Prenatal diagnosis

Article Abstract:

Prenatal diagnosis of genetic and structural abnormalities will continue to play a significant role in prenatal care. The first step in prenatal diagnosis is determining any general risk factors such as maternal age over 35 years, or any specific risk factors such as a family history of a genetic disorder. The various diagnostic procedures available have different uses. Amniocentesis for chromosomal abnormalities is safe and accurate when done 16 weeks into the pregnancy. Chorionic villi sampling is similar to amniocentesis but results are available earlier. Fetal blood sampling can detect toxoplasmosis and infections. Fetal biopsy is used to diagnose some skin disorders. Ultrasonography can detect structural disorders and between 50% to 90% of cardiac, kidney and bladder abnormalities. In the future, the ability to separate fetal blood from maternal blood may eliminate the need to directly sample fetal blood. The complete mapping of the human genome will increase the number of genetic diseases that can be detected prenatally.

Methods, Birth defects, Prenatal diagnosis

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Severe abdominal pain during early pregnancy in a woman with previous infertility

Article Abstract:

Ectopic pregnancy in the right fallopian tube of a woman with a coexisting intrauterine pregnancy was diagnosed after she was admitted to the hospital complaining of severe abdominal pain. The four-weeks-pregnant, 31-year-old woman had undergone gonadotropin treatment to induce ovulation and was exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. Cervical stenosis and a deformed uterus in the patient were consistent with DES exposure, and the presence of multiple ovarian cysts is most likely a manifestation of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome caused by the gonadotropin infertility treatment. The cysts probably caused twisting of the patient's left ovary. After diagnostic laparoscopy, the ectopic gestation was removed, the left tube and ovary were untwisted, and fluid was aspirated from the cysts on the left ovary to prevent retwisting. The woman's full-term delivery was normal.

Case studies, Complications and side effects, Pregnancy, Ectopic, Ectopic pregnancy, Ovaries, Ovarian cysts, Diethylstilbestrol

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Surgical treatment of minimal endometriosis

Article Abstract:

Women with minimal or mild endometriosis may not need laparoscopic surgery unless they are receiving the procedure to diagnose the condition. Endometriosis occurs when blood and endometrial tissue occur outside the uterus. It is not entirely clear if mild endometriosis leads to infertility. A 1997 study found that laparoscopic surgery improved pregnancy rates in women with mild endometriosis. However, this procedure is expensive and many women will respond to drugs that suppress estrogen production. Many women will be able to get pregnant with no treatment at all.

Editorial, Usage, Surgery, Endometriosis, Laparoscopic surgery

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