Practical use of the pessary.

The pessary is an effective tool in the management of a number of gynecologic problems. The pessary is most commonly used in the management of pelvic support defects such as cystocele and rectocele. Pessaries can also be used in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The wide variety of pessary styles may cause confusion for physicians during the initial selection of the pessary. However, an understanding of the different styles and their uses will enable physicians to make an appropriate choice. Complications can be minimized with simple vaginal hygiene and regular follow-up visits.

Rectal prolapse during pregnancy. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Rectal prolapse is a bothersome surgical problem that is relatively infrequent. It usually occurs in the fifth to seventh decades of life and is more common in women. CASE: A 33-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2, was found to have a large rectal prolapse at 33 weeks' gestation. Manual reduction was successfully performed after injecting 2% lidocaine into and around the anal sphincter. Because she could not undergo definitive surgical repair during her pregnancy, the patient was managed with an aggressive stool softening regimen and self-reduction techniques. Labor was induced in the 40th gestational week. Epidural anesthesia was employed, and delivery was accomplished via low-outlet forceps application. The patient underwent definitive surgical repair of the rectal prolapse eight weeks postpartum. CONCLUSION: Rectal prolapse is a rare condition during the childbearing years. We found no prior case reports of rectal prolapse occurring during pregnancy. While childbirth itself is not considered a risk factor for rectal prolapse, a prior history of perineal lacerations may be a risk factor. To manage rectal prolapse that occurs during pregnancy, consideration should be given to passive forceps delivery under epidural anesthesia to avoid the possibility of worsening the prolapse.

Molecular analysis of bacterial pathogens in otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can detect bacterial DNA in pediatric middle ear effusions that are sterile by standard cultural methods. DESIGN: Single-center, blinded, comparative study of diagnostic assays. The PCR-based detection systems for Moraxella catarrhalis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were designed and validated using a battery of DNAs obtained from cultured bacteria. Chronic middle ear effusion specimens were collected and comparatively analyzed by culture and the PCR. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 97 middle ear effusions were collected from pediatric outpatients at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Pa) during myringotomy and tube placement for chronic otitis media with effusion (duration > 3 months). All patients had failed multiple courses of antimicrobial therapy and were diagnosed by a combination of validated otoscopy and tympanograms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Differences in the percentage of positive test results between PCR-based assays and culture for M catarrhalis, H influenzae, and S pneumoniae. RESULTS: Of the 97 specimens of otitis media with effusion, 28 (28.9%) tested positive by both culture and PCR for M catarrhalis, H influenzae, or S pneumoniae. An additional 47 specimens (48%) were PCR positive/culture negative for these three bacterial species. Thus, 75 (77.3%) of the 97 specimens tested PCR positive for one or more of the three test organisms. The minimum number of bacterial genomic equivalents present in the average culture-negative ear was estimated to be greater than 10(4) based on dilutional experiments. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR-based assay systems can detect the presence of bacterial DNA in a significant percentage of culturally sterile middle ear effusions. While this finding is not proof of an active bacterial infectious process, the large number of bacterial genomic equivalents present in the ears is suggestive of an active process.