PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Wiebe

Publications and source records attributed to E Wiebe.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Regimens of misoprostol with mifepristone for early medical abortion: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, adverse effects and acceptability of the three most common misoprostol regimens used with mifepristone for medical abortion. DESIGN: Randomised nonblinded trial. SETTING: Three clinics associated with major research universities in Canada; two in major urban areas and one in a periurban area. POPULATION: Women of reproductive age. METHODS: Consenting women presenting for abortion services with gestations less than 56 days and who met inclusion criteria were given 200 mg mifepristone orally and then randomised into three misoprostol study groups: (group I) 400 micrograms of oral misoprostol, (group II) 600 micrograms of oral misoprostol, and (group III) 800 micrograms of vaginal misoprostol. Misoprostol was self-administered at home 24-48 hours following mifepristone, and participants were instructed to take a second similar misoprostol dose at 24 hours after the initial dose if bleeding was less than a normal menstrual period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Successful abortion without surgery was 94.1%, with no significant differences across the three study groups (94.7% in group I, 93.4% in group II, and 94.3% in group III; P= 0.975). RESULTS: Efficacy and adverse effects did not differ significantly across the three study groups. Pain increased significantly across the study and the gestational age groups and was associated with lower acceptability. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a range of safe and effective options for early medical abortion with mifepristone including a choice between oral and vaginal administration of misoprostol.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed2001

Pain control in medical abortion.

OBJECTIVES: In patients having medical abortions with methotrexate and misoprostol: (1) to determine if giving ibuprofen or acetaminophen plus codeine with misoprostol (prior to onset of pain) prevented severe pain; and (2) to determine if there were predictors of medical abortion pain. METHODS: A group of 281 women randomized to receive placebo, ibuprofen or acetaminophen with codeine. This was taken at home with the misoprostol 4-6 days after the methotrexate. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the three groups with respect to age, gestational age, parity, anxiety, depression, worst period pain score, and ethnicity. There was no significant difference with respect to rates of severe pain scores. The mean pain score for the entire group was 6.2 on a scale of 0 to 10. Severe pain (scores of 9 or 10) were reported by 23.4% of women and in this group, the mean maternal age was lower (P=0.05), parity was lower (P=0.01), worst period pain scores were higher (P=0.001), anxiety scores were higher (P=0.05) and satisfaction was lower (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The pain experienced in medical abortion causes significant distress and more research is needed to reduce it.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2001

Cost savings from emergency contraceptive pills in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate cost savings from emergency contraceptive pills in Canada. METHODS: We modeled cost savings when a single emergency contraceptive treatment was provided after unprotected intercourse and when women were provided emergency contraceptive pills in advance. RESULTS: Each dollar spent on a single treatment saved $1.19--$2.35 (in Canadian currency), depending on the regimen and on assumptions about savings from costs avoided by preventing mistimed births. The dedicated products Preven (Shire Canada, Inc., Oakville, Ontario) and Plan B (Paladin Labs, Inc., Montreal) were cost-saving even under the least favorable assumption that mistimed births prevented today occur 2 years later. Each dollar spent on advance provision of Preven saved $1.24--$12.23, depending on the regular contraception method, on how consistently emergency contraception was used when needed, and on whether mistimed births were averted forever or simply delayed. Plan B was almost always cost-saving, although less so. CONCLUSION: Emergency contraception was cost-saving whether provided when the emergency occurred or in advance to be used as needed. More extensive use of emergency contraception could save considerable medical costs by reducing unintended pregnancies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Cause of distress.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1999

Examination for sexual assault: is the documentation of physical injury associated with the laying of charges? A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined whether there is an association between individual medical findings and legal outcome in cases of sexual assault. This study was undertaken to determine the relation between the extent of documented physical injury and a positive legal outcome in cases of sexual assault and to determine other factors associated with the laying of charges in such cases. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the authors reviewed the charts and medicolegal reports for all cases of sexual assault that were handled by the BC Women's Sexual Assault Service in 1992 for which a police report had been filed. Information on patients' characteristics, the nature of the assault and the extent of injury was extracted from these records. A system for scoring clinical injury was developed by 4 of the physicians at the Sexual Assault Service, and a clinical injury score was assigned for each case by one physician. The relation between the outcome (in terms of whether charges were laid) and the circumstances of the case was examined by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 95 cases with complete medical records and information about legal outcome were identified during the 1992 calendar year. After adjustment for income level and the patient's knowledge of the assailant (either as an acquaintance or as his or her partner), the odds ratio (OR) for charge-laying in a sexual assault case with documented moderate to severe injury was 3.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-10.42). Socioeconomic status above the group median (defined as annual income greater than $21,893) (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.09-9.71) and knowledge of the assailant (OR 4.58, 95% CI 1.52-13.79) were also associated with charge-laying. Presence of genital injury per se, age of the patient and detection of sperm by microscopy at the time of examination were not associated with the laying of charges. INTERPRETATION: The results of this study show that the extent of documented injury is associated with the laying of charges in cases of sexual assault. However, many questions remain about the effectiveness of the medical component of gathering such evidence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Methotrexate and misoprostol for early abortion in adolescent women.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Investigate the potential effectiveness, side effects, and acceptability of medical abortion in female adolescents. DESIGN: Multicenter cohort study. SETTING: Magee-Womens Hospital (Pittsburgh, PA) and University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada). PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five pregnant adolescents less than 18 years old up to 49 days' gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Methotrexate, 50 mg/m2 intramuscularly, followed 5 to 6 days later by misoprostol, 800 micrograms vaginally, self-administered at home. Misoprostol administration was repeated by a doctor if abortion did not occur within 1 or 2 days. Acceptability was assessed before methotrexate injection and at follow-up 5 weeks later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Successful abortion (complete abortion without requiring a surgical procedure), immediate success (abortion within 24 hours of initial or repeat misoprostol administration), and acceptability. RESULTS: Complete abortion occurred in 24 of 25 (96%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 88%-100%) subjects. Immediate success abortion occurred in 23 (92%; 95% CI, 81%-100%) of these young women; the remaining subject who aborted did so on study day 10. The single failure was an incomplete abortion. Of the 23 participants who completed the follow-up acceptability evaluation, 4 (17%) believed that the process was a negative experience; 83% of participants would choose this same method again for a future abortion if needed and would recommend this method to a friend. Those who would not try this method again were without support of another individual at the time of the abortion. CONCLUSIONS: This medical abortion regimen is effective in adolescents. The overall acceptability in adolescents is similar to that reported for women 18 years of age or older. To minimize the likelihood of a negative experience with this abortion method in adolescents, home support for these patients should be evaluated during pretreatment counseling.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1999

Inhibition of arteriosclerosis by T-cell depletion in normocholesterolemic rabbits immunized with heat shock protein 65.

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that arteriosclerotic changes can be induced in normocholesterolemic rabbits by immunization with mycobacterial heat shock protein (hsp) 65. To further investigate the immunologic mechanisms underlying such vascular lesions, 39 male New Zealand White rabbits were treated by triple immunization with fortified Freund's complete adjuvant containing 5 mg/mL Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a source of hsp65 and simultaneous immunosuppressive therapy twice per week with either anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (1 mg/kg) and prednisolone (1 mg/kg) or prednisolone (1 mg/kg) alone. Sixteen weeks after the first immunization the animals were killed, and as expected, severe arteriosclerotic lesions in the intima of the aortic arch were found in 9 of 10 immunized rabbits. However, only 1 of 10 rabbits immunized and immunosuppressed with the combined anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and prednisolone treatment showed a single moderate lesion in the aorta, whereas 5 of 9 rabbits immunized and immunosuppressed by prednisolone treatment alone showed lesions, albeit mild. In conclusion, the early inflammatory stages of arteriosclerotic lesions induced by immunization with hsp65 can be inhibited by immunosuppressive therapy with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Conservative management of spontaneous abortions. Women's experiences.

OBJECTIVE: To describe women's experiences with expectant management of spontaneous abortions. DESIGN: Descriptive survey using questionnaires with fixed-choice and open-ended questions. The latter were analyzed for themes, using qualitative methods. SETTING: Urban and suburban private primary care family practices. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of family practice patients (59 of 80 eligible) pregnant for less than 12 weeks who had spontaneous abortions without surgery. Response rate was 84.7%; 50 questionnaires were received from the 59 women. METHOD: Women were asked about their physical experiences, including amount of pain and bleeding; emotional effects; their satisfaction with medical care; and their suggestions for improving care. MAIN FINDINGS: The mean worst pain experienced during a spontaneous abortion on an 11-point scale was 5.9. Bleeding varied, but was often very heavy. Satisfaction rate was 92.9% with family physician care and 84.6% with hospital care. Women described the emotional effect of "natural" spontaneous abortions and made recommendations for improving care. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the physical and emotional experiences of the women in this study might help physicians better prepare and support patients coping with expectant management of spontaneous abortions.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1999

Reducing surgery in management of spontaneous abortions. Family physicians can make a difference.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of physician and patient education in reducing the rate of surgery in management of spontaneous abortions in family practice. DESIGN: A before-after intervention trial. SETTING: Urban and suburban family doctors' practices in greater Vancouver, BC. PARTICIPANTS: Family practice patients (56 physicians contributed 417 patients) who had spontaneous abortions between June 1997 and August 1998. INTERVENTIONS: Seminars for doctors and educational pamphlets for patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of surgeries, and rates of referrals and complications. RESULTS: In the 2 years before the intervention, the rate of surgery was 45.8% (n = 299); after, it was 32.2% (n = 118). No transfusions were required. Before the intervention, 17% of women had hemorrhages; after, 13%. Rates of infection were 3.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Rates of referral to gynecologists were 54.0% and 40.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients of family doctors who attended seminars and agreed to join the study had significantly reduced rates of surgery after spontaneous abortions. Rates of referral for these patients were also lower, and there was no increase in complications.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1998

Management of spontaneous abortion in family practices and hospitals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We performed two retrospective chart surveys, the first of 200 consecutive hospital emergency visits for spontaneous abortion and the second in 33 family physicians' offices examining 245 patients with spontaneous abortions. This study determined the rate of surgical management of spontaneous abortions within family practices and hospitals, as well as the rate of referrals and complications. METHODS: In the retrospective chart surveys, the information collected included the number of spontaneous abortions, dilation and curettages (D&Cs), referrals, and complications. RESULTS: Of the women presenting to the hospitals, 92.5% had D&Cs, while 51% of the women presenting to family physicians had D&Cs. Of the women presenting to the hospitals, 99.5% were referred to gynecologists, compared with 41% of the family practice patients. Hemorrhage occurred in 4.6% of the hospital patients and 2% of the family practice patients. Infection occurred in 6% of the hospital patients and .8% of the family practice patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with spontaneous abortions who saw their family physicians were more likely to be managed conservatively than those seen in the hospitals. There was no increase in complications in the conservatively managed patients.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1994

Fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation. Only recently has it been possible to detect all carriers and transmitters. We review the syndrome and discuss the pedigree of a large fragile X family. Family doctors should identify cases in their practices so genetic counseling can be offered to the families.

Family Practice↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized trial of aromatherapy to reduce anxiety before abortion.

CONTEXT: Interest in the use of alternative therapies to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing medical interventions is increasing. We sought to assess the effectiveness of aromatherapy involving essential oils in reducing preoperative anxiety in women undergoing abortions. SETTING: An urban, free-standing abortion clinic in Vancouver, BC. PATIENTS: 66 women waiting for surgical abortions. DESIGN: A double blind, randomized trial. INTERVENTION: Ten minutes spent sniffing a numbered container with either a mixture of the essential oils vetivert, bergamot, and geranium (treatment arm) or a hair conditioner (placebo). OUTCOME MEASURES: Anxiety was measured before and after the intervention by using a verbal anxiety scale from 0 to 10. RESULTS: The anxiety score was reduced by 1.0 point (5.0 to 4.0) in the aromatherapy group and by 1.1 points (6.1 to 5.0) in the placebo group (P = 0.71). The 95% CI on the 0.1 greater decrease in anxiety for the placebo group extends from 0.55 less (favors aromatherapy) to 0.75 greater (favors placebo). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy involving essential oils is no more effective than having patients sniff other pleasant odors in reducing preprocedure anxiety.

Abortion, Induced↗