Resuscitation great. Brian Sellick, cricoid pressure and the Sellick Manoeuvre.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Thomas F Baskett.
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BACKGROUND: Hemorrhage remains a leading cause of severe maternal morbidity and death. In addition to the appropriate use of oxytocic agents for uterine atony, surgical techniques, including uterine tamponade, major vessel ligation, compression sutures, and hysterectomy, may be required. On the rare occasions they are needed, the instruments and equipment required for these surgical techniques may not be readily available. OBJECTIVE: To record our experience with an obstetric hemorrhage equipment tray for surgical management of severe obstetric hemorrhage. METHODS: A severe obstetric hemorrhage equipment tray was established and included packing (5-yard roll) and balloon device for uterine tamponade, straight (10 cm) eyed-needles and large curved eyed-needles for use with No. 1 suture, 3 Heaney vaginal retractors, 4 sponge forceps, and diagrams and instructions for the various types of compression sutures and tamponade techniques. RESULTS: Of the 4400 deliveries that occurred at 1 tertiary maternity hospital during 2002, the obstetric hemorrhage tray was used on 9 occasions: 3 Caesarean sections with placenta previa (uterine tamponade used in 2 cases, compression sutures in 1); 2 Caesarean sections with uterine atony (compression sutures); 1 Caesarean section with placenta previa accreta (major vessel ligation and compression sutures); and 3 vaginal deliveries (suturing of cervical and vaginal lacerations in 2 of the cases, uterine tamponade used in the third case). In all cases, hysterectomy was avoided. CONCLUSION: The ready availability of an obstetric hemorrhage equipment tray on the labour ward facilitates prompt surgical management of severe obstetric hemorrhage, and may reduce the need for blood transfusion and hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of eclampsia and the associated maternal and perinatal outcomes in the province of Nova Scotia. METHODS: From the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database, the population-based rates of preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) syndrome for the period 1988 to 2000 were determined. A retrospective case review was then performed of all women with eclampsia at the tertiary maternity hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Women's Hospital, IWK Health Centre, for the years 1981 to 2000. RESULTS: In the province of Nova Scotia from 1988 to 2000, there were 142,362 births. Thirty-nine women developed eclampsia (0.27/1000). Over this time interval, the prevalence of severe preeclampsia fell from 2.08% to 1.63%, and the diagnosis of HELLP syndrome increased from 0.03% to 0.31%. At the Women's Hospital, IWK Health Centre, between 1981 and 2000, there were 31 cases of eclampsia in 105,651 deliveries (0.29/1000). Sixty-one percent of first convulsions occurred antepartum, 13% occurred intrapartum, and 26% occurred postpartum. Eighty-one percent of women reported prodromal symptoms. Sixty-one percent of the women received anti-hypertensive therapies, 48% received antiepileptic therapies, and 97% received magnesium sulfate. Ten percent of the women had convulsions while on magnesium sulfate therapy. Antepartum eclampsia was associated with increased rates of general anaesthesia (26%) and Caesarean section (79%). There were no maternal deaths, but the rate of major maternal complications was 32%. The perinatal mortality rate was 64 in 1000 deliveries, and the rate of severe perinatal complications was 56%. CONCLUSION: The incidence of eclampsia in Nova Scotia is 0.27 per 1000 deliveries. Although rare, this condition is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity.
The objective of this study was to determine the rate, origin, maternal and perinatal outcomes, and the associated hospital costs of higher order multiple births in one Canadian province. All higher order multiple pregnancies (triplets and above) in Nova Scotia over a 22-year period (1980 to 2001) were reviewed, and the maternal and perinatal outcomes and hospital costs were compared with singletons and twins in the same hospital population. During the 22-year period, 116,785 infants were delivered, including 3448 twins, 99 triplets, and 16 quadruplets. Of the higher order multiple gestations, 51.4% were conceived through infertility therapy. When compared with mothers of either singletons or twins, mothers of higher order gestations were significantly older, had longer antepartum and postpartum hospital stays, were more likely to have cesarean delivery, preterm labor, preeclampsia, and require intensive care unit admission. Triplets and quadruplets had significantly higher rates of preterm delivery, major anomalies, neonatal intensive care, respiratory distress syndrome, intrauterine growth restriction, serious morbidity, 5-minute Apgar scores < or = 3, and neonatal death than twins or singletons. The estimated hospital costs for this population ranged from 6,750 US dollars for a singleton pregnancy to 278,400 US dollars for a quadruplet pregnancy. Maternal morbidity, perinatal morbidity and mortality, and hospital costs are significantly increased in higher order births compared with both twins and singletons.
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The past 30 years has seen increasing application of prostaglandins and their analogues to the practice of reproductive medicine. This chapter outlines the evolution of their use in obstetrics.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of B-Lynch type uterine compression sutures as an alternative to hysterectomy for severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) due to uterine atony. METHODS: The use of uterine compression sutures for severe postpartum hemorrhage was reviewed over a 30-month period (January 2000 June 2002) in a tertiary obstetric unit. RESULTS: In 7 cases of uterine atony at the time of Caesarean section, which were unresponsive to all oxytocic agents, a B-Lynch type compression suture was used before resorting to hysterectomy. In 6 of the 7 women, the bleeding was controlled with the suture, while the other required hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: At the time of writing there were 6 reports in the literature involving a total of 20 women who were successfully treated with this type of compression suture for severe atonic PPH. Our review adds 7 cases and found that the B-Lynch compression suture is easy to apply and should be considered in cases of severe atonic PPH when oxytocic agents fail, and before resorting to hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE: To review the incidence, associated factors, methods of diagnosis, and maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with uterine rupture in one Canadian province. METHODS: Using a perinatal database, all cases of uterine rupture in the province of Nova Scotia for the 10-year period 1988-1997 were identified and the maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity reviewed in detail. RESULTS: Over the 10 years, there were 114,933 deliveries with 39 cases of uterine rupture: 18 complete and 21 incomplete (dehiscence). Thirty-six women had a previous cesarean delivery: 33 low transverse, two classic, one low vertical. Of the 114,933 deliveries, 11,585 (10%) were in women with a previous cesarean delivery. Uterine rupture in those undergoing a trial for vaginal delivery (4516) was complete rupture in 2.4 per 1000 and dehiscence in 2.4 per 1000. There were no maternal deaths, and maternal morbidity was low in patients with dehiscence. In comparison, 44% of those with complete uterine rupture received blood transfusion (odds ratio 7.60, 95% confidence interval 1.14, 82.14, P =.025). Two perinatal deaths were attributable to complete uterine rupture, one after previous cesarean delivery. Compared with dehiscence, infants born after uterine rupture had significantly lower 5-minute Apgar scores (P <.001) and asphyxia, needing ventilation for more than 1 minute (P <.01). CONCLUSION: In 92% of cases, uterine rupture was associated with previous cesarean delivery. Uterine dehiscence was associated with minimal maternal and perinatal morbidity. In contrast, complete uterine rupture was associated with significantly more maternal blood transfusion and neonatal asphyxia.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the maternal and perinatal morbidity associated with cesarean delivery involving the upper uterine segment compared with that of low transverse cesarean delivery. METHODS: A 19-year review of a perinatal database and the relevant charts was used to determine the maternal and perinatal morbidity associated with low transverse cesarean, classic cesarean, and inverted "T" cesarean deliveries. RESULTS: Over the 19 years, 1980-1998, there were 19,726 cesarean deliveries: low transverse cesarean, 19,422 (98.5%); classic cesarean, 221 (1.1%); and inverted T cesarean, 83 (0.4%). As a proportion of all cesarean deliveries, the rates of low transverse cesarean and classic cesarean have remained stable, whereas the rate of inverted T cesarean has risen from 0.2% to 0.9%. Maternal morbidity (puerperal infection, blood transfusion, hysterectomy, intensive care unit admission, death) and perinatal morbidity (stillborn fetus, neonatal death, 5 minute Apgar less than 7, intensive care) were significantly higher in classic cesarean compared to low transverse cesarean. Some maternal morbidity (puerperal infection, blood transfusion) and perinatal morbidity (5 minute Apgar less than 7, intensive care) were also significantly higher for inverted T cesarean compared to low transverse cesarean. CONCLUSION: Classic cesarean section has a higher maternal and perinatal morbidity than inverted T cesarean and much higher than low transverse cesarean. There is no increased maternal or perinatal morbidity if an attempted low transverse incision has to be converted to an inverted "T" incision compared to performing a classic cesarean section.
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OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, complications, and risk of recurrence of acute uterine inversion. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all cases of acute uterine inversion recorded at the Grace Maternity Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 1977 to 2000. RESULTS: During the 24-year period studied, 40 cases of acute uterine inversion occurred following 125,081 births. The incidence of acute uterine inversion following vaginal birth was 1 in 3737, and following Caesarean section, 1 in 1860. Post-partum hemorrhage complicated 65% of cases of acute uterine inversion, and 47.5% required blood transfusion. There was no recurrence in 26 subsequent deliveries. Following the institution of active management of the third stage of labour in 1988, the incidence of acute uterine inversion following vaginal delivery fell 4.4-fold. CONCLUSION: Acute uterine inversion is rare but accompanied by high risk of postpartum hemorrhage and the need for blood transfusion. Active management of the third stage of labour may reduce the incidence of uterine inversion.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the descriptive word for women that women attending obstetrical and gynaecological clinics deemed most suitable and whether the women preferred to be cared for by male or female practitioners. METHODS: A questionnaire administered to 200 women attending specialty antenatal and general gynaecology clinics. RESULTS: Those attending the antenatal clinic chose as follows: "patient" (63.5%), "mother" (18%), "pregnant woman" (13.5%), "woman" (3%), and "client" (2%). Physician preference was: female (52.5%), male (1.5%), and either (46%). In the gynaecology clinic the choice was "patient" (68.5%); "woman" (24%); "client," "consumer," or "customer" (7.5%). Physician preference was: female (54.5%), male (2%), and either (43.4%). CONCLUSION: The descriptive word "patient" was the first choice of women attending antenatal and gynaecology clinics. The commercial words "client," "consumer," and "customer" were the least favoured. Given a choice, more than half of the women preferred to see a female physician, and preferred to be described as patients.