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Uterine inversion is a rare occurrence in obstetrics, but it is a life-threatening complication. Most cases of inversion are caused by excessive cord traction during management of the third stage of labor. We describe a rare case of a complete uterine inversion in a 19-year-old G1P0 dependent spouse of a deployed active duty soldier. After failure of manual correction of the inversion, the patient was taken emergently to the operating room, where the inversion was successfully corrected using surgical methods. The patient required 3 units of packed red blood cells over the next 24 hours, but was discharged home in good condition on postoperative day 3. This case demonstrates the importance of a rapid diagnosis and management of uterine inversion, as it is a rare but serious complication of vaginal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

True knots of the umbilical cord are complications that can result in obstetric disasters, including fetal asphyxia and eventual fetal death. This study reports on 13 patients with a true knot of the umbilical cord in a delivery population of 967 deliveries during a 1-year period. In this group, there was one second-trimester fetal demise, four cases of fetal distress during labor necessitating cesarean delivery, and eight cases with a true knot found incidentally at delivery. No abnormal sequelae were found for the 12 viable newborns. True knots of the umbilical cord can be incidental findings; however, a tightened knot is reported to be associated with a fourfold increased risk of fetal death. Prenatal fetal surveillance, including targeted sonographic examination and Doppler studies, may identify true knots of the umbilical cord. Identification of high-risk patients and clinical expertise in the management of these patients have not been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a 6-year period, 119 patients with enlarged leiomyomata uteri underwent a transvaginal hysterectomy at this medium-size Medical Department Activity using morcellation to debulk the uterus. One hundred seventeen underwent successful removal of the uterus with the use of various morcellation techniques to reduce the uterine size. Two patients required conversion to an abdominal procedure. A retrospective review of each operative report was completed, and the findings are presented in this study. There was a low morbidity rate in this series, with no deaths. Transvaginal hysterectomy with debulking of enlarged leiomyomata using morcellation is a safe alternative to abdominal hysterectomy in a Medical Department Activity environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of Couvelaire uterus with placenta accreta found during scheduled repeat low transverse Cesarean section will be discussed within this article. First described in the 1900s, Couvelaire syndrome, also known as uteroplacental apoplexy, is a rare form of nonfatal placenta abruption complication. The case involves a 30-year-old gravida 3 para 2 otherwise healthy female with an uncomplicated pregnancy and two previous cesarean deliveries without complication. She received routine prenatal care. During her pregnancy, she did not experience any symptoms such as vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. After delivering a healthy female, there were several unsuccessful attempts to remove the placenta from the uterus. Upon inspection, the uterus was found have dark purple patches with ecchymosis and indurations, diagnostic of Couvelaire uterus. Furthermore, there was high clinical suspicion for placenta accreta as the 30-minute mark approached without placenta detachment. A telephonic emergency review with the wet desk radiologist of the 18-week ultrasound revealed high suspicion for placenta accreta. A Cesarean hysterectomy was performed for prevention of significant hemorrhage. This case report may be the first documented association of Couvelaire uterus with placenta accreta. Providers should be vigilant in monitoring for antenatal bleeding, timing of placenta separation, and postpartum hemorrhage., (Reprint & Copyright © 2017 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

Female genital mutilation (FGM), frequently called female genital cutting or female circumcision, is the intentional disfigurement of the external genitalia in young girls and women for the purpose of reducing libido and ensuring premarital virginity. This traditional, nontherapeutic procedure to suppress libido and prevent sexual intercourse before marriage has been pervasive in Northern Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian peninsula for over 2,500 years. FGM permanently destroys the genital anatomy while frequently causing multiple and serious complications. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics proposed a classification system of FGM according to the specific genital anatomy removed and the extensiveness of genital disfigurement. Although it has been ruled illegal in most countries, FGM continues to be performed worldwide. With African, Asian, and Middle Eastern immigration to the United States and Europe, western countries are experiencing FGM in regions where these immigrants have concentrated. As deployments of Special Operations Forces (SOF) increase to regions in which FGM is pervasive, and as African, Asian, and Middle Eastern immigration to the United States increases, SOF and Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) medics will necessarily be called upon to evaluate and treat complications resulting from FGM. The purpose of this article is to educate SOF/TEMS medical personnel about the history, geographic regions, classification of procedures, complications, and medical treatment of patients with FGM., (2017.)

A case of postpartum taeniasis will be discussed along with the pathophysiology, proper treatment, potential risks, and prevention of taeniasis infections to the pregnant mother, her infant, and her family members. Taenia spp. infections are relatively rare in developed societies. Increasing immigration to developed countries and an expanding role of medical aid in developing countries will lead to an increase in the number of taeniasis cases seen by medical providers. Taenia solium and T. saginata are the most common species and can be differentiated by proglottids (a segment of a tapeworm containing both male and female reproductive organs) or scolex (the head of a tapeworm which attaches to the intestine of the definitive host). Both carry different risks when considering autoinfection and transmission. Cystercercosis caused by T. solium is a risk for neonates and is cause for immediate treatment of the mother. A 23-year-old new mother, originally from Ethiopia, passed T. strobili shortly after giving birth. Her pregnancy was complicated by limited prenatal care. She did not experience any symptoms related to tapeworm infection. The patient received treatment with praziquantel. With a possible future increase in the number of cases seen by health care providers, understanding the risks of Taenia sp. infection is important as proper treatment and education are needed to halt the life cycle of the tapeworm before more serious infection ensues., (Reprint & Copyright © 2013 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

True knots of the umbilical cord are complications that can result in obstetric disasters, including fetal asphyxia and eventual fetal death. This study reports on 13 patients with a true knot of the umbilical cord in a delivery population of 967 deliveries during a 1-year period. In this group, there was one second-trimester fetal demise, four cases of fetal distress during labor necessitating cesarean delivery, and eight cases with a true knot found incidentally at delivery. No abnormal sequelae were found for the 12 viable newborns. True knots of the umbilical cord can be incidental findings; however, a tightened knot is reported to be associated with a fourfold increased risk of fetal death. Prenatal fetal surveillance, including targeted sonographic examination and Doppler studies, may identify true knots of the umbilical cord. Identification of high-risk patients and clinical expertise in the management of these patients have not been established.

Several reports have suggested that gallstones that escape during laparoscopic cholecystectomy may lead to serious intraperitoneal complications, including adhesions, formation of abscesses, and spontaneous hepatic hemorrhage. While gallstone spillage is infrequently reported, the true incidence of spilt stones and surgical morbidity associated with loose stones is unknown. A 42-year-old female patient underwent transvaginal hysterectomy for severe metrorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. On entering the posterior culde-sac through a colpotomy incision, 16 gallstones were discovered in the pouch of Douglas. This patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy 13 months previously for symptomatic cholelithiasis. Review of the literature reveals spilt stones should be removed whenever spillage occurs during surgery. While this patient showed no untoward complications from spilt gallstones of over 1-year duration, removal of all loose stones before terminating the laparoscopic cholecystectomy is highly recommended. Because of a presumed low complication rate, however, most reports do not advocate conversion to an open procedure solely to remove spilled stones.

An increase in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in chronic renal failure (CRF) induces bone abnormalities known as renal osteodystrophy (ROD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate alternative biochemical methods to bone biopsy, to evaluate changes in bone remodeling in renal patients. Intact PTH (iPTH) and bone markers were measured in 43 predialysis (PD), 49 hemodialysis patients (HD) and 185 controls. betaCTXs, bone alkaline phosphatase (bAL), iPTH were higher and creatinine clearance (Ccr) was lower in PD and HD compared with controls (p < 0.0001). In both renal groups, a positive correlation was found between iPTH and both betaCTXs and bAL (p < 0.0001) and between betaCTXs and bAL (p < 0.002). PD patients with Ccr < 40 ml/min had higher iPTH, bAL and betaCTXs (p<0.004, p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively) than patients with Ccr > 40 ml/min. betaCTXs (p < 0.05) in PD and betaCTXs and bAL in HD patients were higher than controls, even when iPTH was within normal range (< 65 pg/ml). Patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism showed higher bone markers than patients with normal or moderately increased iPTH (p < 0.001). These results suggest that even when there is no increase in iPTH, bone remodeling increases (possibly due to other factors) exhibiting higher bone resorption, and betaCTXs would seem to be an adequate non-invasive tool to assess early bone changes in CRF and prevent future fractures. Bone marker measurements in ROD would be useful to identify patients who may require bone biopsy. However, further studies comparing both methods must be performed before replacing bone biopsy with serum beta-CTX.

Background: Primary ovarian pregnancy constitutes <1% of ectopic gestations. Likewise, bilateral tubal ligation failure is uncommon, occurring in approximately 1% of tubal sterilization procedures. Should pregnancy occur after bilateral tubal ligation, of every 3 such pregnancies, 1 will be an ectopic. The incidence of ovarian pregnancy after tubal ligation has not been reported, but must be extremely rare., Case: A 30-year-old, breast-feeding, white woman 6 months postpartum, with bilateral tubal ligation after delivery, developed acute right lower quadrant pain while excercising. Evaluation in the emergency room revealed rebound tenderness in the lower right abdomen, a positive beta-hCG level and ultrasound findings suspicious for a right ectopic pregnancy. Exploratory laparotomy revealed hemoperitoneum, previously ligated but otherwise-normal-appearing fallopian tubes, and a ruptured and bleeding right ovary. The pelvis was otherwise normal. Histology of the right ovarian wedge resection showed chorionic villi consistent with ovarian pregnancy. Both fallopian tubes were religated, and a review of the original tubal ligation histology confirmed tubal lumen in both segments., Conclusion: While ectopic pregnancy is a known but rare risk of failed tubal sterilization, pregnancy involving the fallopian tube is usually reported after tubal ligation failure. The rarely seen primary ovarian pregnancy is usually associated with intrauterine contraceptive devices or occurs in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease. Ovarian pregnancies are associated with massive hemoperitoneum in women unaware that they are pregnant.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D in urban populations of healthy elderly people living at home, in different regions of Argentina., Design: Cross-sectional study., Subjects: In total, 386 ambulatory subjects over 65 y of age from seven cities (between latitude 26 degrees S and 55 degrees S) were asked to participate between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Of these, 369 accepted, 30 were excluded because of medical history or abnormal biochemical determinations. Finally, 339 subjects (226 women and 113 men) (X+/-s.d.) (71.3+/- 5.2 y) were included., Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lowest in the South (latitude range: 41 degrees S-55 degrees S): 14.2+/-5.6 ng/ml (P<0.0001vs North and Mid regions); highest in the North (26 degrees S-27 degrees S): 20.7+/-7.4 ng/ml (P<0.03 vs Mid, P<0.0001vs South); and intermediate in the Mid region (33 degrees S-34 degrees S) 17.9+/-8.2 ng/ml. Serum mid-molecule PTH (mmPTH) and 25OHD were inversely related: (r=-0.24, P<0.001). A cutoff level of 25OHD at which serum mmPTH levels began to increase was established at 27 ng/ml. A high prevalence (87-52%) of subjects with 25OHD levels in the deficiency-insufficiency range (25OHD levels <20 ng/ml) was detected., Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the elderly is a worldwide problem. Correction of this deficit would have a positive impact on bone health of elderly people.

Study Objective: Time-honored terminology is being replaced in the managed care era. Patients are now clients, customers, and health care consumers. Physicians and doctors are now health care providers and vendors. The authors set out to determine whether patients prefer traditional terms or managed care-era terms., Methods: A questionnaire of four unambiguous questions was made available to all obstetrics and gynecology patients and all family practice patients for 2 weeks at a medium-sized US Army community hospital. Responses were calculated; statistical significance was determined using logistics regression analysis. Statistical significance was defined as P < .05., Results: Two hundred eleven patients completed questionnaires. Patient age ranged from teenage to older than 60 years; 83% of responders were women. Eighty-four percent of the responders (N = 178; P < .001) preferred to be called patient. Seventy-eight percent of the responders (N = 164; P < .001) believed their physicians should be called doctor, rather than by managed care-era terms. The age and gender of responders did not significantly influence preferences., Conclusions: Results of this small prospective, observational study indicate that patients, regardless of age or gender, prefer traditional, time-honored terms like patient and doctor to the managed care-oriented terminology currently being used.

Background: Hydatids of Morgagni are benign, pedunculated, cystic structures arising from müllerian vestiges below the fallopian tube near the fimbria. They usually are of no clinical significance unless the pedicle becomes twisted and infarction occurs., Case: A 39-year-old primigravida at 41 weeks and 5 days' gestation underwent primary cesarean delivery for macrosomia and failure to descend during labor. A 4 x 3-cm hydatid of Morgagni with torsion of the pedicle was found on the left fallopian tube. Ligation of the pedicle and excision of the infarcted cyst were performed. Histology of the specimen demonstrated cuboidal epithelium with extensive hemorrhage and necrosis, consistent with an infarcted hydatid of Morgagni. All pain and symptoms experienced by the patient during the previous day were associated with the onset of labor. No specific left lower quadrant pain was reported., Conclusion: Hydatids of Morgagni are common findings at pelvic surgery and usually of no clinical significance. Torsion of a hydatid of Morgagni is rarely reported and most likely is a rare occurrence. In this patient, torsion of the hydatid of Morgagni was possibly pregnancy related, and symptoms associated with torsion were probably masked by labor pain.

Benign cystic teratomas are the most common ovarian neoplasms in women. Teratomas are usually benign, unilateral, and most often found in young and premenopausal women. Most are 5 cm to 10 cm in diameter when diagnosed, and on sectioning, they usually contain thick sebaceous material, tangled hair, and various dermal structures. One of the major complications seen in cystic teratoma is torsion, a partial or complete twisting of the ovarian suspensary pedicle causing severe pain, nausea, and tissue necrosis. The patient described had bilateral cystic teratomas, one uncommonly large and torsed, causing an acute abdomen. Discussion includes the diagnosis, operative management, and postoperative findings.

Before the mid-1980s, repeat cesarean section was the usual method of delivering all patients who had a previous cesarean section. With cesarean section rates exceeding 20% in the 1980s, a concerted effort to reduce this high rate was formulated in all military teaching hospitals. One proposed method to decrease the overall cesarean section rate was to reduce the number of repeat cesarean sections. Trial of labor (TOL) with vaginal birth after cesarean section was one method of decreasing the high cesarean section rate. Although vaginal birth after cesarean section has a relatively high success rate and has been shown to be safe for mother and infant, TOL is not risk free. One of the potential complications of TOL is uterine scar separation, which may lead to perinatal mortality. This report discusses uterine scar separation during TOL during a 1-year period at one medium-size U.S. Army teaching hospital.

Abdominal pain during early pregnancy may be caused by leiomyoma of the uterus. Inconsistency of uterine size and gestational dates in a pregnant patient with acute abdominal pain may be the first sign of leiomyoma. This 31-year-old primigravida presented with progressively worsening lower abdominal pain at 12 weeks gestational age. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large fundal heterogeneous mass and an intrauterine gestation compatible with her menstrual dates. Exploratory surgery and myomectomy confirmed a large leiomyoma showing benign degenerative changes. The operative procedure was successful, and the pregnancy progressed normally. An elective cesarean section was performed at 37 weeks gestation after confirming fetal maturity by amniocentesis and serial ultrasonography. Abdominal pain in a pregnant patient with leiomyoma uteri may be attributable to degenerative changes in the myoma. Surgical intervention during pregnancy is occasionally necessary in uncommon cases of intractable pain.

Military medicine has faced some big challenges in recent years. Military treatment facilities have not been exempt from these alterations, as the American public has sought to reinvent government practices with regard to medicine. Until recently, professional education consisted almost entirely of emphasis in the particular content of the chosen field. Obstetrics and gynecology was one of the first medical specialties to recognize the importance of practice management, professional growth and development, and to require exposure to it as part of the residency process. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology's instructional objectives dealing with professional growth and development originated as part of the military-unique curriculum for physicians implemented at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. Later, these objectives were used at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. Recent changes in the health care environment, coupled with an increasing awareness of professional liability and the newer specter of managed care, force physicians to learn the cost of each health encounter and to be more familiar with the business aspects of health care. As medicine in general is changing, the curricula have been revised and tailored to the needs of our physicians with the addition of ethics, managed care, utilization, and practice management.

Acute appendicitis is the most common nonobstetrical surgical condition of the abdomen complicating pregnancy. Appendectomy reportedly is performed during pregnancy once for every 1,500 deliveries. Although the incidence of appendicitis occurring in pregnant women is considered to be the same as in nonpregnant women, the signs and symptoms, and the laboratory findings usually associated with appendicitis in the nonpregnant condition, are frequently unreliable during pregnancy. Using the Computer Diagnostic Data System, we completed a retrospective analysis on all appendectomies performed at two Army Medical Activities (MEDDACs) during a 2-year period. With a representative large Army MEDDAC and a representative medium-sized Army MEDDAC studied, the incidence of appendectomy during pregnancy was the same frequency as in previous reports. The only consistent finding in all pregnant patients who underwent appendectomy was right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Presenting signs and symptoms, clinical evaluations, laboratory findings, and surgical management is discussed. No morbidity or mortality occurred during this study.

The present report describes a rare finding of recurrent cornual ectopic pregnancy in a patient with leiomyomata uteri. Types, incidence, and causes of ectopic pregnancy and complications of pregnancy related to leiomyomata uteri are discussed. The association of recurrent cornual ectopic pregnancy with leiomyomata uteri previously has not been reported.

Evaluation of breast disease has increasingly become more integrated into the routine gynecology care of women seen in the obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) clinic. Patients expect their obstetrician-gynecologist to have expertise in evaluation and diagnosis of breast problems that arise from self examination, routine mammography, unusual breast symptoms, or clinical findings during annual gynecology examinations. In 1993, Tripler Army Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology initiated a Breast Evaluation Clinic to better serve its patients with breast problems and to train military OB/GYN resident physicians in evaluation and diagnosis of breast disease. A preliminary report of the first 40 patients evaluated in this Breast Evaluation Clinic was previously published in Military Medicine. The patient evaluation, the technique of performing fine needle aspiration (FNA) of breast masses, and the cytologic slide preparation was described in the preliminary report. This follow-up report presents a total of 245 patients who underwent FNA of palpable breast masses in the Tripler Army Medical Center OB/GYN Department Breast Evaluation Clinic between December 1, 1993, and December 8, 1995. Patients found to have suspicious breast masses or abnormal mammography reports at the time of evaluation were immediately referred to the Department of General Surgery for evaluation rather than be subjected to FNA in the OB/GYN Department Breast Evaluation Clinic. Of the 245 patients who underwent FNA, 26 (11%) were referred to the Department of General Surgery for treatment or open biopsy based on cytologic diagnosis and evaluation in the OB/GYN Breast Evaluation Clinic. No major complications from the FNA procedures occurred during this 2-year study period.

Very few physicians practicing in the United States have experience in treating female patients who have undergone mutilation of the external genitalia, incorrectly termed female circumcision. This procedure, known as infibulation, consists of removing the clitoris, prepuce, and portions of the labia of young girls, usually younger than 7 years of age. Infibulation has been practiced by lay midwives for centuries in the Horn of Africa and in other African and Middle Eastern countries. This paper discusses infibulation, the techniques, and the recommended medical and obstetric management of patients subjected to genital mutilation. With increased immigration to the United States by Africans and Middle Easterners, and with readily increasing military medical deployments, primary care physicians and specialists can expect to be confronted with patients who have undergone this disfiguring procedure during their youth.

Although the incidence of urethral diverticula in women of reproductive age ranges from 0.6% to 6%, urethral diverticulum calculi are rarely reported. This report describes excision and outpatient management of urethral diverticulum calculi in a symptomatic pregnant patient. The etiology, diagnosis, and recommended therapy of urethral diverticulum calculi are discussed. Historically, surgical therapy has been considered appropriate; however, recent technologic advancements--including ultrasound and lithotripsy--may change this widely accepted method of treatment.

Tripler Army Medical Center initiated the Department of Defense's Persian Gulf Illness Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program (CCEP) on June 15, 1994. In the first 5 months, 100 patients enrolled in this program. Sixteen (16%) were women who served in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, and 1 (1%) was the dependent wife of a Gulf War veteran who is experiencing illness that may be related to the Persian Gulf War. All 17 women enrolled in the CCEP were evaluated in the Tripler Army Medical Center Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic between June 17 and November 10, 1994. Each patient underwent gynecologic history, pelvic exam, Pap smear, and screen for fecal occult blood. Ten patients underwent baseline mammograms and 13 patients underwent urogenital and cervical cultures for aerobic bacteria, chlamydia and herpes simplex. The 1 patient with an abnormal Pap smear underwent cervical and endocervical biopsies and colposcopy (histology demonstrated no dysplasia or neoplasia). Half of the 16 Gulf War veterans experienced gynecologic problems while serving in the Gulf and 43% admitted gynecologic problems since returning in 1991. Of 6 patients who became pregnant after returning, 5 had normal pregnancies and 1 suffered four miscarriages.

Uterine packing to control obstetrical hemorrhage has been generally discouraged over the past several decades. Intractable uterine hemorrhage postpartum or following an abortion is an extremely vexing management problem for the physician and continues to be a leading cause of maternal mortality. Uterine packing should be considered as a presurgical management tool after lacerations of the lower genital tract, uterine rupture, or retained products have been ruled out and when conventional therapy fails to control uterine hemorrhage. We describe two obstetrical patients with intractable uterine hemorrhage who were managed with uterine packing in combination with other methods of therapy. Causes of obstetrical hemorrhage and techniques of packing the uterus are discussed.

Increasing emphasis has been placed on the training of obstetrics and gynecology residents in the evaluation of patients with breast disease. In the past, one had to refer to the surgery, radiology, or pathology literature to obtain current information on fine needle aspiration. With the present mandate to include breast disease in the academic curricula of obstetrics and gynecology residency training, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tripler Army Medical Center, initiated training in breast evaluation. This preliminary report describes the Tripler Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Breast Evaluation Clinic and presents the findings of the first 40 patients.

An 18-year-old female Pacific Islander with abdominal pain, ascites, and fever was transferred to our hospital with suspected ovarian malignancy. These nonspecific clinical features of tuberculous peritonitis in a female frequently contribute to misdiagnosis. Preoperative findings included negative sputums, negative purified protein derivative, and no acid-fast bacilli (AFB) found in peritoneal fluid or fine needle biopsy of the omentum. Tuberculous peritonitis was diagnosed after omental biopsy obtained at mini-laparotomy showed granulomatous inflammation and positive isolation of AFB.

Over the past 5 years, laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) has progressed from an experimental procedure to an alternative operation when abdominal hysterectomy is indicated. During a 15-month period, 31 patients underwent LAVH at Tripler Army Medical Center for treatment of gynecologic conditions that traditionally required abdominal hysterectomy. The benefits of the procedure and the complications encountered during surgery are discussed. A comparison of our data with data presented in other reports in the literature is considered favorable. While the complication rate was 16%, there was no mortality or serious morbidity. With experience and proper training of gynecologic surgeons, LAVH is an alternative to abdominal hysterectomy in selected cases.

Foul-smelling, bloody vaginal discharge and pelvic pain may indicate the presence of an unknown intravaginal foreign body. A case of an adult who underwent numerous examinations and a previous laparotomy without location of the foreign body is presented. Radiologic diagnosis and surgical removal of the object is described.

U.S. military medical personnel have been assigned to Honduras since August 1983. While reserve components have 2-week assignments and Air Force medics receive 3-month assignments, U.S. Army medical personnel are assigned for 6-month tours. Duties include rendering medical care and air evacuation capability to all U.S. Forces in the Central American area of operations, conducting medical civic action programs termed MEDRETES, and assisting the host government in developing and conducting a health care system for indigent rural Hondurans. Gynecological care to women soldiers assigned to this low-intensity conflict environment and gynecological surgery capability for indigent Hondurans has been one important aspect of the military medical presence.

Honduras is the second largest and one of the least urbanized of the six Central American countries. Beginning with Big Pine II Military maneuvers in August 1983, U.S. military medical personnel based in Palmerola, Honduras, have been involved with a civic action-type training activity termed the Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE). Medical officer and enlisted medics from the three services have had the opportunity to receive military medicine training in a Third World environment. The planning, preparation, and initiation of these training missions and the benefits to the participants and recipients are discussed.

Failure of the Irving method of Bilateral tubal ligation is rare, as evidenced by the absence of a current previous report in the literature. The present case represents an infrequent technical failure of this established method of female sterilization. The literature and possible causes of failure are reviewed and a form of management is considered. Treatment of this patient was influenced by the presence of additional gynecologic abnormalities.

Conjoined twins, known to the layperson as Siamese twins, are a rare and catastrophic obstetric event. With the approximate incidence being 1 in 50,000 births, few physicians practicing obstetrics will have the unfortunate occasion to manage this biologic anomaly. Should this event occur, early diagnosis, close prenatal management, and the proper route of delivery will assure the best possible outcome for mother and both babies. The author describes the anatomic types of conjoined twins, the prenatal diagnosis and management, the route of delivery, and the overall statistical expectation. Under the best of circumstances, a good outcome is rarely achieved, but the obstetric goal should be a healthy mother and two salvageable babies.