Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy for benign uterine pathology: is it time to change?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acceptability and outcome of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. DESIGN: A retrospective case analysis. SUBJECTS: Two hundrend and twenty nine cases of laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy were undertaken at various hospitals in the presence of the principal author from May 2000 to December 2003. Of these 149 (65.06%) were performed at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. These cases have been reviewed, analysed and presented. EXCLUSIONS: All cases performed at the various other hospitals were excluded, along with those cases of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy which are now being performed by other consultants obstetricians and gynaecologists, on their own and who have now learnt the technique RESULTS: Over the last three years, 149 cases of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy were undertaken at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. Annual case load increased from three cases in 2000, to 71 cases by December, 2003. Fifty one percent of the patients were between 46 to 50 years of age, while 93.9% were para 2 + 0 and above. Menorrhagia was the presenting complaint in 55.7%. The operative procedure was performed in 91 to 120 minutes in 58.3% of the cases. Hospital stays were two nights in 95.3%. The complications encountered were bladder injury (3.4%), bowel injury (1.3%), port site herniation (0.67%) and a delayed recognition of bladder injury (0.67%). CONCLUSION: In Kenya, laparoscopic surgery is gradually being accepted by gynaecologists and general surgeons. The conversion from total abdominal hysterectomy to laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy for benign uterine pathology is now becoming more popular amongst gynaecologists and patients. With time laparoscopic assistance during hysterectomy will become the norm.

Hysteroscopic surgery at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the experience, acceptability and outcome of hysteroscopic surgery at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. PATIENTS: Between May 2000 and April, 2003, 463 cases of hysteroscopy were undertaken at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, of these 54 patients (11.7%) underwent various hysteroscopic surgical procedures. A review of these cases and their outcomes are analysed and presented. RESULTS: In a thirty six month period 463 cases of Hysteroscopy were done at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. Of these 54 cases had operative intervention (11.7%). The case load of diagnostic hysteroscopy increased from 50 in the year 2000, to 206 and 159 respectively in the years 2001 and 2002. By this time, some consultants were performing diagnostic hysteroscopies on their own. The surgical procedures performed included hysterscopic retrieval of "lost" IUCD's, and intrauterine bone spicules and hysteroscopic resection of submucous fibroids (25.9% of the cases), resection of endometrial polyps (25.9%) hysteroscopic synechiolysis, (16.6%) and endometrial resection or ablation (cauterisation) (7.4%). All the patients were reviewed by the consultant pool after one week. Three cases of complications were encountered, two cases of uterine perforation and one case of fluid overload (TURP syndrome) following a resection of a submucous fibroid. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy and hysteroscopic surgery are the established gold standards for the management of intrauterine pathology. The procedures were well accepted amongst patients who had undergone these procedures. RECOMMENDATIONS: In Kenya, gynaecologists still have to embrace change and undergo adequate and sustained training in the various aspects of hysteroscopy, so as to make the proecdures acceptable and accessable to more patients.

Experience with laparoscopic surgery at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the experience of laparoscopic surgery at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, and to determine the acceptability and outcome of the various procedures undertaken laparoscopically. DESIGN: A retrospective case analysis. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and seventy eight cases of laparoscopic surgery were undertaken in Nairobi from May 2000 to May 2002 in the presence of the principal author, of these 408 cases (85.35%) were performed at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi. A review of these cases and their outcomes are analysed and presented. EXCLUSIONS: Loss of client records, or follow up, all diagnostic procedures and all procedures performed at the three other private hospitals, namely; Nairobi Hospital, Nairobi Womens' Hospital and the M.P. Shah Hospital, have been excluded in this review. RESULTS: Minimal access surgery will in time find its place amongst the institutions in Kenya. In the last two years 408 cases were undertaken at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, involving a pool of 48 consultants obstetricians and gynaecologists and general surgeons. The case load increased from 7.0 cases per month in 2000 to 22 cases per month in 2001. Sixty four point four six percent of the patients spent one night in hospital, while 1.96% had conversion to laparotomy intraoperatively. Thirty nine point seven percent of the patients had no previous surgery. The surgical procedures performed included laparoscopic adhesiolysis (34.55%) and tuboplasty (17.89%) for primary or secondary infertility, 33 cases (8.08% ) for the management of ectopic pregnancies, laparoscopic myomectomy (15.44%), ovarian cystectomy (16.91%), ovarian drilling (4.65%), laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (15.19%) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (2.20%). All cases were reviewed by the consultant pool one week after discharge. The major complications encountered included bladder injury (0.49%) and gut injury (0.73%). CONCLUSIONS: Minimal access surgery in gynaecology and general surgery is gaining remarkable ground worldwide and has tremendous potential in Kenya. It is evident that in trained hands, the common gynaecological operations and certain general Surgical procedures can be undertaken safely, laparoscopically. Minimal access surgery is acceptable to the patients and significantly favourable outcomes have been established in all the cases undertaken, thus far. Patient compliance has been excellent in this series.

Median age at menopause in a rural population of western Kenya.

This was a cross sectional descriptive study to discuss the median age of menopause in a rural area of Western Kenya. The broad objective of the study was to describe the demographic and biophysical characteristics of the study population and determine the age of menopause. A review of the current and medieval records shows average age of menopause has remained relatively constant at 50 years in contrast to the receeding age of menarche. A total of 1078 women aged between 40-60 years were interviewed. The majority (98.8%) were from one ethnic group, the Luhya. Of the 1078 women, 880 (81.4%) were married and 198 (18.6%) were single. The average number of children per woman was 7.74. Most of the women (75.1%) had attained primary school education. Their husbands were unskilled workers in 30.1% of the cases. The mean weight and height of the women was 60.74 kg and 161.1 cm respectively. Using methods of probit analysis, the median and modal age of menopause was found to be 48.28 years in this group of western Kenya women. If generalised for the whole country, these results suggest that an average Kenyan woman lives for over ten years beyond menopause. It is recommended that more attention should be given to the special health problems of postmenopausal population.

PIP: This study describes the demographic and biophysical characteristics of rural menopausal women in Western Kenya. Menopause occurs as the gradual unresponsiveness of the human ovary to gonadotropins, premature ovarian failure at under 40 years, and menopause following surgical procedures of the uterus and ovaries. A 3-phase process starts with low serum estradiol and progesterone, followed by a rise in follicle stimulating hormone, and a rise in luteinizing hormone. Clinical symptoms include vasomotor ones, genitourinary ones, osteoporosis and increased incidence of bone fractures, increased incidence of thromboembolic and ischemic heart disease, and psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression, and memory loss. The age of menopause varies with socioeconomic conditions, race, parity, height, weight, skinfold thickness, lifestyle, and education. Data were obtained for this study from a sample of 1078 women from 7 sublocations in Vihiga division, Kenya. Women were aged 40-60 years. The most populous ethnic group was the Luhya. 81.6% were married, 15.6% were widowed, and 0.7% were divorced. 4 women had never been married. 75.1% had a primary school education; 18.6% had not received any formal education. 30.1% had husbands who were unskilled workers, 28.8% had husbands who were farmers, and 20.6% had husbands who were skilled workers. 1.3% had no children, and 1 woman had 17 children. The average number of children was 7.74. 9 of the nulliparous women were menopausal. The mean height was 161.1 cm. The median age at menopause was 48.28 years. Almost all women were menopausal by 55 years. The total fertility period averaged 35 years. Female life expectancy was 59 years.

Preliminary comparison of the polyurethane female condom with the latex male condom in Kenya.

This paper summarizes acceptability data published to date on the innovative female condom, and presents an additional study comparing the acceptability of the female condom and the latex male condom in a sample of low risk women attending private obstetrician/ gynaecologists' clinics in Nairobi, Kenya. Eighty-four percent of all subjects who completed interviewer-assisted questionnaires reported that they liked using the female condom, and more than two-thirds of all the women liked the female condom as much or better than the male condom. Fifty-five percent of the women would use the device in future if it were available. The least liked features were that the device was too large for easy insertion, messy to handle, and reduced sensation. Use became easier and more comfortable with experience. The most liked features were that the device made sex more enjoyable, protected against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, and was under the woman's control. Male partner response was slightly less favourable, and sometimes resulted in women's noncompliance or discontinuation of use, despite the fact that such a device is supposed to empower women. This study provides preliminary data indicating that the female condom is a fairly acceptable method for some Kenyan couples, but recommends further research into safety, cost-effectiveness and hindrances to acceptability.

PIP: A survey of 48 female volunteers recruited from 3 private gynecology-obstetrics clinics in Nairobi, Kenya, revealed preliminary support for the female condom as an acceptable family planning method. In the study's first phase, women were provided with 2 male and 2 female condoms to be used in the ensuing 3 weeks. In the second phase, they were supplied with 4 more female condoms. A total of 113 female condoms were used during the 2 study phases. Overall, 84% of women expressed favorable reactions to the female condom and 55% indicated they would use this method in the future were it available. In the first phase, 39% stated they preferred the female to the male condom, while 37% liked the 2 condoms about the same; all 12 women who completed the second phase preferred the female condom, suggesting that use becomes easier and more comfortable with time. Although 55% of male partners were reported to like the female condom the same or better than the male condom, and 39% liked it less; male partner disapproval was a major factor in study discontinuation. Enhanced enjoyment of sex, protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and female control were the most frequently cited positive attributes of the female condom; the device's large size, messiness, and reduced sensation were its least liked characteristics. Insertion difficulties and discomfort caused by the device's outer ring were common. There were 3 incidents (2.7%) of condom breakage and 11 (10%) of condom displacement during intercourse. More research on acceptability, cost-effectiveness, and safety is required before the female condom is slated for large-scale distribution in Kenya.