Validation of a Predictive Model of Vaginal Birth after Caesarean Section in Pakistani Women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of successful trials of vaginal birth after Caesarean section (VBAC) using the Flamm and Geiger model. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit II of Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from August 2022 to January 2023. METHODOLOGY: Women with singleton pregnancy having cephalic presentation, previous one lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), and without any contraindication for vaginal delivery were included. Women bearing foetus having estimated weight >3.5kg, morbid obesity, multiple pregnancies, non-cephalic presentation, placenta praevia, abruptio placentae, uncontrolled maternal comorbidities, or had previous two or more Caesarean sections were excluded. Flamm and Geiger score was applied to record observations of successful and unsuccessful trials. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the score were calculated by ROC curve, along with its area under the curve (AUC) and Youden's index curve, with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: This study included 258 participants. Successful vaginal delivery was possible in 125 (48.4%) participants, whereas 133 (51.6%) underwent emergency Caesarean section. Cervical dilatation and effacement were the main factors assessing the success. The Flamm and Geiger score of >5 had an area under the curve of 0.813 (0.762-0.864). The score's sensitivity was 75% (67-82%), specificity 76% (68-82%), and PPV of 75% with an accuracy of 76%. CONCLUSION: The Flamm and Geiger score of >5 demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and accuracy in predicting later successful vaginal birth. It is recommended as a promising and valuable tool for assessing VBAC's success in low-resource countries. KEY WORDS: Vaginal birth after caesarean, Flamm and Geiger Model, Indication of caesarean, trial of labour after caesarean, VBAC risk scoring criteria.

Knowledge and Attitude of Cervical Cancer Screening and Vaccination in Patients Attending Gynecology Outpatient Clinic at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

Shamaila ShamaunBackground Cervical cancer is the third most prevalent female cancer in Pakistan; nearly 70% present at a very advanced stage of malignancy due to lack of awareness, proper screening, and vaccination. Therefore, we aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude toward screening, vaccination, and risk factors of cervical cancer in sexually active women of Pakistan. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the gynecology outpatient clinic of a public sector hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2021 to March 2022. We included sexually active women with exception of diagnosed cases of cervical cancer, pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, and psychological disorder. Collected data were regarding demographic characteristics, awareness regarding cervical cancer, screening, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and risk factors, history of cervical screening, and wiliness to opt-in for cervical screening. Results We included 226 women with a mean age of 41.25 ± 10.54 years. The mean parity level was observed to be 3.8 ± 1.95. A majority of women were housewives by profession (88.9%) and uneducated (61.9%). Only 41.2% (93) of women were aware of cervical cancer, 33.6% (76) were aware of cervical screening, and only 15.9% (36) had a history of cervical screening. Only four women (1.8%) were aware of the HPV vaccine and 31% (70) showed intention to opt-in for cervical screening. A vast majority of women (96.9%) were not aware of the risk factors of cervical cancer. Conclusion(s) We have observed poor awareness regarding cervical cancer, HPV vaccination, and cervical screening among women in our population. Lack of awareness was not restricted to a certain segment but it prevails all across the demographic in our population.

Placenta increta in an unscarred and bicornute uterus.

Morbidly adherent placenta is a spectrum of obstetric complication which is life threatening to both mother and fetus. Congenital uterine malformation is a rare cause of such a condition. Here we present a case report of placenta increta in bicornute, unscarred uterus. An 18 year old para1+1 presented in emergency with history of vaginal delivery of still birth baby followed by vaginal bleeding with retained placenta. Her Examination under anaesthesia and failed attempt of manual removal of the placenta performed in emergency followed by Doppler ultrasound showed a bicornuate uterus with possibility of placenta increta, later this diagnosis was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patient managed with injection methotrexate along with folinic acid followed by removal of placenta under general anesthesia, hence we preserved her fertility. The aim of this report is to emphasize the importance of this rare but a possible association of nonscar and malformed uterus with spectrum of abnormal placentation. Obstetrician should run a full set of investigations in such cases to prevent maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.

Sacrohysteropexy performed as uterus conserving surgery for pelvic organ prolapse: Review of case files.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome and safety of sacrohysteropexy as uterus conserving surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in young women and to assess patients' satisfaction with the procedure. METHODS: This is a case series of patients operated at Sind Government Lyari General Hospital and Civil Hospital Karachi, between January, 2007 to October, 2015. Data of the patients who had sacrohysteropexy were reviewed. Complications during surgery and post-operative period including haemorrhage, visceral injury, paralytic ileus and peritonitis were studied. Success of procedure, need of blood transfusion, hospital stay and condition on discharge and six weeks follow-up were noted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Mean ± SD was calculated for numerical, while frequencies were computed for categorical variables. RESULTS: Data of 60 patients were reviewed. Early post-operative success was 100%. Duration of surgery was less than two hours in 57 (95%) patients. Blood loss was negligible in majority of cases. Out of all 60 cases, 52 (86.7%) did not suffer any complication. One patient had ureteric injury, while one patient sustained bowel injury. Two patients had paralytic ileus. Four patients suffered from abdominal wound infection. All patients were managed satisfactorily. Mean duration of stay in hospital was four days. Upon follow up 96.7% patients were satisfied with results of operative procedure. Sixteen (26.7%) patients complained of backache on follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: This review concludes that sacrohysteropexy was successful in all cases in early post-operative period. It is a safe procedure and should be considered as an option for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse in young women, in whom uterine conservation is required.

Frequency and risk factors of low birth weight in term pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency of Low Birth Weight (LBW) at term and to determine frequency of various associated risk factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Layari General Hospital and Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi between January 2007 to July 2008. Women with singleton pregnancy of 37 and above completed weeks were identified. Those women who gave birth to babies with less than 2500gm were recruited in the study. In all those patients who gave birth to LBW babies risk factors were assessed. The variables including age, parity, booking status, maternal weight and height, socioeconomic condition, smoking, fetal gender and birth weight were noted on a questionare. The data was analyzed on SPSS Version 15. Frequency of LBW and its associated risk factors were determined. RESULTS: During study period 10.6% patients delivered LBW babies. Antenatal care was not received in 67% patients. Parity was less than three in 87%. In 26% of patients maternal weight was less than 50 kg and in 37% patients with LBW, maternal height was less than five feet. Majority of patients were anaemic (72%) including 20% with haemoglobin < 7 grams. CONCLUSION: LBW is associated with a group of factors which may be regarded as high risk factors. These include low socio economic status, anaemia, primiparity, short maternal height and less than average weight.

Paternal factors in spontaneous first trimester miscarriage.

UNLABELLED: Objectives : To determine whether paternal factors i.e., age, tobacco use and genital tract infection increase the risk for spontaneous first trimester miscarriage. Methodology : This case control study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Unit V / IV, Dow Medical College & Lyari General Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Duration of study was two and half years, from Nov, 2007 to Apr, 2010. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women with age 20 - 35 years irrespective of parity. Exclusion criteria were known medical illness in either partner, induced abortion and recurrent miscarriages. Studied paternal factors were age, tobacco use and genital tract infection. Data was computed using SPSS version 16. Significance of paternal factors was determined by Logistic Regression Analysis. Results : Total cases studied were 200, while there were 400 controls. Mean maternal age was 27.6±4.9 years in cases and 26.5±4.5 years in controls. Mean paternal age was 35.5±6.2 years in cases and 32.3±5.4 years in controls. Paternal age was >35 years in 54.5% cases and 16.8% controls. Spearman Bivariate correlation revealed paternal age > 35 years (p=0.000) and genital tract infection (p=0.043) as significant factors. Only paternal age >35 years (p=0.000) remained significant in Final Model after entering into logistic regression. CONCLUSION: Paternal age beyond 35 years was found to be significantly related to first trimester spontaneous miscarriages.

Timing of umbilical cord clamping and neonatal haematological status.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of delayed umbilical cord clamping on Hb (haemoglobin) and bilirubin levels of neonates and to identify newborn babies with anaemia and refer them for treatment. METHODS: This Randomized Controlled Trial was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unit V, Dow Medical College and Lyari General Hospital and Department of Pathology, Lyari General Hospital, between 1st November, 2006 and 15th July, 2007. Patients admitted to labour ward were selected according to inclusion criteria of the study. They were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group A included women in whom umbilical cord was clamped immediately after birth. In Group B, clamping was delayed until cessation of pulsations in the cord. After cutting the cord, sample of blood was collected from the cut end of cord of the newborn for Hb and bilirubin. After 6 hours of birth, another sample of blood was drawn from antecubital vein for serum bilirubin. Samples were sent to laboratory for analysis. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 11. RESULTS: Two hundred women were studied, 100 in each of the 2 groups. Mean maternal Hb was 9.75 g/dl in Group A and 9.95 g/dl in Group B. The average neonatal Hb was 14.1 g/dl in Group A and 15.2 g/dl in Group B (p = 0.008). In all 49% neonates in Group A and 37% in Group B had Hb < 14 g/dl. Serum bilirubin values at birth and at 6 hours of birth were 1.8 mg/dl and 2.5 mg/dl for Group A and 1.9 mg/dl and 2.7 mg/dl for Group B, respectively. The difference in bilirubin after 6 hours in the 2 groups was insignificant (p = 0.186). CONCLUSION: Delayed umbilical cord clamping at birth seems to be safe and can be expected to reduce the prevalence of anaemic newborn babies in our community.