normales y de bajo riesgo, por lo menos 1500/año, obstetras, Unidad de Cuidados Intermedios, Pediatras con formación en neonatología, ventilación por períodos cortos. Los Hospitales de Nivel III tienen partos de bajo y alto riesgo, obstetras y neonatólogos, UCIN, formación en obstetricia y neonatología e investigación. Las UCIN tienen ventilación de longa duración, nutrición parenteral, cuidados de recién nacidos con menos de 1500g, condiciones quirúrgicas, son centros de enseñanza e investigación. Deben tener neonatólogos y pediatras con competencia en neonatología 24h por día, 1.5 camas /1000 partos, 1 enfermera para 2 logares de intensivos – 2,5 enfermeras por cada cama de intensivos - deben estar localizadas en maternidades con >3000 partos. Hay también reglas para translado para nível III pré-natal y pós-natal. Lo impacto fue que la tasa de partos hospitalares aumentó hasta 99% la mortalidad fetal e fetal tardia disminuiu hasta 3,7 e 2,5/1000 NV+MN, la mortalidad perinatal con más de 28 semanas para 4,6/1000 NV+ MN, la neonatal para 2,4/1000NV e la infantil para 3,6. Las mejores condiciones socioeconómicas y nivel de educación pueden justificar parte de estos resultados pero la organización de los cuidado perinatales fue ciertamente una grande razón de mejoría.

Experiência da Consulta de Gravidez e Diabetes da Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa (1989-1993)

Em 1989 foi criada na Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa uma consulta de diabetes e gravidez. Desde essa altura, 300 grávidas diabéticas foram vigiadas nesta consulta: 210 com diabetes gestacional e 90 com diabetes pré-gestacional. Os problemas obstétricos mais frequentemente encontrados foram a doença hipertensiva e as infecções do tracto génito-urinário. A prematuridade, a macrossomia e as anomalias congénitas foram as complicações mais importantes no grupo dos RN filhos de mãe com diabetes pré-gestacional e a macrossomia o principal problema nos filhos de mãe com diabetes gestacional.

Internamento em Endocrinologia. Casuística (1983-1987)

Os autores procederam à análise retrospectiva dos internamentos em Endocrinologia no período de 1983-1987. Dos 877 internamentos, 64% eram do sexo feminino. Sessenta e dois por cento dos homens e vinte e oito por cento das mulheres foram admitidos pelo serviço de urgência. Verificou-se redução da demora média de 1983 para 1984. A Diabetes Mellitus, pelas suas complicações ou como patologia associada, representou o maior número de diagnósticos – 70% no sexo masculino e 39% no sexo feminino. Das restantes patologias sobressaem as doenças da tiroideia (21%), com predomínio das formas graves da Doença de Graves. É feita uma análise crítica dos resultados.