Fetal dural sinus thrombosis: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Fetal dural sinus thrombosis (DST) is a rare condition. Although numerous case reports exist, the findings appear heterogenous and providing accurate patient counselling remains challenging. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidance. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies including 78 patients were included in this review. No association with maternal or neonatal coagulopathy, infection or trauma was found. The average gestational age at diagnosis was 25 weeks (range 17-34 weeks). Approximately half of foetuses affected were female (48.7%); one quarter were male (25.6%) and one quarter had no sex stated (25.6%). Termination of pregnancy was chosen in 25.6% of cases (20/78). In continuing pregnancies,10.3% (6/58) experienced a perinatal death. Antenatally, the majority of lesions either decreased in size (38.5%) or completely resolved (32.7%). The neonatal or childhood outcome was normal in 88.0% of survivors (44/50). The average age at follow up was 16.4 months, ranging from birth to 6 years. CONCLUSION: This review found that 10% of DST cases experience in-utero or neonatal death. In survivors, the majority of cases reduce in size or completely resolve in pregnancy and 85% are reported to have a good outcome. However, further evidence is needed regarding long-term neurocognitive sequelae.

Term Live Secondary Abdominal Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Term, live abdominal pregnancy secondary to rupture of a uterine rudimentary horn is a rare condition. Pregnancies conceived in the rudimentary horn of the uterus usually rupture during early gestation and present as a catastrophic event. However, rarely, after rupture of the uterine horn the foetus may continue to grow in the abdominal cavity and reach term gestation. A primigravida with a term pregnancy was referred to our centre for caesarean section with ultrasonography findings of transverse lie and placenta previa. During surgery, a live baby was extracted from the abdominal cavity, revealing a bicornuate uterus with rupture of the rudimentary horn. The early peroperative diagnosis and prompt control of the bleeding with excision of the rudimentary horn and transfusion of multiple blood products saved the patient's life. The case is presented for its rarity and to highlight the importance of a high index of suspicion in cases presenting with abnormal foetal presentation.

Comparison of the symptomatic response in Indian menopausal women with different estrogen preparations for the treatment of menopausal symptoms: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To compare symptomatic response in Indian women using different estrogen preparations for treatment of menopausal symptoms. METHODOLOGY: A randomized, single blind, four arm, parallel assignment study was conducted in VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India. 200 Indian menopausal women were recruited and assigned into four treatment groups viz., estradiol valerate (E2V), conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), isoflavones and Placebo group. The statistical significance of categorical variables was determined by Chi-square, Fisher's exact test. In case of quantitative variable parametric test Student's t test was used. In case of quantitative variables where data are not normally distributed, Kruskal-wallis test and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test were used. Symptomatic response in vasomotor/vaginal symptoms was assessed in all groups. RESULTS: Both E2V and CEE groups were effective in reducing severity and frequency of hot flashes. 91.9 % decrease was observed in mean hot flash score in the E2V group after 24 weeks of treatment, 89.2 % in the CEE group, 60.42 % decrease in the isoflavones group. While placebo led to 47.9 % decrease in mean hot flash score. After 24 weeks of therapy there was significant increase in vaginal health index in the E2V and CEE and the isoflavones group. No serious side effect was reported in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: Low doses of both CEE and E2V were equally effective for management of vasomotor/vaginal symptoms when administered over 24 weeks. However, it seems more reasonable to replenish with less costly and bio-identical hormone, i.e. micronized estradiol valerate which is equally effective. TRIAL REGISTRY: The trial was registered under Clinical trial registry of India prospectively (number: CTRI/2012/04/002566).