About

Dr. Joseph J. Apuzzio is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Health at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where he also serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health and Division Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine at University Hospital. He is a Maternal Fetal Medicine sub-specialist with expertise in managing high risk pregnancies with medical complications and prenatal diagnosis. Dr. Apuzzio completed his Obstetric & Gynecology residency and a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine, and he is board certified and re-certified in both fields. His professional focus includes prenatal diagnosis, fetal malformations, high risk obstetrics, amniocentesis, diabetes during pregnancy, hypertension during pregnancy, obstetrical ultrasound, pre-eclampsia, thyroid disease during pregnancy, and chorionic villi sampling. He has published over 125 articles in the medical literature and is the editor of the upcoming 4th edition of Operative Obstetrics. Additionally, Dr. Apuzzio serves as Chair of the State of New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Chair of District III American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Obstetrics
• Pediatrics
• Gynecology
• Surgery
• Internal medicine
• Genetics
• Environmental health
• Biology

Selected publications

• Is Induction of Labor with Early Rupture of Membranes Associated with an Increased Rate of Clinical Chorioamnionitis?

  Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2024-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if early rupture of membranes (ROM) in women undergoing induction of labor (IOL) at term is associated with an increased rate of clinical chorioamnionitis. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed on women undergoing IOL. Early ROM was defined as ROM at a modified Bishop score less than 5, cervical dilation less than 4 cm, or cervical effacement less than 80%. The rate of clinical chorioamnionitis was compared between women with early and late ROM. Results: The rate of clinical chorioamnionitis was 8.6% (24/279). ROM at an effacement of less than 80% was associated with a rate of clinical chorioamnionitis of 15.4% (12/78) compared to 6.0% (12/201) at an effacement of equal to or greater than 80%, p = 0.017. The rate of cesarean delivery was higher for patients with early ROM by any definition: 32% compared to 17.5% by modified Bishop score (p = 0.031), 32.4% versus 18.2% by cervical dilation (p = 0.049), and 33.3% versus 14.9% by cervical effacement (p = 0.001). Conclusions: In patients undergoing IOL, early ROM may be associated with an increased rate of clinical chorioamnionitis when performed at a cervical effacement of less than 80% and an increased rate of cesarean delivery.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• State Variation in Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Individuals With Medicaid Insurance

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2023-09-21 · 2 citations

  letter

  Karkowsky, Chavi Eve MD; Apuzzio, Joseph J. MD; Campbell, Damali MD; Gittens-Williams, Lisa MD Author Information

  PublisherDOI

• Maternal complete heart block in pregnancy: a case report, literature review and management options

  Medicine and Clinical Science · 2023-06-30

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Objective: to discuss the management of maternal complete heart block during pregnancy Methods: This is a case report, discussion, and recommendations for managing complete heart block during pregnancy. Results: Maternal complete heart block was managed successfully during pregnancy. Conclusion: Maternal complete heart block occurring during pregnancy is a rare condition that can first present during pregnancy. Management is guided by expert opinion based on sparse literature, with no established guidelines, and requires a multidisciplinary team approach.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Implementation of the Hear Her Campaign [ID: 1339546]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2023-05-01 · 1 citations

  article

  INTRODUCTION: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020 Hear Her Campaign educates pregnant women, their support networks, and providers about urgent maternal warning signs, and empowers women to speak up; however, the effectiveness of this campaign is unknown. In 2021, our institution displayed and distributed campaign materials and formally coached patients. We performed a retrospective cohort study to assess the effects of this initiative on prenatal visits and postpartum office and emergency room visits and patient–provider communications in an urban, academic medical center. METHODS: A 3-month period before and after promotion of the Hear Her campaign was studied. Patients who delivered July 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021, were the study group, and patients who delivered July 1, 2019, to September 30, 2019, were the control group. Demographic data, number of prenatal visits, postpartum office and emergency room visits, and patient–provider communications were compared. Mann-Whitney, χ 2 , and Fisher's exact tests were used for analysis. This study was IRB approved. RESULTS: The study group had 346 patients, and the control, 369. Maternal demographics were similar. Median number of prenatal visits, postpartum follow-up rates, and median number of patients presenting to the emergency department postpartum were similar between the study and control groups, 7 versus 8, 68.2% versus 69.6%, and 57 (16.5%) versus 50 (13.6%), respectively. Patient–provider communications significantly increased, with 11.6% of patients communicating from 1.6% ( P <.0001). CONCLUSION: Promotion of the Hear Her Campaign in this inner-city cohort correlated with an increase in maternal interaction with the health care system via patient–provider communication without increasing the use of emergency department services. More studies are needed to evaluate the effect on maternal health outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Head-to-Body Interval and Neonatal Outcomes After Shoulder Dystocia [A225]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2022-05-01

  article

  INTRODUCTION: Shoulder dystocia (SD) is a potentially devastating emergency. Complications may result from maneuvers, yet delivery delay can result in hypoxic-related injury. Awaiting the next contraction is reported to assist in shoulder rotation. We hypothesized that shorter head-to-body delivery interval (HBI) is associated with an increase in neonatal injury without an increase in hypoxia-related sequelae. METHODS: This is a retrospective, institutional review board‒approved review of records of patients with singleton pregnancies at a tertiary-care hospital (January 1, 2015, to May 31, 2021). Patients were included if SD was documented in the delivery summary. Neonatal injury was defined as brachial plexus injury, clavicular fracture, or humerus fracture, and were compared based on HBI. RESULTS: A total of 9,044 deliveries occurred during the study period. Of these, 71 patients were identified with SD; one was excluded. Of patients with SD, 71% had HBI <3 minutes, 90% had HBI <4 minutes, and one had HBI >6 minutes. Cord pH was available for 67% of patients, none of whom had pH <7.0. Neonatal injury was documented in 22 deliveries and was similar between HBI ≤3 minutes and >3 minutes (30% versus 42%, P =.67). Cord pH was similar with and without neonatal injury (7.177 versus 7.223, P =.069). Two infants had hypoxic injury, both with HBI >4 minutes. CONCLUSION: HBI was not associated with neonatal injury. Hypoxic injury was rare and was only seen with HBI >4 minutes. These data support allowing for maternal effort during the subsequent contraction after delivery of the head when less than 4 minutes.

  PublisherDOI

• Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency and pregnancy: A case series and review of recommendations

  Case Reports in Women s Health · 2022 · 8 citations

  • Medicine
  • Obstetrics
  • Pediatrics

  Background: Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is a rare disorder of the urea cycle that obstetricians should be aware of in order to guide management for pregnant carriers of the X-linked gene that causes the condition. Cases: We present the pregnancy management and outcomes of two women with OTCD. The particular manifestations of the disease drive antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum management. Conclusion: Preconception counseling, early prenatal diagnostics and multidisciplinary intrapartum and postpartum management plans contribute to improved outcomes for patients.

  PublisherDOI

• 1145 Predicting vaginal birth after cesarean section in black and hispanic patients

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2021 · 1 citations

  • Medicine
  • Obstetrics
  • Gynecology
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 999 Patients with which high risk complication benefits the most from patient navigation?

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2021-02-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 1126 Breastfeeding rates in women that attempt trial of labor after cesarean vs. repeat cesarean delivery

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2021-02-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Can navigation and interpregnancy care improve outcomes in patients with pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM)?

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2021-12-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Shauna F. Williams

  217 shared

• Lisa Gittens‐Williams

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  77 shared

• Vijaya Ganesh

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

  65 shared

• Leslie Iffy

  63 shared

• Matthew P. Romagano

  Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono

  55 shared

• Krunal Patel

  Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre

  44 shared

• Lisa Gittens

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  40 shared

• St Paul

  Indiana University Bloomington

  36 shared

Education

• M.D.

  New Jersey Medical School

  1973

• B.A.

  Rutgers University

  1969

Awards & honors

• Chair of the State of New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review C…
• Chair of District III American College of Obstetricians and…