Effect of Lamaze method on reducing labor pain

This study sample included 215 women admitted during the latent phase of the first stage of labor and were randomized into an intervention group [n=113] who were trained during the latent phase of the first stage to use the Lamaze method for reducing pain or the control group [n=102] who received the routine care for management of pain and discomfort of both hospitals. None of the subjects in both intervention and control groups described their pain as slight or moderate pain [from 0 to 6]. The mean pain score for the intervention group was 70.41 +/- 0.77, while it was similar to the mean pain score for the control 7.06 +/- 0.74. The mean pain score for the intervention group during the second stage of labor was 9.10 +/- 0.78 compared with 8.14 +/- 0.74 for the control group

Postpartum satisfaction of women who receive home care

A purposive sample of 355 women at the last month of their pregnancy was recruited from the Health Center during their antenatal visit. The sample of the study was randomly assigned into two groups: The trial group received postpartum home care and the control group received regular home care from the center. Women in both groups were interviewed using a structured interview including personal, menstrual and medical history. Their medical records were screened for medical disorders. Women in the trial group were visited nine times during the 6th postpartum weeks. At the end of postpartum period, the women satisfaction in both groups was measured. The study concluded that postpartum health care at home can satisfy the parturient women more than the routine postpartum care provided at the maternal and child health centers

Variants of tetralogy of Fallot and associated anomalies, a study of 125 patients

Associated cardiac anomalies and variants of tetralogy of Fallot are common findings. They may be identified by echocardigraphy or during cardiac catheterization and angiography. In 125 patients [ps] studied, associated anomalies were present in 70. Right sided aortic arch was the most common anomaly [34 pts], left to right atrial communication in 64 pts [58 pts had a patent foramen ovale, 5 pts a secondum defect and I had a primum defect]. Miscellaneous anomalies like patent ductus arteriosus, persistent left superior vena cava, anomalies of big arteries and abnormal coronary arteries were present in 16 pts. Variation of the tetralogy were present in the form of associated valvular pulmonary stenosis and or pulmonary supravalvular narrowing or obstruction. Selective pulmonary arteriography or right ventricular outflao tract injection was performed in 98 patients [group A], and only apical right ventriculogram in 27 patients [group B] with this anomaly. Forty seven patients [48%] of the first group [group A] had other obstructions more than infundibular narrowing, of these 42 pts had Valvular stenosls, 38 pts had a hypoplastic pulmonary artery, l9pts had right or left branch stenosis and 2 had an absent pulmonary artery branch. Valvular pulmonary stenosis was only seen on left lateral right ventricular angiogram in group-B, while other pulmonary supravalvular narrowings were not well visualized. In conclusion, associated anomalies are common with tetralogy of Fallot and they can be discovered by echocardiography. Their presence and extent should be confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Multiple levels of right ventricular outflow obstruction can not be asssessed except by the outlow right ventriculogram or by pulmonary arteriography which was safe and important for the correct diagnosis of pulmonary arterial anatomy. The correct diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot with its variants and associated anomalies is of help in planning surgical approach