Relation between maternal haemoglobin and birth weight in Damietta

To assess the relation between the lowest haemoglobin [Hb] level in pregnancy with birth weight [B. Wt.] and the rates of low birth weight [LBW] and preterm delivery. 100 indwelling low-risk pregnant women clients of the outpatient antenatal clinic at Al-Azhar University Hospital, Damietta. A prospective study was conducted on the year 2002 between January and July. The haemoglobin measurement was the lowest one recorded during pregnancy. Birth weights were recorded and the rates of LBW [<2500 g] and the preterm delivery rate [<37 completed weeks] were the main outcome measures. The maximum mean B. Wt. was achieved with a lowest Hb concentration [Hb%] in pregnancy of 85-95 g/1; the lowest incidence of LBW and preterm labour occurred with a lowest Hb of 96-105 g/1. The magnitude of the fall in Hb% in pregnancy, physiological haemodilution, is related to B. Wt.; failure of the haemoglobin concentration to fall below 106 g/1 indicates an increased risk of LBW and preterm delivery

Persistent ectopic pregnancy

One hundred and eighty six women who received surgical treatment for ectopic pregnancy were selected for this study Of the 73 women [93.2%] who had conservative tubal surgery seven women [9.5%] were diagnosed as having persistent ectopic pregnancy diagnosed by elevated serum beta- hCG The incidence was no higher after laparoscopy than after laparotomy Five women only developed intraabdominal haemorrhage of required laparotomy. It was concluded that use of post operative serial beta-hCG titers might facilitate recognition of this complication in time to prevent further tubal damage. Second look laparoscopy should be based on the presence of symptoms rather than changes in hCG values

Colour doppler evaluation of fetal hemodynamics in spontaneous versus prostaglandin E[2]-versus prostaglandin E[1] induced active Labor

To evaluate fetal hemodynamic changes before and during active labor, either spontaneous or prostaglandin E[2], [PGE[2]]-versus prostaglandin E[1] [PGE[1]] induced labor, one hundred and twenty healthy women at 37-41+ weeks gestation without signs of maternal medical problem and Fetal distress were investigated before and during labor. Group I [.40 women] had spontaneous active labor, Group II [40 women] were in active labor induced by intra-vaginal PGE[2] [1.5-3mg], Group III [40 women] were in active labor by oral PGE[1] [50-100 micro g]. Blood flow waveforms indices [systolic/diastolic ratio [S/D ratio], resistant index [RI] and pulsatility index [PI] were assessed by pulsed color Doppler from the umbilical artery [UA] and fetal middle cerebral artery [MCA] before and during labor. The groups were compared for the waveform indices, progress of labor and perinatal outcome including: birth weight, umbilical artery pH at delivery. Apgar's score and neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] admission. It was found that, in group I, the S/D ratio, RI and PI became significantly decreased in the UA and MCA compared with those measured before labor [P < 0.05]. In group II, there were no significant changes in the waveform indices in the UA and MCA. While, in group III. all the waveform indices in MCA and the SID ratio in UA were significantly decreased [P <0.05] but the umbilical artery RI and PI were not significantly changed [P >0.05]. The incidence of UA Ph[<7.1] was significantly more in group II than group III and I[25%, 10%, and 5%], respectively [P < 0.05]. No other significant adverse perinatal outcomes were observed in the three groups. It was concluded that decreasing impedance in both the UA and MCA during spontaneous labor is a physiological fetal adaptation to labor to prevent fetal cerebral hypoxia by maintaining adequate brain blood flow during normal parturition. This fetal adaptation phenomenon was observed in the group I and III but not observed in group II which might explain the higher incidence of UA pH [<7.1] in group II, than that in group I and III