Second-trimester pregnancy interruption with vaginal misoprostol in women with previous cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of misoprostol use for pregnancy interruption in the second trimester of women with previous cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Seventeen pregnant women with viable fetuses and with previous cesarean section indicated for second trimester pregnancy interruption attending Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital were recruited. All received the same regimen of 400 mcg intravaginal misoprostol every 6 hours. The data was analyzed for demographic characteristics, the adverse outcomes, success rate, and time interval to fetal expulsion. RESULTS: The incidences of adverse outcomes were as follows, fever (47.1%), chill (23.5%), and nausea (17.6%). No uterine rupture occurred in this series at all. The rate of oxytocin use and analgesia requirement was 29.4%. Success rate of pregnancy interruption was 100%, though two of them had an abortion time of more than 48 hours. Time interval from misoprostol administration to fetal expulsion was 25.9 +/- 34. 1 hours (range 4.0-142.7 hours). CONCLUSION: This case series reaffirms the efficacy of misoprostol and suggests that misoprostol may relatively be safe even in cases with previous cesarean section. Therefore, misoprostol may be an option of pregnancy interruption in the second trimester to avoid unnecessary surgical procedure including hysterotomy. However, the safety should be tested by further studies with a larger sample size.

Mammographic changes related to different types of hormonal therapies.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of different types of hormone therapies (HT) on mammographic breast density changes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1999 and 2002, mammograms obtained before and 12-18 months after different types of HT in 170 women were evaluated Estrogen alone (n = 66), or estrogen in cyclic (n = 59) or continuous (n = 45) combination with progesterone were used. The baseline mammographic density was classified according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (BI-RADS). The serial changes observed mammographically were categorized as follows; no change, minimal change (10-25% increased density), moderate change (26-50% increased density), and marked change (> 50% increased density). Results: Twelve (7%) of the women developed an increase in parenchymal density after HT: Mammographic changes were minimal change in five (2.9%) of the women, moderate change in four (2.3%), and marked change in three (1.8%). No mammographic change was observed in women receiving cyclic estrogen-progesterone. A greater percentage of women who had undergone continuous estrogen-progesterone therapy (22.2%, 10 of 45) demonstrated more change than those who had estrogen alone (3%, 2 of 66). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Changes of increased density after HT was seen in only 7% of mammograms and depended on the selected hormone regimen.

One year study of Implanon on the adverse events and discontinuation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine adverse events and discontinuation of Implanon in healthy Thai women between 16 and 45 years of age. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Family Planning Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. SUBJECTS: Ninety-two female volunteers with eligible criteria, no contraindication for hormonal contraceptive and wished to have long-term contraception were recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Determination of adverse events was done three months after Implanon insertion. Discontinuation of Implanon use was reviewed during the study period of one year RESULTS: Amenorrhea (40.2%) and infrequent bleeding (39.1%) were the most menstrual adverse events. While most non-menstrual adverse events were headache/dizziness (27.2%) and lower abdominal pain (23.9%). Severe non-menstrual side effect was rare (1-2%). Seven subjects (7.6%) discontinued using Implanon during the one year period of study. CONCLUSION: Implanon demonstrated a high continue rate at the first year of insertion. It produced similar adverse events like other progestin-only contraceptives. Counseling before insertion is important for increased client satisfaction and a higher continuation rate.

Immediate complications of laparoscopic tubal sterilization: 11 years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the complications of laparoscopic tubal sterilization. METHOD: A retrospective study of laparoscopic tubal sterilization performed at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai, Thailand was conducted. The details of the operation, including complications and operation time were collected from the operative and family planning registry. RESULTS: Between January 1987 and December 1997, 948 cases of laparoscopic tubal sterilization were performed as an outpatient setting. The combination of intravenous sedation and local anesthesia was employed in all cases. Minor intra-operative complications were found in 4.6% of cases. The most frequent complications were meso-salphingeal and meso-ovarian bleeding. No serious complication was found in this study. The mean operation time was 19.3 minutes (range 5-75 minutes). CONCLUSION: The present study suggested that out-patient laparoscopic tubal sterilization under the combination of intravenous sedation and local anesthesia is a convenient and relatively safe procedure.

Symptoms of estrogen deficiency in nursing personnel in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the self-reported prevalence and severity of climacteric symptoms of estrogen deficiency in nursing personnel working in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital during the year 2002. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. SUBJECT: Six-hundred and eight nursing personnel, including professional nurses and practical nurses, aged 40-60 years, working in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The same sets of questionnaires were provided and distributed to each subject. Subjects had self assessment under individual decision with written consent and data was prospectively collected. The data were analyzed using software SPSS version 10 and presented in frequencies and percentage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence and severity of each climacteric symptoms. RESULTS: Five-hundred and seventy five of 608 subjects (94.6%) responded to the questionnaires, 62.6% of them were in normal reproductive period, while the remainder (37.4%) were in the menopausal period. The latter group was divided into 4 subgroups of pre/peri-menopause, post menopause, surgical menopause and premature ovarian failure. The prevalence of climacteric symptoms was systematically classified as follows, vasomotor instability 40.7% (severe cases, 5.4%), psychosomatic symptoms 50.9% (severe cases, 3.9%), lower urinary tract symptoms 29.1% (severe cases, 2.4%), lower genital tract symptoms 34.0% (severe cases, 2.7%), and other symptoms 50.7% (severe cases, 4.3%). The first five most common symptoms were as follows, forgetful 84.1% (severe cases, 7.9%), myalgia 74.3% (severe cases, 10.6%), anxious 71.0% (severe cases, 5.3%), tired 70.0% (severe cases, 4.1%), headache 68.3% (severe cases, 8.3%). The least common symptom was needle pain, the prevalence was 19.7% (severe cases, 1.3%). The overall prevalence of women using hormone replacement therapy was 13.1%, only 8.9% were current users. CONCLUSION: Focusing on each symptom of climacteric symptoms, the authors found high prevalence in psychosomatic symptoms and other symptoms such as forgetful, myalgia, anxious, tired and headache. While the classic symptom (vasomotor instability) was found to be low in the present study which was different from the previous reports. This may be due to the racial or cultural and educational factors among different populations.

Mammographic change in hysterectomized women on 0.625 mg/day of conjugated equine estrogen.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mammographic change before and after conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) 0.625 mg/day in hysterectomized women. DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive study. SETTING: Menopause clinic, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Dedicated mammograms and demographic data of 66 women who had been hysterectomized were reviewed. Post surgical menopausal women were recruited for the study. CEE 0.625 mg/day was given just after the operation. The baseline mammography was done before the initiation of HRT and they were compared with the follow-up mammography performed 12-18 months after therapy. The degree of increase in mammographic density was classified as follows: minimal changes (10-25% increased density), moderated change (26-50% increased density), and marked change (> 50% increased density). RESULTS: The mean age +/- SD was 47 +/- 4.3 years old. The mean duration +/- SD of hormone used was 13.5 +/- 2.4 months. The most common indication for operation was myoma uteri (43.9%). On the baseline mammogram, 5 cases had cystic change and one case had a small circumscribed solid mass suspected to be fibroadenoma. On the follow-up mammograms, there were 2 cases (3.0%) detected to have significantly increased breast density. One was moderately increased and the other was markedly increased, but cystic changes and one fibroadenoma were not changed. CONCLUSION: CEE has little effect on increased mammographic density.

Demographic characteristics of women with self use of misoprostol for pregnancy interruption attending Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To ascess the demographic characteristics of pregnant women and their partners including details of self use of misoprostol for pregnancy interruption. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. SUBJECTS: 103 pregnant women with self use of misoprostol for pregnancy interruption from June 1999 to June 2001. METHOD: All subjects were interviewed use the same set of questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age of the women and their partners were 20.81 +/- 4.10 and 22.46 +/- 5.05 years old respectively. The mean gestational age was 13.85 +/- 5.37 weeks. The most common reason for pregnancy interruption was that they wanted to continue studying. The number of misoprostol tablets used ranged from 1-11 and 87.4 per cent of the women applied this drug via the vaginal route. The main source of drug purchasing was from friends, while the mean total cost was 663.16 +/- 711.32 Baht. No major side effect was detected in the present study. CONCLUSION: Misoprostol, the agent primarily used for gastric and duodenal ulcer prevention, is now used by pregnant women to interrupt their pregnancies. The present study is only the evidence reflecting the tip of the iceberg in this society, changing in sexual behavior, change in abortion techniques, and knowledge on contraception. Though major complications were not found in this study, misoprostol should not be considered safe, because several patients have encountered bleeding or incomplete abortion and required hospital stay.