Use of intramyometrial injection of prostaglandin F 2 alpha in the management of intractable hemorrhage due to uterine atony.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha, in doses varying from 1 to 5 mg was injected transabdominally, transvaginally or intraabdominally (during caesarean section) into the myometrium in ten patients affected by metrorrhagias not responsive to conventional uterotonic drugs. In all cases but one the result was excellent. Important side effects were observed in only one patient, because of the inadvertent intravascular injection of 5 mg Prostaglandin into the endocervix.

Cardiotocographic modifications during continuous epidural anaesthesia in labour.

Cardiotocographic variations certainly attributable to epidural anaesthesia were studied over the period 1972-1980 on 716 patients in labour. Transitory side-effects due to both direct and indirect action of local anaesthetics appeared in 1.4% of the cases, without, however, subsequently creating any particular foeto-newborn problem.

Comparison study between acupuncture and pentazocine analgesic and respiratory post-operative effects.

The authors studied the effects of acupuncture and pentazocine on post-operative respiratory function and pain management on patients hysterectomized by means of a subumbilical midline incision. The acupunctural technique consisted of GB-26, St-36, Sp-6 and auricular Shen-Men bilateral electrostimulation for 40 minutes. The analgesic effect of acupuncture was equivalent to that of 30 mg pentazocine, yet the most important effect of acupuncture consisted in a net increase of vital capacity during the period of acupuncture analgesia that lasted for 3-4 hr after stimulation; contrariwise, pentazocine did not cause any vital capacity increment and vital capacity remained at the levels observed prior to narcotic administration.