Review of Asherman syndrome and its hysteroscopic treatment outcomes: experience in a low-resource setting.

BACKGROUND: Asherman syndrome is one of the endometrial factors that influence a woman's reproductive capacity. However, in our context, it needs to be well-documented. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and hysteroscopic treatment outcomes of Asherman syndrome. METHOD: A retrospective follow-up study from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022, was conducted on cases of Asherman syndrome after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis at St.Paul's Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Clinical data were collected via telephone survey and checklist. Epidata-4.2 and SPSS-26 were employed for data entry and analysis, respectively. RESULT: A total of 177 study participants were included in the final analysis. The mean patient age was 31 years (range: 21-39) at the initial presentation, and 32.3 years (range: 22-40) during the phone interview. The majority of the patients (97.7%) had infertility, followed by menstrual abnormalities (73.5%). Among them, nearly half (47.5%) had severe, 38.4% had moderate, and 14.1% had mild Asherman syndrome. The review identified no factor for 51.4% of the participants. Endometrial tuberculosis affected 42 patients (23.7%). It was also the most frequent factor in both moderate and severe cases of Asherman syndrome. Only 14.7% of patients reported menstrual correction. Overall, 11% of women conceived. Nine patients miscarried, three delivered viable babies, and six were still pregnant. The overall rate of adhesion reformation was 36.2%. Four individuals had complications (3 uterine perforations and one fluid overload) making a complication rate of 2.3%. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that severe forms of Asherman syndrome, which are marked by amenorrhea and infertility, were more common, leading to incredibly low rates of conception and the resumption of regular menstruation, as well as high recurrence rates. A high index of suspicion for Asherman syndrome, quick and sensitive diagnostic testing, and the development of a special algorithm to identify endometrial tuberculosis are therefore essential. Future multi-centered studies should focus on adhesion preventive techniques.

Missed Diagnosis of Perforation and Intraperitoneal Migration of an Intrauterine Device and Its Management in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Case Report.

Background: The intrauterine device is a popular and highly effective form of long-acting reversible contraception. Although generally safe, complications could happen. One of the most serious complications of intrauterine device use is uterine perforation. Risk factors for perforation include, but are not limited to, postpartum period, breastfeeding, levels of experience, and excessive force exerted during insertion. This case is significant because it demonstrates risk factors for uterine perforation, how to handle missing strings, and care in places with little resources. Case Presentation: We discuss the case of a 27-year-old black Ethiopian woman who presented with chronic pelvic pain and had a perforated intrauterine device discovered in the cul-de-sac. The device had been inserted at six weeks postpartum. The client was unable to feel the strings three months after insertion, and a wrong diagnosis of expulsion was made. After one year of insertion, the intrauterine device was located on a plain abdominal radiograph and removed via laparotomy without complications. Conclusion: Although uterine perforation is a rare complication of intrauterine device insertion, special attention should be paid to women with risk factors. In the absence of a witnessed expulsion, assessments and investigations should be carried out before declaring a device expelled. In patients with chronic pelvic pain complaints in the presence of an intrauterine device, perforation and migration outside the uterine cavity should be considered. Abdominal X-rays and laparotomies can be used to find and manage extrauterine migrating devices in environments with limited resources.

Prevalence of Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy and Its Associations with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among Pregnant Women in A General Hospital: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Hypothyroidism affects 3-5% of all pregnant mothers, making it the most common thyroid disorder associated with pregnancy. Furthermore, it is associated with adverse outcomes of pregnancy and newborn. Therefore, this research is aimed at determining the magnitude and pregnancy adverse outcomes associated with hypothyroidism among pregnant women having maternity services in a general hospital in Somalia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who delivered in the hospital between December 2022 and May 2023. Subjects were selected through systematic sampling and data collected through an interviewer-based questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of P values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the correlation between variables. Results: The prevalence of hypothyroidism was 23.6% (95% CI: [19.4-27.8]). Overt DM (AOR=9.125, CI (3.106-26.812)), History of Recurrent pregnancy loss (AOR=12.938, CI (4.958-33.763), hypertension during pregnancy (AOR=6.718, CI (2.326-19.994)) and preterm delivery (AOR=7.015, CI (3.234-13.958)) were variables associated with hypothyroidism in pregnancy. Conclusion: The study has shown a high prevalence of hypothyroidism during pregnancy at Daruxannan Hospital compared to previous studies around the world. This finding highlights the need for national and regional surveys to identify the prevalence and associated factors that contribute to hypothyroidism in pregnancy to set up interventions and determine policy directions.

Spontaneous Rupture of Uterine Vessels in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy Resulting in Severe Hemoperitoneum and Fetal Death: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Spontaneous hemoperitoneum during pregnancy, caused by rupture of uterine vessels, is a rare and dangerous complication that can lead to maternal and foetal death. We presented a case of a 25-year-old primigravid woman with severe abdominal pain, distension, and hemodynamic instability at 33 weeks of gestation. An ultrasound and computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed intraperitoneal fluid collection with a non-viable intrauterine pregnancy. Following this, we did an emergency exploratory laparotomy with suturing the ruptured uterine vessel and delivered a freshly dead fetus. This case highlighted the rare occurrence of spontaneous hemoperitoneum due to rupture of the uterine vessel during pregnancy and the need for urgent intervention to avoid complications.