Critical incidents in gynaecology: a one year audit in an academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Introduction: critical incidents are among the ten leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Improving patient safety is a global priority and one way of achieving this goal is to report and analyse critical incidents. We aimed to establish the incidence, describe the profile, patient outcomes and avoidable factors associated with gynaecological critical incidents in an academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Improving access to emergency obstetric care in low- and middle-income countries.

While maternal deaths have declined by a third between 2000 and 2020, approximately 800 women continue to die every day due to pregnancy-related complications. For every woman who dies, many more experience life-debilitating conditions. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Anticoagulant therapy in pregnant women with mechanical and bioprosthetic heart valves.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to review maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves.

Methods: A retrospective record review of pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves on anticoagulation was performed at the Specialist Cardiac Antenatal Clinic, Johannesburg South Africa from 2015 to 2023.

Results: Fifty pregnancies with mechanical heart valves and three with tissue valves, on anticoagulation for comorbid atrial fibrillation were identified.

Pregnancy after kidney and liver transplantation.

Pregnancy in kidney and liver transplant recipients presents unique challenges and risks for both maternal and fetal health. This article examines the management of pregnancy in kidney and liver transplant recipients, focusing on pre-pregnancy counselling, trimester-specific care, the teratogenic effects of immunosuppressive drugs, and the role of the multidisciplinary team. While South African (SA) data on this topic are limited, the Transplant Pregnancy Registry International has provided valuable insights.