Minimally Invasive Surgery in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Progress So Far.

Background The global practice of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has progressed from basic to advanced procedures. Consequent to this, almost all surgical procedures can be performed through a minimally invasive technique. This study aims to audit the practice of MIS in healthcare facilities within a city in a developing country in Africa.

COVID-19: the implications and consequences of prolonged lockdown and COVID-19 vaccine cost in a low-middle income country.

Lockdowns and just recently, the COVID-19 vaccines, are amongst the disease containment measures instituted globally to check the spread of COVID-19. Prolonged lockdowns are however, not sustainable in low resource economies like Nigeria, where up to 70% of her population live on less than a dollar a day, with the majority, either unemployed, or working in the private/informal sector and depending on daily earnings for survival. If the lockdown remains sustained, it would not be long before the largely poor citizens starve to death.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Residency Training: Perspective from a Low-Middle Income Country.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted postgraduate training programmes worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the Nigerian situation with respect to surgical training, with a view to identifying gaps and proffering solutions.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of surgical residents in Nigeria was conducted between 27 July 2020 and 14 August 2020.

COVID-19 and obstetric practice: A critical review of the Nigerian situation.

Objective: To review what is known about COVID-19 and highlight gaps in the context of Nigerian obstetric practice. Research data on COVID-19 are understandably sparse in Africa. Nigeria, like most African countries, is battling a disease she is poorly equipped to fight.

Experience with the bonanno catheter in the management of OHSS from IVF-ET Cycles.

Objective: To document our experience with the use of the Bonanno catheter as a closed abdominal drain for OHSS Methods: A retrospective study of all IVF embryo transfer (ET) treatment cycles carried out between May 2006 and April 2009 at a dedicated IVF centre. Case notes of patients with OHSS were retrieved and the outcome of the continuous closed abdominal drain with Bonanno catheter documented.

Result: Within the period under review, 234 patients had controlled ovarian stimulation with ultrasound guided egg retrieval.

IVF Pregnancy and Delivery following Ultrasound Scan Guided Aspiration of a Left Hydrosalpinx- A Case Report.

The presence of hydrosalpinges is known to significantly reduce the pregnancy and implantation rates following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Salpingectomy or laparoscopic tubal occlusion before IVF have been shown to significantly improve pregnancy rates. Aspiration of the hydrosalpinges at the time of oocyte retrieval for IVF had been proposed as a viable alternative.

Abnormal cervical cytology among HIV-positive women in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of abnormal cervical smears and high-grade lesions among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women, and to assess the relationship between severity of disease and CD4 count.

Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional comparative study, 250 HIV-positive and 250 HIV-negative women attending the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were enrolled between January and March 2012. Cervical smear samples were collected from participants, examined, and reported via the Bethesda system.

Comparison of IVF/ICSI outcome in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome or tubal factor infertility.

Background: One of the recognized treatment options for patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Fears are however sometimes raised concerning the likely outcome of treatment in such patients compared with their counterparts with tubal factor infertility.

Objective: To compare the IVF/ICSI performance in women with PCOS and those with tubal factor infertility.

Pregnancy outcome after cerclage for cervical incompetence at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.

Cervical incompetence is often associated with mid trimester pregnancy losses and preterm labour. cervical cerclage to prevent miscarriage and preterm labour is practiced world wide. The objective of this study was to document the feto-maternal outcome following cervical cerclage for cervical incompetence.

Perceptions of infertility--a survey of urban residents in Port Harcourt.

Objective: Societal influence on infertile couples usually stems from what is known or perceived about the causes, risk factors and treatment of infertility in the population. This study aimed to investigate perceptions of infertility among urbanresidents of Port Harcourt.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional, household-based survey was conducted in the Borikiri area of Port Harcourt in 2003.

Ectopic pregnancy following in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer.

Background: ectopic pregnancy is one of the recognised complications of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer.

Objective: to review cases of ectopic pregnancy following IVF at a fertility unit, with the aim of raising awareness towards its increased incidence and pattern of presentation.

Methods: case records of patients who had ectopic pregnancy following IVF over a three-year-period (July 2005-June 2008) were retrieved from the medical records department.

Patients' preference for number of embryos transferred during IVF/ICSI: a Nigerian experience.

Background: The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority is considering limiting the number of embryos that can be transferred to single embryo per cycle as has been done in several European countries, with the aim of reducing the rate of multiple pregnancies and its attendant complications following in vitro fertilization (IVF) / Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Objective: To determine the number of embryos patients' attending a fertility clinic in Nigeria, would prefer transferred during IVF/ICSI.

Materials And Methods: Fifty four consecutive female patients who underwent IVF/ICSI procedures between May 2006 and April 2007 at the Port Harcourt Fertility Centre, Rivers State were interviewed using structured questionnaires.

The effect of endometrial thickness on in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome.

The value of measuring the endometrial thickness and studying the endometrial receptivity in the context of assisted conception remains a contentious issue. A prospective analysis was carried out to determine the effect of endometrial thickness on IVF - embryo transfer/ICSI outcome in dedicated Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) units in Abuja and Rivers State, Nigeria. Two hundred and fifty one patients who met the inclusion criteria were analysed.

Pathology of maternal deaths in Rivers state (a ten year autopsy review) in a referral hospital.

Background: Most of the maternal death studies in this environment based their statistics on clinical cause with no reference to autopsy records. This gap of knowledge would be filled with autopsies performed on the victims.

Objectives: To highlight the importance of autopsy in the study of maternal mortality.

Reducing iron deficiency anaemia due to heavy menstrual blood loss in Nigerian rural adolescents.

Objective: Menstrual disorders are common in young women, and heavy menstrual blood losses (MBL) are an important cause of anaemia. Menstrual morbidity normally goes untreated in developing countries where cultural barriers also serve to mask the problems. We investigated the prevalence of menstrual morbidity, and measured MBL and its relationship to iron deficiency in a rural adolescent population.

How do they grow? A study of south-eastern Nigerian adolescent girls.

This study assessed the nutritional status of Nigerian adolescent girls living in two areas of south-eastern Nigeria. A cross sectional survey was undertaken in a rural village in Ogoniland, and five secondary schools in Port Harcourt, south-eastern Nigeria. All (386) menarcheal girls aged 14-19 y living in the rural village, and a stratified cluster sample (845) of menarcheal girls aged 14-19 in the five urban schools were investigated.

Reproductive tract infections and abortion among adolescent girls in rural Nigeria.

Few studies from developing countries have investigated reproductive tract infections or other indicators of sexual health among unmarried adolescent girls in rural areas. We have obtained baseline demographic, clinical, and microbiological data on reproductive tract infections and induced abortion in girls in a rural area of southeast Nigeria, in order to assess the need for health care for adolescents. 868 females attended for interview and examination: 458 aged 20 and above and 410 aged 12-19, the latter representing 93.