Down Syndrome Screening among Pregnant Women Visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: The screening of Down's syndrome by the measurement of serum markers using dual and quadruple tests in the second trimester is done among obstetric patients between 13 to 22 weeks of gestation. The test readings are signified in terms of low-risk or high-risk. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of Downs syndrome screening among pregnant women visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 April 2022 to 15 December 2022 among patients visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee. Women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent dual and quadruple screening tests at 11 to 22 weeks of gestation were taken and analysed as per reports. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 268 women, Down syndrome screening was done in 200 (74.63%) (69.42-79.84, 95% Confidence Interval). Among them, 168 (84%) had a low risk for Down syndrome, and 32 (16%) had a high risk for Down syndrome. Conclusions: The prevalence of Downs syndrome screening among pregnant women visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care centre was found to be similar to other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: down syndrome; nuchal translucency; screening.

Antenatal care in Nepal: a qualitative study into missed opportunities in the first trimester.

BACKGROUND: Use of timely antenatal care has been identified as key to facilitating healthy pregnancies worldwide. Although considerable investment has been made to enhance maternal health services in Nepal, approximately one-third of women do not attend antenatal care until after the first trimester (late). These women miss out on the benefits of screening and interventions that are most effective in the first trimester. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the missed opportunities of women who do not attend antenatal care in the first trimester, and to explore some of the factors underlying late attendance and consider potential solutions for minimizing these missed opportunities in the future. STUDY DESIGN: This study was conducted in 3 hospitals in Nepal. Focus groups (n=18) with a total of 48 postnatal women and 49 staff members, and 10 individual interviews with stakeholders were conducted. Purposive sampling facilitated the obtainment of a full range of maternity experiences, staff categories, and stakeholder positions. Data were qualitative and analyzed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: Limited awareness among women of the importance of early antenatal care was reported as a key factor behind attendance only after the first trimester. The family and community were described as significant influencers in women's decision-making regarding the timing of antenatal care. The benefits of early ultrasound scanning and effective supplementation in pregnancy were the major missed opportunities. Increasing awareness, reducing cost, and enhancing interprofessional collaboration were suggested as potential methods for improving timely initiation of antenatal care. CONCLUSION: Limited awareness continues to drive late attendance to antenatal care after the first trimester. Investment in services in the first trimester and community health education campaigns are needed to improve this issue and enhance maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Intra-abdominal Adhesions among Patients Undergoing Repeat Caesarean Section in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Adhesions are one of the common complications encountered after caesarean section whose risk increases with the number of caesarean deliveries. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of intra-abdominal adhesions among patients undergoing repeat caesarean section in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 74 pregnant women undergoing repeat caesarean section in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre from July, 2021 to December, 2021 after receiving the ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 2107202103). Pregnant women who met the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Convenience sampling was done. The severity of the adhesions was classified using the Tulandi and Lyell classification. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0 software. Point estimate at 90% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data along with mean and standard deviation for continuous data. Results: Out of 74 women undergoing repeat caesarean section, 55 (74.32%) (65.99-82.65 at 90% Confidence Interval) had developed intra-abdominal adhesions. Conclusions: Our study showed that the prevalence of intra-abdominal adhesions among patients undergoing repeat caesarean section was higher when compared to similar studies conducted in similar settings. Keywords: postoperative complications; repeat caesarean section; surgical adhesions.

Nulligravida with Large Uterine Leiomyoma: A Case Report.

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign tumour of the female reproductive tract originating from the uterine smooth muscle causing morbidity and impairing their quality of life. It is common among women in the age group 30 to 50 years of age. Women are usually asymptomatic or may present with various symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and change in bowel and bladder habits due to pressure symptoms. It is one of the leading causes of hysterectomy. Women with uterine leiomyoma can be managed medically and surgically. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue is one of the modalities used preoperatively to reduce the size of large uterine fibroid. We present the case report of a 36-year-old nulligravida who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy for large uterine leiomyoma weighing 5.61 kg without compression symptoms. She received a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (injection leuprolide) preoperatively for reduction of the size of uterine myoma. Keywords: case reports; gonadotropin-releasing hormone; hysterectomy; leiomyoma.

A systematic review and narrative synthesis of antenatal interventions to improve maternal and neonatal health in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high in many economically underdeveloped countries, including Nepal, and good quality antenatal care can reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, identifying how to best improve antenatal care can be challenging. OBJECTIVE: To identify the interventions that have been investigated in the antenatal period in Nepal for maternal or neonatal benefit. We wanted to understand their scale, location, cost, and effectiveness. STUDY DESIGN: Online bibliographic databases (Cochrane Central, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, British Nursing Index, PsycInfo, Allied and Complementary Medicine) and trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization Clinical Trials Registry Platform) were searched from their inception till May 24, 2020. We included all studies reporting any maternal or neonatal outcome after an intervention in the antenatal period. We screened the studies and extracted the data in duplicate. A meta-analysis was not possible because of the heterogeneity of the interventions and outcomes, so we performed a narrative synthesis of the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies showed a variety of approaches toward improving antenatal care (eg, educational programs, incentive schemes, micronutrient supplementation) in different settings (home, community, or hospital-based) and with a wide variety of outcomes. Less than a quarter of the studies were randomized controlled trials, and many were single-site or reported only short-term outcomes. All studies reported having made a positive impact on antenatal care in some way, but only 3 provided a cost-benefit analysis to support implementation. None of these studies focused on the most remote communities in Nepal. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review found good quality evidence that micronutrient supplementation and educational interventions can bring important clinical benefits. Iron and folic acid supplementation significantly reduces neonatal mortality and maternal anemia, whereas birth preparedness classes increase the uptake of antenatal and postnatal care, compliance with micronutrient supplementation, and awareness of the danger signs in pregnancy.

Abruptio Placenta among Pregnant Women Admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Abruptio placenta is the complete or partial separation of the normally implanted placenta before delivery of the foetus. It is one of the commonest causes of antepartum haemorrhage affecting maternal and foetal outcomes. Early detection and timely intervention of abruptio placenta in daily clinical practice are important to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of abruptio placenta among the pregnant women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among the pregnant women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre where data from medical records was taken from 1 January, 2021 to 31 December, 2021 after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 1102202208). Demographic details of the patients including age and parity were recorded. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 1514 deliveries, abruptio placenta was seen in 10 (0.66%) (0.25-1.07, 95% Confidence Interval) cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of abruptio placenta among pregnancies was similar to the studies done in similar settings. Keywords: abruptio placenta; epidemiology; fetal outcome; incidence; maternal outcome.

Investment case approach for equitable access to maternal neonatal and child health services: Stakeholders' perspective in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Investment Case is a participatory approach that has been used over the years for better strategic actions and planning in the health sector. Based on this approach, a District Investment Case (DIC) program was launched to improve maternal, neonatal and child health services in partnership with government, non-government sectors and UNICEF Nepal. In the meantime, this study aimed to explore perceptions and experiences of local stakeholders regarding health planning and budgeting and explore the role of the DIC program in ensuring equity in access to maternal and child health services. METHODS: This study adopted an exploratory phenomenography design with a purposive sampling technique for data collection. Three DIC implemented districts and three comparison districts were selected and total 30 key informant interviews with district level stakeholders and six focus groups with community stakeholders were carried out. A deductive approach was used to explore the perception of local stakeholders of health planning and budgeting of the health care expenses on the local level. RESULTS: Investment Case approach helped stakeholders in planning systematically based on evidence through collaborative and participatory approach while in comparison areas previous year plan was mainly primarily considered as reference. Resource constraints and geographical difficulty were key barriers in executing the desired plan in both intervention and comparison districts. Positive changes were observed in coverage of maternal and child health services in both groups. A few participants reported no difference due to the DIC program. The participants specified the improvement in access to information, access and utilization of health services by women. This has influenced the positive health care seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The decentralized planning and management approach at the district level helps to ensure equity in access to maternal, newborn and child health care. However, quality evidence, inclusiveness, functional feedback and support system and local resource utilization should be the key consideration.

Scar Pregnancy a Diagnostic Conundrum: A Case Report.

Cesarean scar pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy which may lead to uterine rupture and catastrophic hemorrhage. We report a case of cesarean scar pregnancy in a 35-year-old female with the past history of cesarean section presented with complaints of amenorrhoea for 6 weeks and non-specific  pain. Two Transvaginal sonography was done 48 hours apart which suggested a cesarean scar pregnancy in one and cervical pregnancy on the other. Magnetic Resonace Imaging showed a well-defined cystic lesion of (21x19)mm2 embedded within the previous cesarean scar which confirmed the diagnosis of cesarean scar pregnancy. Laparotomy unveiled uterus around 6 weeks size and a (3x3)cm2 bulge was noted at the site of previous scar in lower uterine segment, where a small incision was given and the gestational sac was removed following which the uterine incision was closed with 2-0 polyglactin suture. High index of suspicion and prompt diagnosis is ofparamount for reducing morbidity and mortality.

Dysmenorrhea among Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Menstrual disorders are problems faced by women in their reproductive period, which affects their day-to-day activities and the quality of life and sometimes can be an indicator of serious pathology. There are various types of menstrual disorders with dysmenorrhea being the commonest and most distressing. Health, sense of wellbeing and quality of life can be improved because of early detection and treatment for these disorders. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among the nursing staff of a tertiary care center. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2020 to November 2020 among the nursing staff of a tertiary care hospital. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional review committee of Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital (reference number: 1709202003). A convenient sampling technique was used. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The subjects were asked to fill the questionnaire anonymously after taking consent. Statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data. RESULTS: Out of 212 participants, 165 (77.8%) (95% Confidence Interval = 72.21-83.39) participants reported pain during menstruation. Of which, 61 (36.97%) participants reported abdominal pain. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was high among the nursing staff of a tertiary care centre which was similar to the findings of other studies done in similar settings.

A cross-sectional study to evaluate antenatal care service provision in 3 hospitals in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Globally, many mothers and their babies die during pregnancy and childbirth. A key element of optimizing outcomes is high-quality antenatal care. The Government of Nepal has significantly improved antenatal care and health outcomes through high-level commitment and investment; however, only 69% of patients attend the 4 recommended antenatal appointments. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and perceptions of antenatal care in Nepal to understand compliance with the Nepalese standards. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary referral and private hospital in Kathmandu and a secondary hospital in Makwanpur, Nepal. The study recruited 538 female inpatients on postnatal wards during the 2-week data collection period from May 2019 to June 2019. A review of case notes and verbal survey of women to understand the pregnancy information they received and their satisfaction with antenatal care were performed. We created a summary score of the completeness of antenatal care services received ranging from 0 to 50 (50 indicating complete conformity with standards) and investigated the determinants of attending 4 antenatal care visits and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The median antenatal care attendance was 4 visits at the secondary and referral hospitals and 8 visits at the private hospital. However, 24% of the patients attended <4 visits. Furthermore, 117 of 538 patients (22%) attended the first-trimester visit, and 65 of 538 patients (12%) attended visits at all points recommended in the standards. More than 90% of the women had blood pressure monitoring, hemoglobin estimation, blood grouping and Rhesus typing, and HIV and syphilis screening. Approximately 50% of the women had urinalysis at every visit (interquartile range, 20-100). Moreover, 509 of 538 patients (95%) reported receiving pregnancy information, but retention was variable: 509 of 538 patients (93%) received some information about danger signs, 290 of 502 patients (58%) remembered headaches, and 491 of 502 patients (98%) remembered fluid leaking. The antenatal care completeness score revealed that the private hospital offered the most complete clinical services (mean, 28.7; standard deviation, 7.1) with the secondary hospital performing worst (mean, 19.1; standard deviation, 7.1). The factors influencing attendance at 4 antenatal care visits in the multivariable model were beginning antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy (odds ratio, 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-5.52) and having a lower level of education (no school: odds ratio, 0.46 [95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.91]; grades 1-5: odds ratio, 0.49 [95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.92]). Overall, 303 of 538 women (56%) were satisfied with their antenatal care. The multivariable analysis revealed that satisfaction was more likely in women attending the private hospital than in women attending the referral hospital (odds ratio, 3.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-7.82) and lower in women who felt the antenatal care facilities were not adequate (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.63) and who wanted longer antenatal appointments (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.75). CONCLUSION: Few women achieved full compliance with the Nepali antenatal care standards; however, some services were delivered well. To improve, each antenatal contact needs to meet its clinical aims and be respectful. To achieve this communication and counseling training for staff, investment in health promotion and delivery of core services are needed. It is important that these interventions address key issues, such as attendance in the first trimester of pregnancy, improving privacy and optimizing communication around danger signs. However, they must be designed alongside staff and service users and their efficacy tested before widespread investment or implementation.

Prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome among Medical Students of a Tertiary Care Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is considered to be one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. Characterized by a triad of androgen excess, anovulation, infertility, and obesity the disease can lead to several complications like infertility, endometrial carcinoma. This study aims to find out its prevalence among female medical undergraduates. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care hospital from 1st to 7th February 2018. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (reference number 10012018). The sample size was calculated. Systematic random sampling was done. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0 was used. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Out of 381 participants, the prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome was found to be 35 (9.18%) at 95% Confidence Interval (6.28-12.08). Eighty (20.99%) participants were reported to have prolonged menses, 28 (7.34%) tended to grow dark, coarse hair, 79 (20.73%) reported being obese or overweight, and milky discharge from nipple was present in 4 (1.049%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome was found to be similar to other studies conducted in similar settings. But still, it is a growing endocrinological problem in the females of the reproductive age group. Early screening is necessary to prevent lifelong complications.

Ruptured Cesarean Scar Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Cesarean scar pregnancy is a rare variant of ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized ovum gets implanted in the myometrium of the previous cesarean scar. The incidence of Caesarean Scar Pregnancy among ectopic pregnancies is 6.1% and it is seen in approximately 1 in 2000 normal pregnancies. As trophoblastic invasion of the myometrium can result in uterine rupture and catastrophic hemorrhage termination of pregnancy is the treatment of choice if diagnosed in the first trimester. Expectant treatment has a poor prognosis and may lead to uterine rupture which may require hysterectomy and subsequent loss of fertility. We present a case report of a 24-year-old female G2P1L1with ruptured cesarean scar pregnancy who underwent emergency laparotomy and subsequently hysterectomy. In this case report, we aim to discuss ruptured cesarean scar pregnancy as obstetric emergency and methods by which we can make an early diagnosis that it can be managed appropriately so as to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality. Keywords: cesarean; hysterectomy; maternal mortality; pregnancy; scar; uterine rupture.

Severe Birth Asphyxia without Sequelae: A Case Report.

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the major causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. It mainly causes neurodevelopmental delay leading to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. We present here the case of a preterm male baby of 1670 grams born at 31+3 weeks of gestation delivered by 25-year-old primi mother through vaginal delivery with history of umbilical cord prolapse. At birth, the baby had no heart rate and cyanosed following which he was resuscitated according to the Neonatal Advanced Life Support 2015 guidelines protocol. After 5 minutes of neonatal resuscitation, the baby's heart rate reappeared, but was only upto 20 beats/min and resuscitation thus continued. But heart rate did not improve despite of using all form of resuscitation procedure including intubation and drugs. After 2 hours, baby cried spontaneously and later baby was managed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit according to the neonatal unit protocol of the hospital. Keywords: birth asphyxia; cord prolapse; hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis A Diagnostic Dilemma in Puerperium: A Case Report.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a potentially life threatening dermatologic disorder characterized by widespread erythema, necrosis and bullas, detachment of epidermis and mucous membrane resulting in exfoliation, possible sepsis and even death. This is the first case report in Nepal of toxic epidermal necrolysis in puerperium. We present a case of a 28-years-old, P1L1 on fourth postoperative day following emergency lower segment caesarean section for cephalopelvic disproportion in latent phase of labour with uneventful antenatal period. She developed fever followed by rashes all over the body with hypotension, tachypnea and shortness of breath. Initially, she was diagnosed as a case of septic shock and transferred to intensive care unit from postnatal ward. She was managed with broad spectrum antibiotics and inotropes. Later on, it was found to be the case of Toxic epidermal necrolysis and managed with vancomycin and corticosteroids under the supervision of gynecology, dermatology and medicine team. Keywords: puerperium; toxic epidermal necrolysis; vancomycin.

Cervical Cancer Awareness and Practice of Pap Smear Test Among Women with Gynecological problems.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women in Nepal. Pap smear test is the most important screening test for cervical cancer, which helps in reducing mortality from it. This study is to assess the knowledge of cancer cervix and practice of Pap smear test and to analyze the impact of educational status on them. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out among the married women who attended the Out Patient Department for gynecological problems at Kathmandu Medical College. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. The questionnaire consisted of three sections , first section included the demographic profile, second part included assessment of the knowledge of cancer cervix, and third part included evaluation of the utilization of Pap smear test. RESULTS: A total of 205 married women were included in the study. Out of them,152 (74%) were aware of cancer cervix. Only 80 (39%) of women were aware of Pap smear test. Pap smear test coverage was 34 (16.6%) in studied population. Main reason of not doing Pap smear test was lack of knowledge of the test. High educational status of the women had significant positive impact on knowledge of cancer cervix and practice of Pap smear test. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of cancer cervix was good in our women, but knowledge and the practice of Pap smear test was poor. Good educational status of the women was found to influence the on knowledge of cancer cervix and uptake of Pap smear test.

Abdominal Cocoon Syndrome following Primary Subfertility Management with IVF-ET.

Abdominal cocoon syndrome is a rarely encountered surgical emergency first described by Foo et al. in 1978. This condition is characterised by a thick fibrous membrane which encases the small bowel partially or completely. Diagnosis of this condition is usually made per operatively and the treatment of choice is surgical release of entrapped bowel. This is a case report of abdominal cocoon syndrome diagnosed during laparotomy done with the provisional diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy following In vitro fertilization- embryo transfer. A 30 Years lady was admitted at Kathmandu Medical College for suspected ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome following In vitro fertilization- embryo transfer. Conservative treatment was done as the first line of management. Failing this, she was treated surgically with the provisional diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy. Abdominal cocoon syndrome was observed intraoperatively. Patient was managed medically with injection due to raised ßhCG level and empty uterine cavity. Intrauterine gestational sac was seen after about seven weeks of In vitro fertilization- embryo transfer. Pregnancy was terminated medically and patient was discharged. Sub fertility is a common gynecological problem. Its management may sometimes produce challenging health hazards. Thorough screening for medical and surgical illness is very important before proceeding to any kind of assisted reproductive technologies. A multidisciplinary approach is very important to manage such cases. Keywords: abdominal cocoon syndrome; embryo transfer; In Vitro fertilization; ovarian Hyper stimulation syndrome; sub fertility.

Gestational Weight Gain and its Relation with Birth Weight of the Newborn.

INTRODUCTION: Gestational weight gain is an important predictor of the health of the newborn. It is affected by body mass index of the women. This study was conducted to find out gestational weight gain according to Institute of Medicine 2009 recommendation and relationship of newborn birth weight to body mass index and gestational weight gain of the women. METHODS: It was cross sectional, hospital based study. The women, who attended at term pregnancy for delivery and having recorded first trimester body weight, were included in the study. Their body mass index was calculated and they were stratified into 4 groups according to body mass index. The gestational weight gain was calculated by subtracting first trimester body weight from body weight at the time of admission for delivery. All the women were followed till delivery. The newborn birth weight was taken immediately after delivery. RESULTS: A total of 227 women were enrolled in the study. More than half of the women had normal body mass index. There were 84 (37%) overweight and obese women. Mean gestational weight gain was 10.21 kg, and mean weight of the newborn was 3.05 kg. There were equal number of women who had adequate weight gain and less weight gain according to recommendation. Excess weight gain was seen in 34 (15%) women. Women of higher body mass index and women who had gain more weight during pregnancy had larger newborns. CONCLUSIONS: Body mass index and gestational weight gain of the women were important predictors of birth weight of the newborn. There is a positive correlation between gestational weight gain of the women and birth weight of the newborn.