title: An analysis of the outcomes of cervical cone biopsies performed in a low resource setting.
abstract: Following skills transfer to this low resource setting, we carried out a descriptive analysis of the outcomes of all cone biopsies performed for women with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN 3). We also compared two methods of cone biopsy. All the women had follow-up smear tests at 6 and 18 months. There were no cases of CIN 3 at follow-up. 80% had normal smears at 18 months and 20% had CIN 1. Compared with knife cone biopsy, women who had an electric knife (hand-held diathermy blade) cone biopsy had a significantly smaller volume of mean blood loss (55.5mls ± 15.9 vs 153.3ml ± 40, p < 0.001). With appropriate skills transfer, women with CIN 3 in a low resource setting can be effectively treated with conisation procedures. The diathermy knife is preferred to cold knife because of its associated low blood loss.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Benin Teaching Hospital , Benin City , Nigeria.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, Chase Farm Hospital , Enfield , UK.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Selo-Ojeme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D019092:Conization / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: CIN 3; Cone biopsy; colposcopy; low resource setting; skills transfer