G. Magnin

External cephalic version after previous cesarean section: a series of 38 cases

OBJECTIVE To determine if external cephalic version (ECV) is a reasonable alternative to repeat cesarean section in case of breech presentation. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study of 38 women with one previous cesarean section and a breech presentation after 36 weeks of gestational age who have had at least one experience of ECV. Statistics used the Fishers test with significance when P<0.05. RESULTS Version attempts were successful in 25 of the 38 women (65.8%). Seventy-six percent of the successful version women went on to have vaginal birth after cesarean section. A total of 19 successful vaginal deliveries occurred (50%). Success rate of ECV was lowered when breech was the indication of the previous cesarean section. The vaginal delivery rate was increased after successful ECV in patients previously vaginally delivered, but this difference did not reached significance (P=0.057). No maternal or neonatal complications occurred. CONCLUSION ECV is acceptable and effective in women with a prior low transverse uterine scar, when safety criteria are observed.

Indications of laparoscopic hysterectomy

OBJECTIVE To determine when vaginal hysterectomy is contra-indicated and abdominal hysterectomy should be performed. To assess when laparoscopic surgery can avoid the abdominal procedure, and to determine the indications of this new technique in case of benign uterine lesions without prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study of 171 hysterectomies performed by the same surgeon for benign uterine lesions without prolapse. When possible the vaginal route was chosen and the following criteria were studied: indication for hysterectomy, previous surgery, uterine weight, duration of the procedure, intra- and post-operative bleeding, complications and recovery time. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi2 test and the Fishers exact test when appropriate with a level of significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS One hundred and nine vaginal (60.4%) and 62 abdominal (39.6%) hysterectomies were performed and the main indication was menometrorrhagia (respectively 97 (89%) and 49 (79%) cases). The indication for abdominal surgery was an enlarged uterus in 47 patients (76%). In 10 cases (6%) laparoscopy was indicated because of severe endometriosis, previous abdominal surgery or a suspect adnexal cyst. No complications occurred in either group. The duration of the procedure, blood loss and recovery time were lower in the vaginal group (p < 0.05). COMMENTS Uterine volume limits vaginal hysterectomy, and this cannot be overcome by laparoscopic surgery. Only severe adhesions and endometriosis are more amenable to laparoscopic hysterectomy. The laparoscopic hysterectomy rate should not reasonably exceed 10 to 15%, yet is as high as 63% in some studies. Further studies are needed to determine the value of laparoscopic hysterectomy relative to the vaginal route.

Prophylactic intrapartum amnioinfusion: a controlled retrospective study of 135 cases.

OBJECTIVE To show that intrapartum prophylactic amnioinfusion (AI) in case of oligohydramnios or particulate meconium-stained amniotic fluid could be beneficial. STUDY DESIGN From the first March 1993 until the 30th June 1995, 4031 women were delivered at the University Hospital of Poitiers. Patients presenting with oligohydramnios (G1) (71 patients with an amniotic fluid index below 5 cm) or a particulate meconium-stained amniotic fluid (G2) (64 patients) were included. Each group was compared to an historical control group constituted retrospectively according to the following criteria: oligohydramnios (CG1), particulate meconium-stained amniotic fluid (CG2), age, parity, gestational age and duration of labor. Statistical analysis was performed using the Students t-test and the Fishers exact test when appropriate with a level of significance of P less than 0.05. RESULTS The mean infused volume was 893 ml in G1 and 734 ml in G2. A significant difference was found in terms of cesarean section between G1 and CG1 (11.3 vs. 24.5%; P < 0.05) and of assisted deliveries for fetal distress between G2 and CG2 (12.5 vs. 23.43%; P < 0.05). No other significant difference was found between the study groups and their control for all other studied criteria. When considering more specifically the presence of meconium below the vocal cords we also could not find any significant difference between G2 and CG2 (1.6 vs. 9.4%; P = 0.05). No neonatal or maternal adverse effect happened in this short study. COMMENT AI is easy to perform during labour in case of oligohydramnios or particulate meconium-stained amniotic fluid. In case of oligohydramnios, a decreased rate of cesarean sections has been observed in the infused group. Considering patients with particulate meconium-stained amniotic fluid, less interventions for fetal distress and neonates with meconium below the vocal cords has been found in the infused group. Further prospective evaluation is needed to confirm these results in case of particulate meconium-stained amniotic fluid and to compare the advantage of prophylactic versus therapeutic AI performed in case of oligohydramnios and abnormal fetal heart rate.