Biomedical subjects

D S Wacha

Publications and source records attributed to D S Wacha.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1983

A review of urinary fistulae in a university teaching hospital.

An 8-year study of urinary fistulae from 1974 to 1981 was done in the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. The analysis revealed no significant decrease in the number of urinary fistulae referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University during the period. Of 61 cases reviewed, 54 were consequent to obstetrical trauma of prolonged labor and superimposed operation or instrumentation. Four fistulae occurred as a complication of gynecologic surgery, while three originated from advanced malignancy of the cervix. Operative management of fistulae is discussed. Further reorganization of rural maternity services in Zambia is suggested as a preventive measure.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Syphilis in pregnant women in Zambia.

Because of the high incidence of congenital syphilis at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, the potential risks of congenital infection and fetal loss due to syphilis were assessed by screening 202 antenatal patients, 340 pregnant women admitted to the hospital whose pregnancies ended in either spontaneous abortion or stillbirth, and 469 consecutive babies delivered at the hospital. Primary serological screening was performed with the rapid plasma reagin test, and reactive sera were confirmed by the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test. In all cases detailed histories were obtained and patients were examined for clinical signs of syphilis. The TPHA test result was reactive in 12.5% of antenatal patients and in 42% of women who aborted in the later half of pregnancy. Among 469 consecutive babies delivered at the hospital, 30 had reactive results to the TPHA test; of these two were stillborn and four had signs of congenital syphilis at birth. Thus, syphilis appears to affect adversely an appreciably high number of pregnant women in Zambia. For this reason a special campaign to screen adequately and treat pregnant women and neonates is needed.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The treatment of trichomonal vaginitis using single dose tinidazole (Fasigyn-Pfizer).

A total of twenty eight patients living in a around the City of Lusaka, Zambia were subjected to a drug trial to determine the effect of a single oral dose of Tinidazole (Fasigyn Pfizer) in the treatment of Trichomonal Vaginitis. All the twenty eight patients were proven cases of Trichomonal Vaginitis from microscopy of cervical smears. Two grammes of Fasigyn were used as a single oral dose with yeast as Placebo. Twenty patients were originally treated with Fasigyn and eight received yeast. However two patients in the Fasigyn group absconded, but one later reported satisfactory results. The husbands of two others were untreated. Four patients had other vaginal infections. A microscopic cure rate of 100% and a corrected clinical cure rate of 93.3% was obtained using fasigyn. The side effects were minimal and the patients themselves regarded them as mild.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Obstetrical performance in elderly Zambian parturients.

The Obstetrical performance of elderly parturients (aged 40 and above) who delivered at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka during 1979 and 1980, has been analysed. There were 39,109 deliveries in the two years period, out of which 391 mothers were of 40 years or above, giving an incidence of 1.0%. There were 32 mothers above the age of 45, an incidence of 0.08%. Analysis of these mothers revealed that 87.2% of them were grand multipara with maximum parity of 16. Incidence of breech, toxaemia, malpresentation and multiple pregnancy were observed in the series but there was no maternal death recorded in the present study. History of abortion in previous pregnancies ranging from 1 to 5 was noted in 43 cases. Operative deliveries were noted in 22% cases, out of which 13% were delivered by caesarean section and 9% had to undergo operative vaginal interference. In the foetal outcome, high rates of prematurity (71/1,000) and perinatal death (138/1,000) were noted. Relations of birth weights, age and parity of mothers with preventable factors are discussed.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Spontaneous rupture of the liver during pregnancy.

Spontaneous rupture of the liver, a rare but grave complication of pregnancy merits attention of an obstetrician. It is important to stress that proper antenatal care, prompt hospitalization with effective treatment at first alarming sign of preeclampsia and early induction of labour when medically indicated may prevent such a grave complication. The aim of this paper is to promote earlier diagnosis with massive fluid and blood replacement in order to decrease the mortality. It also forms the research bases for liver function tests in all those patients with essential hypertension or persistent toxaemia. The literature is reviewed briefly.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of cervical cytology in gynaecological practice.

Exfoliative cytopathology is a potent tool for the early detection and thereby eradication of cervical cancer and reducing mortality for many others. Besides, it has a vital role to play in diagnosis and therapy of infections specially trichomoniasis for which it gives a permanent record. The simplicity and rapidity of the technique is the greatest advantage for screening a wider group of population and thus guide us toward further diagnostic procedures.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Triplet pregnancy in Lusaka.

A series of 8 triplet sets during the year 1980 at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, has been analysed. The incidence was 1:2980 hospital deliveries. Age or parity of the mother did not appear to have any influence on foetal survival, in contrast to the birth weight and foetal presentation at the time of delivery. First triplet baby seemed to have a better chance of survival as compared to second and third triplet babies. There was prepondence of female babies. The corrected perinatal mortality was 273/1000 live births which is significantly high.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Foetus papyraceus.

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Abortion, Missed↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Eclampsia in Lusaka.

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Adolescent↗