An Interesting Operation

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume III, Issue 3, 1 July 1910, Page 116

An Interesting Operation

It may possibly interest the readers of Kai Tiaki to hear of the operation for Csesarian Section, performed in one of the St. IMens Hospitals for the first time. The patient entered St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, a week before her expected confinement ; was examined, and measurements of the pelvis taken. Measurement. The external conjugate . . 6 3-Bth inches Inter cristal . . . . 9 5-Bth Inter spinous . . . . 9 l-4th Inter trochanteric . . 10 3-Btn Posterior superior spines 3 7-Bth Internal diagonal conjugate 4 l-4th Transverse at outlet . . 2 3-Bth Antero-posterior at outlet 2 5-Bth „ Her height is 4 feet 5 inches. Patient gave a history of good health save for an accident, which occurred when two years of age, and resulted in bad curvature of the spine, a kyphotic pelvis with lateral curvature, and one leg was four inches shorter than the other. On Monday, 23rd May, 1910, at 7.15 p m. the membranes ruptured, without any previous warning that labour had commenced. Patient was examined, and the dilation found to be the size of a two-shilling piece. Dr. T. Inglis arrived on a scene of activity, the labour ward having to be converted into a temporary operating theatre. The ward being unfortunately too small to allow all the nurses to witness the operation, only the senior nurses were admitted.

The anaesthetic was started at 8.45 p.m., Dr. Williams administering it ; Dr. Roberton assisting Dr. T. Inglis at the operation. The baby wa? bcrn at 9.10 p.m., giving a hearty yell at being disturbed in such a summary manner, and the nurses were rather astonished at its sudden appearance. Patient was put back to bed at 9.45 p.m. , having lost very little, but her pulse was very weak. Hypo, inj strych., gr. 1-40 was ordered four-hourly, and the pulse gradually improved. She vomited several times during the first night, and complained of sharp pains now and again, but dozeel a good deal. Temperature and pulse remained normal, and after her bowels were openeel on thc second day, had no further trouble or discomfort of any kind, and continued to improve steadily. The stitches were removed on tlie fourteenth day, and the wound healed by first intention. Lochia was normal throughout. Baby was put to the breast on the morning of the third day, as patient had pL-nty of milk, and baby has been fed entirely on the breast ever since. The patient's mode of answering inquiries as to her health is invariably the same : ' ' I'm lovely," and her face is wreathed m smiles. She has been busy instructing her young husband in the art of holding the baby in trie correct way, but he is sadly out of practice, and gets severely reproved at times. Baby is a pretty little girl, and weighed 6| lbs. at birth. She is healthy anel plump, with no deformity whatever, and has become the spoilt pet of the nursery. She has been christened " Helen May." C.L