BACKGROUND Cardiomyopathy associated with pregnancy was first described more than half a century ago. However, because of its rare occurrence and geographical differences, the clinical profile of this condition has remained incompletely defined. METHODS AND RESULTS Data obtained from 123 women with a history of cardiomyopathy diagnosed during pregnancy or the postpartum period were reviewed. ...

BACKGROUND AND METHODS Clinical and microbiological features of maternal sepsis in the peripartum period (7 days before to 7 days after delivery) were analyzed to determine possible risk factors, optimal treatment and outcome. In 43 483 deliveries during 1990-98, laboratory-confirmed bacteremia was found in 41 (5.1%) out of 798 clinically suspected septic infections. RESULTS Preterm deliverie...

INTRODUCTION Emergency peripartum hysterectomy, a maker of severe maternal morbidity and near miss mortality is an inevitable surgical intervention to save a woman's life when uncontrollable obstetric haemorrhage complicates delivery. This study was conducted in order to determine the incidence, types, indications and maternal complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy at the University...

BACKGROUND Intra-abdominal packing is a possible option for persistent bleeding following hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage. However, to date, only very limited data about maternal outcome after intra-abdominal packing for surgically uncontrolled hemorrhage following hysterectomy are available. The objective of the current study was to estimate maternal outcome after intra-abdominal packin...

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. The current definition of peripartum cardiomyopathy only includes patients with systolic dysfunction. We describe a 25-year-old nulligravid patient with heart failure, i.e. left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with preserved systolic dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy. She complained of dyspnea an...