Antenatal care. Which tests and when.

A variety of tests form an important component of antenatal care. They are performed in association with clinical assessments to evaluate the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy. This article reviews the tests that are available and those performed routinely during the antenatal care of a patient. Tests commonly used to monitor the various problems and complications that occur in pregnancy are also described. Appropriate interpretation of the results, to ensure a satisfactory outcome at the end of the 9 months gestation, is discussed.

Conversion of a medical records system.

The author describes the conversion of a practice's medical records from the old card system to the RACGP record system. The exercise has resulted in improved patient care and, at the same time, enabled the partners to satisfy the requirements for a Quality Assurance option.

Digital ischaemia and palpable pedal pulses.

Digital ischaemia in the presence of an otherwise well-perfused foot in the non-diabetic patient presents diagnostic problems especially as the manifestations are frequently evanescent. Eighty such patients (sixty men and twenty women aged 55-84 years) who presented to St. Laurence's Hospital from 1982 to 1985 inclusive were evaluated. Micro-embolization was inferred from the demonstration of a cardiac (20) or an arterial source (42) in 62 of 80 patients. In 14 of the remaining 18 patients a malignancy was diagnosed, which was found to be visceral cancer in 11 cases. Indium platelet scanning revealed platelet aggregation in 14 of 26 patients examined. Laboratory evidence of abnormalities of platelet aggregation or blood coagulation was found in only 6 patients. There have been no further symptoms in 37 patients who have been treated surgically or in 17 of 21 patients who have been treated with either anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.