Priya Singhmor

and 7 more

Objective: Evaluation of the inter-observer and intra-observer agreement for CTG interpretation by NICE guidelines 2017. Design: A hospital-based Prospective observational study. Setting: The study was conducted at a university teaching hospital Sample size: A total of 165 CTG tracings from 165 laboring women were included in the study for interpretation by 6 clinicians with varying levels of experience in the specialty. Methods: 6 clinicians (3 consultants & 3 residents in training) independently interpreted CTG traces using NICE 2017 guidelines twice with a locking period of 3 months between 2 interpretations. Main outcome measure: Fleiss’s kappa and Cohen’s kappa coefficient was employed for ascertaining interobserver and intraobserver agreement using SPSS statistical software. Results: Among all CTG parameters, observed agreement for baseline fetal heart was substantial [k=0.678(0.677-0.679), p<0.0001] but the congruence for variability was only slightly above the chance [0.185 (0.184-0.186), p<0.0001]. Overall kappa coefficient was 0.382 (0.381-0.383) with a p<0.0001 (moderate agreement) for classifying the CTG category. The intra-observer agreement of most senior consultant for baseline was nearly perfect (Kf=0.937) as compared to a kappa coefficient of 0.367 of the junior-most resident. Conclusions: Different CTG interpretation parameters were observed to have varying levels of agreement among clinicians. Where experience was witnessed to improve the agreement, the higher degree of non-congruence in certain CTG parameters like variability, and type of decelerations may perhaps point to the need for further objectivity in defining these parameters.

Nayanika Gaur

and 2 more

The third ovary- Superfluous ovaryThis is a case of a 25-year-old female with normal female karyotype, who presented to us with primary infertility. Investigations revealed AMH level of 9ng/ml. On ultrasound imaging, two ovary-like structure with follicles on the left (in different planes) and one ovary on the right were visualized. With this ambiguity, patient consented for diagnostic laparoscopy.Intraoperative: there was one, phenotypically normal uterus, 2 fallopian tubes, all in anatomically normal position were noted. Two ovaries on the left side, placed at the normal anatomical position were visualized. Both ovaries had one ovarian ligament each. However, only the lateral one of the two on the left side was attached with the infundibulopelvic ligament. Right side had one normally placed ovary with normal attachments. Biopsy from the ovary without the infundibulopelvic ligament confirmed ovarian tissue on histopathology. Figure 1 and 2 are the labelled and unlabelled, respectively, laparoscopic images of our finding.The occurrence of more than 2 ovaries is a rare entity. Multiple theories have been proposed to explain the presence of the third ovary. Wharton1, in 1959, highlighted the association of supernumerary ovaries with congenital malformations involving urogenital system. In 1963, Pearl et al2, suggested that when the migration of some primitive germ cells is arrested at some point during the course of normal migration to the gonadal ridges, their inductive influence on the surrounding epithelium leads to the formation of ectopic ovarian tissue. In 1973, Printz et al3, suggested the possibility of gonadal ridge transplantation or migration. Lachman4, in 1991, hypothesized that supernumerary ovaries may be secondary to implantation of dislodged ovarian tissue due to previous pelvic surgery or pelvic inflammatory disease.With this literature, terminology and classification relevant to our finding, were suggested which are now commonly used. Those are as follows:1. Supernumerary ovaries: ovarian tissue entirely separated from the normally placed ovary. There is no ligamentous or direct connection with the ovaries, broad ligament, utero-ovarian ligament or infundibulo-pelvic ligament and it arises from a separate primordium1.2. Accessory ovary: the excess ovarian tissue is situated near the normally placed ovary, may be connected with, and seems to have developed from it, possibly from tissue that was split from the embryonic ovary during early development1.3. Ectopic ovary: the term was used by Lachman in 1991 to replace both terms, supernumerary and accessory ovary. It describes any ovarian tissue additional to normal ovaries with further sub-classification as post- surgical implant, post-inflammatory implant or true (embryogenic)4.The condition that we encountered, does not fit in the above-mentioned terminologies thereby making it unique. The presence of the third ovarian ligament excludes this condition to be termed as supernumerary or duplication or accessory ovary. Hence, the rarity of this observation or occurrence is worth reporting. We think the term “superfluous ovary” is a good descriptor of this condition. Embryologically, superfluous ovary may have developed due to the excessive mesenchymal proliferation on one side, due to which thicker gubernaculum was formed that subsequently duplicated. The excess of the mesenchymal cells could be the reason for double gonadal ridges on one side thereby forming superfluous ovary on one side only.The superfluous ovary, in our case, was functional. This could be explained with the fact that it responded to the ovarian stimulation. Though the literature suggests that ectopic tissue should be removed due to their possibility of malignant transformation, we could not justify removing this unusual presence of a fully functioning superfluous ovary. Subsequent follow-up will explain the fate of this unique occurrence.References:1. Wharton L.R. (1959) Two cases of supernumerary ovary and one of accessory ovary with an analysis of previously reported cases. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 78, 1101–1109.2. Pearl M, Plotz EJ. Supernumerary ovary. Report of a case. Obstet Gynecol 1963;21:253‑6.3. Printz JL, Choate JW, Townes PL, Harper RC. The embryology of supernumerary ovaries. Obstet Gynecol 1973;41:246‑52.4. Lachman M.F. and Berman M.M. (1991) The ectopic ovary, a case report and review of the literature. Archives of Pathology Laboratory Medicine, 115, 233–235.