A retrospective audit was conducted at the Rotunda hospital, Dublin to assess the incidence of partial molar pregnancies and complete molar pregnancies over a 10-year period from the 1st of January 1997 to 31 of December 2006. Methods Records from the pathology department were accessed for the number of molar pregnancies from 1997 to 2006. Each pathology result was then retrieved to differentiate between complete moles and partial moles. The annual reports published by the hospital were used to obtain the number of deliveries and live births per year. Results The incidence of partial molar pregnancies at the Rotunda Hospital from 1997 to 2006 was 1 in 328 live births. The incidence of complete molar pregnancies from 1997 to 2006 was 1 in 1105 live births. The incidence of a molar pregnancy in the study period was 1:253. Conclusion The incidence of a molar pregnancy was estimated to be 1: 512 in 1993 and was 1: 253 in this study, indicating a significant rise. The incidence of complete and partial molar pregnancies has also doubled. The Rotunda hospital caters to a large proportion of Dublin's noncaucasian population which might account for an increase. But it is still possible that there is an over diagnosis of cases as diagnosis is only by histology and flow cytometry is not routinely performed in all cases.

ObjectiveTo assess the effect on healing and pain‐associated behaviours of covering exposed sinuses after horn amputation under extensive production conditions in northern Australia.MethodsHorned, weaned Brahman‐cross heifers (n = 50) aged approximately 6 months were alternately allocated to have their dehorning wounds either patched with a dry, non‐sterile gauze swab or left untreated. Adherence of swabs and growth rates, healing and pain‐associated behaviour were monitored for 88 days post‐surgery.ResultsHalf of the patches were lost by 24 h post‐surgery, with most of the rest falling off 2–6 weeks later. Patching resulted in healing 5.5 days earlier (P = 0.018). Sealing of exposed frontal sinuses occurred in most heifers within 3 weeks and full healing occurred within 13 weeks. Patching reduced haemorrhage (P < 0.01) regardless of when the patches were dislodged, prevented insect invasion of the wound and reduced the incidence of secondary infection (P < 0.01). Wound patches did not affect behaviour in the weeks following surgery. In the days after surgery, the heifers did not eat and showed a high incidence of behaviours indicating pain. Behaviour was relatively normal by 2 weeks after surgery, although the heifers avoided social interaction with other unbranded calves for 4 weeks.ConclusionThe application of gauze swabs to dehorning wounds advanced healing, reduced the incidence of haemorrhage and secondary infections, and may reduce deaths. Efficacy is expected to improve if high rates of 24‐h retention of patches can be achieved. The prolonged time to healing and the pain‐associated behaviours highlight the need for better welfare of dehorned calves through improvements in analgesia, surgical procedures and post‐surgical care.

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