scholarly journals Anaesthesia for ruptured ectopic pregnancy at district level

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Bishop ◽  
Simon P.D.P. Le Roux

In South Africa, deaths as a result of ectopic pregnancies are increasing despite the overall improvements in maternal mortality. These deaths occur predominantly in district hospitals, with the final cause of death being hypovolaemic shock in almost all cases. In most cases, no anaesthesia was attempted despite the district hospitals having the clinical skills, equipment and infrastructure to provide a caesarean delivery service. It appears that there is a skills gap between the provision of anaesthesia for caesarean delivery and that of ruptured ectopic pregnancy. There is a growing recognition of the urgent need to prioritise the provision of emergency surgical care in rural settings. This should be viewed not as a luxury but as an absolute necessity. In this study, we aim to discuss the pathophysiology of a patient with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy briefly, outline district hospital requirements for safe surgery and then discuss a simple, safe method for the provision of anaesthesia in patients deemed too unstable to transfer to a referral facility.

Author(s):  
Hans Hendriks ◽  
Adeloye Adeniji ◽  
Louis Jenkins ◽  
Robert J. Mash

The World Health Organization states that essential, cost-effective surgical care should be delivered at district hospitals. In South Africa significant skills gap exist at district hospitals, particularly in the area of surgery and anaesthesia. These small to moderate sized hospitals are too small to support a range of full time specialists even if they could be recruited and were cost-effective. Family physicians (FPs) are trained in the clinical skills required for district hospitals and primary health care. Clinical associates have also been introduced to perform procedures at district hospitals. This report illustrates the contribution of a FP to surgical care at Zithulele Hospital in the Eastern Cape. Family physicians not only bring the necessary clinical skills set but also increase the confidence and capacity of the whole team. Outreach and support by surgeons, as well as continuing professional development, are important. Surgical and anaesthetic skills must be developed together. Family physicians also bring leadership and clinical governance skills that ensure the inputs to support surgery, such as equipment and information systems are available. The contribution of FPs to surgery and district hospitals is overlooked in both policy and practice. Human resources for health policy should recognise their contribution and increase the numbers available and FP posts at district hospitals. There is also a need to update the package of emergency and essential surgical procedures in policy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beemba Shakya

Aims: To analyze the patients with ectopic pregnancy. Methods: The medical records of 88 ectopic pregnancies at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital were reviewed from January to July 2020. Data pertaining patient characteristics, age, gravida, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic modality, site of ectopic pregnancy, management and morbidity associated with it were retrieved and was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Among 88 ectopic pregnancies, 28% occurred in 30-34 years,65% were multipara, presented abdominal pain (72%), vaginal bleeding (60%) and amenorrhoea (57%); 72% had ampullary ectopic, 60% had ruptured ectopic, 99% underwent surgical management and 41% required blood transfusion. There was no any mortality. Conclusions: Abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and amenorrhoea were the common presentation. Only 60% had ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Almost all had surgical management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martilord Ifeanyichi ◽  
Henk Broekhuizen ◽  
Mweene Cheelo ◽  
Adinan Juma ◽  
Gerald Mwapasa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background An estimated nine out of ten persons in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are unable to access timely, safe and affordable surgery. District hospitals (DHs) which are strategically located to provide basic (non-specialist) surgical care for rural populations have in many instances been compromised by resource inadequacies, resulting in unduly frequent patient referrals to specialist hospitals. This study aimed to quantify the financial burdens of surgical ambulance referrals on DHs and explore the coping strategies employed by these facilities in navigating the challenges. Methods We employed a multi-methods descriptive case study approach, across a total of 14 purposively selected DHs; seven, three, and four in Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, respectively. Three recurrent cost elements were identified: fuel, ambulance maintenance and staff allowances. Qualitative data related to coping mechanisms were obtained through in-depth interviews of hospital managers while quantitative data related to costs of surgical referrals were obtained from existing records (such as referral registers, ward registers, annual financial reports, and other administrative records) and expert estimates. Interview notes were analysed by manual thematic coding while referral statistics and finance data were processed and analysed using Microsoft Office Excel 2016. Results At all but one of the hospitals, respondents reported inadequacies in numbers and functional states of the ambulances: four centres indicated employing non-ambulance vehicles to convey patients occassionally. No statistically significant correlation was found between referral trip distances and total annual numbers of referral trips, but hospital managers reported considering costs in referral practices. For instance, ten of the study hospitals reported combining patients to minimize trip frequencies. The total cost of ambulance use for patient transportation ranged from I$2 k to I$58 k per year. Between 34% and 79% of all patient referrals were surgical, with total costs ranging from I$1 k to I$32 k per year. Conclusion Cost considerations strongly influence referral decisions and practices, indicating a need for increases in budgetary allocations for referral services. High volumes of potentially avoidable surgical referrals provide an economic case – besides equitable access to healthcare – for scaling up surgery capacity at the district level as savings from decreased referrals could be reinvested in referral systems strengthening.


2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. e38-e39
Author(s):  
Kaleigh A. Russell ◽  
Roselyn Tran ◽  
Mallory Stuparich ◽  
Samar Nahas ◽  
Sadikah Behbehani

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjsrh-2020-200888
Author(s):  
Clara I Duncan ◽  
John J Reynolds-Wright ◽  
Sharon T Cameron

IntroductionRoutine ultrasound may be used in abortion services to determine gestational age and confirm an intrauterine pregnancy. However, ultrasound adds complexity to care and results may be inconclusive, delaying abortion. We sought to determine the rate of ectopic pregnancy and the utility of routine ultrasound in its detection, in a community abortion service.MethodsRetrospective case record review of women requesting abortion over a 5-year period (2015–2019) with an outcome of ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) at a service (Edinburgh, UK) conducting routine ultrasound on all women. Records were searched for symptoms at presentation, development of symptoms during clinical care, significant risk factors and routine ultrasound findings.ResultsOnly 29/11 381 women (0.25%, 95% CI 0.18%, 0.33%) had an ectopic pregnancy or PUL (tubal=18, caesarean scar=1, heterotopic=1, PUL=9). Eleven (38%) cases had either symptoms at presentation (n=8) and/or significant risk factors for ectopic pregnancy (n=4). A further 12 women developed symptoms during their clinical care. Of the remaining six, three were PUL treated with methotrexate and three were ectopic (salpingectomy=2, methotrexate=1). In three cases, the baseline ultrasound indicated a probable early intrauterine pregnancy.ConclusionsEctopic pregnancies are uncommon among women presenting for abortion. The value of routine ultrasound in excluding ectopic pregnancy in symptom-free women without significant risk factors is questionable as it may aid detection of some cases but may provide false reassurance that a pregnancy is intrauterine.


Author(s):  
Vipul R. Khandagale

Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare clinical condition in which intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancies occur at the same time. It can be a life threatening condition and easily missed with the diagnosis. We present the case of a 37 year old patient who was treated for a heterotopic pregnancy with live intrauterine gestation and ruptured left adnexal gestation.The ectopic pregnancy was not suspected at her initial presentation. A high index of suspicion is needed in women with risk factors for an ectopic pregnancy and in low risk women who have free fluid with or without an adnexal mass with an intrauterine gestation.It is difficult to estimate exactly the incidence of ectopic pregnancies, but on an average it is approximately 1:300 normal pregnancies worldwide.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fouzia Rasool Memon ◽  
Mini Poothavelil ◽  
Samreen Memon

Objectives: To find out the negative laparoscopy rate for suspected ectopic pregnancy. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Electronic medical record databases in North Cumbria University Hospital, Carlisle, United Kingdom. Period: August 2014 to August 2018. Material and Methods: The data of total 150 laparoscopies performed for ectopic pregnancy management was collected for gestational age at presentation, symptoms, serial beta human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone (HCG) levels, ultrasound findings, time interval for diagnosis, time to surgery and histology. Results: One hundred and fifty patients (52 under 5 weeks and 98 over 5 weeks’ gestation) were incorporated into this study. The primary presenting symptoms were pain and vaginal bleeding. Suboptimal rise in serial beta HCG (performed 48 hours apart) was seen in 69 patients (46%) while other 81 patients (54%) had confirmed ectopic on USS and were offered surgical management after the scan. One hundred forty for women (96%) went for surgical management and one patient had conservative management as she was asymptomatic with low HCG(less than 1000IU) at the first visit and rapid drop in serial BHG results. Fifty three women (35%) had surgery on the same day when they had ectopic pregnancies seen on USS, 63 (42%) went to theatre for surgery between 0-6 days, while 34 patients (23%) had surgery between 7-14 days of USS. All women were operated through laparoscopic route and tubal ectopic pregnancies were confirmed at laparoscopy. There was no negative laparoscopy in our study period. Conclusion: Judicious and timely surgical intervention made it possible to treat every case through laparoscopic route with zero negative laparoscopy rate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-53
Author(s):  
Nazia Islam

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a common clinical condition. Diagnosis and managementof this condition is necessary in due to day practice. Methods: A cross sectional study on ectopic pregnancy was conducted in Sir SalimullahMedical College and Mitford Hospital (SSMC & MH) , Dhaka, with the objective to analyzethe risk factors and assess the results of management with respect to maternal morbidityand mortality of ectopic pregnancy during the last two years. Result: Fifty patients were admitted with ectopic pregnancy from 1st January 2008 to 31stDecember 2010.Frequency of ectopic pregnancy were 1.5% of total 3252 pregnancies. Riskfactors were found in 45% of cases. Surgical treatment were performed in total 43 patients.There was one heterotrophic pregnancy and one case of abdominal pregnancy. Four patientswere given intramuscular Methotrexate and two un-ruptured ectopics resolved spontaneouslyafter by expectant management. Conclusion: Conservative management was an option but surgical treatment was donemore often because of late referrals. Screening of high risk cases, early diagnosis and earlyintervention would reduce the morbidity in ectopic pregnancies. Bangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2018; Vol. 33(1) : 49-53


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-88
Author(s):  
Jok Thikuiy Gang ◽  
Sisay Kirba Kea ◽  
Samson Gebremedhin

Background: Ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the endometrial cavity, is an important cause of maternal mortality, especially in developing countries. It can be managed medically using methotrexate. In Ethiopia, limited evidence exists regarding the treatment outcome of this approach.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted based on medical records of ectopic pregnancies managed medically using methotrexate. The data of women who had unruptured ectopic pregnancy and who were managed medically in the study period at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College were included. Data were extracted from patients’ medical records and analysed using SPSS software.Results: During the 5-year period 2015 to 2019, 81 women with unruptured ectopic pregnancy were managed medically using methotrexate with 93.8% (n=76) success. Methotrexate was administered intramuscularly to all patients in either single dose or multiple doses. Five out of the 81 patients underwent surgical intervention for either ectopic rupture or persistent ectopic mass. There were no fatal complications.Conclusion: Methotrexate is a successful and safe alternative to surgical management of unruptured ectopic pregnancy in our settings. It should be given a trial in patients who meet the selection criteria in a setting ready for emergency surgical intervention and blood transfusions.


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