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Biomedical subjects

M Maresh

Publications and source records attributed to M Maresh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Indicators of quality of antenatal care: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To pilot a list of indicators of quality of antenatal care across a range of maternity care settings. For each indicator to determine what is achieved in current clinical practice, to facilitate the setting of audit standards and calculation of appropriate sample sizes for audit. DESIGN: A multicentre retrospective observational study. SETTING: Nine maternity units in the United Kingdom. POPULATION: 20,771 women with a singleton pregnancy, who were delivered between 1 August 1994 and 31 July 1995. RESULTS: Nine of the eleven suggested indicators were successfully piloted. Two indicators require further development. In seven of the nine hospitals external cephalic version was not commonly performed. There were wide variations in the proportions of women screened for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Screening of women from ethnic minorities for haemoglobinopathy was more likely in hospitals with a large proportion of non-caucasian women. A large number of Rhesus negative women did not have a Rhesus antibody check performed after 28 weeks of gestation and did not receive anti-D immunoglobulin after a potentially sensitising event during pregnancy. As a result of the study appropriate sample sizes for future audit could be calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring the extent to which evidence-based interventions are used in routine clinical practice provides a more detailed picture of the strengths and weaknesses in an antenatal service than traditional outcomes such as perinatal mortality rates. Awareness of an appropriate sample size should prevent waste of time and resources on inconclusive audits.

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed1999

Colposcopy and treatment of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia: are national standards achievable?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether consensus based national standards for colposcopy and treatment of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia are achievable in practice. DESIGN: Identification of 100 consecutive cases of first assessment colposcopy from each gynaecological unit in the former North West region from 1 January 1994 and follow up of their outcome after one year. SETTING: All 19 gynaecological colposcopy clinics in the former North West region. SAMPLE: In one hospital data were available on only 39 women and therefore information was analysed on 1839 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Waiting times for colposcopy, different modalities of treatment used for premalignant conditions of the cervix and type of anaesthesia used for treatments. With regard to follow up, time of occurrence, whether or not colposcopy was performed and efficacy of treatment as judged by cervical cytology. RESULTS: Waiting times for colposcopy varied in the individual hospitals studied, but overall 56% of patients were seen within eight weeks. Diathermy loop excision was the most popular treatment modality accounting for 44% of cases. At six months after treatment, 9.98% of patients had a smear of mild dyskaryosis or worse. Colposcopy, as well as cytology, was used at the first follow up visit in 43% of cases. CONCLUSION: At a local level individual hospitals can identify areas where improvements in the service they provide need to be made. The practicality of the current guidelines in today's health service needs questioning.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1998

Quality in obstetrics and gynaecology: the example of the enquiries into maternal mortality.

For nearly 50 years there has been an independent system for monitoring all maternal deaths in the United Kingdom. Validation exercises suggest that about 99% of cases are successfully identified and reviewed. The analysis is published every 3 years and includes independent assessment as to whether substandard care was present. As the proportion of cases where substandard care is present remains constant at about 40-50%, it is claimed that these reports do little to improve the quality of care. Review of particular causes of deaths suggests that the regular stating of the problem areas, developing management guidelines relating to these, and re-auditing practice, almost certainly has improved standards. However, more remains to be done.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1997

A national survey of the complications of endometrial destruction for menstrual disorders: the MISTLETOE study. Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques--Laser, EndoThermal or Endorescetion.

OBJECTIVES: To study the frequency of complications of endometrial resection and ablation for menstrual disturbances and the influence of the experience of the operators. DESIGN: Prospective survey with additional retrospective reporting by theatre staff. SETTING: 300 National Health Service and independent hospitals in the United Kingdom (excluding Scotland). POPULATION: 10,686 women registered by 690 doctors (1-222 cases/doctor) from April 1993 to October 1994. METHODS: Mailings were sent to relevant medical and non medical staff at every hospital to ascertain who performed the operations. These doctors were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing their previous experience. Completed patient registration forms were returned each month. Theatre contacts returned lists of cases reported in theatre registers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative, post-operative and delayed complications by method of surgery and experience of operator. RESULTS: Two directly related deaths were reported. Laser and rollerball ablations were associated with least operative and post-operative complications. Combined loop and rollerball diathermy was associated with a higher rate, but with fewer immediate operative complications than loop resection alone. Endometrial thinning agents were not associated with decreased complications. Fibroids were associated with increased operative haemorrhage. Early post-operative complication rates ranged from 0.77% to 1.51%. Six-week follow up in 82.5% of the women revealed few complications (1.25% to 4.58%). Increasing operative experience was associated with fewer uterine perforations in the loop resection alone group (chi 2 for trend, P < 0.001), but had no effect on operative haemorrhage in any group. CONCLUSIONS: These procedures were used widely in 1993 to 1994 with low morbidity and mortality. The techniques may be relatively easily learned in the apprenticeship system without compromising safety. Combined diathermy resection appears safer than loop resection alone, but laser and rollerball ablation were safest.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Wilson's disease in pregnancy.

Patients with Wilson's disease contemplating pregnancy should have their hepatic function and copper status assessed. We report a case of a pregnant woman with Wilson's disease with compromised hepatic function. The medical problems and controversy of prescribing treatment are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Expectations, experiences and satisfaction with labour.

Emotional, medical and control aspects of labour were explored in 81 primiparous women. Expectations were assessed antenatally and compared with postnatal reports of experiences. Expectations of positive emotions were significantly greater than experience while negative emotional expectations were paralleled by experience. There was a major discrepancy between expectations and experiences of the occurrence of interventions, with the proportion of women expecting interventions being greatly exceeded by those actually undergoing such experiences. In addition, expectations concerning personal control together with the use and efficacy of breathing and relaxation exercises in labour were elevated in relation to experience. Positive emotional expectations were strong predictors of positive emotional experiences and unrelated to negative emotional expectations. Expectations in general were positively related to experience but the strength of the association was weak. Personal satisfaction (i.e. satisfaction with self) in labour was strongly associated with the ability to control panic and other aspects of personal control. The ability to control panic was mainly influenced by the use of exercises. Attenders and non-attenders at antenatal preparation classes showed no significant differences in their experiences or personal satisfaction levels. Possible explanations for this absence of impact are discussed together with issues concerning the relevance of psychological theory to midwifery practice and the need for greater integration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the maternal and fetal effects associated with intermittent or continuous infusion of extradural analgesia.

Eighty normal primigravidae received an extradural dose of 0.25% bupivacaine and were then allocated randomly to receive "top-ups" of 0.25% bupivacaine (group A) or an infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine (group B). Group B received supplementary top-ups if required. Group A required more top-ups (147 vs 80) (P < 0.01). No maternal advantage was demonstrated from each regimen. Fetal state was assessed by analysis of the cardiotocograph during labour and the condition of the fetus at delivery. Three different patterns of late deceleratory episodes were identified (grades 1-3). Total numbers of episodes per group were similar (group A, 71; group B, 69). More episodes in group A were related to top-ups (42/71 vs 18/69; P < 0.01) but the incidence of episodes after a top-up was similar (group A, 42/147 (28.6%); group B, 18/80 (22.5%)). In group A, 31/42 events (73.8%) were transient compared with 11/18 persistent episodes (61.1%) (> 10 min duration) in group B. However, the difference in the deceleratory patterns did not influence the condition of the fetuses at delivery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Life events and low birthweight--analysis by infants preterm and small for gestational age.

Social stress was assessed in 92 women with low-birthweight babies and 92 controls using the detailed LEDS measure of life events and severe chronic difficulties. The low-birthweight group was divided into preterm delivery (n = 40), small for gestational age (SGA) (n = 40) and mixed groups. Multivariate analysis was performed using a binomial-logit model to examine whether social factors were independently and significantly associated with low birthweight once the effect of demographic factors, obstetric factors and smoking/drinking were taken into account. Comparison of preterm births with controls indicated that three factors were significantly associated: a previous low-birthweight baby, severe life event/difficulty and bleeding during pregnancy. For SGA babies the factors were: previous low-birthweight baby, low social support and smoking. By using a reliable measure of life events and adequate numbers of low-birthweight babies, this study overcame the potential inaccuracies of previous studies and indicates a more specific relation between social stress and low birthweight.

Female↗