Eliahu Caspi

Congenital anomalies of the müllerian system

Congenital anomalies of the müllerian system, the most common of which are uterine malformations, are associated with fertility problems. Multifactorial polygenic and familial factors are involved in their formation. The result may be deficient development (agenesis, rudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus), nonfusion (didelphys or bicornuate uterus), or defective canalization of the müllerian ducts (septate uterus). The principal diagnostic procedures include HSG, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and US. The clinical presentation varies from symptoms of obstruction of the menstrual flow in adolescence to hypomenorrhea and fertility problems in adult life. Repeated fetal loss, after excluding other reasons, is usually the indication for surgical intervention. Uterine septa should be resected hysteroscopically. A prophylactic cerclage has been suggested by various authors, including those of this work, in cases of symmetric uterine anomalies, especially bicornuate uteri, as a simple and effective treatment to be tried before embarking on major surgery such as metroplasty.

Ripening of the unfavorable cervix with extraamniotic catheter balloon : Clinical experience and review

The use of an extraamniotic catheter balloon, inflated above the internal cervical os, has been advocated as a nonpharmacological, mechanical method of cervical ripening before induction of labor. Additional measures may include applying traction on the catheter, or the infusion of normal saline (1 ml/min) via the catheters port into the extraamniotic space. The results of catheter balloon cervical ripening are reviewed from 13 published reports and a departmental series of 190 pregnancies with unfavorable cervix, encompassing nearly 1000 patients. A mean change in cervical score of at least 3 points, was noted in most studies after balloon expulsion or removal. The present series and other studies suggest that oxytocin use for induction and/or augmentation of labor is increased after balloon ripening, compared with its use in spontaneous labor or after cervical ripening by prostaglandins. In 11 studies, catheter balloon ripening was compared with cervical ripening by other mechanical, or pharmacological (i.e., oxytocin or prostaglandins) methods. Of these, eight were prospective and randomized-controlled and three were case-controlled studies. It is suggested that ripening efficacy by catheter balloon is similar, or better, than other methods; but there is no significant difference in the mode of delivery or perinatal outcome. This review also suggests that cervical ripening with extraamniotic catheter balloon has the advantages of simplicity, low cost, reversibility, and lack of systemic or serious side effects.

Ripening the Highly Unfavorable Cervix With Extra-Amniotic Saline Instillation or Vaginal Prostaglandin E2 Application

&NA; Extra‐amniotic saline instillation using a 26‐gauge Foley catheter and vaginal application of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were compared. Among 52 cases treated with extra‐amniotic saline instillation, the mean Bishop score increased from 1.7 to 7.8 in a mean of 2.8 hours. In all cases but one, an increase of the Bishop score of three or more points occurred during a 6‐hour period. Prostaglandin E2 tablets (3 mg) applied in the posterior vaginal fornix (once or twice) resulted in an increase in the Bishop score of three or more points in 39 of 54 cases during the 12‐hour study period. The mean Bishop score in these “successful” ripenings using PGE2 increased from 1.9 to 5.6 points during a mean time of 8.5 hours. No severe side effects were registered in either procedure. (Obstet Gynecol 73:938, 1989)

Safety of midtrimester pregnancy termination by laminaria and evacuation in patients with previous cesarean section

OBJECTIVEnThe objective of this study was to retrospectively assess whether there was an increased perioperative risk in midtrimester pregnancy termination by laminaria and evacuation associated with a previous uterine scar.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnFrom 1978 to 1993 1064 patients underwent midtrimester (14 to 22 weeks) pregnancy termination by means of laminaria and evacuation. Of these, 70 patients had a previous uterine scar and are the subjects of this study.nnnRESULTSnThere were no major operative complications, such as anesthetic complications, perforations, or cervical lacerations, in the entire series. Mean operative time (minutes) for induced abortion was statistically similar in the unscarred compared with the scarred uteri groups (8.03 +/- 4.40 vs 7.46 +/- 4.42, respectively) and was statistically different when the indication for evacuation was missed abortion (6.08 +/- 1.86 vs 4.81 +/- 2.11, respectively; p < 0.005). This difference in operative time could be explained by the number of laminaria tents used in each group. Atony with hemorrhage occurred in two patients who underwent induced abortion, and disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred in eight missed abortion cases, but none had scarred uterus.nnnCONCLUSIONnPrevious cesarean section scar does not seem to increase the perioperative risk of late termination (14 to 22 weeks) by the laminaria and evacuation technique.

Clear ovarian cyst aspiration guided by vaginal ultrasonography

Thirty patients with clear ovarian cysts underwent aspiration guided by vaginal ultrasound. In 23 cases a complete aspiration was accomplished. In 4 only partial aspiration was possible, and in the remaining 3 failed aspiration led to surgery. Histological findings correspond to retroperitoneal lipoma and mucinous cystadenoma (2 cases). Malignant cells were not detected in the fluid of any of the 27 aspirates. Eight of the ten patients presenting with abdominal pain experienced a relief following aspiration. Recurrence of the cyst occurred in 12 cases (40%) with significantly smaller dimensions (P less than 0.01). Vaginal ultrasound aspiration of clear cyst is easy and safe and can be considered as an outpatient procedure.

Diagnosis of a small ovarian tumor (androgen secreting) by magnetic resonance: A new noninvasive procedure

Virilizing ovarian tumors are rare and establishing their exact location before operation is difficult. We report a case in which a small left ovarian tumor was seen with magnetic resonance imaging.

A simplified preinduction scoring method for the prediction of successful vaginal delivery based on multivariate analysis of pelvic and other obstetrical factors

Most of the popular preinduction scoring methods were created three decades ago, applied to selected populations and based on analysis of each factor separately. In order to overcome these limitations and to try and create a simple and reliable scoring method, 401 inductions of labor were analyzed. Failure was defined as delivery by cesarean section, regardless the indication. Results of multivariate analysis demonstrated that only two of the five factors used by Bishops method were included (cervical dilatation and fetal head station). Gestational age and parity also constituted important factors and thus the new method incorporates these four factors. The variables among each factor were scored according to their relative risk, obtained from the analysis; dilatation 3 cm or more = 2, dilatation 1-2 cm = 1, fetal head station -1 cm or lower = 1, multiparity = 1, term delivery = 1, closed cervix = 0, station -2 cm or higher = 0, primiparity = 0 and non-term delivery = 0. Comparison of the suggested scoring method and Bishops method demonstrated that in the low score category our method predicted more accurately cesarean section rate (44.7% and 27.6%, respectively). No difference was noted among the middle or high score groups. More studies among other populations may clarify whether our proposed method really overcomes other methods concerning simplicity, universality and predictability.

Fetal breathing movements before oxYtocin induction in prolonged pregnancies

Fetal breathing movements were recorded before elective labor induction in 65 patients with uncomplicated prolonged pregnancies. Breathing activity was observed in 41 patients and was absent in 24. Comparison of these two groups indicated that the induction period was significantly shorter and the oxytocin requirement significantly lower in the group with no fetal breathing movements (mean, 319.3 vs 648.5 minutes and 1133.7 vs 2708.4 mIU, respectively). These findings remained valid regardless of Bishop scores. The data suggest that fetal breathing movements are predictive of the effectiveness of oxytocin induction in prolonged pregnancies.

A method of macro-auditing and assessing the preventability of infant mortality using large volume computerized files

We present a method for auditing and evaluating infant mortality with the aid of a preventability grading system, based on national computerized files of livebirths and infant deaths. Diagnostic categories and specific causes of deaths were classified into one of the following three preventability grades: Preventable (P), Possibly Preventable (PP) and Non Preventable (NP). This classification was then applied to two different scales: Preventability of Condition (PC) and Preventability of Death (PD) from which a third scale--Preventability of Mortality (PM)--was derived. The method was then applied to matched records of 39,786 livebirth and 452 infant death certificates between 1977 and 1984, in a semi-urban region in Israel encompassing 220,000 inhabitants. Comparison of mortality rates, according to the proposed preventability scores, demonstrated that higher infant mortality rate in non-Jewish population, or in Jewish mothers with a lower educational, was present only in the preventable categories (P or PP), while death rates due to non preventable causes were identical for all groups. The suggested macro-auditing method facilitates the assessment of large scale infant mortality rates in terms of preventability.

The importance of ultrasonography in infertile women with "forgotten" intrauterine contraceptive devices

Seven cases in which an unknown intrauterine contraceptive device in situ was the cause of infertility were referred to our Infertility Clinic after each patient had been told by her physician that she no longer had an intrauterine contraceptive device. In some cases, there were lapses in the infertility workup that might explain how the cause of infertility of an intrauterine contraceptive device in situ was missed. In other cases, a thorough investigation was made and infertility treatment was started without the existence of an intrauterine contraceptive device in situ being diagnosed.