The Patient With Obstructed Labour (A Review Article)

Abstract

Advanced obstructed labour is probably the leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality in the West African sub region. Options for delivery of the patient are destructive operations on the fetus, abdominal delivery or symphysiotomy followed by vaginal extraction. Uterine rupture in the multiparous patient is a frequent complication. The operative treatment options of repair or hysterectomy should be individualized. The puerperal complications include anaemia, sepsis, the development of vesicouterine or vesico vagina fistulae and neonatal complications. Early referral of cases of prolonged labour from peripheral to tertiary centers is advocated. Followed by extraction vaginally, abdomenial.

KEY WORDS: Advanced obstructed labour, Destructive, operations, Hysterectomy, Sepsis.

Journal of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol. 4: 2003: 30-41