Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(8):493-500
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000800010
The interest of modern obstetrics in labor induction can be demonstrated by the huge amount of scientific articles published during the last few years. The advances of medicine in general and particularly of obstetrics allowed that more risky pregnancies reach term or near term, with a maternal or fetal indication for pregnancy interruption before the spontaneous onset of labor and delivery. This leads the obstetrician to the situation of choosing between cesarean section and labor induction. With the aim of helping the obstetrician to make the choice for labor induction and thus collaborate with the reduction in cesarean section rates, it is necessary that an accessible, cheap, safe, effective, easy to be used method with good acceptability is available. Although several methods of labor induction reported in medical literature do exist, it is known that there is no ideal method. However, among them, two are highlighted. The first is oxytocin, which has the advantages of promoting physiologic uterine contractions of labor and reverting uterine hypercontractility when suspended. The other method is misoprostol, nowadays the most used, which ripens the uterine cervix and induces uterine contractions of labor. However, there are still some controversies regarding its ideal dose, route and safety.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(7):425-433
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000700010
Cervical cancer is nowadays a disease amenable to secondary prevention. Methods for the detection of its precursor lesions and human papillomavirus infection, such as cervical cytology and molecular biology, achieved widespread use worldwide. However, there is still too much controversy regarding the use of these methods in gynecological practice. Which is the best examination or the best association of examinations, and the most adequate time intervals to proceed with screening, are still pending questions, generating anxiety in patients and doctors. On the other hand, the management of women who have been diagnosed with viral infection and/or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is not yet consensual, and several factors may affect the clinical decision on how to treat them. Therapeutic options are dependent upon the type of viral infection, severity of the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and its histological type. The aim of the present article was to review the several aspects of cervical cancer screening and its viable treatment.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(6):357-365
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000600011
The multiple factors involved in maternal complications and maternal mortality make the task of their long-term control difficult and time-consuming. Professional care for pregnant women and/or those in labor certainly represents a key point for obtaining good outcomes, either maternal or perinatal. From the starting point that an adequate professional medical care for delivery has the capacity of decreasing the occurrence of complications associated with maternal morbidity and mortality, the evidence regarding some interventions included in this care is summarily presented. The evidence derived from studies performed with a strong methodological and scientific approach, mainly randomized controlled trials, on interventions to reduce complications and maternal mortality. These main interventions basically refer to: institutional care to is focused delivery, skilled professional care, use of traditional birth attendants in some contexts, use of appropriate technologies including partograph, place of birth, position for delivery, use of episiotomy, type of delivery, use of oxytocin during the active phase of labor, performance of push efforts during the second stage, active management of the third stage, and prophylaxis for post-partum hemorrhage. Although the effect of avoiding maternal death is difficult to be evaluated due to its low frequency, its rational and standardized use, through manuals and guidelines for intervention care, has a positive effect on the quality of care for childbirth. This is part of the human and technical context of the right that every woman has to the best possible care in this so special moment of her life.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(5):289-292
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000500010
Endometrial polyps are benign lesions, with a low potential of malignancy. In the reproductive period their diagnosis is established in symptomatic patients with abnormal uterine bleeding or infertility. Postmenopausal women are mostly asymptomatic but in approximately one third of the cases there is an association with abnormal bleeding. They are more frequent after the menopause and risk factors of cancer of the endometrium have not been associated in the same way as risk for endometrial polyps, although they are hormone-dependent as in patients in use of tamoxifen, for instance. Their definitive diagnosis is established by hysteroscopy-guided biopsy and their most effective treatment is hysteroscopic resection. Polyps may recur after treatment. Polypectomy is highly satisfactory after the menopause, is less successful in symptomatic women in the reproductive period and improves fertility rates in infertile women.