Fulminant haemorrhage in cervical cancer leads to severe anaemia and haemodynamic instability. Palliative management includes vaginal packing as temporary measure, radiotherapy and other invasive surgical procedures. High dose emergency chemotherapy is not commonly implemented particularly when complicated with anaemia and renal impairment. We discuss three case series on the usefulness of high dose chemotherapy to combat bleeding from cervical cancer as an emergency treatment. The first case was clinically staged as operable 2A disease with severe anaemia due to bleeding from the tumour mass. The haemoglobin was corrected by blood transfusion while the bleeding was being arrested by high dose chemotherapy. The second case was inoperable with invasion to the bladder mucosa. She had frank haematuria and bleeding from the tumour with severe anaemia. A course of chemotherapy and blood transfusion controlled the bleeding and anaemia was corrected. The third case presented late with obstructive uropathy and anaemia. She required dialysis, blood transfusion and high dose emergency chemotherapy to stop the bleeding before undergoing urinary diversion after an unsuccessful ureteric stenting. High dose chemotherapy consisting cisplatin, vincristine, bleomycin and mitomycin-C has a clinical value in arresting fulminant haemorrhage in cervical cancer.
Complications that may occur while performing myomectomy in pregnancy can be prevented in a well-optimised surgery. Counselling and comprehensive peri-operative preparations are mandatory to minimise litigations and untoward events. Myomectomy in pregnancy remains a contentious issue. Degeneration of fibroid during pregnancy is common. However, conservative management suffices in majority of cases. In non-responsive conservative treatment, myomectomy may be an option. This article discusses our experience in treating a 38-year-old woman in her fourth pregnancy at 15 weeks gestation with symptomatic uterine fibroid. She had persistent abdominal pain since nine weeks gestation. She developed fever and acute abdomenat at 15 weeks and the uterus was larger than dates.Ultrasound scan confirmed single pregnancy with a large intramural fibroid showing degenerative changes. A myomectomy was performed as a preventive measure to prevent massive haemorrhage. Although performing myomectomy during pregnancy is considered controversial, complications can be minimised with properly-planned surgery.