Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy and Trachelectomy in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer

Objective: To communicate a minimally invasive technique for surgical handling of early-stage cervical cancer and its results. Methods: 110 patients with cervical cancer in stages IA2 and IB1, all of them operated in a period of 5 years in both hospitals, are presented. Laparoscopic systemic pelvic lymphadenectomy with radical vaginal hysterectomy or radical vaginal trachelectomy was performed to patients, with the exception of those patients who had compromised nodes detected in contemporary biopsy. Results: Between April 2008 and May 2013, 110 patients were submitted to this technique. 15 patients had their surgery aborted: 13 presented positive nodes for carcinoma in contemporary biopsy and 2 had extensive cervical compromise when performing radical vaginal hysterectomy or trachelectomy. Analysis of the remaining 95 cases shows an average age of 43.9 years (26 - 61), all of them had given birth before, 23 (21%) of them through C-section. BMI averaged 30.5 and 31 (28.2%) had cone surgery performed previously. Average duration of surgery was of 220 minutes. Postoperative hospitalization averaged 3.1 days. Bleeding volume was estimated at 125 cc and one patient required blood transfusion. En 25 patients’ uterine annexes were kept and all of them were suspended by means of laparoscopy. On average, 25.4 pelvic nodes were obtained. Complications 13.6% with eight patients suffered bladder injury, two had rectovaginal fistula, 3 patients requires surgical repair of ureteral obstruction, two patients present thromboembolic disease. The disease-free and overall survivals are consistent with reports in the literature. Conclusion: We believe that handling patients with this technique is possible and has the advantages of vaginal and laparoscopic surgery with minimal complications.

Vault Hematoma after Vaginal Hysterectomy: An Invariable Complication

Hysterectomy is common major operation performed in gynecological field practice after Caesarean section. Vaginal hysterectomy is preferred surgery for uterovaginal prolapsed. Vaginal hysterectomy has advantages over abdominal hysterectomy. Post hysterectomy hematomas are responsible for serious morbidity. Ultrasound is an accurate diagnostic tool and so Computed tomography. Conservative management, analgesia and antibiotics will work in small hematoma, but the significant sized hematoma needs surgical drainage and the infected hematoma. Refinement in surgical techniques is recommended to minimize the formation vaginal vault hematomas after vaginal hysterectomy.

Small Bowel Evisceration Following Vaginal Hysterectomy is a General Surgical Emergency–A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Small bowel evisceration through the vagina is a rare condition, which tends to affect post-menopausal women who have undergone vaginal hysterectomy. It is a surgical emergency with a favourable outcome if diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion. Delay in diagnosis can precipitate infarction of small bowel loops with associated morbidity and mortality. Treatment involves laparotomy, reduction of the incarcerated loops (plus/minus small bowel resection) and repair of the vaginal rupture. The purpose of this paper is to report a case of small bowel evisceration through the vagina, to review the literature pertaining to this topic and to raise awareness of this condition in the general surgical community.

A Retrospective Review: Vaginal versus Abdominal Hysterectomy for Benign Gynecological Diseases in a Tertiary Canter

The aims are to review respectively 229 cases of hysterectomy and to find the factor affecting the decision of vaginal hysterectomy. Data collected from medical charts include age, nationality, parity, menopause, history of Dilation and curettage. The following data were obtained: the clinical presentation and the indication for hysterectomy. Postoperative complication includes the estimated blood loss, the number of days in hospital and ICU admission recorded. The route of hysterectomy found that 187 (82%) were abdominal and only 42 (18%) were vaginal. Factors significantly associated with the choice of vaginal approach: age, parity, smaller uterine size and prolapse. Factors affecting the decision of vaginal hysterectomy for treatment of benign diseases are identified as follows: if the age is more than 35 years or if the women already reach menopause, the presenting symptoms are not vaginal bleeding but prolapsed uterus and uterine size is less than 12 weeks.

Vaginal hysterectomy or laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy for enlarged myomatous uterus:a randomized clinical trial

Objective:To compare the intraoperative condition and short-term outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy(VH) and laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy(LAVH) for enlarged myomatous uterus. Methods:Fifty patients from Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups:VH(n= 23) and LAVH(n= 27).All procedures were performed by a single senior surgeon to maintain homogeneity. Results:The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable.The operative time for LAVH was significantly longer than for VH(76.7±23.2 vs.57.6±23.5 min,P<0.05),and LAVH costs more money than VH(6,923.07±622.96 vs.5,974.46±1,408.08 RMB,P<0.05).Major complications,uterine weight and the length of hospital stay were comparable between VH and LAVH group.One case of VH was converted to LAVH due to adhesion. Conclusions:Compared with LAVH,VH is a time- and cost-saving operative technique for enlarged myomatous uterus.VH should be the primary method for uterine removal,but LAVH may have advantages when adhesion is present.

VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY FOR PATIENTS WITH MODERATELY ENLARGED UTERUS OF BENIGN LESIONS

Objective To evaluate the possibility of vaginal hysterectomy for patients with moderately enlarged uterus of benign lesions. Methods One hundred and seventeen women with benign uterine diseases underwent vaginal hysterectomy. These patients were divided into two groups according to uterine weight. Group Ⅰ contained 60 patients with uterine enlargement to a weight of 200 to 750 g, and group Ⅱ contained 57 patients with uterine weight of less than 200 g. Uterine morcellation was performed in some cases. The peri-operative data in both groups were analyzed. Results In group Ⅰ, 59 cases underwent transvaginal hysterectomy successfully, except 1 case con-verted to abdominal operation and the uterine morcellation was performed in 21 women. In group Ⅱ, all patients successfully underwent transvaginal hysterectomy without any assistance of special technique. The mean uterine weight of group Ⅰ was significantly heavier than that of group Ⅱ(280.18 ± 100.40 g vs 146.48 ± 35.19 g). The mean operating time was significantly longer for group Ⅰ than that for group Ⅱ(83.93 ± 26.26 minutes vs 35.22 ± 20.55 minutes). There were no significant differences in blood loss and complications between groupⅠ and group Ⅱ. There was no injury of urinary bladder or rectum, and no vaginal vault infection. Conclusions Vaginal hysterectomy of moderately enlarged uterus can be safely and effectively performed by experienced operators. In some cases, in order to reduce the uterine volume, uterine mor-cellation should be used to shorten operative time, reduce the bleeding, and lower the postoperative complications.

Vaginal Robotic Supracervical Hysterectomy in an Ovine Animal Model: The Proof of Concept

Objective: To gain insight into the feasibility and safety of a novel vaginal robot for performing supracervical hysterectomy in an ovine model. Introduction: The clinical application of transvaginal natural or fice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has broadened significantly. vNOTES reduces wound complications such as infection, hematoma formation, or herniation and is currently utilized for hysterectomy, adnexal surgery, myomectomy, and staging surgery for endometrial cancer. Robotic assistance has been proposed to overcome the current vNOTES mechanical obstacles. The implementation of the current robots has limited utility due to their bulk and inflexibility. Robotic Natural Orifice Transluminal Surgery (rNOTES) is the new frontier in advancement of surgical robots. In developing new task specific robots, it is important to utilize an accurate model for testing. A novel vaginal robot introduced through the posterior cul-de-sac to perform a complete retrograde hysterectomy is the subject of this study. Methods: The study was conducted at the animal lab, Asaf-Harofe hospital, Israel. The ovine model was preferred since the anatomical landmarks and vascular anatomy are comparable to the human except for a bicornuate uterus in sheep. A vaginal robotic supra-cervical hysterectomy was performed in a sheep. Results: A vaginal robotic supracervical hysterectomy was performed successfully in an ovine model. The uterus was extracted via the entry point in the pouch of Douglas. 20 cc of blood loss was reported and no complications were observed. Conclusions: Vaginal supracervical hysterectomy via a vaginal approach using a novel robotic system was found to be feasible.

Vaginal Trachelectomy for Retained Cervical Stump after Supracervical Hysterectomy: Technical Tips and Outcomes

Background and Objectives: The supracervical hysterectomy (SCH) has resulted in a group of patients with a retained cervix at risk of persistent symptoms, who may require a trachelectomy in the future. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of vaginal trachelectomy (VT) after a previous SCH. Methods: This was a prospective study that includes 13 cases with different ages and different complaints, sharing the same primary operation supracervical hysterectomy. They have different pathologies of the SCH specimen but they share the same completion surgery. The surgical outcome was analyzed. Results: Thirteen patients underwent vaginal trachelectomy for recurrent symptoms. The ages of patients were ranged from 37 years to 68 years (Mean ± SD, 56.4 ± 10.7). SCH was most commonly performed for abnormal uterine bleeding AUB (7/13, 53.8%), pelvic mass (5/1, 38.5%), and pelvic pain (1/13, 7.7%), the symptoms leading to vaginal trachelectomy were the same as those leading to supracervical hysterectomy. The median interval time from SCH to seeking medical help for the persistence or recurrence of symptoms and to VT was 2 weeks (1 to 96 weeks). Concomitant procedures were laparoscopic removal of both ovaries in 2 cases and pelvic lymphadenectomy in 1 case. The median length of operation was 45 minutes. In all cases, symptoms leading to trachelectomy resolved completely after surgery, and patients reported a significant improvement. Conclusions: The cervix, left behind at subtotal hysterectomy, requires removal, the vaginal route is probably the safest, and least traumatic. Vaginal radical trachelectomy appears to be feasible and safe for the treatment of endometrial malignancy discovered after supracervical hysterectomy.

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery:A novel gasless technique to hysterectomy

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery(vNOTES),as a minimally invasive surgery technique,applies CO_(2) for creating pneumoperitoneum,and uses a closed system to through smoke evacuation from a dedicated outlet or port.It has the potential to generate aerosol in the operation room,which can lead to an increased risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.This technical note introduces a new technique of gasless pure vNOTES to hysterectomy using silicone face mask as a modified vNOTES port.

Individualized vaginal applicator for stage IIb primary vaginal adenocarcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary vaginal cancer is rare and most vaginal tumors are metastatic,often arising from adjacent gynecologic structures.Primary vaginal cancers are also more common among postmenopausal women and most of these are squamous cell carcinomas,with adenocarcinomas being relatively rare.Vaginal bleeding is the most common clinical manifestation of vaginal adenocarcinoma.About 70%of vaginal adenocarcinomas are stage I lesions at the time of diagnosis,for which radical surgery is recommended.However,more advanced vaginal cancers are not amenable to radical surgical treatment and have poor clinical outcomes.Optimal treatments modes are still being explored.Here,we report a rare case of stage IIb primary vaginal adenocarcinoma for which an individually designed vaginal applicator for after-loading radiotherapy was used to achieve good tumor control.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old woman presented to our clinic after 3 months of abnormal postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.Gynecological examination,computed tomography(CT),and positron emission tomography-CT showed a large mass(about 5 cm)on the anterior vaginal wall.Colposcopy biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma of vaginal origin.After three cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel chemotherapy,the lesion partially shrunk.The patient then received external irradiation of 45 gray(gy)in 25 fractions,which further reduced the vaginal lesion,followed by after-loading radiotherapy of 30 gy in 5 fractions with an individually designed vaginal applicator.Three months later,magnetic resonance imaging showed a slight thickening CONCLUSION Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma is rare,and prognosis is poor in most vaginal cancers of locally advanced stages,which cannot be treated with radical surgery.Better tumor control can be achieved with an individualized vaginal applicator that allows administration of a higher radical dose to the tumor area while protecting normal tissues.

Predictive model for postpartum hemorrhage requiring hysterectomy in a minority ethnic region

BACKGROUND Postpartum hemorrhage(PPH)is a leading cause of maternal mortality,and hysterectomy is an important intervention for managing intractable PPH.Accurately predicting the need for hysterectomy and taking proactive emergency measures is crucial for reducing mortality rates.AIM To develop a risk prediction model for PPH requiring hysterectomy in the ethnic minority regions of Qiandongnan,China,to help guide clinical decision-making.METHODS The study included 23490 patients,with 1050 having experienced PPH and 74 who underwent hysterectomies.The independent risk factors closely associated with the necessity for hysterectomy were analyzed to construct a risk prediction model,and its predictive efficacy was subsequently evaluated.RESULTS The proportion of hysterectomies among the included patients was 0.32%(74/23490),representing 7.05%(74/1050)of PPH cases.The number of deliveries,history of cesarean section,placenta previa,uterine atony,and placenta accreta were identified in this population as independent risk factors for requiring a hysterectomy.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the prediction model showed an area under the curve of 0.953(95%confidence interval:0.928-0.978)with a sensitivity of 90.50%and a specificity of 90.70%.CONCLUSION The model demonstrates excellent predictive power and is effective in guiding clinical decisions regarding PPH in the ethnic minority regions of Qiandongnan,China.

Emergency Obstetric Hysterectomy in a Low Resources Country: An Eight-Year Retrospective Cohort Study from a Secondary Care Hospital in Niger

Introduction: Emergency obstetric hysterectomy (EOH) is a lifesaving procedure that is performed as a last resort in cases of severe postpartum haemorrhage. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, socio-demographic profile of patients, indications, management and maternal-fetal outcomes of EOH in a maternity hospital with limited resources in Niger. Methodology: This was an eight-year retrospective cohort study involving the analysis of medical records from patients who underwent emergency obstetric hysterectomies between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2022 at the Mother and Child Health Centre (MCHC) in Maradi, Niger. The epidemiological data, indications, and outcomes of EOH were collated and subjected to analysis using the statistical software package SPSS 21.0. Comparisons were made using the Chi-squared test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: During the study period, 239 cases of emergency obstetric hysterectomy were recorded out of 269,710 deliveries, representing a frequency of 0.89%. The mean age of the patients was 32.41 years (range: 17 - 50 years). The patients were identified as married (239 cases, 100%), unemployed (228 cases, 95.4%), and not attending school (215 cases, 90%). The largest number of cases were observed in large multiparous women (i.e., those with more than five children), representing 58.6% of the total number of cases (140 patients). The average parity among this group was 6.15 children. The majority of patients (229 patients, 95.82%) had undergone in utero transfer, with 169 patients (70.71%), originating from peripheral maternity units in the Maradi region. Upon admission, 116 patients (48.53%) exhibited active genital haemorrhage, while 58 patients (24.26%) were in shock. The primary indications for hysterectomy were uterine rupture (153 patients, 64%), uterine atony (77 patients, 32.2%), and placental accreta (six patients, 2.5%). Hysterectomy was performed by an obstetric gynaecologist (230 patients, 96.2%), an obstetric gynaecology resident (six patients, 2.5%), or a general practitioner with district surgical expertise (three patients, 1.3%). In the majority of cases (180 patients, 75.3%), total hysterectomy was performed. The incidence of maternal mortality (26 patients, 10.9%), and perinatal mortality (223 newborns, 93.4%) was notably elevated in our series. Conclusion: Our findings are in close alignment with those previously documented in the literature. The practice of emergency obstetric hysterectomy is a common occurrence in our region. It is considered a last resort when conservative procedures have failed or are not an option. Improved obstetric management would result in a reduction in the number of cases of haemostatic hysterectomy. The availability of blood products is expected to improve maternal prognosis.

Radical Hysterectomy in Cervical Cancer: Patients’ Epidemiological and Clinical Profiles and Perioperative Outcome in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most frequent cancers and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in Low and middle income countries, Cameroon inclusive. Surgery is the primary treatment modality when the disease is diagnosed at early stage. Radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer has not been evaluated in recent years in Cameroon. The purpose of this study is thus to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features and short term outcomes of patients who underwent surgery. Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Douala Gynaeco-obstetric and Pediatric Hospital and the Douala General Hospital. Cervical cancer patients who underwent Radical hysterectomy between January 2015 and December 2020 were included. A pre-established data collection tool was used to record socio-demographic, clinical and outcomes information from patients’ files;additional outcome information was obtained from phone calls. Descriptive analysis was done using the SPSS version 26. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between disease and patients characteristics and occurrence of adverse postoperative outcome. P value of 0.05 was considered. Results: Sixty one patients were enrolled. Their ages ranged from 33 to 74 years with a mean age of 51.95 ± 10.29 years. Over 85% of women were married, 65.57% were unemployed and 86.88% were multiparous. Only 28% had never done cervical cancer screening. Most patients had stage IB1 to IB2 stage disease (57.1%). Less than 9% underwent radical hysterectomy and 8 of those (13.11%) suffered intraoperative complications. Twenty-five patients (40.98%) presented immediate and short term complications. There was no significant association between the disease or patients’ characteristics and adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients are relatively young in our settings and only 9% of them reach the hospital at early stage. Postoperative adverse outcomes rate is higher than that reported in the literature. Sensitization on screening and awareness of early symptoms can reverse the situation.

A Clinical Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Oral Combination Kit Therapy in Syndromic Management of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge (FEMINE Study) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: Vaginal discharge is one of most common and nagging problems that women face. About 20% - 25% of women who visit gynecology department complain of vaginal discharge and leucorrhoea. An orally administered combination kit, containing 2 g secnidazole, 1 g azithromycin and 150 mg fluconazole (Azimyn FS Kit), has been successfully evaluated in clinical trials and used in several countries for management syndromic vaginal discharge due to infections. Methods: This is a longitudinal study which aimed to verify the clinical efficacy of the combined oral kit containing secnidazole, azithromycin and fluconazole (Azimyn FS Kit®) in the syndromic treatment of abnormal vaginal discharge in patients received in outpatient consultations in Kinshasa/DR Congo from March to September 2023. Results: Majority of patients had whitish vaginal discharge (51.6%) of average abundance (56.2%), accompanied by pruritus in 72.1% of cases, and dyspareunia in 23.5% of cases and hypogastralgia in 40.2% of cases. One week after treatment with the Azimyn FS® combined kit, at the greatest majority of patients (97.3%), abnormal vaginal discharge had decreased by more than 50% (84.1%). Two weeks after treatment with the Azimyn FS® combined kit, almost all patients (97.3%) no longer had abnormal vaginal discharge which had completely disappeared. Conclusion: A single dose of secnidazole, azithromycin and fluconazole in the form of an oral combi-kit (Azimyn FS Kit) has shown excellent therapeutic effectiveness in the syndromic treatment of abnormal vaginal discharge wherein patients were treated without diagnostic confirmation.

Application of Nursing Cooperation Path in Operating Room and Analysis of Complication Rate During Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Objective:To explore the clinical benefits achieved by implementing the operating room nursing cooperation path for patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods:64 laparoscopic hysterectomy cases were divided into groups according to the order of admission.The control group received routine perioperative care.The observation group implemented the nursing cooperation path in the operating room on the same basis as the control group.The two groups’physiological responses,stimulus indicators,anxiety,and complication rates were compared.Results:The heart rate,blood pressure 0.5 hours after surgery,anxiety scores 1 day before and 3 days after surgery,and the total number of complications in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The development of a nursing cooperation path in the operating room can help patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy reduce heart rate,blood pressure,stress responses,and the risk of complications,and is worthy of promotion.

Predictors of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge among Women of Reproductive Age in Southeast Nigeria

Background: An abnormal vaginal discharge is a common complaint among women of reproductive age, and it can indicate serious conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease and cervical cancer. This study aimed to assess the predictors of abnormal vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age group in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 women of reproductive age group attending the clinic at Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, in Imo State, Nigeria. Respondents were recruited using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine predictors of abnormal vaginal discharge. Statistical significance was set at p Results: The mean age of the respondents was 30 ± 4.5 years. Predictors of abnormal vaginal discharge were: age 36 - 45 years (OR: 4.5;95% C.I: 1.023 - 8.967, p = 0.041), being a student (OR: 2.4: 95% C.I: 1.496 - 7.336, p = 0.003), use of oral contraceptives (OR: 3.4;95% C.I: 1.068 - 6.932, p = 0.010), use of water cistern (OR: 4.7;C.I: 1.654 - 5.210, p = 0.028) anal hygiene practices (OR: 2.7;95% C.I: 1.142 - 4.809, p Conclusion: These findings suggest that targeted sexual and reproductive health interventions should be provided to reduce the risk of abnormal vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age group.

Study of Harmful Vaginal Practices of Women in the Municipality of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: Vaginal practices include washing, altering, cutting, cleaning, enhancing, drying, tightening, lubricating, or loosening of the vagina, labia, clitoris, or hymen. This study aimed to investigate the different vaginal practices of women using non-pharmaceutical products. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes that took place from January 15 to April 23, 2023, in the four largest markets in the municipality of Ouagadougou. This was performed using the data collection sheet in the KoboCollect application. Epi info 7.2.5.0. software was used for data analysis. For the analysis of associated factors, a p-value Results: In total, 977 women were surveyed. Among them, 43.19% underwent vaginal procedures using non-pharmaceutical products. The female practitioners were 34.34 ± 7.44 years old. The products used included plants, mineral substances, ointments, tablets, and solutions. Among the practicing women, 40.99% were looking for vaginal tightening. The main purpose was to maintain their partners (45.97%). Three-point thirty-two percent (3.32%) of the women who underwent vaginal procedures had reported adverse events. Conclusion: Raising awareness of the consequences of vaginal practices and encouraging women to go to a health center for any gynecological problem could significantly reduce the prevalence of vaginal practices.

Comparative Study of Early Neonatal Complications between the First and Second Twin during Twin Vaginal Deliveries at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, and the Yaounde Central Hospital

Introduction: Twin birth is the expulsion of two fetuses and their appendages out of the woman’s reproductive tract. It’s a high-risk delivery because of the high frequency of maternal, fetal and neonatal complications. Few studies exist on the comparative prognoses of twins. Our objective was to compare early neonatal complications in first and second twins. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional prospective study from January 2 to April 30, 2020 (4 months) at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, and the Yaounde Central Hospital. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were done in frequencies and percentages, means and standard deviations. Paired-sample student's t-test were used to compare means. McNemar’s Chi-square and Ficher’s exact tests were used to compare proportions. Statistical significance was set at p-values less than 0.05. Results: Of a total of 2183 deliveries during the study period, 43 (1.96%) were twin vaginal deliveries. Among the 43 women, 41 consented to have their newborns participate in the study. Overall, APGAR scores were better for the first twins at the first (p = 0.004) and fifth (p = 0.031) minutes than for the second twins. Although both twins had complications and that there were 4 neonatal deads of the second twin, there was no relationship between studied complications and the rank of the twin (p = 0.310). Conclusion: As the APGAR score seemed to be better for first twins, clinicians should pay more attention during twin births, in order to improve the prognosis of the second twin.

Postpartum Quality of Life in Primiparous Women after Normal Vaginal Delivery versus Caesarean Section

Background: Studies on either postnatal quality of life in general or studies that compare quality of life in new mothers after different mode of delivery are limited. An investigation on health related quality of life measures in women after different type of delivery showed that women who had vaginal delivery had better health related quality of life compared to those who had caesarean section. However, the best method of delivery, vaginal or caesarean for postpartum quality of life is a difficult question as it is a matter of controversy both from professional’s perspectives and from women’s experience during childbirth. Objective: To compare postpartum quality of life in primiparous women after vaginal delivery versus caesarean section. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Salmaniya medical complex in Kingdom of Bahrain. 500 primiparous women who gave birth either vaginally or by cesarean section answered a questionnaire designed to include general information, questions from short form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and specific questions regarding postnatal related symptoms. Results: Body pain, fatigue, wound pain, headache and backache were significantly higher in cesarean section group as compared to vaginal delivery group (p-value Conclusion: Cesarean delivery has negatively affected the quality of life (QOL) of primiparous women. More studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to examine the effects of cesarean delivery on QOL in both primiparous and multiparas within a shorter period after delivery. .

Risk Factors Associated with Unsuccessful Vaginal Birth after One Cesarean (VBAC-1) in Puerto Rico

Background: Cesarean section (CS) has increased steadily over the last decade, with an estimated one-third of women delivering by cesarean section worldwide. Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the demographic and associated factors influencing vaginal birth after one cesarean (VBAC-1) success focusing on variables like pre-pregnancy BMI, diabetes, hypertension, education, and smoking. Study Design and Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 285 cases (81 unsuccessful VBAC-1, 204 successful VBAC-1) from San Juan City Hospital (Puerto Rico) between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. We used odds ratios and model selection comparison to assess the impact of variables on successful VBAC-1, using a significance threshold of 95% CI. Model selection assessed binomial model combinations using a generalized linear approach to identify key risk factors. Results: Unsuccessful VBAC-1 (a repeat cesarean), was associated with diabetes (OR: 0.376, p = 0.086), hypertension (OR: 0.23, p = 0.006), and university-educated women (OR: 1.372, p = 0.711). High school-educated women had an OR of 3.966 (p = 0.105), while overweight women were 0.481 times more likely to have unsuccessful VBAC-1 (p = 0.041). Significant associations were not found with obesity (OR: 0.574, p = 0.122), underweight/normal (OR: 1.01, p = 0.810), or smoking (OR: 1.227, p = 0.990). Conclusion: Results revealed women with higher education levels, hypertension, or diabetes are less likely to have a successful VBAC-1. Understanding the complex interactions affecting these outcomes is aimed at establishing guidelines for healthcare professionals to conduct systematic risk/benefit assessments. This study lays a foundation for evidence-based practices and policies, offering initial insights into VBAC-1 success factors in Puerto Rico.