CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: As the rates of cesarean births have increased, the type of cesarean anesthesia has gained importance. Here, we aimed to compare the effects of general and spinal anesthesia on maternal and fetal outcomes in term singleton cases undergoing elective cesarean section. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial in a tertiary-level public hospital. METHODS: Our study was conducted on 100 patients who underwent cesarean section due to elective indications. The patients were randomly divided into general anesthesia (n = 50) and spinal anesthesia (n = 50) groups. The maternal pre and postoperative hematological results, intra and postoperative hemodynamic parameters and perinatal results were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Mean bowel sounds (P = 0.036) and gas discharge time (P = 0.049) were significantly greater and 24 th hour hemoglobin difference values (P = 0.001) were higher in the general anesthesia group. The mean hematocrit and hemoglobin values at the 24 th hour (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively), urine volume at the first postoperative hour (P < 0.001) and median Apgar score at the first minute (P < 0.0005) were significantly higher, and the time that elapsed until the first requirement for analgesia was significantly longer (P = 0.042), in the spinal anesthesia group. CONCLUSION: In elective cases, spinal anesthesia is superior to general anesthesia in terms of postoperative comfort. In pregnancies with a risk of fetal distress, it would be appropriate to prefer spinal anesthesia by taking the first minute Apgar score into account. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: NTR17990 RESUMOCONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Como as taxas de partos cesáreos aumentaram, o tipo de anestesia na cesariana ganhou importância. Comparamos os efeitos da anestesia geral e da raquianestesia sobre os resultados maternos e fetais em casos de gestação única e no termo, com cesariana eletiva. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Ensaio clínico prospectivo, randomizado e controlado, em hospital público terciário. MÉTODOS: Estudo realizado com 100 pacientes que se submeteram a cesariana por indicação eletiva. As pacientes foram divididos aleatoriamente em grupos recebendo anestesia geral (n = 50) e raquianestesia (n = 50). Resultados maternos hematológicos pré e pós-operatórios, variáveis hemodinâmicas intra e pós-operatórias e resultados perinatais foram comparados entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: As médias de ruídos intestinais (P = 0,036) e tempo de descarga de gás (P = 0,049) foram significativamente mais elevadas e os valores de diferença de hemoglobina na 24 a hora (P = 0,001) foram maiores no grupo anestesia geral. Os valores médios de hematócrito e hemoglobina na 24 a hora (P = 0,004 e P < 0,001, respectivamente), o volume de urina na primeira hora de pós-operatório (P < 0,001) e a pontuação mediana de Apgar no primeiro minuto (P < 0,0005) foram significativamente maiores, e o tempo até o primeiro requerimento de analgésicos também foi significativamente maior (P = 0,042) no grupo raquianestesia. C...

To determine the efficacy and safety of primary medical treatment with systemic methotrexate (MTX) in caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy, we conducted a Medline/PubMed search on the relevant English literature from January 1978 to January 2012. The search yielded 27 publications of 40 cases of caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy. The literature search showed a very liberal use of systemic MTX treatment with unfavourable outcomes, although the major determinant of the clinical efficacy was found in here to be β-hCG level together with embryonic cardiac activity (ECA) status. A caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy presented with a serum β-hCG concentration of ≤ 12,000 mIU/ml (odds ratio, OR 5.68, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.37-23.48) and absence of ECA (OR 4.80, 95% CI, 1.14-20.08) was found to be associated with higher efficacy rate of primary systemic MTX treatment. Administration of primary systemic MTX treatment was found to be ideal for a caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy presented before 8 weeks' gestation, with a β-hCG concentration of ≤ 12,000 mIU/ml together with an absent ECA (OR 14.52, 95% CI, 2.36-89.09).

Vaginal delivery with mediolateral episiotomy is not associated with urinary and/or fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction but associated with a decreased sexual functioning as well as sexual desire, arousal and orgasm within postpartum five years.

Although extensively applied in obstetrics practice to facilitate delivery by increasing the vaginal birth conduit, most episiotomy studies are in the context of short- or medium-term outcomes, and the number of studies investigating the long-term effects is insufficient. Episiotomy is often considered associated with urinary and/or anal incontinence and dyspareunia; however, there is no concrete evidence for this issue. Current meta-analyses and reviews that assessed the studies available in the literature revealed that episiotomy does not decrease the rates of urinary incontinence, perineal pain, and sexual dysfunction and that routine episiotomy does not prevent pelvic floor damage; thus, the recommended use of mediolateral episiotomy is restricted, rather than routine. According to the limited number of studies on sexual function, there seems to be a linear relationship between the degree of perineal laceration and postpartum dyspareunia. It is still not clear whether episiotomy has any impact on pelvic floor relaxation, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual dysfunction in the long term.

According to the results of our study, compared to elective cesarean delivery after 37 weeks of gestation, elective cesarean delivery at 37 weeks of gestation was associated with a statistically significant increase in neonatal mortality. Therefore, elective cesarean delivery should not be performed at 37 weeks of gestation and 39 weeks of gestation appears to be the ideal timing for elective cesarean delivery.