Closure or non-closure of visceral peritoneums after abdominal hysterectomies and Wertheim-Meigs radical abdominal hysterectomies.

The effect of visceral peritoneal closure after conventional abdominal hysterectomies and Wertheim-Meigs radical operations was studied clinically. No considerable differences were found in the postoperative staying period; however, the incidence of complications were less in the peritoneal non-closure group (n = 91) than in the control, peritonealized group (n = 149). Significantly lower was the number of postoperative irregular pyelogram in cases without peritoneal closure (n = 25) of radical abdominal operations than in the control group (n = 49) with peritoneal suturing. We therefore suggest that the lack of suturing of visceral peritoneums has some advantages after abdominal hysterectomies and especially has benefits for Wertheim-Meigs operations.

Serum levels of placenta-specific tissue protein 12 (PP12) in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia, diabetes or twins.

PP12 is one of the recently discovered soluble tissue antigens of the placenta. During normal pregnancy maternal serum PP12 levels rise during the first 18 weeks reaching a mean peak value of 139.9 +/- 40.26 micrograms/l; after that there is a fall to a mean value of 111.9 +/- 42.39 micrograms/l between 28 and 40 weeks. Significantly higher mean serum PP12 levels were found in the third trimester in two high risk pregnancy groups (281.09 +/- 117.08 micrograms/l in pre-eclamptic toxaemia and 203.71 +/- 73.77 micrograms/l in diabetes) while serum PP12 levels remained normal (114.94 +/- 58.06 micrograms/l) in twin pregnancy. The increase of serum PP12 concentration in toxaemia and in diabetes may be of considerable diagnostic significance.

The prognosis of the possible foetal and placental complications during delivery by measuring maternal serum levels of pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1).

The correlation between pathological maternal SP1 serum levels and possible foetal complications during delivery was studied. In 1954, SP1 measurements were made in 823 pregnant women between the 32nd and 40th gestational weeks. On the basis of SP1 serum concentrations groups of patients were formed. The results clearly show that pathological SP1 serum concentrations are frequently associated with intrauterine growth retardation of the foetus, imminent intrauterine asphyxia, and cesarean section indicated by foetal distress. The SP1 placental function-test is recommended as a simple, inexpensive screening method for the detection of placental insufficiency.