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Biomedical subjects

Hemantha Senanayake

Publications and source records attributed to Hemantha Senanayake.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in southern Asian women.

AIM: To compare fasting plasma glucose (FPG) against 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG), following a carbohydrate meal, for screening of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in southern Asian women with one or more risk factors. METHODS: A comparative study was conducted at a university obstetric unit in Sri Lanka. Two hundred and seventy one women undergoing oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to the WHO criteria of 1999 had a 2-h PPPG performed within the following week. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and correlation coefficients for predicting a diagnosis of GDM and areas under receiver-operator curves (ROC) were calculated for FPG and PPPG. The ability to predict GDM and to reduce the need for OGTT were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean period of gestation was 26.43 weeks (SD = 5.4) Seventy-five (27.7%) women were diagnosed with GDM. The optimal threshold for FPG was 4.4 mmol/L and for PPPG 4.7 mmol/L. At these, sensitivity was 92.0% and 90.7%, specificity 48.7% and 25.4% and the areas under the ROC 0.82 and 0.73 for FPG and PPPG, respectively. Nine (12%) women could be diagnosed as having GDM on the basis of the FPG being above the threshold. CONCLUSIONS: FPG is superior to 2-h PPPG for screening high-risk women for GDM. Nine women were diagnosed as having GDM on the basis of having an FPG above 7 mmol/L. FPG could reduce the number of OGTT needed by 40.9%, compared to 20.6% by PPPG. FPG is a less cumbersome and cost-effective screening test.

Adolescent↗

Psychological reactions and coping strategies of Sri Lankan women carrying fetuses with lethal congenital malformations.

INTRODUCTION: Termination of pregnancy is a popular option for pregnancies complicated by lethal congenital malformations (LCMs). In Sri Lanka, where abortion laws are restrictive, this is not available. We studied the psychological responses and coping strategies of women who had to continue their pregnancies knowing the baby had a LCM. SETTING: A teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative inquiry. METHOD: We conducted a semi-structured interview of 10 women whose fetuses were diagnosed to have a LCM. RESULTS: All women showed a grief reaction on hearing the news and were distressed about having to carry a futile pregnancy. Eight women were grateful they knew of the abnormality because it prepared them for the birth better, while the other two wished they had not known. They all found having to share facilities with 'normal' women to be painful. Seven women who received 'routine' antenatal care felt that the doctors were ill-equipped to deal with their situation. All felt that abortion should be legalised for LCMs. All engaged in religious rites believed to have miraculous powers, hoping that these will result in a normal baby. Two required specialised counselling. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of a LCM causes severe distress and psychological reactions, which the staff dealing with these women should be aware of. Ideally, they should be provided care with minimum contact with other women, taking into account the futility of the pregnancy. Engagement in religious rites, even though with unreal expectations, may possibly help them in the long term bereavement process.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Elective cesarean section without urethral catheterization.

AIM: To determine the feasibility and safety of carrying out elective lower-segment cesarean section without urethral catheterization. METHODS: A prospective comparative study was carried out at a private hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A pilot study involving 50 women was carried out to measure the volume of urine obtained at the beginning and at the end of cesarean section, using an indwelling catheter. In the main study, surgery was carried out without urethral catheterization on 344 women who had voided within the previous hour. RESULTS: The mean volume of urine collected at the beginning and at the end of surgery was 25.5 and 42.8 mL, respectively. This volume was calculated to be accommodated in spheres of 4.0 and 4.6 cm in diameter, respectively. In the main study, 73% had the bladder distended to a level <3 cm from the lower cut edge of the rectus sheath. In the remaining 27% it was above this level, but covered completely by Doyen's retractor. There were no cases of accidental cystotomy. The difference in the mean time taken for surgery in the two groups was not significant (P=0.30). Distress catheterization was required in two (0.58%). The rest voided after a mean of 8.76 h (SD=2.37). The majority (68.2%) voided in the toilet. The difference in the urinary infection rates between the two groups (6%vs 0.58%) was statistically significant (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cesarean section without urethral catheterization does not compromise the safety or ease of surgery. It reduces the risk of urinary infection.

Cesarean Section↗

Mid-trimester fracture of femur in a normal fetus.

We report a case of an intrauterine fracture of the femur detected at routine mid-trimester sonography in an otherwise normal fetus. There was no associated maternal trauma. At birth, callus formation was palpable and confirmed by radiography. Absence of further fractures despite normal childhood activity and other features precluded a diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia. Although such an event is extremely rare, the possibility of an intrauterine origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of battered baby syndrome presenting with a single fracture.

Adult↗