Knowledge and Attitude about Labor Epidural Analgesia among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Labour pain is one of the most painful experiences that a woman faces in her lifetime. There are various options for labour pain management. Epidural analgesia is the gold standard method for pain management during labour. In developing and under-developed countries there are many challenges to provide this service, a very important one being knowledge about epidural analgesia among the parturients and the physicians. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 pregnant women attending Antenatal clinic of a tertiary level teaching hospital using pretested structured questionnaire prepared by a team of anaesthesiologists and obstetricians. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. The data was analysed by using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 384 pregnant women, only 29.4% had knowledge about some form of labour analgesia techniques and only 16% of the participants were aware of labour epidural analgesia. Also, only 6.2% were aware that epidural service is available at our hospital. Regarding acceptance, only 42.4% were willing to use epidural analgesia in their present pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The present study findings revealed that a significant number of participants had very limited knowledge about labour epidural analgesia and were also unaware of the availability of the service in our hospital. Educational programs need to be provided to all the pregnant women for enhancement of knowledge and awareness about epidural labour analgesia to increase its acceptability among them.

Ruptured Corpus Luteum among Women Undergoing Laparotomy for Hemoperitoneum in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Rupture of the corpus luteum, though generally self-limiting in women with normal coagulation, could lead to life-threatening bleeding in patients with prosthetic valves on anticoagulant therapy and described in only a few case reports in the literature. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of ruptured corpus luteum among women undergoing laparotomy for hemoperitoneum in a tertiary care centre. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women undergoing laparotomy for hemoperitoneum in a tertiary centre from 7 April 2017 to 31 March 2021 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee [Reference number: 328(6-11-E)2/73/74]. All women who underwent laparotomy for hemoperitoneum during the study period were enrolled. Convenience sampling technique was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 447 women who underwent laparotomy for hemoperitoneum, ruptured corpus luteum was seen in 48 (10.74%) (7.87-13.61, 95% Confidence Interval). Out of which 36 (75%) had prosthetic valves. There was 1 (2.77%) mortality and 3 (8.33%) recurrences. Conclusions: The prevalence of rupture of the corpus luteum among women undergoing laparotomy for hemoperitoneum was similar to other studies done in similar settings. Early diagnosis, emergent reversal of coagulopathy and surgery if needed are the mainstay of management. Keywords: anticoagulant; corpus luteum; hemoperitoneum.

COVID-19 among Pregnant Women Delivering in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic is raging across the world and has affected pregnant women as well. There is limited information regarding COVID-19 in pregnant women. The study aimed to find the prevalence of COVID-19 among all pregnant women who delivered during the study period in a tertiary care center. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care center from 16th August to 15th November 2020 after obtaining ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Committee of a tertiary care center. All the women who delivered in the hospital during the study period were enrolled and they were subjected to COVID-19 Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction test. A total of 667 samples were taken using convenience sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24 software. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Among 667 pregnant women, the prevalence of COVID-19 was 47 (7.05%) (5.10-8.99 at 95% Confidence Interval). Though the majority of women were asymptomatic 40 (85.1%), 5 (10.64%) developed mild disease, 1 (2.12%) each had severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of COVID-19 among pregnant women delivering in our center is similar to other studies done in similar settings. In our study, we found that the majority of women had been asymptomatic and were diagnosed on routine testing. Hence, it is important to test all pregnant women before delivery for Coronavirus Disease 2019 irrespective of the presence or absence of symptoms.

Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Nepal: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus is a condition of glucose intolerance during pregnancy. The burden of Gestational diabetes mellitus is ever increasing including a lower middle-income country like Nepal. METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance to the guidance of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Databases of "Embase", "Google Scholar", "Scopus", "Web of Science" were searched for observational studies in Nepal from 2000 to July 2021. Random effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence subgroup analysis. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed 9 studies with a total of 20865 participants. Pooled prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was 2.61% (95% CI: 1.25- 5.37). From subgroup analysis, the prevalence of Gestational diabetes mellitus according to the diagnostic criteria were: International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria 6.56% (95% CI: 4.79-8.92), World Health Organization (WHO) criteria 4.81% (95% CI: 3.79-6.08), Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India (DIPSI) criteria 4.71% (95% CI: 3.06-7.18), Carpenter and Coustan criteria (CC) 1.08% (95% CI: 0.43-2.71); prevalence according to the publication time: before 2015 1.20% (95% CI: 3.64-6.41), in and after 2015 4.84% (95% CI: 0.42-3.39); prevalence according to the place: within Kathmandu valley 2.70% (95% CI: 1.17-6.08), outside Kathmandu valley 2.28% (95% CI: 0.26-17.15). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed the increasing prevalence of GDM in Nepal. Further large observational studies at local levels are essential to measure the actual burden, risk factors and potential preventive measures for Gestational diabetes mellitus.

Successful management of postpartum hemorrhage and surgical site infection in a pregnant woman under warfarin for heart valve replacement: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Pregnant women under warfarin for mechanical heart valves can pose a variety of challenges which requires fine tuning of various anticoagulants throughout the pregnancy and in the postpartum period as hemorrhage can lead to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old woman gravida two, para one at 35 weeks 5 days gestation, with hypothyroidism with mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair due to rheumatic heart disease underwent emergency lower section cesarean section for fetal bradycardia. B-lynch suturing was eventually done to control atonic postpartum hemorrhage. During hospital stay she developed surgical site infection of abdominal skin incision site which was also subsequently managed. Postpartum anticoagulation was started late due to postpartum hemorrhage and finally the patient was discharged on warfarin. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: There is always a risk of both thromboembolic and hemorrhagic manifestations in a pregnant woman with a prosthetic heart valve which requires fine tuning of anticoagulants throughout the pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Hemorrhagic manifestation in the form of postpartum hemorrhage is common which can be difficult to manage and also poses a great dilemma in restarting the anticoagulation after delivery. Excessive blood loss can itself lead to mortality and morbidity, and also via increased risk of surgical site infection. CONCLUSION: Appropriate preconception counseling along with meticulous assessment, management and monitoring of pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves is necessary to decrease fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.

Anchored fallopian tube through the drain tube: A rare case report.

Anchored fallopian tube through the drain tube is rare. We present a case of a 27-year-old female patient who underwent right salpingectomy with the fenestrated drain tube in the pelvic cavity. Postoperatively, the drain could not be removed. Laparotomy revealed the left fallopian tube entering through the fenestration of the drain tube.

Pure Sertoli cell tumor of the ovary: A case report.

Pure Sertoli cell tumors are an uncommon variant of rare ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. Due to nonspecific clinical and imaging features, diagnosis is often made after histopathological examination. The prognosis is excellent as most are detected in the early stages and surgical resection is often curative in most cases.

Cyclopia with proboscis: A rare congenital anomaly.

Cyclopia with a proboscis, a rare congenital anomaly, and a severe form of holoprosencephaly occur as a result of incomplete separation of prosencephalon into two halves of hemispheres during organogenesis. A prenatal anomaly scan can help in the early detection of the condition and timely termination of the pregnancy.

Combined Intravitreal Bevacizumab And Dexamethasone In Bilateral Lupus Retinopathy.

This paper reports and discusses a case of bilateral lupus retinopathy with macular edema in a patient diagnosed with systemic lupus retinopathy and treated with combined intravitreal bevacizumab (0.025 mL/0.625 mg) and intravitreal dexamethasone (0.05 mL/0.2 mg). The patient was a 25-year-old female with a history of diminution of vision in both eyes. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was 2/60 and of the left eye was 1/60. Fundus examination revealed bilateral swelling of the optic disc nasally, cotton wool spots, and multiple flame shaped, dot and blot hemorrhages in the disc and macula. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed macular edema in both eyes. Despite being treated with immunosuppressive the visual acuity did not improve. Two doses of combined intravitreal bevacizumab (0.025 mL/0.625 mg) and dexamethasone (0.05 mL/0.2 mg) were given to the patient in both eyes at an interval of one week. Two weeks after the last intravitreal injection the BCVA was 6/24 and N8 in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed a decrease in the number and size of hemorrhages, and resolution of the blurred disc margin, cotton wool spots, and hard exudates. OCT of the macula 2 weeks after the last intravitreal injection showed a significant decrease in macular edema. The intraocular pressure was not elevated for a period of 6 months. This case would be a unique case of lupus retinopathy with macular edema receiving a combined half dose of intravitreal injection bevacizumab and dexamethasone with promising results. This could be beneficial in a set up where the patients cannot afford intraocular steroid implants.

Surviving 27 weeks fetus expelled out of the ruptured rudimentary horn and detected a month later as a secondary abdominal pregnancy.

A pregnant woman, gravida 3 with two living children, who frequently experienced syncope from 23(+5) weeks of pregnancy onwards and recurring every week for a period of 3 weeks, was repeatedly treated in line for a case of acid peptic disease/appendicitis in various peripheral hospitals of Nepal, until ultrasonogram/magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of an (undisturbed) live 27(+5) weeks abdominal pregnancy was made at our hospital. On laparotomy, this materialized to be secondary to the rupture of a left rudimentary horn pregnancy (evidenced from its sealed margin) which still retained a complete placenta, from where an umbilical cord was seen, traversing across towards the right side of the abdominal cavity just below the liver, securing its attachment to the surviving fetus and enclosed in an intact amniotic sac. Excision of the rudimentary horn containing the placenta was accomplished, after the delivery of a live baby weighing 650 g who unfortunately died on the third day of life.