The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Complicated twin pregnancy discussed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — A panel discussion on “Management of a complicated twin pregnancy” was the highlight of a programme, organised on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Obstetric and Gynaecology Society of Northern India at the PGI today. The meet was organised by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PGI.

The panelists, including Prof Sarla Malhotra, Dr Mangla Dogra and Dr Yash Bala, pointed out that twin pregnancy is rising due to assisted reproduction techniques. The labour room statistics of the PGI for last year show that one out of 30 births is a twin pregnancy. The prenatal mortality and morbidity in twins is twice than that of single pregnancy. This is due to prematurity, malformations and twin to twin syndrome, they said.

Twins can be diagnosed by ultrasonography in early pregnancy. Malformations in one or both twins can be diagnosed. It was pointed out that if one twin is malformed, the pregnant woman is given the option of medical termination of pregnancy, selective termination of the affected foetus or continuation with counselling.

Dr Sarla Malhotra, Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMCH-32, said that selective termination in twin pregnancy has its own problems such as total foetal loss, pre-term delivery or a dead foetus inside. Hence the better choice is counselling and continuation. She disclosed that even if one foetus dies in the uterus, the other foetus can grow 37 weeks of pregnancy, with strict monitoring of mother and foetus in a good hospital. The panelists advised that delivery of twins should however be conducted by expert obstetrician in the presence of a competent paediatrician. Dr Vanita Suri was the co-ordinator of the discussion on a proposed case.

A debate was also conducted on the role of removal of ovaries at the time of hysterectomy (removal of uterus) in women above 40 years of age . The proponent of removal of ovary, Prof Kala Vasishta, was of the view that it reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and a need to do a repeat surgery for ovarian problem. In certain other cases, to reduce the impact of menopause, hormone replacement therapy can be given. She also pointed out that it is not worth removing 98 per cent ovaries to detect 0.2 per cent ovarian cancers.

Contrary to this, Dr Sushma Chawla, from Jalandhar, was in favour of retaining ovaries. She said that menopausal syndrome causes headaches, sleeplessness, irritability, depression, but ovaries help control this. She advised illiterate and poor people not to get the ovaries removed without expert opinion. Dr Chawla is of the view that ovaries are very useful for sexuality and make a lady a lady. They make certain hormones to check psycho-sexual, heart and osteo diseases. She advised women above 50 years to go in for proper gynaecological check-ups once in six months to rule out the possibility of ovarian cancer. They should not go to trained nurses or auxiliary midwives for check-ups.

The consensus was that removal of ovaries should be dictated by the family history of cancer, the risk of development of cancer, patient’s wishes to retain the ovary and her willingness to take hormone replacement. Dr Vanita Jain was the moderator.

Dr Vaneet Kaur from Ludhiana presented a paper on “Septic abortion — An Analysis of 42 cases’’ and brought out the complications in patients following female foeticide. She pointed out that more than 50 per cent of cases admitted in CMC with such complications had resorted to female foeticide. Furthermore, most of them had gone to untrained nurses and midwifes to get their pregnancies terminated , to ensure secrecy. Prof Sarla Gopalan, Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PGI and Prof A.N Gupta were the chairpersons on the session of free communications.

Use ultrasound to detect abnormality in foetus
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — Doctors should not encourage the use of ultrasound for identifying the sex of the baby, but recommend it for detecting abnormalities and for better treatment of the patient and the foetus. This was emphasised by Dr B.S. Rama Murthy, a radiologist from Bangalore, who was in the city today to participate in the annual meeting of the Obstetric and Gynaecology Society of Northern India held at the PGI.

Highlighting the medical uses of the ultrasound technique, Dr Rama Murthy lamented that a majority of the people in this part of the region avail themselves of the facility of ultra sound only to identify the sex of the child and then resort to abortions. He is of the view that pregnant women must try to get it done at least once during their pregnancy for the medical advantages it offers. Given the facility of this technique, it will be unfortunate for a woman to carry a child with lethal abnormalities (anencphaly), who is subsequently not going to survive. This in fact can be diagnosed within 10 weeks of the pregnancy and the patient can be advised to go in for abortion, saving her the botheration of carrying the foetus for nine months without a positive outcome, he added.

He further pointed out that ultrasounds exclude most of the foetal malformations if done in the middle of pregnancy ( 20-24 weeks). However, in case of patients who are above 35 years of age, or have a history of malformed babies, or have lost their babies in the womb, or gave birth to a stillborn child, early pregnancy scan is recommended. This, however, does not ensure 100 per cent diagnosis of all malformations all the time, he said.

The technique is also in ascertains the date when the woman got pregnant and calculates the expected date of delivery. Extensive WHO trials and the FDA of the USA have also proved beyond doubt that diagnostic ultrasound is safe if done prudently, he added. Though there is no data available in the last 25-30 years to substantiate the same, no mala fides have been reported so far.

With the help of ultrasound, one can also check the well being of the foetus: whether it is getting sufficient supply of oxygen and food or if is it distressed and fit to tolerate labour. In some such cases, doctors are able to advise a patient to go in for caesarean and not suffer labour at the time of delivery. Though not a must in all cases, it is definitely relevant in case of high-risk patients and doctors must make it mandatory in these cases.

Going by the large number of would-be mothers visiting government hospitals, it may not be possible to get them screened due to paucity of time and availability of resources, but since the technique is not very expensive, patients should not hesitate to undergo the same for a safer pregnancy. With the availability of modern techniques such as foetal therapy, some of the malformations if diagnosed early such as malformation in the kidney may be amenable to treatment during pregnancy .Similarly, heart failure in the foetus can be corrected by treating the mother as the foetus will respond to the treatment.

200 examined at medical camp
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — A free medical camp was organised by the J.P. Memorial Charitable Trust at B N Model Senior Secondary School in Sector 37 here today. As many as 200 patients were examined by a team of doctors.

While anorexia, worm infestation, dental caries and nutritional deficiencies were common among children, the main illnesses noticed among elders were diabetes, hypertension and heart-related problems.

Lab tests for haemoglobin count, blood grouping and sugar were conducted free of cost. ECG and ultrasound tests will be conducted tomorrow. Camps will be held on Saturday and Sunday of every month regularly.

Kochhar is chief of city IMA unit
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — Dr G.S. Kochhar was today elected President of the IMA, Chandigarh unit, for 2000-2001.

The following are the other office-bearers: Honorary Secretary — Dr Neeraj Kumar; Honorary Treasurer — Dr Ashok K. Sharma; Vice-Presidents — Dr S.K. Jindal (Head of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI), Dr P.N. Thapar and Dr N.S Sandhu; Honorary Joint Secretary — Dr Anil Kumar and Dr Nitin M. Nagarkar; Working Committee members — Dr J.G. Jolly and Dr A.K. Attri; I.M.A. Academy of Medical Specialist Chairman — Dr S.M. Bose; IMA College of General Practitioner Director — Dr Harminder Singh; Governing Council members — Dr Alka Sehgal; Central Council members — Dr Inderjeet Singh, Dr A.S. Bhatia, Dr T. Singh, Dr D.P. Gopal and Dr Niraj Chawla.

SPORT

Five chosen for all-India camp
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, April 1— Five players representing the Chandigarh Football Association have been selected for the All-India coaching camp (under-16) (North Zone) to be held in the NIS, at Patiala from April 2 to 13. In all 20 boys have been shortlisted from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, HP, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. The coach at Sector 17 Football Stadium, Dinesh Sharma, has been nominated to conduct the camp, according to a message received by Mr Rakesh Bakshi, Secretary of the Chandigarh Football Association.

As per the plan of the AIFF, the Asian youth (under-16) round will be organised from June 20 at Jamshedpur or Calcutta. The four other centres for such camps will be Calcutta, Bangalore and Guwahati. The 80 selected players from all centres will assemble at the SAI Eastern Centre in Calcutta. In the further process, 35 players (including five goalkeepers) will be selected in another coaching camp to be held from April 25 to May 4.

Thereafter, 25 players, including three goalkeepers, will receive coaching from May 5 to 23. Finally, a team of 16 players, including two goalkeepers will be selected for the Lion City Cup meet to be held in Singapore from May 25 to June 6.

India had been winning the championship for the past two years and would like to defend the title, said Mr Rakesh Bakshi, Secretary of the CFA. He also said if they defended the title, they would qualify for the final phase of the championship to be held in Vietnam in September. Negotiations are on for sending players to Germany in July, according to the press note.

Sport trials: DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8 will be the venue for the trials in athletics, football, volleyball, hockey, gymnastics and rowing (boys) on April 3 and 4. This was stated in a press note issued by Mr Ashok Pathik, Assistant Director of the Sports Authority of India. Medal winners in various state and national sub-junior and junior competitions, in age groups 10 to 19, will be preferred.

The selected sportsmen will be given free boarding and lodging, sport kit, training and competition exposure along with medical and accident insurance facilities. Those interested should report to Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal of the school, along with original certificates.

Brisk walk: Freedom India will hold the brisk walk competitions in various age groups (20 to more than 65) in three sections, tomorrow, at Sukhna Lake from 6.15 am onwards. The participants will be flagged off senior IPS officers of the city.

Kinshuk enters U-12 final
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — Kinshuk Sharma, a student of St John’s High School, Sector 26, and a promising tennis player, made it to the final of the boys’ under-12 section on the penultimate day today of the Lake Club Junior Open Tennis Tournament being played here at Lake Club. In the girls’ under-16, section Neha Singh of Sacred Heart school, Sector 26, sailed into the final while in the boys’ under 14 section, tomorrow Yuvraj Chaudhary will meet Sanam K. Singh.

In the matches played today, Kinshuk Sharma playing against Simer V. Singh won the first set 6-3, and playing a neat game took the second set 6-2.

In the boys’ semi final, Yuvraj was pitted against Rohan Bhandari. in the first set Yuvraj won 6-0. Rohan gave Yuvraj a tough fight in the second set which Yuvraj won, 6-3. The best match of the day was played between Sanam K. Singh and Harneet Singh in the second semi-final. After winning the first set, 6-4, Harneet played a valiant game in the second to extend it to a tie-breaker. Sanam won it, 7-6.

In the girls’ under-16 semi-final, Neha Singh beat Khushleen Kaur in two straight sets.

Mr M. Ramsekhar, Director Sports of the UT, said more events would be added in the next edition of the tournament.

Results: Boys (under-12) — Kinshuk Sharma b Simer V. Singh, 6-3, 6-2; boys (under-14) — Yuvraj Chaudhary b Rohan Bhandari, 6-0, 6-3; Sanam K. Singh b Harneet Singh, 6-4, 7-6); girls’ under-16 — Neha Singh b Khushleen Kaur, 6-1, 6-0.

ADMINISTRATION

Census work begins
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut -Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), filled the first enumeration form to launch the first phase of the Census-2001 operations today.

Mr M. Ramashekhar, Principal Census officer and Deputy Commissioner, explained to the Governor that Chandigarh had been divided into 20 wards, each headed by an Assistant Charge Officer. The city has been divided into 1800 house-listing blocks. Each block is headed by one enumerator.

The house-listing has to be completed from April 1 to April 16 in Chandigarh and it would cover exhaustive information regarding building particulars, household particulars and household amenities. He said the census data was key to planning and efforts were on for truthful, fearless and active participation of citizens of Chandigarh in the operation.

Mr Sham Lal Goyal, Director census said, the enumerator and supervisor had been intensively trained for filling schedules by Assistant Charge Officer in two rounds.

Stickers pasted on wrongly parked vehicles
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — As part of a drive to create traffic awareness in the city, the police organised a joint traffic checking programme in the city here today.

According to Mr Alok Kumar, ASP, Traffic, as 29 nakas were set up in the city in cooperation with the local police. They were manned by officers to the level of inspector.

In all, 406 persons were challaned and eight vehicles impounded.

The ASP said they had started a drive to paste stickers on vehicles which have been wrongly parked. The owners of such vehicles would be asked to report to the ASPs office or the Children Traffic Park in Sector 23 to explain their position, failing which necessary action would be taken.

Body cuts ties with Goel
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 1 — The Chandigarh UT Secretariat Employees Welfare Association, in a press note issued here yesterday, said the statements of the controversial K.B. Goel should not have been recorded in his capacity as the President of the association.

The Chairman of the association said the body had nothing to do with Goel and his statements should be recorded in his individual capacity. The case, if any, against him was due to a lapse on his part in his individual capacity and not as the President of the association. ''We, therefore disassociate ourselves from Mr Goel. In future, if a statement is issued by Mr Goel to the Press, it should be in his individual capacity and not as the President of the association, the status which stands dissolved,'' the statement said. "Goel's act has not only hurt the feelings and image of employees in general, but also employees of the UT Secretariat in particular," it also said.

This press note has been issued after the newspaper reports that K.B. Goel, Superintendent (Grade II) (under suspension), has been giving statements to the press in the capacity of the President of Chandigarh UT Secretariat Employees Welfare Association.