Masters Degrees (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing Masters Degrees (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) by browse.metadata.advisor "Geerts, L."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemIs an educational intervention effective in improving the diagnosis and management of suspected ectopic pregnancy in a tertiary referral hospital in South Africa(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-12) Wipplinger, Petro; Geerts, L.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Study objective: To investigate whether an educational intervention in the Gynaecology Department of Tygerberg Hospital (TBH) was effective in improving the accuracy of the diagnosis and appropriateness of treatment options offered to women with suspected Ectopic Pregnancy (EP). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional before-and-after study was performed, including 335 consecutive patients with suspected EP before (1/3 - 30/6/2008) and after (1/9 - 31/12/2008) “the intervention”. From the gynaecological admissions register all pregnant patients with symptoms potentially compatible with EP were selected and these were cross referenced with beta-hCG requests, entries in the theatre register for surgery for possible EP and methotrexate prescriptions for EP in these time periods. “The intervention” consisted of a formal lecture presented to the registrars and consultants regarding the latest evidence-based guidelines concerning the diagnosis and management of EP. An algorithm based on this information was introduced in the emergency unit and ultrasound unit together with a prescribed ultrasound reporting form containing all the pertinent information required to follow the algorithm. Clinical decisions were left to the registrar and consultant on duty. Primary outcomes: Time from presentation to treatment, number and appropriateness of special investigations, surgical procedures or medical management. Secondary outcomes: Number of in-patient days and visits, adherence to the algorithm. Results: There was a non-significant trend towards improved reporting of the uterine content and significantly less reports of definite signs of an intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) (p<0.001, RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.31-0.70) due to stricter ultrasound criteria being followed. There was a significant change in the spectrum of uterine findings (p=0.001), the spectrum of adnexal findings (p=0.006) and the spectrum of free fluid noted (p=0.05). There was a reduction in the total number of beta-hCG levels requested at presentation (patients with no beta-hCG: 24 vs 34, p=0.05, RR 1.60, 95% CI 0.99-2.59) with a significant reduction in the number of inappropriate beta-hCG requests (77 vs 40, p<0.001, RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.81). There was a significant difference in the spread of the number of beta-hCG tests per patient with less repeat tests in the study group (p=0.021). Significantly less manual vacuum aspirations (MVAs) were performed (47 vs 21, p=0.003, RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.81) but there was no change in the other treatment modalities offered nor in the time from presentation to treatment, number of visits or in-patient days. Adherence to the algorithm was poor (59 %). Conclusions: Except for a significant decrease in the MVAs performed, with possibly less interrupted early intrauterine pregnancies, the improvement in the use of special investigations after “the intervention” did not translate into fewer inappropriate diagnoses and management. This could be due to frequent non-adherence to the algorithm, and widespread implementation of the algorithm as well as continuous audits would be necessary before a future study could be attempted to assess the efficacy of the algorithm.
- ItemPrenatal diagnosis and outcomes of congenital Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction (LUTO) at Tygerberg Hospital Fetal Medicine Unit: an audit of 12 years(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Bezuidenhout, Heidre; Urban, M.; Geerts, L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Objective: To determine the frequency, etiology, survival and associated morbidity of prenatally detected Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction (LUTO) to predict outcome and guide prenatal counselling and management. Methods: Retrospective record review of prenatal LUTO cases at the Tygerberg Hospital Fetal Medicine Unit between January 2003 and June 2014. Results: A total of 75 prenatal LUTO cases were detected in 12 years, giving an approximate frequency of 1.2 per 10,000 births calculated over a 3 year period. The median gestation at diagnosis was 22.4 weeks. Prenatally 39 (52%) were classified as ‘Isolated’, 16 (21%) as ‘Isolated with marker’ and 20 (27%) as ‘Complex’. Gender difference observed with predominance of males (60/68) (88%), male:female ratio 7.5:1. Males had predominantly ‘Isolated LUTO’ (n=36, 60%), and females ‘Complex LUTO’ (n=5, 63%). Survival outcomes included: TOP 26 (35%), IUD 1 (1%), Stillbirths 8 (11%), NND 12 (16%), Infant deaths 4 (5%), alive >1 year 16 (21%), Lost to follow-up/Unknown 8 (11%). The most common etiology was PUV (51%). Chromosomal aneuploidy was found in 9.3% (7/75), all in males, with Trisomy 21 the most common anomaly (4/7) (57%). Prenatal findings shown to be significantly associated with a ‘Poor outcome’ are bilateral renal cortex echogenic/cystic changes (p=0.029), anhydramnios (p=0.011) and pulmonary hypoplasia (p=0.003). Morbidity measures showed survivors beyond 1 year of age (n=16) had renal impairment (n=6, 37%), bladder dysfunction (n=4, 25%), recurrent UTI’’s (n=9, 56%). Conclusion: This study adds novel data on the burden and impact of congenital LUTO in a South African, developing country setting. It confirms high mortality and significant morbidity, and supports the predictive value of specific antenatal ultrasound findings. Recommendations for clinical practice include; systematic ultrasound examination for other major anomalies, including soft markers to better define the risk of underlying chromosomal anomalies, determination of gender and karyotyping. The overall poor prognosis makes extensive counselling of the parents essential, especially if detected late in pregnancy, and supports the development of standardised guidelines for congenital anomalies.