[Obstetric vesicovaginal fistulas, about 131 cases]. / Les Fistules Vésico-Vaginales D'origine Obstétricale. A propos de 131 cas.

BACKGROUND: Vesicovaginal fistulas are the most frequent type of urogenital fistulas. Obstetrical cause remains the dominant etiology. They still represent a public health problem. Aim : to study epidemiological aspects of obstetric vesico-vaginal fistulas and their management. METHODS: a retrospective multicentric study among 19 hospital departments from February 1982 to January 2007. RESULTS: 131 VVF (92% of urogenital fistulas). The vaginal route for surgical repair was used in 2/3 cases. The mean diameter of the fistula was 11.35 mm. In 122 cases (86.5%), the fistula was unique. IVU findings were normal in 83% cases. All patients had normal renal function apart one who had acute renal failure. 177 interventions were performed (1.37 intervention per patient). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a regression in obstetrical VVF. However many efforts on institutional, socioeconomic and obstetrical levels have to be done in order to eradicate this pathology that is of major handicap for women regarding socioeconomic, functional and psychological effects.

Fetal sex assignment by first trimester ultrasound: a Tunisian experience.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and accuracy of fetal sex identification during the first trimester ultrasound exam. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on 312 fetuses at 11-14 weeks' gestation. The genital region was examined by transabdominal ultrasound. The angle of the genital tubercle to a horizontal line through the lumbosacral skin was measured. Fetal gender was assigned as male if this angle was > 30 degrees and female when it was < 10 degrees . RESULTS: Sex assignment was feasible in 89.7% and accurate in 85.7% of fetuses. Accuracy was similar in males as in females (87.9% vs 83.3%; NS). However, accuracy increased significantly during the gestational age period in male (Chi-square for trend P = 0.03) but not in female (P = 0.41) fetuses. Compared with singletons, presence of multiple fetuses (n = 12) did not influence feasibility or accuracy (89.2% vs 96% and 85.6% vs 86.4% respectively). In male fetuses, there was a significant increase in the angle of the genital tubercle with increasing crown-rump length(CRL) (r = 0.667; p = 0.025), while in females the angle did not significantly change with increasing gestation. CONCLUSION: Sonographic first trimester sex assignment is highly feasible and accurate.

[Ovarian pregnancy. Report of three cases]. / Grossesse ovarienne, à propos de 3 cas.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy. Its diagnosis and management are often difficult. AIM: To highlight specific diagnostic and therapeutic properties of ovarian pregnancy. METHODS: Retrospective Study over a period of 4 years. We observed the patients presenting ovarian pregnancies. Diagnosis was evocated in time of surgery and confirmed by histological data. RESULTS: We observed three patients presenting ovarian pregnancies. All our patients had an abdominal ache. Diagnosis was made by ultrasound scan examination in one case. One patient had a laparotomy as a matter of urgency; the two others had a laparoscopy. All the patients were managed conservatively. The diagnosis of ovarian pregnancies was evocated in time of surgery and confirmed by the histological data. CONCLUSION: the ovary is a rare location for extra-uterine pregnancy. This type of ectopic pregnancy has some clinical properties. The diagnosis is intricate and based on per operatory observations. The management is in spite of medicines improvement, based on surgery.

[First trimester ultrasound: an early screening tool for fetal structural and chromosomal abnormalities]. / Echographie du premier trimestre: un outil de dépistage précoce des malformations foetales et des anomalies chromosomiques.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal diagnosis has been greatly expanded in recent years. Many biological and sonographic criteria participated in the development of fetal medicine. AIM: Analyze the contribution of first trimester ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy and early fetal malformations, and its impact on the strategy of prevention of disability. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal descriptive study including all women who did a first trimester ultrasound during their pregnancy. We evaluated the detection rate of malformations and chromosomal abnormalities of the morphological embryonary study and nuchal translucency. These tests were then confronted with the results of fetal samples and the outcome of pregnancy. RESULTS: 593 ultrasound examinations were performed. The average age of pregnant women was 32.7 years. The mini-morphological ultrasound study revealed 26 abnormalities (3 major lethal malformations, 5 cystic hygroma and 18 increased nuchal translucency). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in six cases. The first trimester ultrasound has ensured the detection of 2/3 of total aneuploidies of the study. CONCLUSION: The first trimester ultrasound allows early detection of a large number of aneuploidies and fetal malformations.

[Eclampsia: epidemiological aspects and management of 28 patients]. / Eclampsie: profil épidémiologique et prise en charge a propos de 28 cas.

AIM: To ascertain the characteristics, clinical features, and maternal fetal outcome in eclampsia in a tertiary referral center (Service A, CMNT). METHODS: 28 case notes were retrieved retrospectively and data was analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Twenty eight pregnancies complicated by eclampsia were identified. 14.8% of the women were nulliparous and 50% were primiparous. The mean age was 32.5 years. Mean gestational age at the time of seizures was 33.4 weeks' gestation. Twenty-two women had antepartum seizures (78.57%); 8 of the 22 had seizures at home. 6 women had postpartum seizures (21.42%). Headache preceded seizures in 17 cases (60%) hyperreflexia preceded seizures in 16 cases. 50% of women presented with systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 160 mmHg and 42.85% presented with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 110 mmHg. One case of maternal mortality are noted. There were 12 perinatal deaths. Three patients had intrauterine fetal deaths. CONCLUSION: Eclampsia increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. She was not found to be a progression from severe preeclampsia. There is a need to develop new methods to identify this group of patients in an effort to further reduce the prevalence of this dangerous condition.

Spontaneous subserosal venous rupture overlying a uterine leiomyoma in a young woman.

Uterine leiomyomas are very common tumors found in women. Rupture of veins on the surface of uterine leiomyoma is an unusual source of hemoperitoneum. It is an extremely uncommon gynaecological cause of hemoperitoneum. It is a life threatening emergency. We report a case of massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage due to rupture of vessels on the surface of subserous leiomyoma. A differential diagnosis of rupture of leiomyoma'ssurface vessel should be considered, while dealing with a case of hemoperitoneum with pelvic mass.

[The contribution of ultrasonography in the exploration of postmenopausal metrorrhagias]. / L'apport de l'échographie dans l'exploration des métrorragies post-ménopausiques.

Post-menopausal metrorrhagias represent a frequent reason for consultation in gynecology. Our study aims to evaluate the contribution of pelvic ultrasonography in the exploration of endocavitary lesions in people experiencing this symptom and to compare the results found with those of hysteroscopy and histology. This was an analytic retrospective study of 33 cases referred for evaluation of postmenopausal metrorrhagias at the department of gynecology and obstetrics «A¼ in the Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis in 2012. All patients underwent pelvic ultrasonography and diagnostic hysteroscopy. We analyzed and compare the data obtained with pelvic ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and histological examination. The average age of our patients was 57.78 years and the average age of menopause was 48.36 years. The confrontation between ultrasonographic and histological data showed that ultrasonography has a sensitivity of 80.6%, a specificity of 79.38%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 67.03% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.54%. With respect to hysteroscopy these values were 84,44%, 82,72%, 69,93% and 92,65% respectively. Performance level for each exploratory diagnostic tool varied according to the lesion which caused metrorrhagias and generally hysteroscopy was more reliable in the exploration of metrorrhagias than ultrasonography: Youden index 0.67 against 0.59. Our results confirmed data published in the literature that assigns to hysteroscopy a greater reliability compared to pelvic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of endocavitary lesions causing postmenopausal metrorrhagias.

[Which surgical strategy to adopt for the management of postpartum haemorrhage and how to improve the effects of hypogastric arteries ligation?] / Quelle stratégie chirurgicale adopter devant une hémorragie du post-partum et comment améliorer les résultats de la ligature des artères hypogastriques?

The objective were to identify the success factors of bilateral hypogastric arteries ligation and to assess its role in surgical treatment of postpartum hemorrhages. We conducted a retrospective study of all the cases of postpartum hemorrhage requiring surgical treatment between January 2008 and December 2011. The study included 88 patients (0,47% of all births). Uterine atony was the most common etiology (64,8 % of patients). Bilateral ligation of the hypogastric arteries was performed in 81.8% of patients. When surgery was the first choice treatment, its success rate was 66%. This rate was variable depending on the etiology of hemorrhage, the presence or the absence of hemostasis disorders and the time between diagnosis and surgical treatment. In case of uterine atony, the association with a second conservative technique, when the first was inadequate, helped stop the bleeding in 98% of cases. Ligation of hypogastric arteries is an effective surgical technique for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage. Its success rate has increased thanks to early implementation and to the association with other conservative techniques.

Ovarian vein thrombosis.

Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare cause of abdominal pain that may mimic a surgical abdomen. It is most often diagnosed during the postpartum period. In this report, we present four cases of postoperative ovarian vein thrombosis. The complications of OVT can be significant, and the diagnosis relies on a careful examination of the radiographic findings. It can occur with lower quadrant abdominal pain, especially in the setting of recent pregnancy, abdominal surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, or malignancy. Diagnosis can be made with confidence using ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment of ovarian vein thrombosis is particularly important in the post-partum patients, with anticoagulation therapy being the current recommendation.

Desmoid tumors: clinical features and treatment options: a case report and a review of literature.

Desmoid tumors are a rare group of locally aggressive, non malignant tumors of fibroblastic origin that can lead to significant morbidity due to local invasion and may even result in a fatal outcome when located around vital organs. Their clinical presentation, biological behavior and natural history can be quite varied and is incompletely understood at the present time. The optimal therapeutic approach depends on various factors, and a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to achieve local control with acceptable morbidity. Despite progress in the understanding of these tumors and the treatment options, local recurrence remains a major problem.

Pelvic hydatid (echinococcal) disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study epidemiologic and clinical features of pelvic hydatid disease and discuss its management. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 11 cases of pelvic hydatid disease managed over 7 years and 8 months at the Maternity and Neonatalogy Unit, Tunisian Medical Center La Rabta, Tunis, Tunisia. All cases were identified from histopathologic reports. RESULTS: The 11 affected patients had a mean age of 41.6years (range, 22-79 years), 6 had a history of surgery for hydatid disease, 8 presented for chronic pelvic pain, and 1 was admitted for acute surgical abdomen. On physical examination, 6 had a pelvic mass. An ultrasound examination suggested the diagnosis preoperatively in 6. All were treated surgically. Primary laparoscopy was performed in 5 patients. Unroofing (or partial cystectomy) was performed in 6 patients and complete cystectomy in 4. The postoperative course was uneventful in all cases. Recurrence occurred only in 1 patient, 6 months after initial surgery. CONCLUSION: Pelvic hydatid disease is rare and its diagnosis often difficult preoperatively. The treatment mainstay is surgery. The laparoscopic approach seems to be safe and effective, and may increasingly replace laparotomy.