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Preeclampsia is a leading cause of pregnancy complications and affects 3-7% of pregnant women. Pathophysiology of preeclampsia is still unclear. According to the two-stage model of preeclampsia, the abnormal and hypoperfused placenta (stage 1) releases factors to the bloodstream, which are responsible for the maternal symptoms (stage 2), characterised by a systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of the preeclampsia and could be the common denominator between the two. This review summarizes the current knowledge of a new potential etiology of the disease, with a special focus on oxidative stress. We also review the different factors that have been proposed to cause endothelial cell dysfunction in preeclampsia, and trials investigating the role of antioxidant supplementation in preeclampsia.

We report the case of a massive posterior leiomyoma leading to a bowel acute obstruction and an obstructive renal failure in a 33 years old primigest woman during pregnancy. The patient underwent a urinal and an intestinal derivation during de second trimester of pregnancy as a conservative management. End of pregnancy was uneventful and she gave birth to an healthy boy (2345g) at term, by cesarean section for praevia leiomyoma. The myoma was removed 6 weeks after delivery with restoration of digestive continuity in the same time. This case report shows the morbidity of 10cm and larger leiomyoma during pregnancy.

Post-partum eclampsia is an unfrequent entity (11 to 44 % of eclampsia), which can sometimes occur late, beyond the 48th hour. We report a case of late post-partum eclampsia which occurred 12 days after an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. Post-partum eclampsia differs from antepartum by a pauci symptomatic or unexpected context. The mortality rate is comparable with that of the ante-partum eclampsia. Brain MRI appears to be the investigation of choice in case of uncertain diagnosis. Magnesium sulfate treatment should be considered under the same conditions as during pregnancy. Identifying and informing high-risk women would allow early diagnosis, which may improve the prognosis of this atypical type of eclampsia.

Spontaneous hemoperitoneum during pregnancy is an unusual but serious event. We report a case of profuse spontaneous hemoperitoneum resulting from the rupture of a non-communicating rudimentary uterine horn at 26 weeks of gestation. An emergency laparotomy was performed and a 900 g birth weight safe infant was delivered. We performed a hemi-hysterectomy in the same time. Fetal and maternal outcomes resulted without complication. Causes of spontaneous hemoperitoneum are discussed.

To investigate the immediate fetal-maternal morbidity related to Thierry's spatula for first instrumental vaginal delivery.We conducted a prospective observational study in Toulouse university hospital, including primiparas who vaginally delivered a live singleton cephalic infant36 WG, between December 2005 and June 2006. Instrumental deliveries were performed using short spatulas in all cases. Outcome measures were: perineal complications (episiotomy, laceration and associated lesions, urinary retention, pain at H48), neonatal morbidity (cutaneous injuries, neonatal transfer, cord pH, Apgar score). Instrumental deliveries were compared with spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVD).Six hundred and eight primiparas were included, distributed in 195 extractions (32%) and 413 SVD (68%). Spatulas allowed fetal extraction in all cases. Main differences between the two groups were: length of labour, occiput posterior position (12.8% for spatulas vs 1.7% for SVD; p0.0001), episiotomy rate (97.9% vs 51.3%; p0.0001), severe perineal lacerations (3.6% vs 0.2%; p=0.0007), post-partum morbidity (pain, hematoma, and urinary retention). No case of early severe neonatal complication was related to the use of the spatulas.Perineal complications (severe lacerations) associated with spatulas are increased with regard to SVD, but comparable to that reported with forceps. The main disadvantage is the high frequency of episiotomy, which should not be systematic. Neonatal morbidity is reduced. Comparative studies (spatulas vs. other procedures) are needed to confirm these data, but spatulas remain a multipurpose instrument which should continue to be taught.

A 19-year-old healthy woman was referred in a gynecological surgery unit for the management of a giant paraovarian cyst. Ultrasound and tomodensitometry revealed a 36 x 25 cm intra abdominal mass. Paraovarian cyst being usually benign, we decided on a mini invasive surgery by laparoscopy. After this exploration, our patient underwent a very short suprapubian laparotomy. Pathologic result was a benign paraovarian cyst. Despite the unusual size of this tumor, first laparoscopic investigation permitted to avoid a median laparotomy.