Evaluation of maternity services in Assiut University Hospital

The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the maternity services at Assiut University Hospital between the years 1985/86 and 1989/90 after the introduction of the new concepts of the high risk pregnancy, scoring, ultrasonic growth monitoring, electronic fetal monitoring and active management of labor using the partograph. The low risk group included 731 patients admitted in labor [62.8%] without any medical or obstetric problems. The high risk group included 432 patients [37.2%] with medical or obstetric problems complicating the pregnancy status. About 72.5% of the last group were admitted as emergency cases either in labor or due to occurrence of life threatening condition, while 27.5% were admitted for antenatal management of their high risk status. There was a significant increased incidence of high risk pregnancy in the study group [37.2%] compared to years 1985/86 [14.2%]. The maternal mortality rate was 349 per 100,000 live births, which was significantly higher than that for the years 1985/86 [104/100,0000]

Cutaneous side effects of hormonal contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives can induce changes in the skin and its appendages. This study was carried out to compare the effects of progesterone only contraceptives [Norplant[R]] and Uniplant[R]] versus combined oral contraceptive pills on skin and its appendages. Women received IUDs were used as controls. A significant relation was found between the use of progesterone only contraceptives [Norplant[R]] and Uniplant[R]] and hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis, melasma and generalized pruritis. On the other hand there was a significant relation between the use of combined OCs and hair loss, melasma and vaginal candidiasis. Other skin manifestations reported showed insignificant difference in comparison to controls. Large prospective studies are recommended to elucidate the cutaneous side effects of progesterone only contraception versus combined oral contraceptive pills

Comparative study of the effect of metoclopramide and meperidine on cervical dilatation and effacement during labor

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metoclopramide hydrochloride [primperan] versus meperidine hydrochloride [pethidine] on cervical effacement and dilatation during labor as monitored by a partograph. 150 normal primigravida attending the Labor Ward of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assiut University Hospital throughout the period 1991 - 1992 for delivery, were recruited for this study. The selected women were classified into 3 groups, each consisted of 50 women. Group A received intravenous [i.v.] saline, group B received i.m. pethidine [50 mg], and group C reviewed i.v. primperan [10 mg]. The mean duration of the first stage of labor in group A was 5.6 hours, while in group B was 4.8 hours, and in group C was 2.6 hours. The differences were highly significant [p <0.001] in the latter group. There were insignificant differences between the analgesic effect of primperan and pethidine on parturients. Apgar score in group B was lower than that of groups A and C at one minute [p <0.05]. It was concluded that primperan is a safe, effective and available drug that could be given to enhance the first stage of labor with reasonable analgesic effect. It is distinctive from pethidine by the lack of any depressant action on fetal respiratory center and the emetic effect on the mother