Acupuncture analgesia and cesarean section.

The application of acupuncture anesthesia in obstetrics is discussed and reviewed. Of 14 patients delivered by cesarean section under acupuncture, 8 (57%) felt no pain, and 6 did not go through the entire procedure without other supplementary anesthesia. The failure and success rates are reviewed. It is suggested that the technique be evaluated further because with acupuncture the fetus and mother are completely protected from the secondary effects of general regional anesthesia.

Premenstrual syndrome and atopy: a double-blind clinical evaluation of treatment with a gamma-globulin/histamine complex.

The relationship between atopy and premenstrual syndrome was studied in 138 women, aged between 20 and 39-years' old, who had suffered from symptoms for at least 6 months. The results showed that there was a high incidence of a personal or familial history of allergy, immediate positive skin test reactions to conventional allergens, eosinophilia, low titre of histamine latex test and high levels of IgE in the premenstrual syndrome patients compared with the normal controls. A preliminary study in 40 patients showed that a course of treatment using a gamma-globulin/histamine complex by subcutaneous injection produced a satisfactory response in 70%. A follow-on double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out using the same drug in 42 out of 86 women. Very effective or effective symptomatic relief was significantly higher in the group receiving active treatment. The best results were obtained in patients who had high IgE levels.

[Prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha in induction of labour, induced abortion and molar abortion. (70 case histories) (author's transl)]. / Les prostaglandines E2 et F2alpha dans l'induction du travail, l'interruption de grossesse et l'avortement molaire. Résultats à propos de 70 cas.

The authors report on their experience using prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha in obstetrics. 70 cases are involved: 30 inductions of labour, 33 abortions and 7 hydatidiform moles. The results as far as induction of labour is concerned are encouraging (76.6 p 100 success), but in the doses used no better than those achieved with synthetic posterior-pituitary oxytocins. On the other hand, as far as abortions are concerned, prostaglandins, whether given intravenously, intra-amniotically or extra-amniotically, are the method of choice because they are practically free of danger in the second trimester of pregnancy (93.9 p. 100 success). Side effects are common but are usually not severe and do not interfere with the treatment.

[Acupunctural analgesia in labor. Preliminary study]. / L'analgésie acupuncturale dans l'accouchement. Etude préliminaire

The authors report their preliminary results of the use of acupuncture analgesia in normal delivery. They obtained 22 very good results out of 31 cases of low lumbar pain, especially in posterior positions. The figures are not significant yet, but they are encouraging, as far as uterine contraction pain is concerned. The very good results obtained during caesarean section encourage us to persist with the method.