BackgroundBacterial meningitis in children is a life-threatening problem resulting in severe morbidity and mortality. For the prompt initiation of antibacterial therapy, rapid and reliable diagnostic methods are of utmost importance. Therefore, this study was designed to find out the rate of bacterial pathogens of meningitis from suspected cases by performing conventional methods and latex agglutination.MethodsA descriptive type of study was carried out from May 2012 to April 2013. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 252 suspected cases of meningitis were subjected for Gram staining, bacterial culture and latex agglutination test. The identification of growth of bacteria was done following standard microbiological methods recommended by American Society for Microbiology. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was done by modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.ResultsFrom the total 252 suspected cases, 7.2 % bacterial meningitis was revealed by Gram staining and culture methods whereas latex agglutination method detected 5.6 %. Gram-negative organisms contributed the majority of the cases (72.2 %) with Haemophilus influenzae as the leading pathogen for meningitis. Overall, 33.3 % mortality rate was found.ConclusionsIn conclusion, a significant rate of bacterial meningitis was found in this study prompting concern for national wide surveillance.

Background: Aims of this study was to assess the caesarean section rate and identify the indications contributing to the same using the Robson’s Ten Group Classification System at Kathmandu Model Hospital.Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at Kathmandu Model Hospital among women who underwent caesarean section from 1 January to 31 December, 2018 and were grouped according to Ten Group Classification System. The overall caesarean section rate and the contribution of each group was calculated.Results: The overall caesarean section rate was 66.1% (494 among 747 total deliveries) in 2018. Nullipara, singleton cephalic, >= 37 weeks, spontaneous labor (Group 1) was the major (24.2%) contributor to the overall caesarean section rate followed by previous caesarean section, singleton cephalic, >=37 weeks (Group 5, 22.6%) and nullipara, singleton cephalic, >=37 weeks, induced or caesarean section before labor (Group 2, 18.8%). Also, the caesarean section rate was 49.5% in nullipara, thus increasing the trend of caesarean section for previous caesarean section in future.Conclusions: Efforts must be focused more on Group 1, 2 and 5 to decrease the increasing trend of caesarean section Promoting vaginal delivery in nullipara and facilitating vaginal birth after caesarean are the most relevant areas of intervention. Keywords: Caesarean section; Robson ten group classification system; vaginal birth after caesarean.

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse includes descent of anterior/ posterior wall and apical (vault) prolapse with significant morbidity. In this study we evaluated the outcome of sacrospinous ligament fixation of vault through vaginal approach as part of the repair for massive uterovaginal (pelvic organ prolapse stage III and stage IV) and vault prolapse.Methods: This study on sacrospinous ligament fixation along with repair for Pelvic organ prolapse at Kathmandu Model Hospital from November 2016 to April 2018 was done to assess the outcome in terms of early (during hospital stay) and delayed (six months) post-operative complications and need of removal of sacrospinous fixation suture and recurrence of vault prolapse. Results: Out of 95 Pelvic organ prolapse patients, 80 (84%) were post-menopausal, 28 (29.4%) were in the age group of 70-79 years. There were 61 (64%) POPQ stage III. The post-operative complications during post-operative hospital stay were pain over right buttock in 42 (44%), urinary retention in 7 (7%) and UTI in7 (7%). Sacrospinous suture was released in two patients for severe pain over right buttock. At one-week follow-up, 35 (36%) had right buttock pain of moderate severity and 8 (8%) had vaginal cuff infection. Sacrospinous suture was removed in one patient for neuropraxia two weeks following surgery. At four weeks follow-up, 25 (26%) patients had mild right buttock pain relieved by oral NSAIDs on need. At six months follow-up, five had occasional buttock pain, six had some recurrences and two had some vault prolapse and one each had short vagina and stress incontinence. Conclusions: Sacrospinous ligament fixation is a good procedure for the management of Pelvic organ prolapse with better long-term outcome if performed with good surgical expertise.

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the world and Nepal is no exception. The pandemic has caused a reduction in health service delivery, especially for women’s health conditions, resulting in an increase in challenges for an already vulnerable group. Maternity care, reproductive health services, preventive interventions, nutritional advice and mental health care are not being addressed and with an increase in domestic violence, the health and wellbeing of women in Nepal is precarious and needs to be addressed immediately.

Background: Amniotic fluid provides necessary fluid and growth factors for normal development of fetal lungs, cushions the umbilical cord from compression and protects the fetus. This study aims to compare the perinatal outcome between pregnancy with borderline and normal Amniotic Fluid Index that provide greatest chance for appropriate safe delivery with least maternal fetal and neonatal risk.Methods: A total of 94 singleton full term pregnant women were included in the study-at Kathmandu Model Hospital from February to August 2020. Forty Seven women each with Amniotic Fluid Index 5-8 cm was taken as borderline oligohydramnios group and Amniotic Fluid Index 8.1-24 cm was taken as normal group. Ultrasonography was taken as the medium for measuring Amniotic Fluid Index.Results: The rate of intra-partum fetal distress, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, low birth weight and neonatal intensive care unit admission were not statistically significant between the two groups while rate of cesarean section was noted to be 76.6% in exposed groups as compared to 44.7% among women with non-exposed normal group [RR=1.71; 95%CI: 1.2-2.44 p=0.006]. Conclusions: We concluded that in cases of borderline oligohydramnios there was higher risk of operative delivery.Keywords: Adverse perinatal outcome; amniotic fluid; borderline oligohydramnios; meconium-stained amniotic fluid