ECT in an acutely psychotic pregnant woman with actively aggressive (homicidal) impulses.

The specific use of ECT to control homicidal impulses in a pregnant, acutely psychotic schizophrenic patient is described, with no adverse effects to the mother or the baby. Besides the relative safety of the procedure during pregnancy, the need for monitoring foetal effects is stressed. Although literature is abundant on various aspects of ECT (1-3) there has been little written on its use in pregnancy (4-6) for its value in treating severe depressive illness or certain types of schizophrenia; without adverse effect to the mother and the baby, and where there is a risk-benefit advantage to its use.

Placental site, parity, and date of quickening.

The influence of placental site and parity on the date of quickening was studied in 112 gravidas. With placental site on the anterior uterine wall, quickening occurred at a mean gestational age of 19 weeks in primigravidas, and 17 weeks, five days in multiparas. With placental site on the posterior uterine wall, quickening occurred at a mean gestational age of 18 weeks in primigravidas, and 16 weeks, one day in multiparas.

Uterine myomas in pregnancy.

Pregnancy complications occur in many patients who have uterine myomas. Patients in whom the placenta is implanted near a myoma are more likely to be affected. Early pregnancy bleeding, premature rupture of membranes and postpartum hemorrhage are the problems most frequently seen.

The lost IUD.

Ultrasonic B-scanning is a convenient method of confirming the presence of an IUD within the endometrial cavity. The acoustic properties of each device from normal uterine tissue are demonstrated according to the particular type of device used. These produce easily recognizable patterns.

Low-lying placenta.

Routine ultrasonographic examinations were performed in 255 pregnant women. Most of the patients (95%) had the examination prior to 32 weeks of gestation. In 16 patients (6%) the placenta was identified as low-lying placenta or placenta previa.

Sonographic detection of polyhydramnios: a five-year experience.

Between 1975 and 1980, 16,586 sonograms, including repeat scans, were obtained on pregnant women for various obstetric indications. The diagnosis of polyhydramnios was made 78 times by an experienced sonographer as a simple observer judgment of an excess amount of amniotic fluid. In pregnancies thus diagnosed, the fetus was then carefully scanned for anomalies, and repeat scans were done.

Puerperal febrile complications and cervical flora following elective manual exploration of the uterus.

Two hundred patients who underwent vaginal delivery were randomly divided into two groups on arrival to the case room in labor. After delivery was completed the uteri of 100 patients were manually explored; the remainder of the patients served as a control group. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures of the endocervix were taken from 50 patients in each group, during labor and on the fourth postpartum day.

Myomas of the uterus in pregnancy: ultrasonographic follow-up.

A review was made of the medical records of pregnant patients who had myomas that were documented by ultrasonographic studies. Only 42% of the myomas were diagnosed by physical examination. In most instances the clinical diagnosis was made when the neoplasm was large.