AIM OF THE STUDYTo identify infection rates and risk factors associated with Surgical Site Infection (SSI) following Caesarean Section.

INTRODUCTIONIn developing countries Cervical cancer is the commonest cancer causing death among women. 2,3 One in every five women suffering from cervical cancer belongs to India. Cervical cancer is the 2nd leading female cancer in India with 122,844 new cases diagnosed annually and about 67,477 cervical cancer deaths annually. 4 In the developed countries, successful implementation of prevention and screening programme has decreased both incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. But, in developing countries, over 80% of women with cervical cancer are still diagnosed at an advanced stage, which is significantly associated with poor prognosis.5 Barriers to effective ABSTRACT Background: Cervical cancer is a major health problem in rural India. Barriers to cervical cancer control in our country include a lack of awareness of the disease because of illiteracy, poverty, lack of health education and screening programme. The aim of the study was the clinical profile of women diagnosed with cervical carcinoma in a tertiary care centre in the middle part of Kerala in South India.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government medical college Thrissur for a period of two years from January 2014 to December 2016. The characteristics of patient (age, age at menarche and at marriage, parity, reproductive history, place of residence, income, education status, contraception, screening details, clinical presentation and tumor histopathology and stage were obtained. Data was entered in Excel and analysed. Results: Among7224 new patients seeking care from the department, 104 new cases of carcinoma of uterine cervix were identified (0.71%). Mean age was 58.3±8.4 years. 79% women were from rural area. 73% were illiterate, 88.5% belonged to below poverty line (BPL). Post-menopausal bleeding was the commonest clinical presentation (78.8%). Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest histologic type (88.5%). 50% had first coitus before age of twenty. 94.3% were not aware of any screening procedures and its importance. 67.31% of cases presented in the advanced stage (stage 2B-1V). 75.81% of late stage disease patients were rural population. 96.77% of late stage disease patients were from below poverty line. Conclusions: Carcinoma cervix is more in the low socioeconomic class and rural elderly presented at an advanced stage. Ignorance about the disease and the lack of awareness of the risk factors, need and availability of screening programmes at low cost in Government health care systems was noteworthy. Government health care policies, health education, effective cancer prevention strategies and early cancer detection programmes are yet to reach the outskirts of rural population in Kerala.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disease associated with significant maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Abnormalities in lipid profile have been reported as a feature of the disease. Our aim was to detect the serum lipid profile abnormalities in primigravid women with preeclampsia and its impact on severity of the disease and maternal morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective case-control study was conducted with pregnant subjects presenting to the Obstetric Unit of Government Medical College, Thrissur during the period of 1st June 2013 to 31 st May 2014. Study group included 100 primigravidae with preeclampsia between 18 and 40 years of age with singleton pregnancy with gestational age between 24 weeks to term. Control group consisted of 100 matched normotensive pregnant primigravidae. Multipara, multiple gestations, pre-existing hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, women taking any drugs which may influence lipid profile were excluded. Assessment of fasting serum lipid profile (12 hrs. fasting) levels of both study and control group was done using fully automated random clinical biochemistry analysers-Erba Manheim XL-640. Women with preeclampsia were grouped into mild and severe preeclampsia. Comparison of fasting serum lipid profile between those with mild and severe preeclampsia was made. Serum fasting serum lipid profile was analysed in women with complications like abruption, HELLP and eclampsia. Their demographic and clinical characteristics were used to generate a database for analysis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data was analysed using Epi info version 7. The data is presented descriptively, providing the number of women, mean with standard deviation. The differences between study group and controls were analysed using t-test for continuous variables. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Background: HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome which is a variant form of severe preeclampsia is an important cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The importance lies in the early diagnosis and timely intervention for better fetal and maternal outcome. The objective of this study was to assess the maternal and fetal outcome in pregnancies complicated with HELLP syndrome.Methods: This is a retrospective study analyzing fetomaternal outcome in 63 women diagnosed with HELLP syndrome in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Government Medical College, Thrissur from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2016. Details were collected from data records library.Results: Among 7,566 deliveries, 63 women (0.83%) had HELLP syndrome. Mean age was 29.5 years. 47.6% (n=30) women developed HELLP syndrome at gestational age less than 34 weeks. Maternal complications were abruption (27.78%), acute kidney injury (16.67%), DIC (16.67%), sepsis (11.11%) and postpartum hemorrhage (11.11%). In this study, HELLP syndrome lead to one maternal death (1.58%). The perinatal mortality was 25.75%.Conclusions: HELLP syndrome is an alarming complication, which brings high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.