Prenatal Ultrasound Diagnosis of Vasa Previa With Careful Intraoperative Management: A Case Report.

Vasa previa is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition to the fetus. Timely antenatal diagnosis and delivery by cesarean section (CS) can lead to a favorable outcome. Here, we report a case of recurrent pregnancy loss (G3A2) with vasa previa, which was diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound. She was admitted at her 31st week with bleeding per vaginum (PV) provisionally diagnosed as antepartum hemorrhage (APH) and managed conservatively as placenta previa. Follow-up ultrasonography (USG) revealed vasa previa at 33 weeks. The fetus was delivered by lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) after careful separation of the membranes and avoiding damage to the vessels as there was velamentous insertion of cord with the lower margin of the placenta in the lower segment. The baby was cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit due to prematurity and discharged after six days. This case report highlights the importance of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosing vasa previa and planning an elective cesarean section with caution intraoperatively for the safe delivery of the baby.

Factors Associated with Poor Ovarian Reserve in Young Infertile Women: A Hospital-based Cohort Study.

Background: In practice, we encounter many young infertile women with poor ovarian reserve though ovarian reserve starts to decline after 35 years of age. One of the established risk factors for poor ovarian reserve in young women is endometriosis. There are other conditions that are reported to be associated which require further research. Aims: We aimed to study the prevalence of poor ovarian reserve and to find out the associated factors in women who are <35 years of age. Settings and Design: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted in a tertiary care setting. Materials and Methods: Women aged more than 21 years and <35 years without Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or ovarian dysgenesis with normal male factor were included after ethical approval. The sample size was 166 and serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was estimated by immunoenzymatic assay and expressed in ng/ml. AMH ≤0.99 ng/ml was considered poor ovarian reserve. Apart from established risk factors, the proposed risk factors studied were age 31-35 years, presence of medical disorders, gynaecological pathology and history of repeated ovulation induction (OI). Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analysed by SPSS version 25. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare the variables between normal ovarian reserve and poor ovarian reserve. Risk estimation was done by logistic regression and was expressed in odds ratio (OR). Results: Poor ovarian reserve was diagnosed in 40% of this cohort, and 62% were between 31 and 35 years. After adjusting for age >30 years, women with endometrioma, hypothyroidism and prior history of ≥3 cycles of OI were found to be having poor ovarian reserve (OR was 5.7, 2.5 and 2.3, respectively). Conclusion: Poor ovarian reserve was present in 40% of young women, and significantly associated factors were hypothyroidism and history of repeated multiple OI. This could be a confounder for other underlying mechanisms driving early exhaustion of ovarian reserve in certain young women. Hence, along with established risk factors, these women should undergo AMH testing irrespective of age.

Efficacy of flupirtine for postoperative pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and Aims: Flupirtine has been used for various chronic pain conditions, but its utility in the perioperative period as an analgesic is still inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of flupirtine for postoperative pain. Methods: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were explored for the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which compared flupirtine with other analgesic/placebo for perioperative pain in adult patients undergoing surgery. The standardised mean difference (SMD) of pain scores, the need for rescue analgesia and all adverse effects were assessed. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane's Q statistic test and I2 statistic. Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias and the quality of the RCTs. Results: A total of 13 RCTs (including 1,014 patients) that evaluated the use of flupirtine for postoperative pain were included in the study. The pooled SMD of postoperative pain scores revealed that flupirtine and other analgesics were comparable at 0, 6, 12 and 24 hours (P > 0.05), while at 48 hours, flupirtine showed poor pain control (P = 0.04) as compared to other analgesics. There were no significant differences at other time points and on comparison of flupirtine with placebo. The side effect profile was comparable between flupirtine and other analgesics. Conclusion: The current evidence suggests that perioperative flupirtine was not superior to other most commonly used analgesics and placebo for the treatment of postoperative pain.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Nitroglycerine a Friend or a Foe?

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) refers to a clinico-radiological entity with characteristic features on neuroimaging and rapid onset of nonspecific symptoms including headache, seizure, altered consciousness and visual disturbance. It is a neurotoxic state in response to the acute changes in blood pressure leading to vasogenic oedema. It is often but not always associated with hypertension. However, control blood pressure is one of the mainstays of management in such cases. Nitroglycerine (NTG) is a potent vasodilator and is one of the drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies. It is found to worsen the cerebral oedema in PRES which is considered due to failure of cerebral blood pressure autoregulation. Here, we report two such cases where patients with PRES deteriorated with NTG infusion. However, the neurological condition of the patients improved drastically the next day. NTG could have further enhanced vasodilation, thus aggravating developing PRES, after autoregulation was lost because of high blood pressure.

Antiemetic Efficacy of Palonosetron Compared with the Combination of Ondansetron and Dexamethasone for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gynaecological Surgery.

Background and aims: For the prevention of PONV, we evaluated the efficacy of palonosetron compared with ondansetron along with dexamethasone in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. Methods: A total of 84 adults, posted for elective laparoscopic surgeries under general anaesthesia were included in the study. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 42 each). Immediately after induction, patients in the first group (group I) received 4 mg ondansetron with 8 mg dexamethasone, and patients in the second group (group II) received 0.075 mg palonosetron. Any incidences of nausea and/or vomiting, the requirement of rescue antiemetic, and side effects were recorded. Results: In group I, 66.67% of the patients had an Apfel score of 2, and 33.33% of the patients had a score of 3. In group II, 85.71% of patients had an Apfel score of 2, and 14.29% of the patients had a score of 3. At 1, 4, and 8 hours, the incidence of PONV was comparable in both groups. At 24 hours there was a significant difference in the incidence of PONV in the group treated with ondansetron with dexamethasone combination (4/42) when compared to the palonosetron group (0/42). The overall incidence of PONV was significantly higher in group I (23.81%: ondansetron and dexamethasone combination) than in group II (7.14%: palonosetron). The need for rescue medication in group I was significantly high. Conclusion: Palonosetron was more efficacious compared to the combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone for preventing PONV for laparoscopic gynaecological surgery.

A Retrospective Study of Placenta Accreta, Percreta, and Increta in Peripartum Hysterectomies in a Tertiary Care Institute in Northeast India.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal placentation such as placenta accreta, increta, and percreta are frequent causes of post-partum hemorrhage, which results in maternal morbidity and mortality. A previous history of cesarean section, placenta previa, and pre-eclampsia are the important risk factors for abnormal placentation. A reliable antenatal diagnosis and planned surgical approach can reduce the incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality from massive hemorrhage. AIM: To study the incidence of abnormal placentation and the association of various risk factors with abnormal placentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study over a period of eight years in patients with peripartum hysterectomies due to abnormal placentation presenting with massive hemorrhage. RESULTS:  We received a total of 10 emergency hysterectomy specimens during an eight­year period. Of the cases, placenta accreta accounted for 40% (4/10), increta up to 40% (4/10), and percreta 20% (2/10). Analysis of these findings with parity showed 20% of the women were uniparous (2/10), and 80% were multiparous (8/10). Risk factor analysis showed previous cesarean sections in 40% (4/10), placenta previa in 50% (5/10), and pre­eclampsia in 10% (1/10). CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the incidence of abnormal placentation in a tertiary care institute in Northeast India. Placenta accreta and increta constituted the major forms of abnormal placentation. Multiparous women with placenta previa followed by previous lower segment cesarean section were more at risk of having abnormal placentation. These findings will guide in antenatal care by risk prioritization and management planning of these patients.

Prenatal diagnosis of factor 13 deficiency and its recurrence.

A young third gravida was referred with prenatal diagnosis of factor XIII deficiency at 20 weeks of pregnancy for Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP). Her first baby, who was born by emergency Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) for fetal distress, had intracranial haemorrhage in the early neonatal period and was investigated elsewhere and diagnosed to have factor XIII deficiency. The child currently has global developmental delay and cerebral palsy. The mother had a second-degree consanguineous marriage and the couple were diagnosed to be carriers of factor XIII deficiency. She had lot of barriers to get prenatal diagnosis during the second pregnancy and it ended up in Intra Uterine Fetal Death (IUFD) at 27 weeks. During the current pregnancy, prenatal diagnosis (PND) was done only after the second trimester amniocentesis and the genetic mutation was F13 A1, Ex12, C.1687 G>A. Second trimester MTP in a previous scarred uterus was difficult as it is essential to avoid scar rupture. PND during the first trimester is ideal.

Schwannoma of the uterine cervix: a rare case report.

Schwannomas are neurogenic tumors, which are among the most varied tumors with respect to morphology, clinical associations, and presentations; they occur in a wide variety of sites. The uterine cervix is a rare site of occurrence and only 15 cases of schwannomas of the uterine cervix, including 5 benign and 10 malignant cases, have been reported to date. Thus, schwannomas of the uterine cervix may pose diagnostic difficulty. Here, we report a case of benign schwannoma of the uterine cervix in a 37-year-old female, who presented with vaginal spotting.

Diagnostic Hysterolaparoscopy for Evaluation of Infertility: Our Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the role of diagnostic hysterolaparoscopy (DHL) for evaluation of infertility in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted from July 2014 to June 2016. RESULTS: Out of 151 patients, 58.28% and 41.72% had primary and secondary infertility, respectively. In primary infertility group 37.5% and in secondary infertility group 49.2% had abnormal findings. Most common finding was adnexal adhesions (pelvic inflammatory disease) and laparoscopic findings were more common than the hysteroscopic ones. CONCLUSION: DHL was helpful in finding some reversible causes of infertility such as adnexal adhesions, tubal blockade, and uterine synechiae, etc.