Episiotomy and its complications: A cross sectional study in secondary care hospital.

Episiotomy is a commonly performed procedure at the time of vaginal delivery to prevent perineal lacerations. A study was conducted to evaluate the complications of episiotomy. A sample size of 235 patients was taken. The complications were divided in two groups depending on the time of occurrence after delivery. Out of 235 patients, immediate complications were reported in 10(4.3%) patients. These included perineal tears, postpartum haemorrhage, extended episiotomy, perineal pain, inability to pass urine or stool and vaginal haematoma. Early complications including wound infection, gaping wound and resuturing of wound were reported in 21(8.9%) patients. On multivariate analysis, it was seen that age (19-29 years) was significantly associated with complications. Mediolateral episiotomy is a safe obstetrical surgical procedure in order to prevent third and fourth degree perineal tears and is not associated with increased incidence of complications.

Comparing neonatal respiratory morbidity in neonates delivered at term by elective Caesarean section with and without dexamethasone: retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of dexamethasone on neonatal respiratory morbidity in babies delivered by early term elective lower segment Caesarean section. METHODS: The retrospective cohort study was conducted at a secondary level hospital in Karachi. It reviewed the medical record of pregnant women and their babies who were delivered by elective lower segment Caesarean section between January 1 and June 30, 2013, at 37-38+6 weeks of pregnancy. The women were divided into exposed group (Group A) who received prophylactic dexamethasone, and non-exposed group (Group B) who did not receive dexamethasone Neonatal respiratory morbidity was compared between the two groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 19. RESULTS: The 196 subjects in the study were equally divided in two groups. In Group A, only 1(1%) baby developed transient tachypnoea compared to 10(10%) babies in Group B (p=0.005). Besides, 11(11%) babies were admitted to nursery in Group B compared to 1(1%) in Group A (p=0.005). No baby was referred to any tertiary care hospital for intensive care. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial effects of prophylactic dexamethasone in neonatal respiratory morbidity were found, but further prospective studies with large sample size are required.

Factors associated with failed induction of labour in a secondary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the factors associated with failed induction of labour (IOL) in a secondary care hospital. METHOD: This is a retrospective cross sectional study on women admitted for labour induction in Aga Khan Hospital for women Karimabad from 1st Jan, 2009 to 31st Dec, 2009. Induction was considered successful if the patient delivered vaginally and failed if it ended up in Caesarean Section. RESULT: Eighteen percent of our pregnant population who underwent induction of labour failed to deliver vaginally. About 25% of 328 nulliparous women had failed induction. With a Bishop score of <5 in 84.3%. In 28.2% with prolonged latent phase of more than 20 hours in Caesarean section had to be performed. CONCLUSION: Nulliparity, poor Bishop score and prolonged latent phase had strongest association with failed Induction of Labour. Macrosomia, gestation age, bad obstetric history and pre labour rupture of membranes were other significant risk factors for emergency caesarean sections in IOL.

Reasons of refusal and drop out in a follow up study involving primigravidae in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reasons underlying the refusals to participate and drop outs from a follow up study involving primigravidae. DESIGN: A descriptive study. METHODS: Aga Khan University and Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Karachi, jointly initiated a nested case-control study on primigravidae for determining the predictability of preeclampsia using various biochemical markers in blood. The protocol-eligible study subjects were counseled along with their accompanying family members to participate in the study. All women recruited in this study were followed up throughout their pregnancy till delivery. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred and sixty-five primigravidae were identified as the potential study subjects. Out of which, 1,307 (78.5%) consented and 358 (21.5%) refused to participate in the study. The most common reason underlying the refusal was inability to get permission from the family members (n=84; 34.4%) followed by fear of prick (n=51; 20.9%). For 114 refusals, either the reason was not mentioned by the counseled women (n=60) or the data was missing (n=54). Out of 1,307 women recruited in the research, only 611 (46.7%) women completed the study according to the prescribed protocol. Among the rest, 102 (7.8%) subsequently withdrew from the research, 503 (38.5%) were dropped out, and 91 (7.0%) were lost to follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Refusal to participate and drop out from the research program are two significant factors hindering the smooth flow of a study. In Pakistan, the major reason for the refusal by the protocol-eligible pregnant women for participating in a research program is the unwillingness of the family members.