Low rate of placental pathological examination in a tertiary care hospital in Sana'a, Yemen

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of submission of placentas for pathological examination and compare the observed and expected numbers of placentas submitted. Records were reviewed for all deliveries occurring at a tertiary care hospital in Sana'a, Yemen, during 2007. Data from pathology department records were compared with data on pathology request forms. The observed and expected numbers of placentas examined were compared. Of 11 472 placentas delivered, 1501 were expected to be pathologically examined, based on College of American Pathologists indications. Only 73 of these [4.9%] had actually been examined. The examination rates for conditions associated with the possible recurrence risks in the subsequent pregnancies were low, below 20%. Only 42% of the pathology request forms gave detailed clinical histories and 0% gave information about Apgar scores. Placental pathological examination was under-utilized in this hospital

Outcome of vaginal birth after caesarean section in women with one previous section and spontaneous onset of labour

The data about the safety of vaginal birth after caesarean section are conflicting. This study in a referral hospital in Sana'a, Yemen investigated the outcome of vaginal birth after caesarean section in 357 women who had one prior caesarean section and were admitted to hospital at term with spontaneous onset of labour. A control group [n = 155] was matched from women without previous caesarean section. The success rate of vaginal birth after caesarean section was 311/357 [87.1%]. The mean duration of the first and second stages of labour were not significantly different in the study group [146.2 and 30.7 min respectively] compared with the control group [146.7 and 29.8 min]. There were infrequent complications; only 1 woman [0.3%] had ruptured uterus and 3 women [1.0%] suffered uterine dehiscence. There was 1 stillbirth after the uterine rupture but no maternal deaths