Outcomes of Teleconsultation Services and Patient Satisfaction among Pregnant Women Delivering at a Tertiary Care Center in South India during Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has disrupted the antenatal care in low? and middle?income countries such as India. Telemedicine was introduced for the first time in India for continuing antenatal care. Hence, a questionnaire?based descriptive cross?sectional study is done to assess the outcomes of teleconsultation services, factors influencing it, and patient’s perceived satisfaction. Three hundred and fifty?five women who delivered the following teleconsultation from July 2020 to October 2020 were included in the study. Thirty?two percent were high?risk pregnancies and 15% of the babies required neonatal intensive care unit admission. Ninety?eight percent could convey their health concerns, 18% had a referral to other departments, and 25% had visited casualty. Sixty?three percent procured medicine through e?prescription. Seventy?six percent were happy with teleconsultation overcrowded clinic, 82% were happy about saving travel expenditure, whereas overall satisfaction was 50%. Fourteen percent did not have access to smartphone and 9% did not receive the call at scheduled time. Telemedicine has a vital role in managing pregnancy concerns during this pandemic.

Awareness regarding abortions and medical termination of pregnancy act among medical students in Puducherry, India.

Background: Maternal mortality is an important indicator of women’s health and social well-being. According to the WHO report, each year, an estimated 190 women for every 100,000 live births die due to maternal causes. In India, unsafe abortion and related complications accounts for 9% of all maternal deaths. Abortion was made legal in India by the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) act, which was enacted by Indian Parliament in the year 1971. But the number of unsafe abortions has not declined. Methods: A present study was conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, in Puducherry, India. All undergraduate students of VIIth semester MBBS participated in the study. A pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the awareness and perceptions on abortion care and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act in India. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2007. Averages were calculated and chi square test was applied to find the significant difference. Results: Among a total of 75 participants, 41(54.7%) were female and 34 (45.3%) were male students. Majority of the students (97.3%) were aware of the fact that unsafe abortions are a serious health problem in India and all of the students (100.0%), were aware of the MTP Act of India. But only 36.0% students were aware of the fact, that consent from husband was not required to undergo abortion. To reduce the number of unsafe abortions in India majority of the medical students (45.3%) were of the opinion that easy access to MTP services in the community is an effective measure. Conclusions: Legalization of abortions through the MTP Act in India resulted in a considerable decrease in maternal mortality through the decline in abortions but it has failed to ensure effective implementation and access to medically safe abortion services. Training in basic contraceptive counseling and abortion care should be incorporated in basic medical education in India.

Ocular Myasthenia Gravis: A Review.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscles. Patients affected with MG may present with ocular features or develop ocular involvement later in the course of the disease, known as ocular MG (OMG). OMG can mimic ptosis, commitant and incommitant strabismus, cranial nerve palsies, gaze palsies and internuclear ophthalmoplegia. Hence, it is important to establish a correct diagnosis and start appropriate treatment. This review focuses on the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of OMG.

Internal herniation of bowel through the mesodiverticular band in adults - rare presentation - managed by laparoscopy: report of a case.

Meckel’s diverticulam is the most common congenital anomaly of gastrointestinal tract. Reporting a case of small bowel obstruction due to internal herniation though the mesodiverticular band, which is a very rare presentation in adults- managed by laparoscopic division of mesodiverticular band. A 35 year old patient, presented to the emergency department with intestinal obstruction. Investigations are suggestive of small bowel obstruction. Diagnostic laparoscopy was done. A meckel’s diverticulum with herniation of small bowel through the mesodiverticular band is found. The mesodiverticular band is divided. As the meckel’s diverticulam was wide mouthed directiculectomy was not done. It can be managed safely by laparoscopy and with less incidence of complications. Morbidity is minimal and rapid return of intestinal function can be achieved.