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Biomedical subjects

M Permezel

Publications and source records attributed to M Permezel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Anaemia and perinatal outcome in Port Moresby.

In 1987, a computerized obstetric database was set up at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Between 1987 and 1992, 27,117 births took place. The mean haemoglobin value amongst the 83% of women in whom a haemoglobin value was tested was 10.0 +/- 1.7 g/dL. High stillbirth rates (94 per 1,000) were associated with a haemoglobin value < 6 g/dL. The stillbirth rate was slightly lower (14 per 1,000) in woman whose lowest haemoglobin value was in the range 10.0-10.9 g/dL than in those with a haemoglobin value > or = 11 g/dL (18 per 1,000). The stillbirth rate was increased in women with haemoglobin values > or = 14.0 g/dL. With respect to low birth-weight (< 2,500 g), the rates were also higher when the haemoglobin value was above 14.0 g/dL. The reason for these findings is not apparent and may be due to the impact of an uncharacterized confounding variable rather than the haemoglobin value.

Anemia

Hilus cell tumour of the ovary in a virilized, premenopausal woman. Case report and review of hyperandrogenism of ovarian origin.

A 35 year-old woman presented with virilization and was found to have elevated serum testosterone levels. Investigation revealed an 11 mm hilus cell tumour in the left ovary. After unilateral oophorectomy, serum testosterone levels rapidly returned to normal levels. The various ovarian tumours and conditions causing virilization are described and a clinical approach to the investigation of virilization is outlined.

Adult

Physiology of pain in labour.

Labour pain is the result of many complex interactions. Although not fully determined, the pain arises from distension of the lower uterine segment and cervical dilatation. The neural mechanism of labour has some features similar to other forms of acute pain; nociceptive information is relayed in small A delta and C afferent fibres to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, mediated by neurotransmitters; from there it may be involved in the initiation of segmental spinal reflexes or pass through the spinothalamic tract to the brain. Many factors are activated during labour which may modify the nociceptive impulse at different stages of its passage. Some of these factors act synergistically to promote anti-nociception that peaks at delivery.

Female

Abnormal cervical cytology in pregnancy: experience of 811 cases.

This paper reviews our hospital's experience spanning 15 years and involving 811 women referred with abnormal cervical cytology in pregnancy. It supports the safety and accuracy of managing dysplasia in pregnancy with colposcopy, directed punch biopsy and deferral of treatment until the postpartum period. The histologically-proven progression in pregnancy to a higher grade of dysplasia postpartum was 7%. None of the women are known to have developed microinvasive or invasive cancer between antenatal assessment and postpartum review. Of these 811 women, 16% were lost to follow-up, 1 of whom subsequently represented 4 years later with invasive cervical cancer.

Adult

Angiographic transcatheter embolization in gynaecological practice.

Intractable uterine haemorrhage, unresponsive to medical therapy or curettage, has been traditionally treated by hysterectomy and/or internal iliac artery ligation. Percutaneous angiographic localization of the bleeding vessel with subsequent embolization, may be a genuine alternative approach that enables preservation of reproductive potential with minimal morbidity. We present 3 such cases here, all subsequent to curettage in the first trimester of pregnancy, 2 after a therapeutic termination of pregnancy and the other after an incomplete abortion.

Adult

The relationship between gestational age and the incidence of classical caesarean section.

Improved neonatal survival has led to a rise in the number of Caesarean sections being performed in the presence of extreme prematurity. Many of these operations require an incision in the upper uterine segment with consequent ramifications for the management of any subsequent pregnancy. In this analysis of obstetric patients in a tertiary referral institution over a 9-year period, there was an overall Caesarean section rate of 18%. A classical incision was performed in 1% of all caesarean sections, but at 24 weeks' gestation, 20% of Caesarean sections were 'classical'. This frequency decreased to less than 5% at 30 weeks and less than 1% from 34 weeks' gestation. Most women having a classical Caesarean section at term had either a transverse lie or a major degree of placenta praevia.

Cesarean Section

Intrapartum fetal monitoring.

There is an undisputed need for close fetal surveillance during labour. The transition to extra-uterine life has a number of potential hazards-many of which may be averted by appropriately timed intervention. It is evident, however, that not all intrapartum sequelae can be avoided despite intensive surveillance and increasingly high rates of intervention.

Cardiotocography

Phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy.

The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, is a tertiary referral hospital with over 7,000 deliveries per year. We report 3 cases of phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy at the hospital in the 20-year period since 1976. The first case was unsuspected and resulted in a maternal death. The subsequent 2 cases were diagnosed antenatally with successful outcomes for both mother and baby. The 3 cases demonstrate the importance of an early antenatal diagnosis and the special management problems of phaeochromocytoma in pregnancy. The diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma should be considered in any pregnant women with severe hypertension, particularly if presenting before 20 weeks' gestation, labile, or associated with sweating, palpitations or headaches.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Perinatal infection with Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes has been increasingly recognized as a cause of intrauterine sepsis with associated perinatal wastage. The condition is mostly acquired through dietary intake and appropriate advice should be given to all pregnant women. The most common presentations in pregnancy include premature labour, an influenza-like illness and reduced fetal movements. In this report, we present a series of 24 cases of perinatal listeria infection presenting to either our obstetric or neonatal units and confirmed by the microbiology department of the hospital. In particular, we wish to highlight 3 cases in which antenatal diagnosis and aggressive therapy was associated with a successful outcome. Amongst the remaining 21 cases in which an antenatal diagnosis was not made, there were 5 perinatal deaths and 1 mid-trimester loss at 18 weeks. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for listeria, particularly in gravid patients who present with fever in the setting of a persistent 'flu-like' illness and premature labour. Once suspected, appropriate specimens for listeria culture should include blood, cervical swabs and midstream urine. Empirical antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin should be instituted while waiting for culture results in patients with possible Listeria monocytogenes sepsis.

Adult

Operative laparoscopic management of adnexal cysts: initial experience at the Royal Women's Hospital 1991-1994.

The introduction of operative laparoscopic surgery for benign adnexal cysts had led to shorter postoperative hospitalization (mean stay of 2.0 days) in association with a low rate of major complications (1.6%). A planned laparoscopic approach was successful in 95.2% (179/188) of patients. The majority of women were premenopausal (93.6%) and the most common procedure performed was an ovarian cystectomy (73.5% of cysts). Three ovarian cysts that were thought to be benign by preoperative and intraoperative assessment were subsequently found to be ovarian tumours of low malignant potential after histological examination. Operative laparoscopy has become the preferred mode of treatment for benign adnexal cysts at the Royal Women's Hospital. It confers a wide range of benefits to patients, reduces health-care costs and appears to be a safe and effective treatment modality.

Adolescent

Gynaecology.

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Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Obstetrics.

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Female

Intrapartum cardiotocography and the expert witness.

Fetal heart rate changes occur in the majority of labours and correlate poorly with perinatal outcome and subsequent neurological development. Obstetricians giving expert evidence related to the interpretation of intrapartum cardiotocographs are advised to exercise caution when expressing their opinions.

Cardiotocography

The obstetrician and the extremely immature fetus (24-26 weeks): outcome to 5 years of age.

The aims of this study were to determine the outcome to 5 years of age for fetuses 24-26 weeks of gestational age from the obstetric viewpoint, and to determine if their outcome has improved over time. Consecutive fetuses with gestational ages from 24-26 weeks born at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, during 2 separate eras, Era 1 (1977-1982; n = 198) and Era 2 (1985-1987; n = 128) were studied and their outcome to 5 years of age determined. Fetuses referred with lethal malformations or clearly dead before the onset of labour were excluded. The stillbirth rates were similar in both eras (Era 1 23.7%, Era 2 21.9%), but the proportion of survivors to 5 years of age was much higher in Era 2 (Era 1 19.7%, Era 2 30.5%, X2 = 5.0, p < 0.03; odds ratio 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07 to 3.04). Overall, both the proportion and the absolute number of severely disabled children fell over time; 4 children survived with severe sensorineural disability in the 5 1/4 years of Era 1, but only one child in the 3 years of Era 2. From the obstetric viewpoint, only 1.5% of total births survived with a severe sensorineural disability, no higher than the rate expected for children born at term. Fetuses born at 24-26 weeks of gestational age need not contribute disproportionately to the number of severely disabled children in the community; furthermore, their outcome is improving over time. From the obstetrician's viewpoint, survival chances rather than sensorineural outcome should dominate decision-making at these extremely preterm gestations.

Cerebral Palsy

Ultrasound-guided fetal intravascular transfusions for severe erythroblastosis, 1984-1993.

The results of the first 10 years' experience in ultrasound-guided fetal intravascular transfusions at the Royal Women's Hospital were reviewed. Since the first transfusion, a variety of techniques have been employed in 78 fetuses, all with severe erythroblastosis. A total of 288 intrauterine transfusions have been attempted with an overall survival rate of 75.6% (59 of 78). The overall survival rate for delivered fetuses improved from 64.3% (18 of 28) in 1984-1987, to 82.0% (41 of 50) in 1988-1993. There was a total of 33 hydropic fetuses, of whom 20 (60.6%) survived, significantly fewer compared with 86.7% (39 of 45) of the nonhydropic fetuses (odds ratio [OR] 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09 to 0.70, p < .01). Fetuses who were sicker at the time of transfusion, as reflected by larger haemoglobin deficits, had lower survival rates, as did those requiring transfusions at earlier gestational ages. When these variables were allowed for, the survival rate significantly improved over time (OR 6.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 30.4, p < 0.05), probably reflecting the increased skill of the ultrasonologists, but the presence of hydrops per se was no longer important. Variations of the technique employed, such as exchange or intraperitoneal transfusion, or different sites for transfusion, were not significantly related to survival.

Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine

Epidural analgesia and fetal heart rate abnormalities.

Lumbar epidural analgesia is frequently associated with fetal heart rate abnormalities. Fluid preloading prior to the procedure significantly reduces the incidence of abnormal fetal heart rate patterns (p = 0.02). The mechanisms of these changes are discussed and the importance of maternal hypotension is evaluated. Fluid preloading and continuous electronic fetal monitoring should be considered routine for all women undergoing this procedure.

Analgesia, Epidural

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. A case report and a review of the literature.

A 32-year-old woman in her third pregnancy underwent fetal blood sampling because of a previous child with neonatal thrombocytopenia. At 33 weeks' gestation, fetal thrombocytopenia was diagnosed. Treatment was instituted antenatally with serial fetal platelet transfusions and corticosteroid therapy. Delivery was by Caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation. Neonatal treatment included further platelet transfusion and immunoglobulin infusion. Recovery of the neonate was complete on discharge from hospital 10 days after birth. The aetiology, diagnosis, clinical presentations and therapeutic options in cases of alloimmune thrombocytopenia are discussed.

Adult