Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
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The aim of maternal calcium homeostasis is to provide adequate calcium flux across the placenta during pregnancy and into breast milk during lactation, to ensure normal fetal and neonatal skeletal mineralisation. The objective of this study was to document the characteristics and outcome of patients who had postpartum hypocalcaemia. Cases of symptomatic postpartum hypocalcaemia managed over a 10-year period (1 January 1998 to 31 December 2007) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ Multiparous women were significantly more affected than primiparae (χ² = 15.08; p = 0.0005). Half of the patients presented within 1 week of onset of symptoms. In conclusion, the association between anaemia and postpartum hypocalcaemia needs further study to determine the cause and effect relationship.
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Perimortem caesarean section (PCS) is a rare event often resulting in high mortality of mother and/or fetus. It represents a tragedy for the mother and the family and a crisis for the healthcare professionals managing such a case. This paper seeks to raise awareness of the pertinent issues surrounding PCS and challenges care providers to put in place procedures to deal with this catastrophic event. It also reviews the historical perspective of PCS, maternal physiology during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), prognostic factors for maternal and fetal wellbeing, techniques of PCS, survival for mother and baby and the medico legal aspects of PCS.
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This was a retrospective review of all cases of peripartum obstetric hysterectomy performed at the Istanbul Bakirkoy Women and Children's Teaching Hospital in the period between January 2001 and September 2008. We included any women who required emergency hysterectomy to control major postpartum haemorrhage after delivery. During the study period, there were 91 cases of peripartum hysterectomy. ⋯ The main indication for emergency hysterectomy was uterine atony in 52 cases (57.1%). The most independent risk factors for emergency hysterectomy were multiparity (odds ratios (OR) 17.3, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 8.7-34.6); caesarean delivery in index delivery (OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.8-11.9) and caesarean section for placental abruption (OR 3.8, 95% CI 0.4-33.4). Our study suggests that multiparity, primary or repeat caesarean deliveries for placental abruption are independently associated risks for peripartum hysterectomy and uterine atony is the still most common indication for peripartum hysterectomy in Turkey.