Rola nacięcia krocza w profilaktyce uszkodzeń podczas porodów pochwowych – wyniki z dwóch ośrodków europejskich

Objectives: There is an ongoing debate regarding the routine versus restrictive use of episiotomy. The study aim was to investigate if episiotomy during vaginal deliveries can reduce both, the number and severity of genital lacerations. Material and methods: The study included all women who gave vaginal birth at AOU. “G. Martino” Messina (n=382) and the Clinic for Ob/Gyn Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade (n=4221) during 2011. Lacerations during birth were recorded and divided according to location and severity. Women with lacerations were subdivided into two groups: with or without medio-lateral episiotomy. We assessed potential risk factors for laceration: maternal age, parity, use of labor stimulants and epidural analgesia, participation in antenatal classes, fetal presentation, neonatal birth weight, and duration of the second stage of labor. Results: Older women had higher grade perineum or combined lacerations. Children with higher birth weight in occipito-posterior presentation caused higher grade lacerations. Performance of episiotomy was connected with fewer perineum and labial lacerations. There were no differences in laceration grade between patients with and without episiotomy. Assessed parameters proved to be good discriminating factors between lacerations sites. According to logistic regression, laceration site was the most important risk factor for laceration grade. Combined lacerations had the highest grade. Conclusions: Episiotomy can significantly reduce the number of genital lacerations, but it does not influence laceration grade. Advanced maternal age, higher parity, occipito-posterior presentation and fetal macrosomia can cause lacerations during vaginal birth. Therefore, we suggest analysis of maternal and fetal factors to prevent widespread genital lacerations.Cel: Trwa debata w prawie właściwego stosowania nacięcia krocza: regularne kontra ograniczone. Celem badania była ocena czy nacięcie krocza podczas porodu pochwowego może zredukować zarówno liczbę jak i ciężkość uszkodzeń krocza. Materiał i metoda: Do badania włączono wszystkie kobiety, które w 2011 roku urodziły drogą pochwową w ośrodku w AOU „G.Martino” Messina (n=382) i w Klinice Położniczo-Ginekologicznej w Serbii, w Belgradzie (n=4221). Uszkodzenia krocza podczas porodu zostały podzielone względem lokalizacji i ciężkości. Kobiety z uszkodzeniami podzielono na dwie podgrupy: z nacięciem i bez nacięcia pośrodkowo-bocznego krocza. Oceniono możliwe czynniki ryzyka uszkodzeń krocza: wiek matki, rodność, użycie stymulacji porodu, znieczulenie zewnątrzoponowe, uczestnictwo w szkole rodzenia, położenie płodu, masa urodzeniowa noworodka, czas trwania drugiej fazy porodu. Wyniki: Starsze kobiety miały wyższy stopień uszkodzenia krocza i bardziej złożone pęknięcia. Urodzenie dziecka z większą masą urodzeniową w ułożeniu potylicowym-tylnym powodowało wyższy stopień pęknięć krocza. Nacięcie krocza wiązało się z mniejszą ilością pęknięć krocza i warg sromowych. Nie zanotowano różnic w stopniu uszkodzenia krocza pomiędzy pacjentkami z i bez nacięcia krocza. Oceniane czynniki są przydatne w różnicowaniu miejsca uszkodzenia. Na podstawie regresji logistycznej, miejsce pęknięcia było najważniejszym czynnikiem ryzyka stopnia uszkodzenia krocza. Złożone uszkodzenia miały najwyższy stopień. Wnioski: Nacięcie krocza istotnie zmniejszało liczbę uszkodzeń krocza, lecz nie wpływało na ich stopień. Zaawansowany wiek matki, wyższa rodność, ułożenie potylicowe-tylne i makrosomia płodu mogą powodować pęknięcia krocza w trakcie porodu. Sugerujemy analizę matczynych i płodowych czynników ryzyka celem zapobiegania szerokim uszkodzeniom krocza w trakcie porodu

Pelvic inflammatory disease: Contemporary diagnostic and therapeutic approach

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is polymicrobial infection in women characterized by inflammation of the upper genital tract, including endometritis, salpingitis, pelvic peritonitis, occasionally leading to the formation of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA). PID primarily affects young, sexually active women, and it is highly correlated with having several sexual partners, intrauterine contraceptive device and sexually transmited diseases. The spectrum of disease is caused most commonly by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 30-50% of cases. PID is responsible for severe acute morbidity and significant long-term sequelae, including tubal factor infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. The following clinical features are suggestive of a diagnosis of PID: bilateral lower abdominal tenderness, abnormal vaginal or cervical discharge, fever (higher than 38°C), abnormal vaginal bleeding, dyspareunia, cervical motion tenderness and adnexal tenderness, with or without a palpable mass. In laboratory findings, there is presence of excess leucocytes, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein. Transvaginal ultrasound scanning may be helpful, and its sensitivity is up to 85%. It can identify inflamed and dilated tubes and tubo-ovarian masses. Magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful in a final diagnosis in 95% of cases. In 15-30% of suspected cases, there is no laparoscopic evidence of disease. Treatment regimens for PID include broadspectrum antibiotics, including coverage for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. The usage of parenteral or oral therapy, inpatient or outpatient regimens, depends on the patient’s clinical condition. Considering the potential complications of disease, there is a need for good health educational programmes in reproductive period

Risk Perception About HIV Among University Students in One of the Last Hotspots for HIV Transmission in Europe

Abstract Background HIV testing in the Northern Kosovo province is challenging, because the infrastructure is being rebuilt after the ethnic conflict. The purpose of this research was to examine self-perceived risk for acquiring HIV infection and factors associated with risk assessment among university students. Methods Students completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic data, knowledge about HIV prevention and transmission, attitudes toward people living with (PLHIV) and self-perceived risk for HIV infection. The self-perceived risk was categorized as low, unknown and high. Results The majority of students (72.5%) assessed their risk as low, 8.5% assessed their risk as high and 19.1% did not know their risk. Compared to low self-perceived risk, high self-perceived HIV risk was associated with being male, having lower knowledge about HIV prevention, less strong Segregation and protection attitude toward PLHIV, stronger Ignorance and indifference attitude toward PLHIV and positive opinion about gays/lesbians. Students who perceived own risk for acquiring HIV as high had lower knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention. However, those who were previously tested for HIV, despite their poorer knowledge about HIV prevention, assess their HIV-related risk as low. Conclusions Students assessed their risk of HIV infection mostly as low. Still, lower knowledge of HIV prevention has been consistently associated with a high and unknown risk of HIV. Moreover, being ignorant and indifferent about PLHIV was associated with increased self-perceived HIV risk. These findings highlight the need for continuous specialized HIV-related education to reduce fear and stigma of PLHIV and HIV testing as well as risky behaviors

Reproductive and Obstetric Outcomes after Fertility-Sparing Treatments for Cervical Cancer: Current Approach and Future Directions

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in women of reproductive age. The established fertility-sparing approaches for the management of early-stage cervical cancer for women who plan pregnancy are associated with a decline in fecundity and an increased risk of pregnancy complications. This article aims to offer an overview of fertility-sparing approaches and the management of potential subfertility and pregnancy complications after these treatments. An extensive search for the available data about infertility and cervical cancer, fertility-sparing techniques in patients with cervical cancer, fertility treatment, obstetrical complications, and pregnancy outcomes in cervical cancer patients was completed. Fertility-preserving procedures such as loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), cold-knife conization, and trachelectomy in women diagnosed with cervical cancer can be considered as safe and effective treatments that preserve reproductive potential. Current fertility-preserving procedures, based on the balance of the oncological characteristics of patients as well as their desire for reproduction, allow one to obtain acceptable reproductive and obstetric outcomes in women treated for cervical cancer. Nevertheless, careful monitoring of pregnancies obtained after fertility-preserving procedures is recommended, since this cohort of patients should be considered at higher risk compared with a healthy population