Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(2):77-81
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000200004
Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (EFM) is the most widely used method of direct fetal surveillance especially during labor. In an attempt to elucidate the effect of EFM on cesarean section (CS) rates, a retrospective study was performed at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM). We studied two groups of patients, consisting of 2114 pregnant women: EFM group (n=517) and intermittent auscultation (IA) group (n=1597). In the EFM group we observed 38.0% of CS vs. 27.2% in the IA group. For all patients, the CS rate was 29.9%. Fetal distress was the most common indication for CS in the EFM group (40.6%), while previous CS was the third cause (10.1%). On the IA group, fetal distress was the third cause in CS (14.3%), while previous CS was the most common cause (32.4%). On the basis of this study, we believe that EFM has no effect in itself on cesarean section rates considering overall deliveries at HUSM. With proper education of the clinician and correct interpretation of the findings, EFM would not increase cesarean section rates, but rather should allow for a more accurate description of intrapartum fetal well-being.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(2):83-89
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000200005
Results on investigation and immune treatment for recurrent abortion are presented. Up to 60% of patients who are free of any clinical identifiable cause for abortion are believed to have alloimmune abnormalities. One of the suggested therapies for this condition is paternal lymphocyte immunization. We present the result of 116 pregnancies followed at the Departamento de Tocoginecologia UNICAMP. Patients were thoroughly evaluated for causes of recurrent abortion mentioned in the literature (genetics, hormones, uterine abnormalities and infections), for autoimmune (antiphospholipid syndrome, abnormal autoantibodies) and for alloimmune causes (crossmatch by microlymphocytotoxicity and mixed lymphocyte culture). Patients who presented negative crossmatch and lower than 50% inhibition in mixed lymphocyte culture were treated with two concentrated intradermal paternal lymphocyte immunizations. Women were stimulated to attempt pregnancy with a positive crossmatch and higher than 50% inhibition in mixed lymphocyte culture. Women whose immune status did not change with this treatment were immunized again with paternal lymphocytes associated or not to a third party donor. We report that 81% of the women treated with this protocol had good pregnancy outcome.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(2):91-95
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000200006
Predicting pregnancy outcome from one or more maternal serum factors has been the subject of numerous investigations with controversial results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of CA-125, CA-19.9, CA-15.3, beta-hCG, estradiol, progesterone, alpha-fetoprotein and CEA in women with abortion (n=18) and with pregnancy complicated by bleeding (n=6), in comparison to the serum levels of the control group (n=7). The results showed that the serum levels of CA-125 were significantly increased in the abortion group (153.9 ± 43.3 IU/ml), but no difference was detected in pregnancy complicated by bleeding (17.4 ± 2.6 IU/ml), as compared to control (24.7 ± 13.4 IU/ml). However, high serum levels of CA-19.9 were found in the group with pregnancy complicated by bleeding in comparison with the abortion group (20.2 ± 11.4 IU/ml versus 6.6 ± 1.4 IU/ml, respectively). In relation to hormone serum levels, both, the abortion (17.38 ± 9.4 ng/ml) and bleeding (18.3 ± 8.9 ng/ml) groups showed lower serum levels of progesterone, as compared to control (60.4 ± 26.8 ng/ml). Besides, women with abortion had additional low estradiol serum levels, when compared to controls (1,327 ± 1,015 ng/ml versus 10,774 ± 9,244 ng/ml). It was concluded that the serum levels of progesterone, CA-19.9 and beta-hCG seem to add valuable information to the evaluation of a pregnancy complicated by bleeding.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(2):97-104
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000200007
The purpose of the present study was to compare postoperative complications and recurrence rates in 132 women with invasive vulvar carcinoma treated by radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin lymphadenectomy performed with one or three incisions. It was a nonrandomized retrospective clinical study, including 65 women operated using a single incision and 67 with three incisions, between 1986 and 1996. Fischer's, chi-square, Student's t tests followed by logistic regression were used for statistical analysis as well as survival curves by the Kaplan-Meyer method, compared using Wilcoxon test, followed by Cox regression, with the statistical significance limit of 5%. The groups were similar regarding age, smoking, presence of other diseases, histologic type and grade. Pathologic stage III was significantly more frequent in the single incision group, while free lymph nodes were more frequent in the three-incision group. The patients treated with triple incision showed statistically less frequent immediate complications (76% vs 92%, p<0.05), less dehiscence (72% vs 92%, p<0.01), and shorter mean hospital stay (19.4 days vs 38.7 days, p<0.001) and secondary procedures were less necessary (76% vs 94%, p<0.01). Seven postoperative deaths were observed: five with single incision and two with triple incision. Recurrence rate was statistically lower in patients treated with triple incision (19% vs 35%, p<0.01) and with negative lymph nodes (6% vs 15%, p<0.01). After Cox regression, only positive lymph nodes had negative influence on disease-free survival. We concluded that vulvectomy using three incisions shows less complications than single incision, without compromising therapeutic efficacy, independently of the stage of the disease.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(4):181-185
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000400002
With the purpose of identifying the social, demographic, pregnancy-related and medical care factors associated with maternal death, this study evaluated all deaths of women aged 10 to 49 years occurring in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, during 1992 and 1993. The data were obtained reviewing 1,013 death certificates, with 42 cases of identified maternal deaths. The data of these deaths were complemented with information from medical records, autopsies and also interviews with physicians from the hospitals where the death took place, and with the dead women's relatives. Almost two thirds (62%) of maternal deaths occurred among women aged 20 to 29 years and more than half of them were single. There was a higher number of deaths among caesarean deliveries than among vaginal ones. The majority of deaths occurred within the first three days of hospitalization and approximately 90% of hospital charges were sponsored by the National Health System (SUS).
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(4):187-192
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000400003
The present study describes 13 cases of appendicitis in the gravidic-puerperal cycle, at the Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco, from Jan/89 to Dec/96. The cases were assisted by a team of obstetricians and surgeons. Eleven patients were pregnant (4 in the 1st trimester, 6 in the 2nd and 1 in the 3rd) and 2 were in the puerperal period. The incidence was 1/3.422; the age ranged from 18 to 30 years and the majority was nulliparous. The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain (intense or moderate). The appendix was perforated in 6 cases, 2 of them with abdominal wall abscess and 1 patient had an abortion. Pregnancy presented no complications in 9 cases, and delivery occurred at term. The authors observed that appendix perforations occurred more frequently in cases whose symptoms had begun earlier. The authors found that the earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(4):193-198
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000400004
The patients who do not adjust to the metabolic changes of pregnancy and those with previous alterations in carbohydrate metabolism show a significant increase in perinatal morbidity and mortality. In order to contribute to a better prenatal management of diabetic patients, the authors reviewed 60 cases of diabetes during pregnancy, assisted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. The sample was divided into two groups: one with prenatal care according to the Department protocol, and referred to this center for pregnancy resolution, and the other without appropriate prenatal care. In the group with prenatal care according to the Department protocol the complications observed were related to prematurity. The group without appropriate care showed 3 cases of congenital malformations, 3 cases of prematurity, 1 case of severe neonatal hypoglycemia, 1 case of macrossomia, 1 case of intrauterine growth retardation and 1 neonatal death. Comparing the groups, it became clear that the appropriate prenatal care is essential for the diabetic pregnant patient, but also that a reference center, such as this Obstetrical and Gynecological Department, must be fully integrated with the regional health centers, in order to offer assistance before and during gestation to the diabetic patients.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(4):199-205
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000400005
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the menstrual disturbances and the psychological effects of post-tubal sterilization - the so-called post-tubal sterilization syndrome. Does it exist? The authors followed-up prospectively 300 women from the Gynecological Endoscopy and Family Planning Section, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Botucatu Medical School, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) during one, three and five years after tubal sterilization surgery. Different parameters such as menstrual cycle length, duration of menstrual flow, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, regret rates etc, after tubal ligation, were analyzed. Each woman served as her own control. In conclusion, our findings suggest that most women reported no menstrual changes subsequent to sterilization. These findings do not deny or diminish the importance or benefits of tubal sterilization, but serve as a focus for further investigation.