Search

Objective: To examine (1) the concordance of manual and automated para-symphyseal angle of progression (psAOP) measurements, (2) the repeatability of psAOP, head-symphysis distance, head-perineum distance, and sonographic cervical dilatation, and (3) the value of transperineal ultrasound (TPU) in predicting induction of labor (IOL) outcome. Methods: We performed a prospective study in 308 women with singleton pregnancies undergoing IOL at term. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine which maternal factors, Bishop score, method of IOL, and TPU parameters were significant predictors of cesarean section (CS) and CS due to no progress (CS-NP). Results: There was vaginal delivery in 225 (83.0%) and CS in 46 (17.0%) cases. The intra-class correlation coefficient between manual and automated psAOP was 0.866, but automated psAOP was 4.6° wider than manual measurement. All TPU parameters had an inter-observer intra-class correlation coefficient > 0.800. Significant independent prediction of CS and CS-NP was provided by maternal factors, previous vaginal delivery, and psAOP. There was no improvement in area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve with the addition of psAOP to maternal factors. Conclusions: All TPU parameters are reproducible. Comparing the three TPU parameters for fetal head station, only psAOP is a significant independent predictor of CS; however, it is unlikely to be useful in predicting IOL outcome.

Background/Aim: Over 190 million people in the world suffer from diabetes mellitus. Diabetics are 25 times more likely to have a leg amputated because of unhealing foot ulcers. Herbal medicine has been used in China to salvage the ulcerated limb. With the aim to study the efficacy of two commonly used herbs for ulcer healing, namely Radix Astragali and Radix Rehmanniae, a good animal model needs to be developed for a proper in vivo investigation. Methods: Firstly, a diabetic animal model was established by streptozotocin injection. Then standard wounds were created on the feet of the diabetic rats. Digital photographs were taken and analyzed by a novel image analysis software. Results: The average ulcer area in the Radix Rehmanniae treatment group was 11.45 mm2, which was significantly smaller than the 15.12 mm2 in the water treatment group (p = 0.04). Radix Astragali, on the other hand, was found to have no significant effect on ulcer shrinkage. Conclusion: Further investigation is needed for the identification of the active principles of Radix Rehmanniae.

Objective: To examine the accuracy of clinical diagnostic methods in assessing vaginal bleeding in pregnant women before 28 weeks’ gestation. Methods: 772 consecutive women who presented with threatened abortion before 28 weeks’ gestation were studied. Structured history and physical examination were performed on each woman as initial clinical assessment. This was followed by transvaginal sonography to determine the status of pregnancy. The accuracy of diagnoses at different clinical stages (history, physical examination, and transvaginal sonography) relative to the final diagnosis was compared using the kappa coefficient (ĸ). Results: Clinicians were unable to accurately diagnose or predict the status of the pregnancy from history alone (ĸ = 0.33; 95% CI 0.28, 0.38) or after physical examination (ĸ = 0.57; 95% CI 0.52, 0.62). Transvaginal sonography led to an accurate diagnosis of pregnancy status (ĸ = 0.96; 95% CI 0.95, 0.98) in most cases, except where an ectopic pregnancy existed. Absence of abdominal tenderness (p = 0.04), cervical excitation (p = 0.02), and incorrect identification of retained products of conception on transvaginal sonography (p = 0.01) were features of missed ectopic pregnancy. Conclusions: The clinical assessment of threatened abortion by history and physical examination is unreliable in most cases. The diagnostic accuracy is improved by the addition of transvaginal sonography. Even with the help of transvaginal sonography, a small proportion of ectopic pregnancies will be missed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate a probability model for ultrasound estimation of bladder volume in the diagnosis of female urinary retention, which is a common condition in the postpartum period. Methods: A total of 53 women with vaginal delivery were recruited on postpartum day 1, and their bladder volumes were first estimated by ultrasound. Immediately after the ultrasound scans the bladders were catheterized for the true bladder volumes. The ultrasound-estimated bladder volumes were then compared with the catheterized bladder volumes. The data were first tested for non-normality, and then logarithmic transformed in order to conform to normality. A probability model was built using the logarithmic-transformed data, based on the following: an arbitrary cut-off value of 150 ml for urinary retention, linear regression analysis, and paired difference analysis. Results: There was a linear relationship between the ultrasound-estimated and catheterized bladder volumes, which can be represented by the equation: log10 (Vc) = 0.2959 + 0.8853 log10 (Vu), where Vc = catheterized bladder volume, and Vu = ultrasound-estimated bladder volume. A normogram was constructed, and the probability of urinary retention presented. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that our method and statistics are logical by which the probability model of urinary retention is precise enough to support clinical decision-making.

Unstimulated (passive) and stimulated behaviour [fetal heart rate (FHR) and movements (FA)] was studied in 32 normal fetuses and 10 fetuses with congenital abnormalities (CA). FHR and FA were recorded using a single 1.5-MHz ultrasound transducer and analysed by computer. A 5-second vibroacoustic stimulus (VAS) (‘electronic artificial larynx’) was used for the stimulation studies. Thus, passive and stimulated behaviour could be studied in a group of fetuses with known pathologies. One hour was used as the recording time for the passive studies and 20 min for the stimulation studies (10 min pre- and 10 min post-VAS). All CA fetuses had abnormalities of FHR and/or FA on recording passive behaviour compared to normal fetuses. However, 4 of the 10 fetuses with CA had responses to VAS that were within the normal range for both FHR and FA. We do not feel that computerised assessment of stimulated behaviour in fetuses with CA confers any advantage over analysis of passive behaviour.

Transvaginal sonography (TVS) was used to assess uterine contents in 100 consecutive subjects presenting with a diagnosis of spontaneous abortion. TVS assessments were correlated with findings at subsequent evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC). There was a strong correlation between the weight of the surgical specimen at ERPC with both the sagittal (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) and transverse (r = 0.73; p < 0.05) plane area measurements of the uterine cavity. Combining the 2 sonographic measurements increased the correlation to r = 0.81 (p < 0.05). Fifteen of 25 subjects who had been categorised to have an ‘empty’ uterus had less than 5 g of tissue removed and the other 10 subjects less than 10 g of tissue. In 20 of these 25 cases, the surgeon described the amount of curettings as ‘small or non-significant’. TVS can accurately identify those women who do not have a significant amount of residual uterine tissue following spontaneous abortion.

Conventional analysis of fetal behaviour is laborious and time-consuming. For it to have a role in a clinical setting, practical and more objective methods are necessary. We describe a computerised fetal behavioural analysis programme. Fetal behaviour (in the form of heart rate and movement) was recorded using a conventional Doppler ultrasound transducer. Data are presented comparing the method with conventional forms of behavioural analysis and documenting its limitations.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of oral misoprostol 400 µg with intramuscular syntometrine in the management of the third stage of labor. Material and Methods: This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Three hundred and fifty-five women randomized to receive either oral misoprostol 400 µg or intramuscular syntometrine in the third stage of labor were studied. The change in hemoglobin level from before to 48 h after delivery, use of additional oxytocics and treatment related side effects were the main outcome measures. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the change in hemoglobin level and mean blood loss. The incidence of shivering was significantly higher in the misoprostol group whilst that of vomiting was significantly higher in the syntometrine group. There were no differences in the incidence of nausea, headache, diarrhea and pyrexia between the two groups. Conclusion: Orally administeredmisoprostol at a dose of 400 µg is an acceptable alternative in preventing post-partum blood loss, as measured by the peri-partum change in hemoglobin level and was not associated with an increased incidence of side effects.