Maternal mortality in a tertiary care hospital

Death of a woman during pregnancy and child birth is an extremely tragic event. It is a waste of a precious life that leaves great feeling of grief and pain for the family and hospital staff and has devastating influence on the community overall. Maternal morbidity and mortality can be prevented by awareness of reproductive health in a community, availability, and utilisation of organised antenatal care, skilled intrapartum management and careful postnatal follow up. Objective was to analyse the pattern of maternal mortality over the period of five years in a tertiary level hospital receiving high risk referred patients from periphery. All patients admitted in Gynae 'A' Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital from January 2006 to December 2010 were included in the study and number and causes of maternal deaths were noted. During these 5 years there were 78 maternal deaths out of 11,997 obstetrical admissions. There were 7,380 total births and 78 maternal deaths during the study period and Maternal Mortality Rate was 1,057/100,000. The main cause of maternal death was eclampsia and its complications [28.2%]. Eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in our setup. Proper and timely referral is an important measure to prevent it

Duration of lactational amenorrhoea: a hospital based survey in district Abbottabad

The study was carried out to investigate the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in women of district Abbottabad. The objective of this survey was to determine the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in female population of district Abbottabad, NWFP, Pakistan. A survey was conducted at Ayub Teaching Hospital from June to August 2006 by selecting admitted females and their attendants at random and subjecting them to questionnaires and interviews to collect relevant data. Majority of the sampled females belonged to different districts of Hazara division. Fifty nine [59] mothers of parity 1-5 were included in the study. The frequency of breast feeding ranged from 60.0% to 100% [mean 66.1%] in different pregnancies; bottle feeding frequencies ranged from 10-12.5% [mean 6.8%]; frequencies of combined breast and bottle feeding ranged from 25-30% [mean 27.1%] The mean duration of lactational amenorrhoea for different pregnancies ranged from 6.0 +/- 0.0 weeks to 22.6 +/- 25.1 weeks [overall mean 15.8 +/- 15.2 weeks]. Weaning times ranged from 2 to 12 months, with the mean weaning time ranging from 4.8 +/- 1.5 to 5.1 +/- 1.8 months [overall mean 4.8 +/- 1.1 months]. Inbuilt maternal hormonal cycles appear to be more involved in regulating the post partum amenorrhea observed in lactating mothers

Abruptio placentae and its complications at Ayub teaching hospital Abbottabad

Abruptio placentae remains a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality globally, though of most serious concern in the developing world. As most known causes of abruptio placentae are either preventable or treatable, an increased frequency of the condition remains a source of medical concern. The present study was undertaken at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unit B, of the Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan, from July 2003 to June 2004. Patients of abruptio placentae were selected from all cases of 28 weeks or greater gestation, presenting with ante partum haemorrhage during the study period. Patients underwent a complete obstetrical clinical workup including history, general physical examination, abdominal and pelvic examination. Relevant investigations such as laboratory tests and imaging were performed. Patients were managed according to maternal and fetal condition. Any maternal and/or fetal complications were noted and recorded. All data were collected on predesigned proformas and analyzed by computer. A total of 53 cases of abruptio placentae were recorded out of 1194 cases [4.4%] admitted for delivery during the study period, giving a rate of 44 cases of abruptio placentae per 1000 deliveries. Induction of labour was required in 27 [50.9%] cases, while caesarean section was performed in 16 [30.2%] cases. Major complications were intra uterine fetal demise [31/53, 58.5%], fetal distress [8/22 live births, 36.4%] and post partum haemorrhage, which occurred in 10 [18.9%] cases. A higher than expected frequency of abruptio placentae exists in our setting and the consequences of abruptio placentae for neonatal mortality outcome are alarmingly high. The majority of patients presented with intra uterine death so that any management protocol directed at abruptio placentae or its consequences is of little help in preventing perinatal mortality

Use of Foley's catheter and prostaglandin F-2 alpha in second trimester termination of pregnancy

Termination of pregnancy [TOP] in the second trimester is associated with three to five times higher risk of maternal morbidity and mortality than termination during first trimester. The main concern of obstetrician is to provide the most effective and safest regimen which combines the shortest expulsion interval with least side effects. This study was undertaken to compare the use of Foley's catheter with extra-amniotic instillation of PGF2 alpha for second trimester TOP so that a choice of the safer and cost-effective method could be available. The study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit 'B' at Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad between August 2003 and July 2004. Sixty patients recommended for TOP [missed abortion or anencephalic fetus confirmed on ultrasonography] were randomly allocated into two groups. In group 'A', Foley's catheter alone was used while in group 'B' extra amniotic instillation of Prostaglandin F-2 alpha [PGF2 alpha] was done via a Foley's catheter. After expulsion of catheters in both cases oxytocin infusion containing 30 units were started till the expulsion of fetus, placenta and membranes. The mean induction to expulsion time and the mean induction to delivery time for both groups were noted as well as total cost of treatment. Difference in time interval with regard to induction to expulsion time of catheter and induction to delivery time between the two groups was significant being 3 hours and 5 hours respectively less in group 'B' [p < 0.001]; however only 25% of patients in group 'B' had a significant short induction to delivery time as compared to group 'A'. The difference in costs of treatment between the groups was also significant [p < 0.001]. Use of PGF 2 alpha is preferred, though for poor patients Foley's catheter may be used, but only in a tertiary care setting