Cardiovascular complications following cesarean section and vaginal delivery: a national population-based study.

Introduction: Rates of cesarean section are rising in both developed and developing countries and while pregnancy and cesarean section are established as risk factors for thromboembolism and stroke, large population-based investigations focusing on all types of cardiovascular complication after delivery is missing. The aim was to analyze the risk of severe cardiovascular complications in the post-partum period following delivery by cesarean section. We also had a control group of vaginal deliveries and a reference group with nulliparas.

Developing confidence during midwifery training: The experience of Swedish final year students.

Objectives: Confidence is essential in performing midwifery care since the profession places great demands on the ability to work independently with a scientific approach and professional responsibility. Clinical training is extensive during midwifery education and is essential for the development of midwifery student's confidence and competence. The aim of the study was to describe the factors that increased and decreased confidence for midwifery students in clinical practice.

Anal incontinence after caesarean and vaginal delivery in Sweden: a national population-based study.

Background: Elective caesarean delivery is increasing rapidly in many countries, and one of the reasons might be that caesarean delivery is widely believed to protect against pelvic floor disorders, including anal incontinence. Previous studies on this issue have been small and with conflicting results. The aim of present study was to compare the risk of developing anal incontinence in women who had a caesarean delivery, in those who had a vaginal delivery, and in two age-matched control groups (nulliparous women and men).

Developing competence and confidence in midwifery-focus groups with Swedish midwives.

Background: Midwives have a significant impact on the clinical outcome and the birthing experience of women. However, there has been a lack of research focusing specifically on clinical midwives' learning and development of professional competence.

Aim: The objective of the study was to describe how midwives reflect on learning and the development of professional competence and confidence.

Hearing loss after "refractory" secretory otitis media.

Conclusions: The results indicate that SOM of extreme duration, and maybe also the treatment of SOM, are risk factors for developing permanent hearing loss, both conductive and sensorineural.

Objective: Fluctuating or persisting hearing loss of varying degrees is known to accompany secretory otitis media (SOM). The aim of this study was to detect possible hearing sequelae in young adults who had suffered from "refractory" SOM during childhood.

Course and long-term outcome of 'refractory' secretory otitis media.

Objective: The course and the long-term outcome of 'refractory' secretory otitis media (SOM), defined as continuous SOM for more than 6 years, were studied in 52 young patients. They had during childhood been treated for bilateral SOM on average for 12 years (range 6 to 26 years). The mean interval between resolution of SOM and examination was 7 years.

Eustachian tube function and tympanic membrane findings after chronic secretory otitis media.

Objective: The etiology of secretory otitis media (SOM) is multifactorial. The main factors discussed are infection and tubal dysfunction. This study aimed to detect poor tubal function and tympanic membrane pathology in young adults after extremely long-standing SOM.

Lactate in cord blood and its relationship to pH and catecholamines in spontaneous vaginal deliveries.

The interrelationships between lactate and pH, nonadrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A) and dopamine (DA) were investigated in cord artery (CA) and vein (GV) blood at delivery. Sixty consecutive, spontaneous, vaginal deliveries with fetuses in cephalic presentation were assessed. Median gestational age at delivery was 40 weeks (range, 35-43).

Fetal monitoring with lactate.

Lactate is a metabolite that can safely and easily can be determined in fetal scalp blood using new microvolume (5-20 microliters) lactate meters. However, new lactate analysing methods need their own reference values. There are factors other than hypoxia that might increase fetal lactate levels, although this does not disqualify this parameter for intrapartum surveillance.

Scalp blood lactate: a new test strip method for monitoring fetal wellbeing in labour.

Objective: To determine fetal scalp blood lactate with a new test strip method in parturients with normal and abnormal cardiotocograms during labour and to describe the relation to maternal lactate, fetal scalp blood pH, cord artery lactate and acid-base balance.

Setting: Labour wards at the University Hospitals of Huddinge and Lund and at the County Hospital of Ostersund, Sweden.

Materials And Method: Fetal scalp blood was sampled for lactate (n = 269) and pH (n = 285) determination in 177 parturients with abnormal intrapartum CTG.

Continuous maternal glucose infusion during labor: effects on maternal and fetal glucose and lactate levels.

Fetal and neonatal glucose and lactate levels and acid-base balance after continuous maternal infusion of 5% dextrose at 180 mL/h (9 g/h) was compared with 0.9% saline solution in a prospective, randomized study from selected monitored labors. An infusion of 5% dextrose produced significantly increased glucose levels in maternal (p < 0.

Lactate in fetal scalp blood and umbilical artery blood measured during normal labor with a test strip method.

A new test strip method was used to determine the lactate concentration in fetal scalp blood during normal labor. Sixty-six fetal scalp blood samples were collected at cervical dilatations between 4 cm and 10 cm. The mean lactate value was 1.

The functional significance of the fifth metacarpus and hypothenar in two useful grips of the hand.

Two useful grips for daily living and professional life concerning the two ulnar fingers, designated the "locking grip" and the "supporting grip," are presented. Flexion of the fifth metacarpus was recorded by an electrogoniographic method together with an electromyogram of the hypothenar muscles during formation of the two grips. For the locking grip the flexed position of the fifth metacarpus was shown to be the functional basis of the hypothenar muscles, especially the abductor digiti minimi, operating on the proximal phalanges of the little finger, thus giving full strength to the grip together with the ulnar hand flexor.

Indomethacin treatment for polyhydramnios. Effective but potentially dangerous?

A case of acute polyhydramnios for unknown reason was successfully treated with orally administrated indomethacin. The need for close supervision of the pregnancy, because of potential risk for oligohydramnios, is described.