WOMBAT Newsletter
    November/December 2009


Welcome to the November/December 2009 issue.

In this issue:

WOMBAT NEWS

The Online "MYCPD RESOURCES GATEWAY"

The College via the MyCPD Expert Advisory Group (EAG) and its Sub-committees have initiated a project to aid Fellows in meeting their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. The project has been designed to identify educational resources, determine their quality and suitability for CPD, and then provide easy access through the creation of an on-line resources gateway. This resources gateway will be available to the Fellows & Trainees across the Divisions, Chapters, Faculties and Specialty Societies of the College by 2010.

The MyResources Gateway Steering Committee would like to establish lines of communication and cooperation with the Specialty Societies in order to ensure the resources identified are suitable and to link any relating projects your Society may be developing with the work of the Resources Gateway. If you are interested in liaising or getting involved, please contact:
Project Officer (Eamon Vale)

Prof Justin La Brooy, FRACP
Chair of the Joint Adult Medicine and Paediatrics Divisional Sub-committee
 

ANZSA releases position on Home Fetal Heart Monitoring

This position statement is based on our understanding of the published data by our members.

 

Statement of principle

For the majority of women, pregnancy and childbirth, particularly those in adequately resourced settings, is a normal happy event resulting in the birth of a healthy baby. While stillbirth is a rare event in such settings (less than 1% of all births), it is one of the most traumatic experiences an adult can experience and is associated with long lasting psychosocial effects.

The aim of antenatal surveillance is to identify women at increased risk of stillbirth and other complications thereby enabling appropriate intervention to improve outcome. Pregnant women with risk factors, particularly those having had a previous stillborn baby, suffering anxiety need compassionate reassurance and closer monitoring.

There is no evidence to indicate that home fetal heart monitoring devices have a role as a surveillance tool to improve pregnancy outcome. Such monitoring may actually increase the risk due to false reassurance and delayed access to appropriate care.

To view full statement, please visit link: http://www.stillbirthalliance.org.au/news.htm 

To comment on this Position Statement please email: info@stillbirthalliance.org.au

WOMBAT booklets available

Available in PDF format are the most recent versions of two WOMBAT produced booklets:

  • Australasian randomised trials in maternal and perinatal health: Studies currently recruiting or yet to recruit as at March 2009

[ Download Booklet ]

  • Research Gaps from Cochrane Reviews April 2009  

[ Download Booklet ]

For up-to-date information on individual trials we suggest searching the database under the trial name.

Final News - WOMBAT would like to farewell our National Co-ordinator, Dr Georgie Stamp.

Georgie has been an invaluable member of Wombat, holding an important position on the Advisory Committee. She has also given guidance and support to State Regional Co-ordinators and will be sadly missed. We wish Georgie well in her new career and personal pursuits.

WOMBAT WORKSHOPS

Magnesium Sulphate for Neuroprotection of the Neonate – developing clinical practice guidelines.

Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
Norwich seminar room, Norwich Centre, 77 King William RD (across the road from the Women's and Children's Hospital).
Saturday 12th December 2009, 09.00 – 16.30

Cost: $120

Aim: National meeting to produce evidence-based guidelines on antenatal use of magnesium sulphate for infant neuroprotection.

Workshop Faculty:

Caroline Crowther – The University of Adelaide
Lex Doyle – University of Melbourne
Philippa Middleton - The University of Adelaide

For more information: tanya.bubner@adelaide.edu.au  

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Srinivasjois R, Roa S, Patole S. Prebiotic supplementation of formula in preterm neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition 2009;28;3: 237-242.

Panaretto KS, Mitchell MR, Anderson L, Gilligan C, Buettner P, Larkins SL, Eades S. Tobacco use and measuring nicotine dependence among urban Indigenous pregnant women. MJA 2009;191: 554-557

WOMBAT WEBSITE UPDATE

There have had recent discussions about updating the Wombat Website and adding new features. Currently, we are working on improving the database search capabilities. If you have any updates about RCT's, or contact details, please contact Glenda Hawley: glenda.hawley@wombatcollaboration.net 

ALL TRIALS REQUIRING COLLABORATING CENTRES 

A*STEROID: Australasian Antenatal Study to Evaluate the Role Of Intramuscular Dexamethasone versus betamethasone prior to preterm birth to increase survival free of neurosensory disability: a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email pat.ashwood@adelaide.edu.au   

APTS: Australian Placental Transfusion Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email lsebastian@ctc.usyd.edu.au  

A study of Aminophylline for infants less than 12 months of age with bronchiolitis, requiring admission to intensive care
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email carmel.delzoppo@rch.org.au

BOOST II: Benefits of Oxygen Saturation Targeting Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email boost2@ctc.usyd.edu.au

Cervical occlusion in women with cervical insufficiency
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email deemccormack@hotmail.com or visit the trial homepage: www.cervicalocclusion.com   

DETECT: Ductal Echocardiographic Targeting and Early Closure Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email mkluckow@med.usyd.edu.au  

Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Doppler to time second and subsequent transfusions for women with red cell alloimmunisation: a randomised trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email Jodie.dodd@adelaide.edu.au  

GAS Study: A multi-site randomised controlled trial comparing bupivacaine (regional) anaesthesia versus sevoflurane (general) anaesthesia for effects on neurodevelopmental outcome and apnoea in infants scheduled for unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia repair
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email suzette.sheppard@mcri.edu.au  

IDEAL: Investigation of dietary advice and lifestyle for women with borderline gestational diabetes
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ideal@adelaide.edu.au

PPROMT Trial: Preterm Pre-Labour Rupture of Membranes Close to Term Trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email ppromt@med.usyd.edu.au  

PROGRESS Trial: Progesterone after previous preterm birth for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or email progress@adelaide.edu.au

TWINS: Timing of Birth at Term – a randomised controlled trial
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.health.adelaide.edu.au/og/research/mpctu.html or email twins@adelaide.edu.au

TRIALS WITH THE COORDINATING BASE OVERSEAS

CHIPS Trial: Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.utoronto.ca/cmicr/chips/  or contact Jennifer Menzies at chips@cw.bc.ca   

PLUTO: Percutaneous Shunting for lower-urinary tract obstruction
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or visit http//www.pluto.bham.ac.uk or email Prof Mark Kilby at m.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

TBS: Twin Birth Study
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or www.utoronto.ca/miru/tbs
or email tbs@sw.ca

TIPPS: Thrombophilia In Pregnancy Prophylaxis Study: a muticentre, multinational randomised controlled trial of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin in high-risk pregnant thrombophilic women
If you would like more information on becoming involved in this trial visit the WOMBAT maternal and perinatal trials page or http://www.healthypregnancy.ca  or email amclement@ohri.ca

The WOMAN (World Maternal Antifibrinolytic Trial) Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage: An International Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. ISRCTRN76912190
thewomantrial@Lshtm.ac.uk  or http://www.trialscoordinatingcentre.lshtm.ac.uk/

CONFERENCES RELEVANT TO MATERNAL AND PERINATAL HEALTH

2010 CONFERENCES

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting
21-24 March 2010
Adelaide, SA
For more information: http://www.ranzcog2010asm.com.au/  

3rd Biennial Breathing New Life into Maternity Care: multidisciplinary conference
 (Australian College of Midwives in conjunction with Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine)
1-4 July 2010
Alice Springs, NT
For more information: www.breathingnewlife.remark.com.au  

ISA (International Stillbirth Alliance) and ISPID (International Society for the Study and Prevention of Infant Death) Joint Conference - Precious lives: global collaboration in stillbirth and infant death
8-10 October, 2010
Sydney, Australia
For more information: www.isaispid2010.com

2010 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

"Quality in Midwifery: Good practice in care and education"
February 25-26, 2010
Gent, Belgium
For more information: http://project.arteveldehs.be/leerstoelfg/index.asp 

24th Fetal and Neonatal Physiology Workshop of Australia & New Zealand
(The Workshop will be held immediately before the PSANZ conference)
Friday 26th & Saturday 27th March 2010
Wellington, New Zealand
For more information: see flyer
You will be required to book your own accommodation, which can be sourced from the PSANZ website. http://www.med.monash.edu.au/anatomy/workshops/fanworkshop.html 

14th Perinatal Society of Australia & New Zealand (PSANZ) Congress
Registration Now Open! Early bird deadline: 4 January, 2010
28-31 March 2010
Wellington, NZ
For more information: http://psanz2010.eventplanners.com.au/

International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care
April 20-23 2010
Nice, France
Abstracts close 21 Sept 2009
For more information: http://internationalforum.bmj.com/ 

Women Deliver 2010 "at a glance"
June 7-9 2010
Washington DC, USA
For more information: http://www.womendeliver.org/conference2010/index.htm

7th International Conference of Neonatal Nursing 2010
October 24–27 2010
Durban, South Africa
For more information: http://www.coinnurses.org/coinn_conf/2010_int_neonatal.htm 

16th International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology
October 28-31 2010
Venice, Italy
For more information: http://www.ispog2010.com 

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information on WOMBAT initiatives, please contact:

Philippa Middleton: philippa.middleton@adelaide.edu.au

The WOMBAT Collaboration is funded through a NHMRC enabling grant.

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