title: Six years' experience of symphysiotomy in a teaching hospital.
abstract: One hundred and sixty-one symphysiotomies were performed at Harari Maternity Hospital, Rhodesia, over a 6-year period. Indications for the operation are discussed and fetal and maternal results reviewed. Seventy-two patients suffered from postoperative complications but the majority of these were minor and of short duration. Multiparous patients did not have a higher morbidity than did primiparous ones. It is concluded that symphysiotomy has a useful role to play in a teaching hospital, provided it is performed by an experienced surgeon on carefully selected patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001946:Breech Presentation; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005316:Fetal Distress; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013567:Symphysiotomy / Q000009:adverse effects