Arterial embolization is of significant value in treating obstetric hemorrhage. Prophylactic insertion of balloon catheters before cesarean section seems to be a safe and effective method in controlling anticipated bleeding. In patients with persistent bleeding following cesarean section and hysterectomy, embolization could be a primary procedure before re-surgery.

A prospective survey of 1091 Finnish parturients was conducted in order to ascertain mothers' expectations for labour pain relief, to measure the actual pain during all three stages of labour and to question their satisfaction and the adequacy of pain relief on the third day following delivery. Antenatal expectations for pain relief were surveyed. Mothers were questioned on pain levels in the delivery room and 3 days after giving birth. Pain levels were ascertained using a visual pain score method. Antenatally, 90% of all parturients anticipated a need for pain relief during labour. In the delivery room over 80% of all parturients described their pain as very severe to intolerable, only 4% of the multiparous had low pain scores (0-2). After pain treatment 50% of multiparous women still had pain scores from 8 to 10, which reflects a lack of effective pain relief. Dissatisfaction with the childbirth experience was very low, and was associated with instrumental deliveries, but not with the usage of analgesia. 51% of all parturients complained of inadequate pain relief during childbirth, which, in multiparous women, was significantly associated with the second stage of labour.

Arterial embolization is of significant value in treating obstetric hemorrhage. Prophylactic insertion of balloon catheters before cesarean section seems to be a safe and effective method in controlling anticipated bleeding. In patients with persistent bleeding following cesarean section and hysterectomy, embolization could be a primary procedure before re-surgery.

The efficacy of prophylactic ondansetron and droperidol in reducing postoperative nausea associated with laparoscopic surgery in female inpatients was similar, but ondansetron appeared to be slightly more efficient than droperidol in preventing vomiting. Ondansetron and droperidol were both significantly better than placebo in the prophylaxis of PONV.

No abstract