Caesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR): clinical and ethical dilemma

Now a days, in developing countries like India, one of the most common contributing factor for increasing caesarean section rate is CDMR (Caesarean delivery on maternal request). Incidence of CDMR reached upto 18 percent of total caesarean deliveries worldwide. The issue of CDMR is ongoing bioethical debate which highlights the struggle to balance patient autonomy with duty of obstetrician to uphold the principle of beneficence, non maleficence and justice. Our mission should be to promote safe, effective and satisfying maternity care for all women and their families through research, education, expertise and advocacy

Misplaced intra uterine devices: a rare case of vaginal entrapment

Intra uterine devices (IUD) are the second most common accepted methods of contraception worldwide after sterilization. It is a long acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) which is now being promoted as a simpler, safer and effective method of contraception for those women who do not want a permanent method of contraception. Missing thread is the most common complaint seen within 6 weeks of insertion and may be the only presentation of misplaced IUD. Most women who spontaneously expel the IUD are unaware of the situation. We are presenting a case of misplaced IUD which was partially expelled and got embedded in the vagina which is a rare site of misplaced IUD

Depot medroxyprogesterone: the way forward

India has a high rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions contribute to 8% of maternal mortality. The addition of injection depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) to the basket of contraceptives has allowed women to use a long-term contraceptive which does not require any user action to maintain efficacy and whose effect is easily reversible. Injectable progestins are now estimated to be used by 6% women globally

Breastfeeding-Prevent the Preventable

Background: Breastfeeding is the best way of providing ideal food for growth and development of infants. There is urgent need for counselling of mothers in antenatal and postpartum period to promote effective breastfeeding practices. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers admitted in inpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology of Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial hospital.Methods: 200 postnatal mothers were enrolled using random sampling method and data collection was done by face to face interview using structured questionnaire.Results: Most women (42.5%) belonged to age group (21-25 years), were multiparous (60.5%) and belonged to joint family. All of them were housewives, had vaginal delivery and belonged to lower socioeconomic status. Most women knew the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, early initiation, colostrum and feeding on demand. 16% women gave pre lacteal feed most common being honey. False cultural belief as discontinuing breastfeeding while being sick, and menstruating is still prevalent in the society. However according to 93% women breastfeeding decreases family expenses. Few women are still hesitant in breastfeeding in public places and find it as an interference to sexual life. Practices of breast feeding in the form of knowledge of proper attachment and latching techniques was found to be very poor in this study.Conclusions: Most mothers had good knowledge (49%), good attitude (76%) but only 5% women had good practices of breastfeeding

Meditation and Yoga in pregnancy: maternal and fetal impact

Background: Yoga is a practice which amalgamates the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of the human body through physical postures(asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), concentration and meditation (dharana and dhyana). Evaluation of databases suggests a positive role of yoga in pregnancies associated with depression, anxiety and lumbosacral pain and also in reducing antepartum complications and pain score during labor. These beneficial effects of yoga are suggested but more systematic researches are required to validate it. With the background of above researches, we undertook the study to evaluate the effect of prenatal yoga and meditation on maternal and fetal outcomes. Aim of the study was to determine the effect of antenatal meditation and yoga on obstetric and fetal outcome. Methods: This was a prospective randomized trial conducted in the antenatal OPD of the institute. Sixty primigravida women with low risk pregnancy between 18 to 26 weeks gestation were included in the trial.They were randomly divided into two equal groups;  interventional group underwent meditation and yoga sessions of 30 minutes twice in a week till delivery. Obstetric outcomes including gestational age, antepartum and intrapartum complications, cord blood cortisol levels at delivery and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Results: Thirteen women went post-dated as compared to 3 in the interventional group which was statistically significant (p=0.0003). APGAR scores of neonates in the interventional group showed a highly significant improvement with p=0.0013 as compared to the control group. Cord blood cortisol levels were higher than 10 ng/ml in 16 women in the control group compared to 7 in the group who performed yoga and meditation with p=0.01. NICU admissions were significantly more (p=0.002) in the control group. Conclusions: Meditation and yoga during pregnancy improves maternal and neonatal outcomes

Referrals revisited: a clinical audit

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes; however, severe maternal morbidity can complicate certain pregnancies, deliveries and puerperium. To prevent maternal/ neonatal morbidity and mortality, the high-risk category needs timely identification and intervention and if required, prompt referral to higher centres where HDU/ICU level of care is provided. The present study was a clinical audit of obstetric referrals.Methods: A clinical audit of all obstetrics referrals done at BJRM (secondary level facility) from 1st May to 31st October 2016. The cases were analysed with respect to demographics, indications for referral and barrier to services.Results: Referral rate of our hospital was 6.52%. Mean age of women referred was 24.16 years. The associated risk factors were PIH in 36.17%, anaemia in 34.04%, followed by thrombocytopenia and diabetes in pregnancy. Majority of referrals were done in women during labour 93.94% while only 3.03% referrals during post-partum period. Most common indication was MSL with foetal distress 20.96%, followed by hypertensive disorders in pregnancy 16.93%. Other indications were APH, malpresentation, 2nd stage arrest and cord prolapse. The main barriers to providing services at our institute were unavailability of 24 hours OT services, blood bank and ICU care.Conclusions: Standard referral protocol and well-defined linkages need to be established so as to have better co-ordination between the referral units and tertiary centres

Extraocular retinoblastoma in Indian children:clinical, imaging and histopathological features

AIM: To study eyes with extraocular dissemination (EORB), with the following aims:first to establish the mean lag period and to understand various reasons for delayed presentation, second to study their imaging profiles and third to analyze histopathological features of eyes enucleated after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.METHODS: Prospective study of clinical and imaging features of EORBs (stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ International Retinoblastoma Staging System) presenting to a tertiary eye care centre. Histopathological features of eyes enucleated after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed. A pictorial illustration of the varied imaging profile of EORB was also presented.RESULTS: Over a period of one year, 97 eyes were diagnosed with retinoblastoma; 32 children (36 eyes) (37.1%) had EORB. Mean age 3.6±1.9 years, 71.9% males, 71.9% unilateral, 3.1% with positive family history and 40.6% with metastasis. On imaging, there was extrascleral involvement in 22.2%, involvement of orbital part of optic nerve in 33.3%, involvement of central nervous system in 27.8% and orbital wall involvement in 2.9% eyes. On histopathological analysis of eyes enucleated after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 25.0% had no residual viable tumour tissue and rest all tumours were poorly differentiated.CONCLUSION:There are very few human malignancies where definitive treatment is started without any confirmed histopathological diagnosis and imaging plays an important role in diagnosis and appropriate staging of the disease. Chemotherapy has a variable effect on EORB, 75.0% of eyes with EORB had residual viable tumour tissue when enucleated after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Effect of Oral Eliglustat on Splenomegaly in Patients With Gaucher Disease Type 1. The ENGAGE Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Gaucher disease type 1 is characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and skeletal disease. A safe, effective oral therapy is needed. Objective To determine whether eliglustat, a novel oral substrate reduction therapy, safely reverses clinical manifestations in untreated adults with Gaucher disease type 1. Design, Setting, and Participants Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 18 sites in 12 countries from November 2009 to July 2012 among eligible patients with splenomegaly plus thrombocytopenia and/or anemia. Of 72 patients screened, 40 were enrolled. Interventions Patients were stratified by spleen volume and randomized 1:1 to receive eliglustat (50 or 100 mg twice daily; n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) for 9 months. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary efficacy end point was percentage change in spleen volume in multiples of normal from baseline to 9 months; secondary efficacy end points were change in hemoglobin level and percentage changes in liver volume and platelet count. Results All patients had baseline splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia (mostly moderate or severe), most had mild or moderate hepatomegaly, and 20% had mild anemia. Least-square mean spleen volume decreased by 27.77% (95% CI, −32.57% to −22.97%) in the eliglustat group (from 13.89 to 10.17 multiples of normal) vs an increase of 2.26% (95% CI, −2.54% to 7.06%) in the placebo group (from 12.50 to 12.84 multiples of normal) for an absolute treatment difference of −30.03% (95% CI, −36.82% to −23.24%; P < .001). For the secondary end points, the least-square mean absolute differences between groups all favored eliglustat, with a 1.22-g/dL increase in hemoglobin level (95% CI, 0.57-1.88 g/dL; P < .001), 6.64% decrease in liver volume (95% CI, −11.37% to −1.91%; P = .007), and 41.06% increase in platelet count (95% CI, 23.95%-58.17%; P < .001). No serious adverse events occurred. One patient in the eliglustat group withdrew (non–treatment related); 39 of the 40 patients transitioned to an open-label extension study. Conclusions and Relevance Among previously untreated adults with Gaucher disease type 1, treatment with eliglustat compared with placebo for 9 months resulted in significant improvements in spleen volume, hemoglobin level, liver volume, and platelet count. The clinical significance of these findings is uncertain, and more definitive conclusions about clinical efficacy and utility will require comparison with the standard treatment of enzyme replacement therapy as well as longer-term follow-up

Incidence of post-operative pain following single visit endodontics in vital and non-vital teeth: An in vivo study

This clinical study was conducted to compare the post-operative pain following single visit endodontics in vital and non-vital teeth, with and without periapical radiolucency. A total of 60 adult patients requiring root canal therapy in anterior and premolar teeth were selected for this study. Single sitting root canal treatment was carried out and the subjects were recalled after 2 weeks and instructed to fill out a series of self-report questionnaires for responses about pain in the interim after 1 day, 2 day, 3 day, 1 week and 2 weeks. In vital teeth (Group I) 60% of the treated cases had pain, of which 36% had mild pain (non-significant) and 24% had moderate pain (significant). In non-vital teeth without periapical radiolucency (Group II) 64% of cases had pain, of which 48% had mild pain (non-significant) and 16% had moderate pain (significant). In non-vital teeth with periapical radiolucency (Group III) 32% of the cases had pain of which 24% had mild pain (non-significant) and 8% had moderate pain (significant). None of the teeth in any of the groups had severe pain. There was no statistical difference between incidence of pain in vital and non-vital teeth without periapical radiolucency. Non-vital teeth with periapical radiolucency exhibited relatively less pain as compared with non-vital teeth without periapical radiolucency, but the pain continued in a significant percent of teeth even after 2 weeks. Pain incidence dropped significantly within a period of 1 day to 2 weeks in vital teeth and non-vital teeth without periapical radiolucency. There was a tendency for less incidence of significant pain after a single visit root canal treatment in these groups. Results obtained were comparable with those obtained by several investigators