Maternal deaths due to eclampsia in teenagers: lessons from assessment of maternal deaths in South Africa

Background: Eclampsia remains a major cause of maternal mortality, particularly in teenage pregnancies. Healthcare professionals providing antenatal must regard teenagers as a high risk group for the pre-eclampsia-eclampsia syndrome. Setting: Data extracted from the South African Saving Mothers Report: 2014­2016. Aim: To establish the clinical details in teenage maternal deaths owing to eclampsia. Method: Retrospective review of the case records and maternal death assessment forms of teenagers that died due to eclampsia during 2014­2016. Results: There were 47 teenagers (aged 14 to 19 years) who died from eclampsia. Of these 18 out of 47 (38%) deaths occurred in the post-partum period. Forty (85.1%) of the patients had antenatal care. Three (6.4%) had post-partum eclampsia, and of the remaining 44 of the 47 (93.6%), the gestational age at first occurrence of a seizure ranged from 25 to 39 weeks. The blood pressures at the time of seizure ranged from systolic of 131 to 210 mmHg and diastolic of 89 to 130 mmHg. The commonest final causes of death were intracerebral haemorrhage associated with severe hypertension and multi-organ failure. Avoidable factors included transport delays, referral to the wrong levels of health care and poor care by health professionals. Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy is a risk factor for eclampsia-related death; awareness of borderline elevations of blood pressure levels from baseline values (prehypertension levels) and taking following national guidelines on the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will decrease deaths from eclampsia

Feasibility of a ketamine anesthesia package in support of obstetric and gynecologic procedures in Kenya when no anesthetist is available

The objective was to assess the feasibility and safety of the _Every Second Matters for Emergency and Essential Surgery ­ Ketamine' (ESM-Ketamine) package in support of obstetric and gynecologic emergency and essential surgery when no anesthetist is available. A consecutive case series was conducted in twelve hospitals across five severely resource-limited counties in Kenya. 530 women underwent obstetric or gynecological operative procedures supported by non-anesthetist clinicians using the ESM-Ketamine package between November 1, 2013 and September 30, 2017. Main outcomes included reasons for ESM-Ketamine activations and ketamine-related adverse events. There were two (0.4%) prolonged (>30 seconds) oxygen desaturations below 92%. Brief oxygen desaturations (<30 seconds) below 92% occurred in 15 (2.8%) cases and 113 (21.3%) were administered diazepam to treat hallucinations or agitation. There were no ketamine-related deaths or injuries. The ESM-Ketamine package appears feasible and safe for use in support of obstetric and gynecologic surgeries when no anesthetist is available

Five Years Experience of Ureterovaginal Fistulae Following Obstetric or Gynecological Intervention in Ethiopia

To study the etiology; presentation and outcome of women presenting to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital with an ureterovaginal fistula. Patients and Methods Women presenting with ureterovaginal fistulae following obstetric or gynecological intervention. The operating register from June 2004 to July 2009 was studied to identify women who had undergone ureteric re-implantation. Patient files were reviewed and only women with fistulae resulting from iatrogenic injury were included. Results Ureterovaginal fistulae were found in 89 women; 64 after Caesarean section; of which 43 were for a stillborn baby; 12 women have uterine rupture; 6 with instrumental delivery and only 7 with abdominal hysterectomy. The left ureter was most frequently injured (54). The number of patients seen has doubled over the past two years. Using one of four methods of repair; 88 women were continent at discharge from hospital. One died from a suspected pulmonary embolism. conclusion The incidence of iatrogenic ureteric injury is increasing in Ethiopia and most result from Caesarean section. The reasons should be studied. Using a variety of repair techniques; all patients can be cured. However; surgeons undertaking this surgery should have a wide range of urological training

Pattern of childhood gynaecological presentations in a Nigerian tertiary health facility

Background: Gynaecological problems in children and adolescents are often both medically and psychologically unique and require a highly skilled approach differing from those utilized for an adult female population. There is paucity of data on childhood gynaecological problems in our environment. The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and pattern of common gynaecological problems in the prepubertal child at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria; Northern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving case file-based data analysis over a 10-year period (1995-2004) of 62 children aged 1 month-12 years at the Gynaecology unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria; Northern Nigeria. Results: Sixty-two children were seen; 17 infants; 14 under 5 years of age; and the rest (31) were aged 6-12 years. The commonest condition was labial fusion (33.9); urethral prolapse (14.5); and suspected sexual assault (12). Ambiguous genitalia (9.7); vaginitis (6.5); and ovarian tumour (4.8) were also encountered. Conclusion: Labial fusion; urethral prolapse; and suspected sexual assault are the commonest childhood gynaecological morbidities in Zaria. Provision of gynaecological services at every level of health care system to cater for young females is advocated

Bilan d'activite annuel de l'echographie en strategie avancee dans la region de Ziguinchor (Senegal)

Pour renforcer l'accessibilite de l'echographie aux populations rurales; un programme d'echographie en strategie avancee a ete institue dans les districts sanitaires de Sedhiou; Oussouye; Bignona et Ziguinchor; en Casamance; au Senegal. Durant l'annee 2001; 56 sorties ont ete effectuees au benefice de 1273 patientes. Les principales indications etaient le bilan de grossesse; l'amenorrhee; le desir de grossesse; la douleur; lesmasses pelviennes; et les hemorragies. Les resultats etaient pathologiques dans 25des cas. Les pathologies etaient gravidiques dans 47des cas; et gynecologiques dans 53. La conduite a tenir etait un rendez-vous de controle dans 15des cas; un traitement dans 24; et une reference vers le centre hospitalier regional dans 61. La strategie avancee a donc ete profitable aussi bien au niveau des structures de sante qu'au niveau communautaire dans la prise en charge des problemes de sante. D'ou l'interet de sa promotion en attendant l'equipement des hopitaux de district en appareils d'echographie; et la formation de leur personnel a la pratique de l'echographie

Bilan d'activite annuel de l'echographie en strategie avancee dans la region de Ziguinchor (Senegal)

Pour renforcer l'accessibilite de l'echographie aux populations rurales; un programme d'echographie en strategie avancee a ete institue dans les districts sanitaires de Sedhiou; Oussouye; Bignona et Ziguinchor; en Casamance; au Senegal. Durant l'annee 2001; 56 sorties ont ete effectuees au benefice de 1273 patientes. Les principales indications etaient le bilan de grossesse; l'amenorrhee; le desir de grossesse; la douleur; les masses pelviennes; et les hemorragies. Les resultats etaient pathologiques dans 25des cas. Les pathologies etaient gravidiques dans 47des cas; et gynecologiques dans 53. La conduite a tenir etait un rendez-vous de controle dans 15des cas; un traitement dans 24; et une reference vers le centre hospitalier regional dans 61. La strategie avancee a donc ete profitable aussi bien au niveau des structures de sante qu'au niveau communautaire dans la prise en charge des problemes de sante. D'ou l'interet de sa promotion en attendant l'equipement des hopitaux de district en appareils d'echographie; et la formation de leur personnel a la pratique de l'echographie

Iatrogenic ureteric and bladder injuries in obstetric and gynaecologic surgeries

Objective: To review iatrogenic ureteric and urinary bladder injuries from obstetric and gynaecological surgeries treated in the urology department analysing; ureteric anatomy; aetiologicfactors; diagnosis; treatment and outcomes. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Institute of Urology; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC); Moshi; Tanzania. Subjects: Twenty three women were treated for iatrogenic ureteric and bladder injuries secondary to obstetric and gynaecological procedures in the department of urology between June 1994 and July 2004. Results: Hysterectomy was the leading cause of ureteric injuries contributing to nine (47.4

A Comparison of Cervical Smear Adequacy Using either the Cytobrush or the Ayre Spatula: a Practice Audit

Background: The study aimed to i) investigate the smoking habits of students attending tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) and ii) determine the knowledge of the students about the health hazards of smoking and their attitude towards current government anti-smoking legislation.Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study involving all seven tertiary institutions of learning in the ECP; viz. the Universities of Transkei; Fort Hare; Port Elizabeth and Rhodes University; and the Border; Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth technikons. A total of 1 728 students were interviewed out of a student population of 30;080. Stratified random sampling was used to select the students. Two-way tables were used to test the independence of the variables and chi-square tests were applied. A 'p' value of below 5 was used as a test of significance. Results : A total of 1 480 students completed the questionnaires (86). The racial classification of the respondents was 79 Black; 13 White; 7 Coloured and 2 Indian. Twenty-six per cent of the students were smokers; of which 37 were male and 15 were female. Forty-five per cent of the Coloured students smoked; while the figures for Whites and Blacks were 26 and 25 respectively. Seventy per cent of the students smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day. Fifty-two per cent of the smokers said they wanted to stop smoking. Sixty-one per cent had been influenced to start smoking by their friends and only 13 were influenced by advertisements. Ninety-four percent agreed that smoking was dangerous to the smoker's health; while 73 responded that there was a relationship between mothers who smoke and low birth weight. Thirteen per cent thought the legislation was too tough; while 30 said it was good as it was. On measures to reduce smoking; 86 favoured restricting smoking in public places.Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that smoking is prevalent in tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province. The demographic profile of the smokers reflects the national picture. The knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking is generally good

Infertility; lower abdominal pain and backache in gynaecology practice: social and cultural perspectives

This paper deals with a 10 months prospective study into the complaints of lower abdominal pains and backache during regular gynaecology clinic sessions at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. The causes and certain contributing factors are outlined. Social and cultural factors influencing the perception and presentation of pain by the patients are also discussed and emphasized

Endometrial sampling at an academic hospital in South Africa: Histological findings, lessons learnt and interesting surprises

Background: Outpatient sampling is used to investigate endometrial pathology. Little is known about practice habits and local failure rates at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.Objective: This study assessed the frequency of samples that showed no or limited histological representation of endometrium, and described demographic and pathological features.Methods: All endometrial sample histology reports from the National Health Laboratory Services at the hospital from 01 July 2013 to 31 May 2017 were retrieved by searching the laboratory's information system. Clinical variables (age, menopausal state, indication for biopsy, endometrial thickness on ultrasound) and pathological findings (macroscopic amount of tissue, histological diagnosis, microscopic presence of endometrial tissue) were extracted and statistically analysed.Results: A total of 1926 samples were included, 91% of which were submitted for abnormal or postmenopausal bleeding. No endometrium was observed in 25% of samples and 13% showed limited endometrium. Benign diagnoses (86%) were most common, with proliferative or secretory changes, endometrial polyps and endometritis accounting for most of these. Associations between the amount of sample received and the presence of endometrial tissue (p ≤ 0.001) and benign versus malignant diagnoses (p ≤ 0.001) were noted. The greater the endometrial thickness, the greater the likelihood of obtaining more sample (bulky vs scant p < 0.001) and making a malignant versus benign diagnosis (p = 0.005).Conclusion: These findings are in keeping with literature outside Africa. Histology reports should be explicit when terms such as 'inadequate' or 'insufficient' are used, in order to facilitate clinical decision-making

Five year report of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology; Kamuzu Central Hospital and Old Wing Maternity; Lilongwe; Malawi

The aim of this report is to give a picture of the activities of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Kamuzu Central Hospital [KCH] and the Old Wing Maternity for the five year period spanning 1980-1985