Vaginal hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: UVP is a significant Public Health Problem in Nepal. This problem is mainly prevalent in rural areas where the women are socio--economically less privileged and cannot afford the costs of treatment. OBJECTIVE: An analysis of peri operative and post operative complications of vaginal hysterectomies for pelvic organ prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital based prospective study was carried out in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, NGMC followed up from the time of operation to time of discharge. RESULTS: 632 cases underwent vaginal hysterectomy with financial support from UNFPA. There were no operative complications. The most common post operative complications as noted were retention of urine, pelvic infection & pelvic abscess. In two cases laparotomy was done for haemoperitoneum. Pelvic abscess was drained vaginally. Mortality was nil. CONCLUSION: Proper screening before operation is the key to reduce operative as well as peri operative complications.

Cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide, after breast cancer. A preponderance of evidence supports a causal link between human papillomavirus infection and cervical neoplasia. The presence of high-risk human papillomavirus genital subtypes increases the risk of malignant transformation. Widespread use of the Papanicolaou smear has dramatically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in developed countries. Accurate and early recognition of abnormal cytologic changes prevents progression of the disease from preinvasive to invasive. Research is under way to determine if efforts to reduce the false-negative rate of the Papanicolaou smear should include rescreening programs and fluid-based technology. Once cervical cancer is diagnosed, clinical staging takes place. Early-stage tumors can be managed with cone biopsy or simple hysterectomy. Higher stage tumors can be treated surgically or with radiotherapy. Advanced metastatic disease may respond to radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy. Protein markers for detection of recurrence and vaccines for prevention of cervical cancer are under investigation.

Endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, accounting for approximately 6,000 deaths per year in the United States. It is more common in women who are older, white, affluent obese and of low parity. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are also predisposing factors. Because any condition that increases exposure to unopposed estrogen increases the risk of endometrial cancer, tamoxifen therapy, estrogen replacement therapy without progestin and the presence of estrogen-secreting tumors are all risk factors. Smoking and the use of oral contraceptives appear to decrease the risk. Women with an increased risk and those with postmenopausal bleeding should be screened for endometrial cancer. Endometrial sampling is currently the most accurate and widely used screening technique, but ultrasonographic measurement of endometrial thickness and hysteroscopy have also been studied. Patients with endometrial specimens that show atypia have about a 25 percent likelihood of progressing to carcinoma, compared with less than 2 percent in patients without atypia. Endometrial cancer is usually treated surgically, but in patients with appropriate pathologic findings who decline surgical treatment, progestin therapy may be satisfactory.