Torbenson, Vanessa E.

Abstract Introduction: Iron deficiency (ID) is a global epidemic with discrepant definitions of both ID and anemia in pregnancy. Iron requirements increase during pregnancy and deficiencies should be corrected to avoid adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. Current guidelines recommend only screening for ID during pregnancy in the presence of anemia despite the global epidemic of ID in reproductive-age females and availability of ferritin as a high-value biomarker. To address this unmet need and gap in care, we implemented a standardized approach to screening and treating ID in pregnancy. Methods: In March 2024 at the ASH Quality Improvement Training Institute, our multidisciplinary team with representatives from hematology, obstetrics, anesthesiology, and patient blood management developed a quality improvement (QI) initiative to standardize an approach to screening and treating ID in pregnancy. After local dissemination and education of the standardized care pathway via patient/provider handouts and divisional presentations, obstetric providers paired ferritin testing with two standard hemoglobin assessments in early (8-12 weeks gestation) and late (24-28 weeks gestation) pregnancy to minimize lab draws and optimize logistics. The process was facilitated by modifying prenatal order sets in the electronic medical record. ID was defined as a ferritin <50 mcg/L and anemia was defined as a hemoglobin <11 g/dL. If ID was present in early pregnancy, oral iron supplementation was offered; if ID was present in late pregnancy, an IV iron infusion (low molecular weight iron dextran, 1 gram) was offered regardless of anemia status. Results: Obstetric data were captured pre-intervention from January 2023 – February 2024 (n=2097 pregnancies) and post-intervention from March 2024 – June 2025 (n=2429 pregnancies). Ferritin screening rates improved from 10% (205/2097) to 63% (1534/2429). Of those ferritin tests, 66% demonstrated ID in the pre-intervention cohort and 69% demonstrated ID in the post-intervention cohort. Anemia rates by measured hemoglobin during pregnancy were 25% in both the pre-intervention and post-intervention cohorts despite 92% having documentation of prenatal vitamins containing iron (PNV). Iron dextran infusion rates improved from 0.9% (18/2097) to 21% (507/2429). Of those receiving IV iron dextran, 39% had documentation of both PNV as well as additional oral iron supplementation. Overall, the median hemoglobin improved from 10.7 to 11.8 g/dL in those receiving IV iron dextran. This included increases from 12.0 to 12.8 g/dL in those without anemia and from 11.2 to 12.1 g/dL in those with ferritin 30-50 mcg/L after IV iron. Prior to initiation of this QI project, 3.1% of pregnancies (65/2097) required a blood transfusion during admission for delivery. After initiation of this project, 2.7% of pregnancies (65/2429) required a blood transfusion, of which 46 did not receive IV iron and 33 did not have a ferritin checked. Conclusions: ID in pregnancy is underrecognized and undertreated. Through a multidisciplinary QI initiative, screening for ID improved from 10% to over 60% of pregnancies within one year of project initiation. Over the same period, there was a 20-fold increase in the number of IV iron dextran infusions resulting in an increase in median hemoglobin by over 1 g/dL and a signal for decreased transfusion requirements. This occurred despite almost universal supplementation with a PNV. This standardized approach to screening and treating ID was performed by the obstetrics teams and could be implemented within varied practice models. Given the potential implications for reevaluation of appropriate reference ranges and equitable prenatal care globally, additional studies are warranted to better characterize ID in pregnancy as well as clinical sequelae for both mothers and infants. Simultaneously, discussions are needed around current guidelines and recommendations for both screening and treating ID in pregnancy.

Objectives This study identified the prevalence of second victim experience (SVE) in a multidisciplinary sample of healthcare learners and explored personal experiences of trauma and desired forms of support following traumatic patient care events or situations. Method We used the validated SVE Support Tool-Revised and the Physician Well-Being Index (PWBI) to query healthcare learners at a large academic health system across the institution's medical, graduate medical education, and health sciences schools. The survey was open to all healthcare learners from April 8th, 2022 to May 30th, 2022. Here, we report on an analysis of respondents’ fixed responses describing the prevalence and characteristics of SVE. Results Of 2298 potential respondents, 206 answered at least one question (9.0% response rate). Of the 206 respondents, 205 answered questions inquiring if they had been a part of a stressful or traumatic patient care event or situation and 54.1% (111/205) answered in the affirmative. Of this group, 49.5% (51/103) reported feeling like a second victim (SV). The average PWBI of the exposed group was significantly higher (worse well-being) than the nonexposed group (3.4 vs 2.6, P = .0009). The most common forms of desired support for those exposed to a traumatic event and felt like an SV was conversation with peers 95.3% (41/43), family 81.4% (35/43), and a supervisor or manager 67.4% (29/43). Conclusion Findings suggest that many healthcare learners experience SVE and would benefit from connection to desired support strategies. Strategies to mitigate the impact of SVE on professional self-efficacy should be considered by education administrators. We present strategies from the literature and our institution that may be replicated for early identification and support of learners with SVE.

Abstract The objective of this study was to estimate the average hospitalization cost (AHC) for deliveries affected by severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and analyze trends from 2014 to 2019. The study also aimed to explore cost stratification based on patient, delivery, and hospital characteristics. Using the National Inpatient Sample dataset, all delivery hospitalizations from 2014 to 2019 were identified. Deliveries affected by SMM were determined based on the Centers for Disease Control definition. Deliveries were categorized into three groups: no SMM (nSMM), any SMM (aSMM), and SMM excluding cases with blood transfusion as the only indicator (SMMeBTo). A regression model accounting for survey design and adjusting for variables including age, race/ethnicity, primary payer, income, delivery method, hospital location/teaching status, and hospital region was used to test the trends in incidence. Hospital charges were adjusted using cost-to-charge ratios and presented in 2022 U.S. dollars ($). A regression model adjusting for the same variables was used to assess costs. From 2014 to 2019, 4,444,957 deliveries were identified, with a weighted estimate of 22,224,775. The rates of aSMM and SMMeBTo were 1.9 and 0.7%, respectively. AHC was $5,218 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: $5,200–5,235) for nSMM, $11,101 (95% CI: $11,038–11,165) for aSMM, and $11,541 (95% CI: $114,330–11,650) for SMMeBTo. Hospitalization costs across all SMM categories rose annually from 2014 to 2017, decreased in 2018, and peaked in 2019. All races had significantly higher costs than non-Hispanic Whites across all SMM categories. SMM costs were higher for cesarean deliveries. The highest cost was in deliveries involving a temporary tracheostomy. Urban teaching hospitals and those in the Northeast had the highest SMM costs. Deliveries affected by SMM incur significantly higher costs, with these costs increasing over time. Understanding disparities across patient factors, delivery methods, and hospital characteristics can inform interventions aimed at addressing inequities.

BACKGROUND: Childbirth can have a substantial impact on maternal health-related quality of life. Cesarean delivery is the most performed inpatient operation, yet little is known about normal postpartum recovery profiles. The primary aim of our study was to longitudinally evaluate global health visual analog scale (GHVAS; 0–100) scores up to 12 weeks after scheduled cesarean delivery and identify the time to plateau of scores. The secondary aims were to evaluate different domains of postpartum recovery using validated patient-reported outcome measures (Obstetric Quality of Recovery score [ObsQoR-10] and 5-level 5-dimensional EuroQol questionnaire [EQ-5D]). METHODS: After institutional review board approval, this single-center, prospective longitudinal study enrolled healthy women scheduled for cesarean delivery. Women were excluded for gestational age <32 weeks, neonatal demise, neonatal intensive care unit admission, inability to read or understand English, and if general anesthesia was used. Women completed baseline surveys before delivery and then at 24 and 48 hours after delivery. After hospital discharge, women completed surveys (including GHVAS, OBsQoR-10, EQ-5D, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and activities of daily living) at 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postpartum. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to detect the difference in GHVAS and postpartum recovery outcomes with different follow-up time points. RESULTS: We enrolled 66 parturients and 3 were withdrawn. Response rates were 95%, 84%, 83%, and 76% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks, respectively. Mean ± standard deviation [SD] GHVAS scores were 78 ± 16 at baseline, 64 ± 17 at 24 hours, 69 ± 15 at 48 hours, 75 ± 19 at 1 week, 88 ± 11 at 3 weeks, 88 ± 15 at 6 weeks, and 90 ± 12 at 12 weeks postpartum ( P < .001). The global health VAS improved up until week 3 and then plateaued close to the maximum score between 3 weeks and 12 weeks postpartum. Mean ± SD ObsQoR-10 scores were 75 ± 15 at 24 hours, 85 ± 10 at 48 hours, and 81 ± 28 at 1 week postpartum ( P = .003). The mean ± SD EQ-5D composite scores improved at 6 weeks (4.9 ± 2.9) and 3 months (4.2 ± 2.6) compared to baseline (6.5 ± 1.8) with usual activities ( P = .001) and pain/discomfort ( P < .001) showing significant improvement over time. ObsQoR-10 score at 24 hours correlated with ObsQoR-10 scores at 48 hours (r = 0.629, P < .001) and 1 week (r = 0.429, P < .001) but did not correlate with EQ-5D scores at 6 weeks and 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that GHVAS after scheduled CD plateaus at week 3. This data can be used to inform patients about the anticipated trajectory of key postpartum recovery domains up to 12 weeks postpartum.

Introduction: There are discrepant definitions of both iron deficiency and anemia in pregnancy. It is recognized that iron requirements increase during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, and that deficiencies should be corrected to avoid adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. While low dose iron supplementation is recommended for all pregnant persons (ACOG Bulletin 233), dosing through prenatal vitamins varies widely. Additionally, despite the epidemic of iron deficiency in reproductive-age females globally and availability of high-value biomarkers (e.g., ferritin), current guidelines only recommend screening for iron deficiency during pregnancy in the presence of anemia. As anemia is the terminal manifestation of iron deficiency and reference ranges vary by organization, these guidelines and practices warrant further investigation and discussion. Methods: Retrospective review and analysis of the electronic health record at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) was performed for obstetric deliveries between June 2022 and May 2023. Iron deficiency was defined as a ferritin &lt;50 mcg/L and anemia was defined as a hemoglobin &lt;11 g/dL. Results: A total of 2,141 unique deliveries were identified. The median age at delivery was 31 years old (range: 15 - 45) with 82% identifying as white. Anemia was documented in 42% (n=904) of pregnancies at least once throughout gestation, with an increasing frequency of 2% (n=43) in the first trimester, 11% (n=230) in the second trimester, 17% (n=361) in the third trimester, and 38% (n=803) from admission for delivery through the peri-partum period. There were five documented pRBC transfusions prior to admission for delivery; however, from admission for delivery through the peri-partum period, there were a total of 102 documented pRBC transfusions. In total, 15% (n=318) of pregnancies were screened for iron deficiency through ferritin testing. Ferritin levels were measured 415 times with 23% (n=96) occurring between the last menstrual period and 12 weeks gestational age (WGA), 24% (n=100) occurring between 13-27 WGA, 40% (n=164) occurring between 28-40 WGA, and 13% (n=55) occurring post-partum. Iron deficiency was found in 70% (n=67), 79% (n=79), 80% (n=164), and 78% (n=43) of measured ferritin levels, respectively. Despite the paucity of screening, prescriptions for oral iron increased throughout gestation with supplementation in pregnancy for 8% (n=170) prior to 12 WGA, 14% (n=290) for those 13-27 WGA, and 23% (n=489) for those 28-40 WGA. Similarly, intravenous iron infusions increased throughout gestation with supplementation in pregnancy for 0.3% (n=7) prior to 12 WGA, 0.7% (n=16) for those 13-27 WGA, and 4% (n=95) for those 28-40 WGA. Prenatal vitamins were documented in over 90% of pregnancies throughout gestation, although the majority were non-prescription and contained variable amounts of elemental iron. Conclusions: Iron deficiency in pregnancy is underrecognized and undertreated. It follows that the accuracy of current reference ranges for anemia in pregnancy are suspect without rigorous verification of replete iron stores in the reference population. Given potential implications for blood product utilization and prenatal care, additional studies are warranted to better characterize iron deficiency in pregnancy as well as clinical sequelae for both mothers and infants. Simultaneously, discussions are needed around current guidelines and recommendations for both screening and treating iron deficiency in pregnancy. Providers, institutions, and professional societies should pursue pragmatic quality improvement initiatives and equitable healthcare delivery efforts to optimize care for this vulnerable patient population at high risk of iron deficiency.

Background: Our institution implemented acute-care obstetric (OB) telemedicine (TeleOB) to address rural disparities across our health system. We sought to determine whether in situ simulations with embedded TeleOB consultation increase participants’ comfort managing OB emergencies and comfort with and likelihood of using TeleOB. Methods: Rural site care teams participated in multidisciplinary in situ OB emergency simulations. Physicians in OB and neonatology at the referral center assisted via telemedicine consultation. Participants were surveyed before and after the simulations and six months later regarding their experience during the simulations. Results: Participants reported increased comfort with TeleOB activation, indications, and workflow processes, as well as increased comfort managing OB emergencies. Participants also reported significantly increased likelihood of using TeleOB in the future. Conclusions: Consistent with previous work, in situ simulation with embedded telemedicine consultations is an effective approach to facilitate telemedicine implementation and promote use by rural clinicians.

INTRODUCTION: Several methods exist for diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), including pooling on speculum exam, nitrazine test, arborization under microscopy, immunoassay, and amnio-dye test. Diagnostic accuracy is particularly important for PPROM because a missed diagnosis may result in life-threatening maternal and fetal consequences. We present a novel method for evaluating PPROM in equivocal cases using a menstrual cup. METHODS: Written informed consent was obtained for submission of a case report. A 36-year-old G6P5005 at 29 2/7 weeks presented with leakage of fluid. She was found to have negative pooling on speculum exam, negative arborization on microscopy, a maximum vertical pocket (MVP) of 4.0 cm, and a negative urinalysis. She was discharged with precautions and returned 2 days later with persistent symptoms. Workup again showed no pooling, no arborization, and a normal MVP. The patient suggested using a menstrual cup to capture her intermittent leakage of fluid. She wore a menstrual cup for 30 minutes in triage. A sample of the fluid tested positive for arborization. She was admitted to labor and delivery for latency antibiotics, betamethasone, and fetal and maternal monitoring. CONCLUSION: Preterm premature rupture of membranes can occur without overt vaginal pooling due to small volume leakage. Conventional testing is less sensitive when pooling is absent. In these cases, a menstrual cup may help facilitate diagnosis and avoid invasive tests such as the amnio-dye test. Care must be taken to use a clean menstrual cup without gel, limit the duration of menstrual cup use to avoid infection, and to distinguish arborization of amniotic fluid from that of cervical mucus.

Objective: To implement use of obstetric (OB) hospitalist telemedicine services (TeleOB) to support clinicians facing OB emergencies in low-resource hospital settings. Methods: TeleOB was staffed by OB hospitalists working at a tertiary maternity center. The service was available via real-time high-definition audio/video technology for providers at 17 outlying hospitals across a health system spanning two states. The initial 25 service activations are described. Results: TeleOB supported 17 deliveries, two postpartum emergency department (ED) consultations, and four antenatal ED consultations. In 10 of 17 (59%) deliveries, teleneonatology was jointly activated to support neonatal resuscitation. Sixteen (94%) deliveries occurred in multiparas, and five (29%) resulted from spontaneous preterm labor. Eighty percent (20/25) of activations occurred in facilities without maternity services. Conclusions: A TeleOB service staffed by OB hospitalists successfully supports hospitals in an integrated health care system. TeleOB is feasible for support of hospitals with no delivery facilities or with limited maternity care resources.

Congenital rubella syndrome is a constellation of birth defects that can have devastating consequences, impacting approximately 100,000 births worldwide each year. The incidence is much lower in countries that routinely vaccinate their population. In the US, postnatal immunization of susceptible women is an important epidemiological strategy for the prevention of rubella as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend administering this vaccine during pregnancy due to its nature as a live attenuated virus vaccine. However, concerns that the co-administration of rubella vaccine with other immunoglobins (i.e., Rhogam) could compromise vaccine efficacy has produced warnings that can delay the administration of rubella vaccination postpartum, leaving women susceptible to the disease in subsequent pregnancies. We aimed to address whether the co-administration of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and Rhogam decreased antibody responses compared to those receiving only MMR vaccination. This retrospective cohort study utilized clinical data from 78 subjects who received the MMR vaccine and Rhogam after delivery and 45 subjects who received the MMR vaccine alone. Maternal demographics, pregnancy complications and rubella status at the start of a subsequent pregnancy were recorded for analysis. Overall, the two cohorts had similar baseline characteristics; however, lower parity was noted in the participants that received both MMR vaccination and Rhogam. Making assessments based on maternal antibody IgG index for rubella during the next pregnancy, we observed that 88% of the Rhogam + MMR vaccine group had positive serology scores, which was not significantly different from the 80% rate in the MMR-vaccine-only cohort (p = 0.2). In conclusion, no differences were observed in rubella immunity status in subsequent pregnancies in those mothers given both the MMR vaccine and Rhogam concurrently. Given these findings, warnings against co-administration of vaccines in combination with Rhogam appear unwarranted.