[Intervals for increasing the dosage of oxytocin]. / Zur Frage des Steigerungsintervalles der Dosierung von Oxytocin.

We retrospectively analyzed 468 deliveries in 1989, 935 deliveries in 1990, and 1020 deliveries in 1991 from cephalic presentation. Oxytocin was given for reason of not sufficient labor (cervical dilatation < 1 cm/hr) after spontaneous or artificial rupture of membranes. Oxytocin was increased at intervals of 20 minutes (in 1989) or 60 minutes (in 1990 and 1991). The percentage of deliveries augmented with oxytocin, the cesarean section rate in deliveries with or without oxytocin, the maximum oxytocin dose, and the condition of the neonates (arterial cord blood pH value, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes) were compared. Prolonging the interval of increasing oxytocin did not adversely influence the condition of the neonates and was not associated with a significant change in the cesarean section rate. The average duration of oxytocin administration was prolonged slightly, but the maximum dose and therefore the average total dose administered were decreased.

[Routine examination of the mature newborn infant. Incidence of frequent "minor findings"]. / Routineuntersuchung des reifen Neugeborenen. Inzidenz häufiger "kleiner Befunde".

From 1st January to 31st August 1989 2,248 healthy, mature infants were delivered at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Graz, Austria. They were routinely examined on day 1 and before discharge from hospital on day 4. Attention was paid to the presence or absence of minor abnormalities such as skin lesions, eruptions or rashes, cephalhaematoma, tongue tie, undescended testis, increased physiological jaundice, heart murmurs, talipes calcaneo-valgus, hip click, fracture of the clavicle and other common abnormalities and limb deformities. 20.9% of the investigated babies had no such findings whatsoever. In 79.1% of the subjects with one or more abnormalities, minor lesions due to birth trauma dominated with 24.2%, followed by postural deformities of the lower extremities in 20.5% and hip clicks and/or asymmetric skin-folds in 12.9%. Dislocation of the hip, however, was found in only 17%. Elevated serum bilirubin levels were noted in 33.0%, and in many of the jaundiced infants bruising or haematoma due to birth trauma was evident. Traumatic lesions were much rarer in infants delivered by caesarean section than in infants born vaginally.

[The value of prenatal ultrasound screening exemplified by abnormalities of the urogenital system. Data from the Styrian malformation register 1985 to 1987]. / Der Wert des pränatalen Ultraschall-Screenings am Beispiel von Fehlbildungen des Urogenitalsystems. Daten aus dem Steirischen Fehlbildungsregister 1985 bis 1987.

Over a three-year period (1985 to 1987), the number of fetal malformations was entered into Styrian Malformation Register (SMR). The data were compared with those of the Austrian Ministry of Health. The SMR collected 137 cases of urinary tract malformations, but only six appeared in the Health Ministry statistics. This discrepancy resulted from the different data collection methods. Presently only a small percentage of fetal abnormalities is officially registered. Using the example of urinary tract malformations this paper shows the value of prenatal ultrasound screening. Such infants must be treated soon after delivery to avoid progression of parenchymal damage. Ultrasound examinations should not be restricted to pregnant women at defined risk. Registration of all prenatally diagnosed--or missed--malformations is a quality-control measurement and improves prenatal diagnosis.

[Sexuality following radical operations]. / Sexualität nach Radikaloperationen.

In a retrospective study to evaluate the sexuality of patients after radical surgery for cervical cancer, we interviewed with a standardized questionnaire 87 women who had undergone radical abdominal (N = 76) or radical vaginal (N = 11) hysterectomy between 1971 and 1985. Apart from employment and partnership, we assessed sexual behaviour as reflected by frequency of coitus, libido, and orgasm. The patients were questioned about each aspect preoperatively before knowing the diagnosis, post-operatively after the immediate effects of surgery had passed, and at the time of the interview. 6.6% of the women could be considered invalids. There was a clear decrease in frequency of coitus and an anxiety-related decrease of libido. However, the number of patients without sexual activity was not statistically different from that in an age-matched group of women who did not undergo surgery. 4.5% of partnerships broke up as an immediate consequence of the surgery. Only 20% of the patients felt they had been adequately informed of possible sexual consequences of treatment by the surgeon.