Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):463-467
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800006
Purpose: to evaluate, in a prospective way, the performance of the fine needle aspiration biopsy in the differential diagnosis of palpable breast masses. Method: the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for this test were evaluated in 102 women with age above 30 years and a palpable breast mass, who were attended at the University of Campinas. All punctures were performed by the same examiner. Results: the procedure had a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 87%, positive predictive value of 94% and negative predictive value of 93%. The insufficient or unsatisfactory sample rate was 16% for the first aspiration, decreasing to 2% with a new procedure. Conclusions: this test showed to be highly sensitive and specific for the differential diagnosis of palpable breast masses, reassuring its great importance for the clinical approach of palpable masses.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):457-462
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800005
Objective: to determine the efficacy and safety of misoprostol for cervical ripening and induction of labor in pregnant women at term when compared with placebo. Patients and Methods: fifty-one high-risk pregnant women at term, with unripe cervix, were allocated in a double-blind trial for treatment with intravaginal misoprostol (40 mg, 4/4 h) or intravaginal placebo. Results: thirty-two patients received misoprostol and 19 received placebo. The groups were homogeneous concerning maternal age, gestacional age, parity, and indication for induction (p > 0.05). In the misoprostol group the efficacy was 87.5% and in the placebo group 21.1% (p = 0.0000087). Regarding delivery, in the misoprostol group 75% had vaginal delivery and 25% abdominal delivery, and in the placebo group only 32% had vaginal delivery and 68% abdominal delivery (p = 0.0059).The Apgar score was similar. Conclusion: in this study misoprostol was effective and safe for cervical ripening and induction of labor.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):449-453
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800004
Purpose: to determine folate, vitamin B12 and ferritin levels in patients whose fetuses presented neural-tube defects (NTD). Blood folate and vitamin B12 act as cofactors of enzymes involved in DNA biosynthesis. Interruption of this process may block neural-tube closing. Vitamin supplementation with folate may reduce occurrence rates and recurrence of NTD, although there is concern about the fact that this prevention may mask vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods: vitamin B12 and ferritin determinations by enzyme immunoassay with microparticles and folic acid determination using the ion capture method (IMx ABBOTT). Results: the percentage of pregnant women with vitamin B12 deficirncy (serum levels < 150 pg/ml) was 11.8%. There was no case of folate deficiency (serum levels < 3.0 ng/ml) and prevalence of pregnant women with iron store deficiency was 47.1% (serum levels < ng/mg). Conclusions: occording to the results obtained in this study (prevalence of 11.8% of vitamin B12 and 0% of folate deficient pregnant women) we suggest that supplementation should be administered after serum vitamin B12 determination.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):443-448
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800003
Purpose: to demonstrate the interobserver variation existing in the ultrasonographic measurement of amniotic fluid index (AFI) and in the measurement of pocket area, and to compare these two methods. In addition, an attempt was made to establish the intraobserver variation in the measurement of this index. Methods: values of AFI, described by Phelan et al.18, were studied in a group of 80 pregnant women considered to be clinically normal, seen at the Ultrasonography and Medical Updating School of Ribeirão Preto and in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP). All pregnant women had a gestational age of more than 24 weeks. Fifty of these patients were submitted to AFI evaluation by 5 different ultrasonographists using the same equipment and during the same period of time, in order to determine the interobserver variation of this index. In addition, planimetric measurement of the area was performed by 2 of these 5 ultrasonographists, selected at random, in an attempt to determine interobserver variation in area measurement. Another group of 30 pregnant women was evaluated by the same ultrasonographist in an attempt to evaluate intraobserver variation in terms of AFI measurement. Results: There was a significant interobserver variation in AFI measurement and a significant variation in area measurement. However, the intraobserver variation in AFI measurement was nonsignificant. There was a correlation between AFI and area measurements. Conclusions: we emphasize the obstetrical applicability of this index and the easier execution of this method compared to area measurement, despite the importance of both procedures.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):437-441
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800002
Purpose:to compare the incidence of preterm labor and birth, premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and low birth-weight newborns (< 2,500 g) between two groups of pregnant women (with or without BV). To verify the adequacy of including a regular prenatal BV investigation. Methods:a total of 217 women between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy (35 with BV and 182 without BV) were studied. The diagnosis of BV was established according to Amsel's criteria. The data were analyzed by the chi² test, Fisher's test, Mann-Whitney test and the relative risk. Results:the incidence of preterm labor, preterm birth, PROM and low birth-weight was statistically higher in the group of women with BV than in the control group (29.4% vs. 3.8%; 28.6% vs. 3.3%; 22.9% vs. 10.4%; 20.0% vs. 3.3%; respectively). The means of gestational age and birth-weight were significantly lower in the newborns from mothers with BV (265.8 days vs. 279.9 days; 2,958 g vs. 3,294 g, respectively). Conclusion:all perinatal complications studied were significantly associated with the presence of untreated BV during pregnancy. Therefore, the diagnosis and adequate treatment should be included in the routine prenatal assistance at Brazilian Obstetrics Services. Such measure may be effective in the reduction of these perinatal complications.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(10):571-576
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998001000005
Purpose: to evaluate the advantages of the laparoscopic approach for conversion of abdominal hysterectomies in vaginal hysterectomies in patients with indication of concomitant adnexectomy, being considered the safety and the additional costs of the procedure. Patients and Methods: cases: 9 patients submitted to Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) associated with adnexectomy. Controls:18 patients submitted to Abdominal Hysterectomy (AH) associated with adnexectomy. Both groups were compared regarding preoperative characteristics and the results of the procedure. The patients submitted to LAVH and AH are similar concerning age, parity, cesarean deliveries, previous surgeries and body mass index. Results: the average surgery time was 163.9 minutes for patients submitted to LAVH and 142.8 minutes for patients submitted to AH. No patient in the LAVH group presented postoperative complications, while in the AH group 2 patients presented suture deiscence and there was 1 case of incisional hernia. The median of hospital stay was 1 day in the LAVH group and 2 days in the AH group, those of convalescence periods were 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. 55.6% of the patients in the LAVH group and 100% in the AH group needed analgesics in the postoperative period. Conclusions: LAVH was shown to be advantageous in relation to AH in terms of better recovery and lower incidence of complications in the postoperative period. The procedure is feasible and safe in a University Hospital, and without additional costs.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(10):565-569
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998001000004
Purpose: to estimate the duration of cervical neoplasia from human pappilomavirus (HPV) infection to advanced invasive carcinoma, using as paremeter the mean age of the women at diagnosis. Methods: this cross-sectional study included 1,177 women with HPV infection, 1,561 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 773 with invasive carcinoma. Results: the mean ages of CIN 1 and CIN 2 on diagnosis were not statistically different. The mean duration of CIN 2 was 2.2 years. The mean duration of CIN 3 was 10.3 years, with 4.1 years as severe dysplasia and 6.2 years as carcinoma in situ (CIS). The mean duration of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was 12.5 years. The duration means of invasive carcinoma stages Ia, Ib and II were 3.0, 2.7 and 3.7 years, respectively. Conclusions: according to the results, CIN 1 and CIN 2 may arise directly from HPV infection and most of these lesions are transient. CIS presented the longest duration and the mean asymptomatic period of cervical neoplasia is 18.2 years. These results were discussed considering the present knowledge of the natural history of cervical carcinoma and other studies on duration of this neoplasia.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(10):557-561
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998001000003
Purpose: the authors report their experience with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) cases which occurred in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, assessing the frequency of NF and analyzing the association between NF and certain risk factors cited in the literature. Methods: a retrospective study of patients a with diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from January 1990 to December 1997. Results: two post-cesarean section and one post-surgical (because of ectopic pregnancy) NF cases were found. None of the patients presented clinical complications nor NF risk factors and all surgeries were urgent. The NF frequency in this study was 2.6/10.000 cesarians and mortality was zero. Discussion: NF is a clinical syndrome which does not occur very often but is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This disease involves the surgical wound and the fascial plans. Fast handling and early and intensive treatment bring about good results and decrease in the mortality rate.