The every woman study™ low- and middle-income countries edition protocol: A multi-country observational study to assess opportunities and challenges to improving survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is a challenging disease to diagnose and treat effectively with five-year survival rates below 50%. Previous patient experience research in high-income countries highlighted common challenges and opportunities to improve survival and quality of life for women affected by ovarian cancer. However, no comparable data exist for low-and middle-income countries, where 70% of women with the disease live. This study aims to address this evidence gap. METHODS: This is an observational multi-country study set in low- and middle-income countries. We aim to recruit over 2000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer across multiple hospitals in 24 countries in Asia, Africa and South America. Country sample sizes have been calculated (n = 70-96 participants /country), taking account of varying national five-year disease prevalence rates. Women within five years of their diagnosis, who are in contact with participating hospitals, are invited to take part in the study. A questionnaire has been adapted from a tool previously used in high-income countries. It comprises 57 multiple choice and two open-ended questions designed to collect information on demographics, women's knowledge of ovarian cancer, route to diagnosis, access to treatments, surgery and genetic testing, support needs, the impact of the disease on women and their families, and their priorities for action. The questionnaire has been designed in English, translated into local languages and tested according to local ethics requirements. Questionnaires will be administered by a trained member of the clinical team. CONCLUSION: This study will inform further research, advocacy, and action in low- and middle-income countries based on tailored approaches to the national, regional and global challenges and opportunities. In addition, participating countries can choose to repeat the study to track progress and the protocol can be adapted for other countries and other diseases.

Shoulder dystocia in a Jamaican cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors for shoulder dystocia in Jamaica. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of all cases of shoulder dystocia, and birth weight-matched controls identified from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2004. Multiple factors were analyzed individually and in combination to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The incidence of shoulder dystocia was 0.83%. Nulliparity, a first stage of labor greater than 7 hours, a second stage lasting more than 1 hour, and use of oxytocin augmentation were found to be statistically significant factors with unadjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 1.78 (0.86-3.34), 1.89 (0.91-3.94), 2.78 (0.24-31.47), and 1.56 (0.77-3.15), respectively. The incidence of shoulder dystocia decreased as parity increased when adjusted for age. CONCLUSION: Individual risk factors for shoulder dystocia remain obscure. The nulliparous pelvis, when controlled for neonatal weight, was associated with a statistically increased risk of shoulder dystocia; this risk decreased with increasing parity.

An audit of clinician compliance with best practice recommendations to repair severe obstetric anal sphincter injuries.

CONTEXT: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries occur uncommonly in Caribbean practice but are accompanied by substantial morbidity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinicians' compliance with management guidelines at a national referral hospital in Jamaica. DESIGN: Retrospective review of the records of all consecutive obstetric patients with anal sphincter injuries between November 1, 2007, and December 30, 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was the completion of each of 8 tasks from existing management guidelines: 1) interdisciplinary consultation, 2) perineal examination with the patient under anesthesia, 3) injury repair in the operating room, 4) prophylactic antibiotics at induction, 5) repair by an experienced clinician, 6) repair method appropriate for injury grade, 7) slowly absorbable suture chosen for sphincter repair, and 8) rapidly absorbable suture for mucosal repair. We quantified clinician compliance with the guidelines by assigning a score of 1 for each task completed and 0 for an incomplete task. Individual task scores were summed. Clinicians were considered compliant when their overall score was above 6. RESULTS: Twenty-six women (mean age = 27 years; standard deviation = 5.78 years) had obstetric anal sphincter injuries. Nine cases (34.6%) earned clinician compliance scores above 6, and 17 (65.4%) had scores of 6 or below. Experienced clinicians repaired all the injuries in this study-the only task for which compliance was 100%. CONCLUSION: Despite attempts at improving therapeutic outcomes by creating tailored guidelines for repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries, there is a serious barrier to success because 65% of senior clinicians were noncompliant.

Severe Perineal Lacerations in Obstetric Practice: The Effect of Institutional Practice Guidelines on Repair Failures in a Single Centre.

Background. There is a high incidence of failure after repair of severe perineal lacerations (SPLs). A tertiary referral hospital in the Caribbean introduced guidelines in an attempt to improve outcomes. We performed an audit of SPL repairs at this centre in an attempt to determine the effect on repair failure. Methods. All patients with SPL repairs between November 1, 2007, and December 30, 2012, were identified. The primary aim was to determine the incidence of failed repairs (wound dehiscence, anal sphincter disruption, rectovaginal fistula, and/or faecal incontinence). The Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS) was used to assess continence at discharge and 24 weeks after repair. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 12. Results. There were 8108 vaginal deliveries, 23 third-degree injuries, and 3 fourth-degree injuries. Three patients experienced a repair failure. Notably, 69% of surgeons chose an inappropriate suture for sphincter repair. Conclusions. Experienced operators are performing repairs, but there is a high prevalence of inappropriate suture choice for repairs. A targeted educational campaign may be necessary to remind clinicians of the best practice in repair techniques.

Post-coital posterior fornix perforation with peritonitis and haemoperitoneum.

INTRODUCTION: Vaginal injuries are common outside of obstetric practice. Post coital posterior fornix perforation and intra-abdominal bleeding is however an uncommon cause for laparotomy. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present two cases of posterior fornix perforation with hypovolemic shock after sexual intercourse in two young women. In both cases there was a delay in the diagnosis because there was illicit sex. Both women however eventually had laparotomy and uneventful post-operative outcomes. DISCUSSION: This is an uncommon condition but it is important to suspect it in sexually active women. Previous reports that it was only found in females with vaginal thinning (children and postmenopausal women) are refuted by these two cases and the importance of interviewing women without a chaperone to get the true story is highlighted for prompt treatment. CONCLUSION: Acute post-coital vaginal injuries should be suspected in women who present to hospital with vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain.

Outcome of radical hysterectomies performed by general gynecologists in Jamaica.

OBJECTIVE: To review the modified (type II) radical hysterectomy procedures performed by 4 general gynecologists at the University Hospital of the West Indies, and to compare the outcomes with those of other published studies. METHODS: The case notes of the 58 women who underwent radical hysterectomies between January 1997 and December 2006 were reviewed. Accuracy of staging, duration of the operation, operative blood loss, types and rates of complications, recurrence rates, and 5-year survival rates were assessed. RESULTS: Accuracy of clinical staging, duration of the procedure, blood loss, and operative and postoperative complications were comparable to previously published data. The 5-year survival rate of 77.6% was also comparable to results seen in some other publications. CONCLUSION: General gynecologists with significant experience in general gynecologic surgery who underwent adequate, but abbreviated, training became competent in performing a radical hysterectomy, with outcomes comparable to those seen in high-resource countries.