Background: Eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and consequent foetal mortality in India. Studies on the histology of eclampsia are relatively uncommon, more so in the eastern region of India. The present study therefore is an attempt to analyse the changes which occur in placentae of eclamptic mothers with the help of light microscope as it is considered to be the epicentre of the disease. These findings are useful to understand the pathology of the killer disease and improve morbidity and mortality.Methods: 60 cases were selected for the study. 30 were non-eclamptic and 30 were eclamptic. Abnormalities in blood vessels, villi and basement membrane of placentae were searched for after routine H and E staining.Results: Eclamptic cases recorded with higher incidences of fibrinoid necrosis of villi, cytotrophoblastic proliferation, increased syncytial knots, hypo vascular villi and thickening of basement membrane. Non-eclamptic cases recorded only fibrinoid necrosis. Other features were not observed in the latter cases.Conclusions: Light microscopic changes observed in eclamptic placentae may contribute to the pathogenesis of the condition and serve as the baseline for further studies.

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is the procedure of choice for infraumbilical surgery worldwide. This is usually very easy in young patients but fraught with difficulties in the elderly. Such difficulties may lead to pain, haematoma and infection, all of which pose a significant risk in the elderly. Hence it is imperative to study the common causes of such problems faced during introduction of the spinal needle for the same This will ensure a better management of the problem. The study was done to assess the impact of height, weight and BMI on the ease of introduction of spinal needle for anaesthesia in patients above 65 years of age.Methods: A 500 patients above 65 years of age were selected for the study based on some well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The time period for the study was 1 year. Their height, weight and BMI were then recorded. Then the number of redirections and level (s) required for successful placement of spinal needle were noted for each patient. ≤3 redirections and <1 levels were considered as easy placement of spinal needle. The latter were tabulated separately against the height, weight and BMI of each patient. Relevant statistical tests were also done to ascertain the significance of the findings.Results: Patients with lesser height, weight and BMI took <3 redirections and <1 level for placement of spinal needle and these were statistically significant.Conclusions: Spinal anaesthesia is relatively easy in elderly patients with lesser height, weight and BMI.

Purpose: Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition for the mother. Disruptions of the fallopian tube are considered to be important in its pathogenesis. The present study was conducted to observe the histopathology of this dreaded disease which could lead to the development of suitable remedies. Methods: Cases diagnosed with ectopic gestation in the fallopian tube who subsequently underwent salpingectomy were considered for the study. Histopathology of sections from the affected fallopian tubes was studied under the light microscope after staining with H and E. Results: Most cases presented with amenorrhoea, whereas others had dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, and menometrorrhagia. Histopathologic findings included the presence of salpingitis (acute and chronic), calcification, sclerosed vessel and. Conclusion: Past history of inflammatory diseases, especially PID plays an important role in the subsequent development of ectopic pregnancy. Its prevention and treatment can lead to a decrease in the incidence of ectopic pregnancy.