This retrospective study presents data from 26 women who underwent a reversal of female sterilization. The intrauterine pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate were 38.5% and 7.7% respectively. The most successful site of tubal anastomosis was isthmic-isthmic anastomosis. The importance of proper patient selection and factors that affect the success rate in attempted reversals are emphasised. The importance of microsurgical approach is highlighted.
A preliminary report on the short-term use of Tioconazole for vaginal candidiasis is presented. The cure rate was found to be approximately 90% in mild degrees of the disease, with good patient compliance and minimal side effects. However no conclusion can be drawn for moderate or severe cases of the condition.
Caesarean hysterectomy is a useful surgical procedure. However, the increased blood supply to the pelvis during pregnancy, distortion of the anatomy caused by the enlarged uterus, fragility of oedematous pelvic tissues and adhesions from prior caesarean sections predispose to poor haemostasis and urinary tract injuries. In this series all the cases were done as an emergency procedure and, despite the multiple obstetric complications, there was no maternal mortality and the incidence of post-operative morbidity was low.
Urinary incontinence is a common problem in elderly women. However, urinary incontinence secondary to the commonly used antihypertensive, prazosin, is a rare phenomenon. The possible mechanism of this drug in causing incontinence is described in this case report. The possibility of an exaggerated response to the drug by women suffering from borderline stress incontinence is highlighted.
Extra pelvic endometriosis is rare and its presentation is varied. A case of pulmonary and umbilical endometriosis which presented as catamenial pneumothorax is presented. Due to poor response to medical treatment, a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was done to relieve the patient of her recurrent symptoms.
A case of infantile polycystic kidneys diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound is presented here. This condition was confirmed at post-mortem following delivery of the child. The clinical and pathological features of this inheritable disease is discussed.
A case of delayed haemorrhage after conservative surgery for ectopic pregnancy is presented. Brief pathophysiology of the condition is presented. The importance of beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotrophin monitoring of the serum in this patient is highlighted. Surgical procedures to prevent this complication are also discussed.
To our knowledge, sickle cell anaemia in pregnancy has not been reported in Malaysia. We describe here such a case with emphasis on modern methods of management.
Uterine rupture is still a common problem in developing countries although even here the incidence varies from urban to rural settings. This article is a review of uterine rupture in an urban referral hospital in Malaysia. It examines aetiology, clinical presentation, complications and management of the problem. Meticulous screening of patients together with optimal antenatal and intrapartum care will markedly reduce the incidence of uterine rupture. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment will further help reduce morbidity and mortality to both mother and fetus.
Thirty-six asymptomatic infertile women undergoing laparoscopic examination as part of their infertility investigations, were included in this study on chlamydial infection. Patients were tested for chlamydial antigen in the cervix and peritoneal fluid. The serum of twenty-five of these patients was titrated for evidence of chlamydial antibodies. Fifty women attending a family planning clinic were used as a control group. The study showed a strong relationship between chlamydial infection and infertility due to tubal pathology. The incidence of chlamydial infection in asymptomatic infertile women was 33.3%. The results indicate that Chlamydia trachomatis should be sought in patients presenting with infertility and, if detected, appropriate medical treatment be given.
A case of persistent trophoblastic tissue on the pelvic peritoneum is presented. While most cases are secondary to conservative surgery for tubal ectopic pregnancy, primary implantation can also occur as highlighted by this case. A brief pathophysiology of the condition is presented. The importance of monitoring the serum for beta subunit human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is emphasised.
A rare case of spontaneous rupture of a branch of the uterine vein in a primigravida is discussed. The patient with an uncomplicated pregnancy presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of abruptio placenta with foetal distress. Lower segment Caesarean section was performed. The cause of acute pain was identified to be intra-abdominal bleeding secondary to the rupture of a branch of the uterine vein. The pathophysiology of the problem is discussed.
Over a 17-year period, 15 patients with acute puerperal inversion of the uterus were managed at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, an incidence of 1 in 4,836 deliveries. Injudicious traction on the umbilical cord before the uterus was well contracted, was probably the most important causative factor. Haemorrhage was more severe when removal of the placenta was done prior to correction of the inversion. Either the hydrostatic method or manual replacement were used but more often a combination of both techniques was found necessary. With careful management of the third stage of labour, this complication can be avoided.
During the 10-year period 1974-1983, 68 patients with intraperitoneal haemorrhage as a result of the rupture of a corpus luteum were managed at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Most of the patients were aged between 18 and 35 years. In 63% of the patients the rupture occurred between the 14th and the 35th day of the menstrual cycle, and 10 patients had intraperitoneal bleeding severe enough (450-1500 mL) to require blood transfusion. The condition is often confused with other surgical emergencies such as appendicitis and ectopic pregnancy. An increased awareness of the problem in women of reproductive age and the use of laparoscopy, when indicated, will allow a more conservative approach to be adopted for those patients with minimal bleeding. The performance of an appendicectomy in the presence of blood in the peritoneal cavity did not appear to increase morbidity in those patients with a preoperative diagnosis of "appendicitis".
A single antigen indirect immunofluorescence test was used to screen for chlamydial antibody among Malaysian infants, children, sexually active adults and prostitutes. Of 794 serum samples tested, 361 (45.5%) were positive. Seropositivity increased with age and sexual activity and ranged from 10 to 16% among children under 10 years old to 94.4% among prostitutes. Pregnant women and female adolescents showed a higher antibody prevalence than nonpregnant and older women. Six (13%) infants under 6 months of age were positive for chlamydial IgM.
A large retroperitoneal liposarcoma presented clinically as an ovarian tumour in an infertile woman. The importance of computed tomography in the differential diagnosis and the appropriate management of retroperitoneal liposarcoma is presented with a review of the relevant literature.