Medical report : 1932 / Leeds Maternity Hospital.

  • Leeds Maternity Hospital (Leeds, England)
Date:
1932
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical report : 1932 / Leeds Maternity Hospital. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to gross elephantiasis of the legs. She was admitted to the ante¬ natal ward four weeks before the estimated date of the delivery because of Albuminuria and breathlessness. During this period she was X-rayed in an attempt to diagnose the presentation of the foetus. The report received was that no pregnancy existed. She went into labour on 6.8.32 ; the head showed no signs of advancing after seven hours of strong pains. An examination under anaesthesia showed that the head was still free above the brim and that with each pain the pelvic cavity became more blocked with fat. It was decided to undertake a Caesarean Section and this was accomplished with ease considering the stoutness of the patient. The pueiperium was normal for five days, but on the sixth day the patient collapsed and died. The P.M. findings showed that there was a severe degree of myocardial degeneration with chronic nephritis. There was no evidence of sepsis. Heart failure was undoubtedly hastened by period of extremely hot weather experienced at this time. Case 2. No. 1770. Post Partum Haemorrhage. Normal Delivery. Age 23. i-para. Admitted 17.8.32. Labour normal (four hours) ; the placenta was delivered spontaneously 20 minutes later. After the delivery of the placenta the patient began to bleed per vaginam and oozed continuously, all methods available were used in an attempt to stop the haemorrhage, i.e., hot douches into the uterus, bi-manual compression and finally the uterus was packed with gauze. The patient did not respond to treatment and died during the administration of a blood transfusion three hours and 30 minutes after delivery. No. P.M. MATERNAL DEATHS-DETAILS. Emergency Cases : 17 deaths. Case 1. No. 134. Carcinoma of the Stomach. Normal de¬ livery. Age 34. i-para. Admitted 21.1.32, when 34 weeks pregnant with a history of vomiting throughout the pregnancy re¬ lieved by an intermission of one month when the pregnancy had lasted 12 weeks. Markedly apathetic, no desire to eat, and showing signs of marked emaciation. The vomiting was in small quantities, bile stained and mucoid. She developed complete aphonia which responded to suggestive treatment. 30.1.32. Normal delivery of a macerated premature infant. The vomiting continued and changed its type, suggesting some obstructive lesion at the pylorus ; the patient’s condition was how¬ ever too grave for any treatment other than gastric lavage. Death occurred on 1.2.32. r* 0