Effects of water birth on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Background: Our purpose was to assess benefits and possible disadvantages of water births and to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes with normal vaginal deliveries.

Methods: This case-controlled study was carried out between January 2000 and July 2001. A total of 140 women who wanted water births were enrolled into the study.

Headache as the initial manifestation of acute aortic dissection type A.

The most common initial symptom of aortic dissection is chest pain. Other initial symptoms include pain in the neck, throat, abdomen and lower back, syncope, paresis, and dyspnoea. Headache as the initial symptom of aortic dissection has not been described previously.