Self home blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy: how reliable is it?

Background: The use of automated blood pressure monitors in pregnancy has become increasingly popular, as more women tend to get involved in their healthcare. Not only does it reduce clinician visits, it also helps to eliminate the white coat hypertension.Methods: We conducted a prospective study in the antenatal department of JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru; over a period of one year, from July 2016 to June 2017. The blood pressures of 50 women were recorded at four different periods of gestation using the conventional ‘Diamond mercury Sphygmomanometer’ versus the automated ‘Omron HEM 7130’ home BP monitor and compared.Results: The recordings of systolic blood pressure at home were consistently less than the office measurements at all periods of gestation. However, the difference was not statistically significant. The comparison of diastolic pressures revealed minimal variations between the mean of the office and home blood pressure recordings. The mean arterial pressure also revealed a similar trend.Conclusions: Self-monitoring of blood pressure is a feasible and acceptable option to pregnant women. It might make antenatal care more effective, but we need further research to establish safety and efficacy, the impact on women and health professionals, and how best to use the results

Profile and outcome of pregnancy with congenital heart diseases: a retrospective study from a South Indian tertiary care hospital

Background: Women with congenital heart disease who become pregnant form an important subgroup of pregnancy cardiac disorders. The additional stress of pregnancy represents a further challenge.Methods: This was a retrospective study. Patient records between 2011and 2015 pertaining to 77 pregnant women with congenital heart diseases were analysed.Results: There was only one patient aged more than 35 years. The age of the others ranged from 18 to 35 years. The mean age was 24 years. There was a slight rural preponderance with 43 (55.8%) from rural areas. Majority 49 (63.5%) belonged to lower middle socioeconomic status. 71 (92.2%) had NYHA functional Class I. Two patients of Class II had worsening of their status. There were no cases of Atrial Fibrillation and only 2(2.6%) had CCF.ASD closure was the commonest procedure done24 (31.2%). There were 6 (7.8%)cases of device closure of PDA and no cases of VSD. Anemia and GDM were seen in 4 (5.2%). The commonest period of gestation at delivery was 37-40 in 64 (83.1%). ASD was the commonest type of lesion 42 (54.5%). 36 (46.8%) had spontaneous labour and there were 18 23.4%)caesarians. Previous LSCS was the commonest indication for LSCS. Full term normal vaginal delivery was seen in 45 (88.2%). Majority of the newborns 30 (39%) had a birth weight in the range 2.6-3.0 kgs.Conclusions: There is a significant burden of Heart disease with pregnancy afflicting young rural women and those from lower socioeconomic levels. Higher level of specialised care minimizes poor maternal and fetal outcomes

Self home blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy: how reliable is it?

Background: The use of automated blood pressure monitors in pregnancy has become increasingly popular, as more women tend to get involved in their healthcare. Not only does it reduce clinician visits, it also helps to eliminate the white coat hypertension.Methods: We conducted a prospective study in the antenatal department of JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru; over a period of one year, from July 2016 to June 2017. The blood pressures of 50 women were recorded at four different periods of gestation using the conventional ‘Diamond mercury Sphygmomanometer’ versus the automated ‘Omron HEM 7130’ home BP monitor and compared.Results: The recordings of systolic blood pressure at home were consistently less than the office measurements at all periods of gestation. However, the difference was not statistically significant. The comparison of diastolic pressures revealed minimal variations between the mean of the office and home blood pressure recordings. The mean arterial pressure also revealed a similar trend.Conclusions: Self-monitoring of blood pressure is a feasible and acceptable option to pregnant women. It might make antenatal care more effective, but we need further research to establish safety and efficacy, the impact on women and health professionals, and how best to use the results

Profile and outcome of pregnancy with congenital heart diseases: a retrospective study from a South Indian tertiary care hospital

Background: Women with congenital heart disease who become pregnant form an important subgroup of pregnancy cardiac disorders. The additional stress of pregnancy represents a further challenge.Methods: This was a retrospective study. Patient records between 2011and 2015 pertaining to 77 pregnant women with congenital heart diseases were analysed.Results: There was only one patient aged more than 35 years. The age of the others ranged from 18 to 35 years. The mean age was 24 years. There was a slight rural preponderance with 43 (55.8%) from rural areas. Majority 49 (63.5%) belonged to lower middle socioeconomic status. 71 (92.2%) had NYHA functional Class I. Two patients of Class II had worsening of their status. There were no cases of Atrial Fibrillation and only 2(2.6%) had CCF.ASD closure was the commonest procedure done24 (31.2%). There were 6 (7.8%)cases of device closure of PDA and no cases of VSD. Anemia and GDM were seen in 4 (5.2%). The commonest period of gestation at delivery was 37-40 in 64 (83.1%). ASD was the commonest type of lesion 42 (54.5%). 36 (46.8%) had spontaneous labour and there were 18 23.4%)caesarians. Previous LSCS was the commonest indication for LSCS. Full term normal vaginal delivery was seen in 45 (88.2%). Majority of the newborns 30 (39%) had a birth weight in the range 2.6-3.0 kgs.Conclusions: There is a significant burden of Heart disease with pregnancy afflicting young rural women and those from lower socioeconomic levels. Higher level of specialised care minimizes poor maternal and fetal outcomes

Experimental Investigation on Soil Stabilisation Using Rubber Crumbs on Expansive Soil

To withstand the load soil is the basic foundation for the structure. Weak in the strength, high degree of expansion and contraction due to the presence of montmorilonite minerals causes differential settlement in a structure which leads to failure in the black cotton soil. To increase the engineering properties and to make it suitable for the construction purpose it is required to stabilize the soil. It can be done by various methods such as by using lime, cement, textile effluent, plastic, etc. In this study the stabilization is carried out by using increasing percentage of rubber crumbs along with lime under suitable test. The main objective is to increase the CBR value