Criteria-based audit of caesarean section in a referral hospital in rural Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: WHO uses the Caesarean section (CS) rate to monitor implementation of emergency obstetric care (EmOC). Although CS rates are rising in sub-Saharan Africa, maternal outcome has not improved. We audited indications for CS and related complications among women with severe maternal morbidity and mortality in a referral hospital in rural Tanzania. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was from November 2009 to November 2011. Women with severe maternal morbidity and mortality were identified and those with CS were included in this audit. Audit criteria were developed based on the literature review and (inter)national guidelines. Tanzanian and Dutch doctors reviewed hospital notes. The main outcome measured was prevalence of substandard quality of care leading to unnecessary CS and delay in performing interventions to prevent CS. RESULTS: A total of 216 maternal near misses and 32 pregnancy-related deaths were identified, of which 82 (33.1%) had a CS. Indication for CS was in accordance with audit criteria for 36 of 82 (44.0%) cases without delay. In 20 of 82 (24.4%) cases, the indication was correct; however, there was significant delay in providing standard obstetric care. In 16 of 82 (19.5%) cases, the indication for CS was not in accordance with audit criteria. During office hours, CS was more often correctly indicated than outside office hours (60.0% vs. 36.0%, P < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Caesarean section rate is not an useful indicator to monitor quality of EmOC as a high rate of unnecessary and potentially preventable CS was identified in this audit.

Stability of medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: a failure analysis.

Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotmy (HTO) is often used to treat varus gonarthrosis in young, active, highly demanding patients, although it has many pitfalls, which were evaluated in a consecutive cohort of patients. A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 45 patients with 49 medial opening HTO for varus gonarthrosis using a spacer plate (Puddu I, Arthrex, USA) were included. A Chi square test was used to study the effect between the wedge size and complications. Complications occurred in 22 knees (45%). There was no significant difference between groups for individual complications; however, when combined, there were significantly more complications in the >10 mm wedge group (Chi square p = 0.05). The overall complication rate in this series was 45%. The majority were related to intrinsic instability at the osteotomy site (24%) and surgical technique (20%). The evaluated spacer provided inadequate stability.

Maternal cardiac arrest in early pregnancy.

A primigravid woman suffered a prolonged cardiac arrest at 18 weeks of gestation. Dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. After recovery, the patient received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. At 38 weeks of gestation she had an elective caesarean delivery. Both mother and child had a favourable outcome. The effect of pregnancy on underlying cardiac disease and the management of maternal cardiac arrest with a pre-viable fetus are discussed. The importance of a multidisciplinary approach is emphasized. Continued neurodevelopmental assessment of the newborn is necessary to detect the long-term effects of fetal hypoxia in early pregnancy.

Magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis.

The relationship between cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis and brain lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was studied. Three groups of 11 patients with multiple sclerosis, matched for the variables of disability, duration of illness, age and sex, were included. On the basis of neuropsychological testing, the groups were seen to differ in their level of cognitive impairment. The first group showed no cognitive impairment, the second group a moderate, and the third group a serious cognitive impairment. These differences between the groups were reflected by MRI, which revealed more abnormalities in the groups with cognitive impairment compared with the group with normal cognitive function. However, by MRI it was not possible to distinguish between the groups with moderate and that with serious cognitive impairment.