Introduction and objective: The major sources of bacterial contamination of raw milk are post-harvest manipulation; therefore the disinfection of teat and teat cups which decrease the bacterial load has a positive impact on minimizing new infection rates. The aim of the study was determination...

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is the most common inherited metabolic disorder in urea cycles with an incidence of 1:14,000 live births. Pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period are considered challenging for women with this hereditary metabolic disorder, with a risk of hyperammonemia, especially in the first week after delivery. In our article, we discuss severe hepatic failure, a pregnancy complication in an OTC deficient patient that has not previously been published. Firstly, our aim is to highlight the need for a strict adherence to the recommendation of the gradual increase of protein intake during pregnancy and the importance of multidisciplinary monitoring of pregnant patients with OTC deficiency. Secondly, we refer to critical postpartum hyperammonemia in patients with this hereditary metabolic disorder.

Objective: Analysis of life-threatening maternal morbidities, the condition of which required subsequent treatment in Intensive Care Units (ICU) in the Slovak Republic in the years 2012–2020. Methodology: Retrospective analysis of 655 identified cases of mothers admitted to the intensive care units out of 436,136 births. The reasons for the transport were divided into nine categories: peripartum bleeding, hypertensive diseases, thromboembolism, cardiovascular diseases, sepsis/severe infections, metabolic diseases, complications of anaesthesiology, gastroenterological problems and others. Results: The total incidence of admission to the intensive care units in the observed period was 1.5 per 1,000 births, but for mothers of Roma nationality it was 8.8 per 1,000 births. The average age of mothers was 30.7 years, while 29.7% were over 35 years old. Overweight and obesity was present by 70.4% of mothers. The most common reason for transport to the ICU (49.3%) was severe postpartum hemorrhage. The second most common cause (26.0%) was hypertensive diseases (preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome). The third most common cause (4.9%) was sepsis and severe maternal infections. The mortality rate of mothers admitted to the ICU was 2.3% and infant mortality of these mothers was 8.7%. Conclusion: The incidence of admission of mothers to the ICU in the monitored years was 1.5 per 1,000 births, which in international comparison ranks Slovakia among countries with a lower incidence. Key words: severe acute maternal morbidity – mother admission to the intensive care unit

Objective: Analysis of life-threatening maternal morbidities and their subsequent treatment in intensive care units in Slovakia during the years 2012–2021. Material and Methods: A descriptive, population-based study of 747 cases of mothers admitted to intensive care units (ICU). The reasons for admission were divided into nine categories: peripartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, thromboembolism, cardiovascular diseases, sepsis-severe infections, metabolic diseases, anaesthesia-related complications, gastrointestinal disorders, and others. Results: The overall incidence of ICU admission was 1.4 per 1000 births. The most common reasons for ICU admission were severe postpartum haemorrhage (49.1%), hypertensive disorders (25.3%) and sepsis or severe infections (4.7%). Age-specific incidence ranged from 1.1 in the 20–29 age group to 3.5 per 1000 births in women aged 40 and over. Incidence of ICU admission after caesarean section (3.85) was 9.4-fold higher than after vaginal delivery (0.34). The higher proportion of ICU admissions occurred after the 37th gestational week (51.5%), but the incidence before the 37th weeks was 11.7-fold higher than after the 37th week. Almost one third of ICU admitted mothers were overweight (19.5%) or obese (14.4%). The incidence of ICU admission among mothers of Roma nationality (10.3) was 8.6 time higher than non-Roma nationality (1.2). Maternal mortality among ICU-admitted mothers was 2.7% and perinatal mortality of their newborns was 9.5%. Conclusion: The incidence of maternal ICU admissions in Slovakia ranks among the lowest globally. However, significant risk factors such as advanced maternal age, high BMI and cesarean section delivery highlight the need for targeted interventions. Severe postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and sepsis remain the leading cause of ICU admissions.

Objective: Analysis of maternal morbidity in the Slovak Republic in the years 2012–2018. Methods: The analysis of selected maternal morbidity data prospectively collected in the years 2012–2018 from all obstetric units in the Slovak Republic. Results: In the years 2012–2018, incidence of severe peripartum bleeding was 2.17, peripartum hysterectomy was 0.89, maternal admission to intensive care units was 1.59, eclampsia was 0.21, HELLP syndrome was 0.73, abnormally invasive placentation was 0.37, uterine rupture was 0.68, severe sepsis in pregnancy and puerperium was 0.18 and nonfatal amniotic fl uid embolism was 0.027 per 1,000 births. Conclusion: Incidence of total severe acute maternal morbidity in the Slovak Republic was 6.84 per 1,000 births. In Slovak local conditions, there is still room for reduction of severe acute maternal morbidity. Key words: severe acute maternal morbidity – severe peripartum haemorrhage – peripartum hysterectomy – eclampsia – HELLP syndrome – abnormally invasive placentation – uterine rupture – sepsis – amniotic fl uid embolism – sepsis