"I became a person again": Social inclusion and participation experiences of Ethiopian women post-obstetric fistula surgical repair.

BACKGROUND: Childbirth-related mortality and morbidity affect many women globally, especially in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Obstetric fistula-a preventable condition mainly caused by prolonged and obstructed labor-can lead to physical, psychological, and social challenges, affecting women's social participation and inclusion. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand women's social participation and inclusion experiences post-obstetric fistula surgery. METHODS: This study is part of a larger research project investigating the social inclusion process of women who have had obstetric fistula surgery in Ethiopia. For this study, we conducted a qualitative exploration of women's experiences, guided by a constructivist grounded theory approach. Twenty-one women discharged from fistula treatment facilities following obstetric fistula surgery were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Data was analyzed using Charmaz's inductive analysis approach, which involves an initial line-by-line coding followed by focused coding to identify the most significant codes. Subsequently, sub-themes and themes were developed from the focused codes. RESULT: The data analysis revealed four themes reflecting the women's experiences of social participation and inclusion. These are the experience of recovery and the journey toward social participation, participating in expected and meaningful activities, the continued challenge with a romantic relationship, and formal and informal support. Overall, the women who received fistula surgery reported positive life changes, especially regarding their physical well-being. However, they continued to face social challenges such as financial hardship, reproductive health problems, and issues with marriage and family life, which negatively impacted their social participation and inclusion experiences. CONCLUSION: While more research is needed, the findings of this study suggest that the social aspects of obstetric fistula are crucial for healthcare professionals to consider. Providing appropriate care and support to address unmet social relationship, employment, and childcare needs could enable women to lead fulfilling lives.

Proportions and determinants of successful surgical repair of obstetric fistula in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula is a serious and debilitating problem resulting from tissue necrosis on the reproductive and urinary and/or lower gastrointestinal tract organs due to prolonged labor. Primary studies of the treatment of obstetric fistulae report significantly variable treatment outcomes following surgical repair. However, no systematic review and meta-analysis has yet estimated the pooled proportion and identified the determinants of successful obstetric fistula surgical repair. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion and identify the determinants of successful surgical repair of obstetric fistulae in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: The protocol was developed and registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID CRD42022323630). Searches of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus databases, and gray literature sources were performed. All the accessed studies were selected with Covidence, and the quality of the studies was examined. Finally, the data were extracted using Excel and analyzed with R software. RESULTS: This review included 79 studies out of 9337 following the screening process. The analysis reveals that 77.85% (95%CI: 75.14%; 80.56%) of surgical repairs in low and middle-income countries are successful. Women who attain primary education and above, are married, and have alive neonatal outcomes are more likely to have successful repair outcomes. In contrast, women with female genital mutilation, primiparity, a large fistula size, a fistula classification of II and above, urethral damage, vaginal scarring, a circumferential defect, multiple fistulae, prior repair and postoperative complications are less likely to have successful repair outcomes. CONCLUSION: The proportion of successful surgical repairs of obstetric fistula in low and middle-income countries remains suboptimal. Hence, stakeholders and policymakers must design and implement policies promoting women's education. In addition, fistula care providers need to reach and manage obstetric fistula cases early before complications, like vaginal fibrosis, occur.

Obstetric fistula repair failure and its associated factors among women who underwent repair in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula repair failure can result in increased depression, social isolation, financial burden for the woman, and fistula care programs. However, there is limited, comprehensive evidence on obstetric fistula repair failure in Sub-Saharan African countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula repair failure and associated factors among women who underwent surgical repair in Sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS: To identify potential articles, a systematic search was done utilizing online databases (PubMed, Hinari, and Google Scholar). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Statement (PRISMA) guideline was used to report the review's findings. I2 test statistics were employed to examine study heterogeneity. A random-effects model was used to assess the pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula repair failure, and the association was determined using the log odds ratio. Publication bias was investigated using the funnel plot and Egger's statistical test at the 5% level of significance. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were done to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. The data were analyzed using STATA version 17 statistical software. RESULTS: A total of 24 articles with 9866 study participants from 13 Sub-Saharan African countries were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of obstetric fistula repair failure in sub-Saharan Africa was 24.92% [95% CI: 20.34-29.50%]. The sub-group analysis by country revealed that the highest prevalence was in Angola (58%, 95% CI: 53.20-62.80%) and the lowest in Rwanda (13.9, 95% CI: 9.79-18.01%). Total urethral damage [OR = 3.50, 95% CI: 2.09, 4.91], large fistula [OR = 3.09, 95% CI: (2.00, 4.10)], duration of labor [OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.76], and previous fistula repair [OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.94, 3.45] were factors associated with obstetric fistula repair failure. CONCLUSION: Women who received surgical treatment for obstetric fistulas in Sub-Saharan African countries experienced more repair failures than the WHO standards. Obstetric fistula repair failure was affected by urethral damage, fistula size, duration of labor, types of fistula, and history of previous repairs. Therefore, we suggest policy measures specific to each country to provide special attention to the prevention of all risk factors, including poor nutrition, multiparty, obstructed labor, and maternal age, which can result in conditions like large fistulas, urethral damage, and repeat repair, in order to reduce obstetric fistula repair failure.

Irritable bowel syndrome worsens faecal incontinence after primary repair of major obstetric anal sphincter injuries.

AIM: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) occur in approximately 3%-6% of vaginal deliveries and are the leading risk factor for late-onset faecal incontinence, which is an underdiagnosed pathology. The aim of this work was to use a validated scoring system to quantify the effect of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on the severity of faecal incontinence symptoms after primary repair of major OASIS (Grade IIIb-IV). METHOD: A prospective cohort study was performed on all women who underwent primary repair of major OASIS over a 6-year period. They were assessed with ultrasonography within 12 weeks. Two control groups (who did not have OASIS) were women who underwent elective caesarean section and primigravid women. Questionnaires were sent at least 12 months after delivery, or at first consultation for primigravids, which generated the main outcome measures: Cleveland Clinic faecal incontinence severity scores and the presence of IBS based on Rome III criteria. RESULTS: There was a total of 211 patients included in the three groups and the mean follow-up time was 26 months after sphincter repair. Ultrasonographic sphincter defects were detected in 37% but did not affect the faecal incontinence score (p = 0.47), except in patients with IBS. Within each group, patients with IBS had significantly worse faecal incontinence than those without. Women with both OASIS and IBS had the most severe faecal incontinence scores. CONCLUSION: OASIS has a limited negative effect on faecal incontinence, independent of whether residual ultrasonographic sphincter defects are present. However, the presence of IBS has a significant compounding effect on faecal incontinence in OASIS patients. The effect of IBS on faecal incontinence is also notable in caesarean section patients and primigravids, suggesting that IBS is an independent risk-factor that should have its place in predelivery assessment and counselling.

UK survey of colorectal surgeons on the management of acute obstetric anal sphincter injuries.

AIM: The role of colorectal surgeons in the management of acute obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) is an ongoing debate. Their expertise in operating in the anorectal region lends itself to assisting in OASI repair. The aim of this study was to establish the current involvement and recommended management of acute OASI by colorectal surgeons. METHOD: An online survey of consultant colorectal surgeons was sent to members of the Pelvic Floor Society to assess current involvement in acute OASI management and repair. RESULTS: Forty completed surveys were collated and analysed. Sixty-five per cent of respondents had seen an acute OASI since being a consultant and 50% stated they were involved in the repair of OASI less than once per year. 37.5% felt that a de-functioning stoma was still necessary sometimes. Many agreed with current guidelines for OASI repair in terms of antibiotics, laxatives and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal surgeons have varied opinions on the management of OASI. We suggest that multidisciplinary training of obstetricians and colorectal surgeons could lead to more collaboration regarding the management of women with acute OASI.

Conservative management versus systematic suture of isolated vaginal or first-degree perineal tears after delivery: A preliminary randomized efficacy trial.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the preliminary efficacy and safety of conservative management compared with systematic suture in isolated vaginal or first-degree perineal tears after birth. METHODS: We conducted a preliminary efficacy, open-label, randomized, controlled, and prospective trial. This study implemented Simon's 2-step plan (interim analysis and final analysis) to test the success rate of the digital compression strategy group. Primiparous women aged ≥18 years with isolated vaginal or first-degree perineal tears after spontaneous vaginal birth of a cephalic presenting term (≥37 weeks) neonate were randomly allocated to the conservative management (CM) group (digital compression if bleeding followed by suture if persistent bleeding) or a systematic suture (SS) group. The primary outcome was the success of the intervention 10 days after delivery, defined by pain as evaluated using a visual analog scale < 3, satisfactory healing defined by a REEDA score ≤ 2, and no bleeding or infection. Sexual well-being was assessed at 2 and 6 months postpartum. RESULTS: Among 861/2209 eligible women, 143 consenting women with a superficial perineal tear were randomized: 72 in the systematic suture group and 71 in the conservative management group. Success rate was 87.8% (90% CI [70.5-93.54]) (42/55) in the systematic suture group vs 90% (90% CI [78.3-93.8]) (53/61) in the conservative management group. The REEDA score was significantly higher in the systematic suture group (1.4 vs 0.9; P = 0.036). Perineal pain was significantly higher at day 1 in the systematic suture group (2.38 vs 1.69; P = 0.034). For the Female Sexual Functional Index score, no significant difference was found between the two groups at inclusion or at 2 and 6 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative management of superficial perineal tears shows an efficacy rate ≥90%. Women in the conservative management group had less pain at the 1st day follow-up and lower REEDA scores at the 10th day follow-up.

Benefits of continuous suture of perineal injury in adaptation to motherhood.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of the continuous suture technique of the perineal wound on the capacity and functional recovery of women when carrying out their self-care routine, the care of the newborn (NB), breastfeeding (BF) and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), both basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental (IADL), during the postpartum period. METHODS: Non-randomised clinical trial with blinding allocation to study groups, carried out at the Arnau de Vilanova tertiary hospital in Lérida. The intervention group received continuous suture for perineal repair and the control group discontinuous suture. The study population was women with eutocic delivery and second-degree perineal tears or episiotomy. Three postpartum assessment were performed (48 h, 7-10 days and one month). RESULTS: 126 women with eutocic delivery and second degree perineal tears or episiotomy participated (n = 126); 64 sutured with continuous technique (intervention group) and 62 with discontinuous technique (control group). At 48 h postpartum, 85% of women from the continuous suture technique group were able to perform their self-care and 46,7% of them had recovered functionally. At 7-10 days, 96,7% of women with continuous suturing had acquired the ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living and 60% had recovered functionally compared to 68,3% and 15% respectively of women with discontinuous suturing (p < 0.001). At 7-10 days, 100% of women with continuous suturing achieved functional recovery for newborn care and 80% for breastfeeding and in the control group 81,7% and 30% respectively (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women who undergo the continuous suture technique restore their ability and functional recovery to perform activities of daily living earlier and with less pain than women with discontinuous suturing, adapting more quickly and satisfactorily way to motherhood.

Incidence and risk factors for secondary failure after acute obstetric sphincter injury repair - an audit of 239 women.

AIM: The rate of secondary failure after obstetric sphincter injury repair is unknown, with the literature reporting rates ranging from 0.1% to 53%. We aimed to perform an audit to identify the rate and risk factors for failure of sphincter repair in a cohort of postpartum women using endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) and manometry, assessing the risk factors and impact of these events. METHOD: Prospective data were collected within a 2 year period from patients who attended the perineal clinic at Eastern Health. Variables of primary repair and presence of postpartum complications were recorded and subsequently analysed. RESULTS: Of 239 patients with obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) included, 100 (41.8%) had EUAS evidence of sphincter defects. Only 20% with secondary repair failure were symptomatic with faecal or flatal incontinence at a mean follow-up of 23.4 months postpartum. Patients with secondary repair failure had lower anal resting (p = 0.006) and maximum squeeze pressures compared with patients with intact repairs (p < 0.001). In terms of variables that were investigated, namely location, operator hierarchy, type of repair and material used, none had a statistically significant correlation with secondary repair failure of OASI. Postpartum complications had an overall incidence of 12.7%, and those with any complication were found to have an increased rate of secondary failure of repair (p = 0.157). CONCLUSION: Using EAUS to confirm secondary failure of repair, incidence was 41.4% in this cohort. There were no identifiable modifiable variables that reduced the risk of secondary failure of repair. Further prospective research with increased sample size and longer follow-up periods is required to assess the validity of the findings.

Obstetric rectal buttonhole tears: A case series and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Isolated rectal buttonhole tears are a rare obstetric complication and so there is a lack of consensus for their management. The current case series reviews the published literature on obstetric rectal buttonhole injuries and provides further cases from our institution. METHODS: A literature review was performed and all results were reviewed. Rectal buttonhole tears following vaginal delivery between 2012 and 2022 in our institution were identified. Repair technique and postoperative management were recorded. RESULTS: There were 14 published case reports. Seven case reports described a two-layer closure, and seven reports described a three-layer closure. Four cases were repaired in collaboration with colorectal surgeons. Twelve cases were asymptomatic after 6 weeks. One woman had a defunctioning stoma following a wound breakdown and one woman was readmitted with a rectal hemorrhage. We identified two women in our institution with buttonhole tears. Three-layer repairs were performed in both cases and each woman made an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSION: Repair techniques of rectal buttonhole tears vary among institutions. Despite this variance, most women experience no short-term morbidity following these injuries. This review adds to the current literature with examples of different repair techniques and outcomes.

Effect of tissue adhesives in repairing perineal trauma during childbirth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of tissue adhesives on perineal wound healing and pain relief in women with perineal trauma during childbirth. BACKGROUND: Due to the high incidence and severe consequences of perineal trauma during childbirth, tissue adhesives are recommended as an alternative to conventional sutures to repair perineal trauma. Although many original studies have explored the effect of tissue adhesives on perineal wound healing and pain relief in women with perineal trauma during childbirth, these studies have differed in participants, interventions and outcomes. Therefore, the effect of tissue adhesives on wound healing and pain relief in perineal trauma during childbirth is inconclusive. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA 2020. METHODS: A systematic and comprehensive literature search was conducted. Eight electronic databases, three clinical trial registers, and grey literature were searched from inception to 28th April 2021 and reference lists were also retrieved. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving women with first- or second-degree perineal lacerations or women who underwent episiotomy were included. The intervention was the use of tissue adhesives alone or in combination with sutures. For the outcome indicators of perineal wound healing and pain relief, subgroup analyses based on the extent of perineal trauma and measurement time points were conducted, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs involving 2264 participants were included in this research. The results indicated that for first-degree lacerations, the incidence of wound complications was significantly higher in the tissue adhesives group. In contrast, for episiotomy, the effect of the combination of tissue adhesives and sutures was comparable to that of sutures exclusively. The pooled results revealed that tissue adhesives exerted a positive effect on relieving immediate and short-term perineal pain, but no significant difference was found in the effect of long-term pain relief. Moreover, this review also supported the effect of tissue adhesives in shortening intraoperative repair time and improving clinician-maternal satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The existing evidence illustrates that tissue adhesives effectively promote perineal wound healing and relieve immediate and short-term pain. However, for first-degree lacerations, the increased occurrence of wound complications must be prudently considered when applying tissue adhesives alone, whereas, for episiotomy, the combination of tissue adhesives and sutures may be a promising repair alternative. Future studies are encouraged to adopt long-term effect, adverse effect, and cost-effect analysis as important outcome indicators to comprehensively validate the applicability and generalisability of tissue adhesives. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: For first-degree perineal lacerations, we do not recommend using tissue adhesives alone to repair the wound, given the increased wound complications. While for episiotomy, the combination of tissue adhesives and sutures may be a promising alternative to the use of sutures exclusively. Additionally, the adverse effect and long-term effect of using tissue adhesives alone to repair perineal trauma should be further clarified.

Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting and Obstetric Outcomes.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the association of type III female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and de-infibulation with immediate maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women with type III FGM/C were compared with women with type I or II FGM/C or no FGM/C. Only uncomplicated singleton, full-term pregnancies with the fetus in vertex presentation were included. There was a greater frequency of postpartum hemorrhage and the use of mediolateral episiotomy in women with type III FGM/C. Mediolateral episiotomy was associated with a reduced rate of any spontaneous perineal laceration as well as third-degree and fourth-degree lacerations in women with type III FGM/C who underwent de-infibulation.

Is there a role for transperineal ultrasound imaging of the anal sphincter immediately after primary repair of third degree tears?

OBJECTIVE: When obstetric anal sphincter injuries are identified, it is crucial that the defects are repaired appropriately to achieve a better outcome. Although the presence of an intact anal sphincter is not the sole mechanism for maintaining continence, and not all women with an anal sphincter defect are symptomatic, there is an association between sphincter defects and anal incontinence. Our aim was to evaluate whether transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) is useful in assessing anal sphincter integrity immediately following primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs). STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study of women who sustained OASIs during their first vaginal delivery. Three dimensional (3D) TPUS was performed immediately after repair of OASIs to identify anal sphincter defects. A repeat TPUS was performed 12 weeks following repair. RESULTS: 21 women sustained OASIs of whom 20 (95%) attended follow up. Eight (40%) had a grade 3a tear and 12 (60%) a 3b tear. 8/20 (40%) women had residual external anal sphincter (EAS) defects identified by TPUS immediately after repair. Of these eight defects, six (75%) persisted at 12 weeks postpartum. No new defects were seen at follow up among the twelve women in whom no defect was seen immediately following the repair. Six residual EAS defects were found at 12 weeks postpartum. An EAS defect at 12 weeks postpartum was associated with anal incontinence (p = 0.04). Women with 3b tears were more likely to have anal incontinence (AI) and residual sonographic EAS defects when compared with 3a tears but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Women who had no TPUS defect detected immediately following primary repair of OASIs, remained as such at 12 weeks postpartum. Of those in whom a defect was seen immediately after repair, it persisted in 75% of cases at 12 weeks. We believe that the value of TPUS immediately after repair appears to be limited and would need to be defined if it were to be considered for routine practice. Further research on its role immediately after repair of major tears (Grade 3C/4) is needed. In addition, performing ultrasound would require widespread training of obstetricians to develop expertise. This highlights the importance of adequate training of obstetricians in OASI repair.

Building a country-wide Fistula Treatment Network in Kenya: results from the first six years (2014-2020).

It is estimated that one million women worldwide live with untreated fistula, a devastating injury primarily caused by prolonged obstructed labor when women do not have access to timely emergency obstetric care. Women with fistula are incontinent of urine and/or feces and often suffer severe social and psychological consequences, such as profound stigma and depression. Obstetric fistula affects economically vulnerable women and garners little attention on the global health stage. Exact figures on fistula incidence and prevalence are not known. In Kenya, results from a 2014 population-based survey suggest that 1% of reproductive-aged women have experienced fistula-like symptoms. In collaboration with key stakeholders, Fistula Foundation launched the Fistula Treatment Network (initially known as Action on Fistula) in 2014 to increase access to timely, quality fistula treatment and comprehensive post-operative care for women with fistula in Kenya. The integrated model built linkages between the community and the health system to support women through all parts of their treatment journey and to build capacity of healthcare providers and community leaders who care for these women. Fistula Foundation and its donors provided the program's funding. Seed funding, representing about 30% of the program budget, was provided by Astellas Pharma EMEA.Over the six-year period from 2014 to 2020, the network supported 6,223 surgeries at seven hospitals, established a fistula training center, trained eleven surgeons and 424 Community Health Volunteers, conducted extensive community outreach, and contributed to the National Strategic Framework to End Female Genital Fistula. At 12 months post fistula repair, 96% of women in a community setting reported that they were not experiencing any incontinence and the proportion of women reporting normal functioning increased from 18% at baseline to 85% at twelve-months.The Fistula Treatment Network facilitated collaboration across hospital and community actors to enhance long-term outcomes for women living with fistula. This model improved awareness and reduced stigma, increased access to surgery, strengthened the fistula workforce, and facilitated post-operative follow-up and reintegration support for women. This integrated approach is an effective and replicable model for building capacity to deliver comprehensive fistula care services in other countries where the burden of fistula is high.

Under-classified obstetric anal sphincter injuries.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOSTHESIS: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs) that are missed at delivery can have long-term consequences. OASIs that are under-classified at delivery are likely to be inadequately repaired, resulting in a persistent anal sphincter defect. We aimed to identify women who have persistent defects on endoanal ultrasound, inconsistent with the original diagnosis, and compare the effect on St Mark's incontinence scores (SMIS). We also aimed to look for changes in numbers of under-classification over time. METHODS: Records of women attending a perineal clinic who had endoanal ultrasound from 2012 to 2020 were reviewed. Women who had a modified Starck score implying a defect greater than the classification [indicated by the depth of external anal sphincter or internal anal sphincter (IAS) defect] at delivery were identified. RESULTS: A total of 1056 women with a diagnosis of 3a or 3b tears were included. Of these, 120 (11.36%) were found to have a defect greater than the original diagnosis and therefore were incorrectly classified at delivery. Women who had a 3b tear diagnosed at delivery, but had an IAS defect, had a significantly higher SMIS (p < 0.01). When comparing two 4-year periods, there was a significant improvement in the diagnosis of IAS tears. CONCLUSION: Some women with OASIs that have under-classified OASIs are associated with worse anorectal symptoms. This is likely because of an incomplete repair. Some improvement in diagnosis of IAS tears has been noted. We propose improved training in OASIs can help reduce the number of incorrectly classified tears and improve repair.

Reasons for delay in accessing free treatment of obstetric fistula in South-East Nigeria - A qualitative study.

Obstetric fistula continues to be a menace in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries. The national policy for its elimination makes surgical repair free in dedicated national centres. However, the majority of the clients present late for repair. The aim of the study was to explore the reasons for this delay in seeking treatment. It was a qualitative (exploratory) study carried out at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Abakaliki, Nigeria among obstetric fistula patients who presented for treatment with a duration of leakage of over six months. A consecutive sampling technique was used for patient recruitment. Data was collected from twenty patients using in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis of the responses and recurring patterns was done, with themes illustrated using the word cloud. The mean age of the participants was 37.1 years (range = 21-75 years) while the mean duration of leakage was 64.3 months (range = 8-564 months). Reasons for delay in accessing treatment of obstetric fistula were lack of awareness of the availability of free treatment in a specialized centre, delay in referral from index health care facilities, wrong information from health care workers, failed repairs at other health facilities, secondary delay due to transportation challenges, cultural beliefs and other issues peculiar to the patients. The commonest reason for the delay in accessing treatment for obstetric fistula is a lack of awareness on the part of patients, the public, and health workers. We recommend improved campaigns, advocacy, and community mobilization.

Risk factors for perioperative blood transfusions after urogenital fistula repair in Uganda: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for perioperative blood transfusions after urogenital fistula repairs in Uganda. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A community hospital in Masaka, Uganda. POPULATION: Women who underwent fistula repair at the Kitovu Hospital between 2013 and 2019. METHODS: Retrospective review of demographics and clinical perioperative characteristics of patients surgically treated for urogenital fistula. Patient characteristics were compared between those who did and those who did not require a blood transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Need for perioperative blood transfusion and risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 546 patients treated for urogenital fistulas were included in this study. The median age was 31.1 ± 13.2 years. A vaginal surgical approach was used in the majority of patients (84.6%). Complications occurred in 3.5% of surgical repairs, and the incidence of blood transfusions was 6.2%. In multivariable analyses, for each gram per deciliter (g/dl) increase in preoperative haemoglobin, the odds of blood transfusion decreased by approximately 28% (adjusted OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.86). Women who had their fistula repaired abdominally were 3.4 times more likely to require transfusions (95% CI 1.40-8.08). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of blood transfusions among urogenital fistula repairs in our population is twice that of developed nations. An abdominal surgical approach to urogenital fistula is a significant risk factor for perioperative blood transfusions. The timing of the repair may warrant further study. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: One of the first studies to look at blood transfusion risk factors after fistula repair in a low-resource setting.

Maternal and fetal characteristics for predicting risk of Cesarean section following induction of labor: pooled analysis of PROBAAT trials.

OBJECTIVE: Induction of labor (IOL) is one of the most widely used obstetric interventions. However, one-fifth of IOLs result in Cesarean section (CS). We aimed to assess maternal and fetal characteristics that influence the likelihood of CS following IOL, according to the indication for CS. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of pooled data from four randomized controlled trials, including women undergoing IOL at term who had a singleton pregnancy and an unfavorable cervix, intact membranes and the fetus in cephalic presentation. The main outcomes of this analysis were CS for failure to progress (FTP) and CS for suspected fetal compromise (SFC). Restricted cubic splines were used to determine whether continuous maternal and fetal characteristics had a non-linear relationship with outcome. Optimal cut-offs for those characteristics with a non-linear pattern were determined based on the maximum area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were computed, using multivariable logistic regression analysis, for the associations between optimally categorized characteristics and outcome. RESULTS: Of a total of 2990 women undergoing IOL, 313 (10.5%) had CS for FTP and 227 (7.6%) had CS for SFC. The risk of CS for FTP was increased in women aged 31-35 years compared with younger women (aOR, 1.51 (95% CI, 1.15-1.99)), in nulliparous compared with parous women (aOR, 8.07 (95% CI, 5.34-12.18)) and in Sub-Saharan African compared with Caucasian women (aOR, 2.09 (95% CI, 1.33-3.28)). Higher body mass index (BMI) increased incrementally the risk of CS for FTP (aOR, 1.06 (95% CI, 1.04-1.08)). High birth-weight percentile was also associated with an increased risk of CS due to FTP (aOR, 2.66 (95% CI, 1.74-4.07) for birth weight between the 80.0th and 89.9th percentiles and aOR, 4.08 (95% CI, 2.75-6.05) for birth weight ≥ 90th percentile, as compared with birth weight between the 20.0th and 49.9th percentiles). For CS due to SFC, higher maternal age (aOR, 1.09 (95% CI, 1.05-1.12)) and BMI (aOR, 1.05 (95% CI, 1.03-1.08)) were associated with an incremental increase in risk. The risk of CS for SFC was increased in nulliparous compared with parous women (aOR, 5.91 (95% CI, 3.76-9.28)) and in South Asian compared with Caucasian women (aOR, 2.50 (95% CI, 1.23-5.10)). Birth weight < 10.0th percentile increased significantly the risk of CS due to SFC (aOR, 1.93 (95% CI, 1.22-3.05)), as compared with birth weight between the 20.0th and 49.9th percentiles. Bishop score did not demonstrate a significant association with the risk of CS for FTP or for SFC. CONCLUSIONS: In women undergoing IOL, maternal age, BMI, parity, ethnicity and birth-weight percentile are predictors of CS due to FTP and of CS due to SFC, but the direction and magnitude of the associations differ according to the indication for CS. These characteristics should be considered in combination with the Bishop score to stratify the risk of CS for different indications in women undergoing IOL. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Efficacy of well-planned management in patients with incarcerated gravid uterus: A case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Incarcerated gravid uterus is a condition in which uterine myoma and intraperitoneal adhesion lead to persistent uterine retroversion. Accurate diagnosis before cesarean section is crucial so that the procedure can be planned with regard to the spatial relationship between the uterine incision and other organs. This study investigated the effects of well-planned management on the outcome of cesarean sections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with incarcerated gravid uterus who received well-planned management and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging were compared with three unexpected patients who were operated without preoperative diagnosis. RESULTS: In the preoperatively diagnosed group, compared with the non-preoperatively diagnosed group, the frequency of cervical canal damage tended to be lower (0% vs. 100%), blood loss tended to be less (1171 ± 290 mL vs. 2000 ± 300 mL), and surgery duration tended to be shorter (82 ± 17 min vs. 147 ± 84 min). None of the preoperatively diagnosed cases required allogeneic blood transfusion, and no organ damage was observed. CONCLUSION: The early detection of a suspected incarcerated uterus, and a thorough understanding of diagnostic methods and the use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography facilitate the safe performance of a cesarean section.

A clinical audit of management of third and fourth degree perineal tears.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a clinical audit of the practices related to the management of third and fourth degree perineal tears. METHODS: The retrorspective study was conducted in 2019 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised medical records from January 2008 to December 2018 of women having singleton term vaginal delivery and sustaining obstetric anal sphincter injuries. The change in practices regarding tear management was compared with a previous audit done at the same institution in 2008. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 25,370 deliveries, 142(0.56%) sustained obstetric anal sphincter injuries. There was a significant increase compared to the previous audit in terms of documentation of the method of repair, use of delayed absorbable suture material for the repair of external anal sphincter and follow-up at 6 weeks to see the success of repair and plan the next delivery (p<0.05). The use of vacuum vaginal delivery increased to 27(19%) from 5(4%), but there was decrease in injuries complicated by instrumental vaginal deliveries (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increase in the number of deliveries, the frequency of obstetric anal sphincter injuries remained similar to the previous audit, indicating that regular clinical audits are integral to keeping clinical practice in accordance with the established standards.