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A case of labour obstructed in advanced stage with a live fetus, in a severely anaemic and extremely poor patient seen at a referral centre is reported. She could have benefited from immediate blood transfusion and emergency caesarean section, but blood was neither available in the centre, nor could be readily purchased. She was alternatively and successfully managed with symphysiotomy, thus avoiding the possible complications of caesarean section and the possibility of uterine rupture had labour been allowed to continue while blood was awaited or from a weak scar in future pregnancies. Symphysiotomy is hereby acknowledged as a life-saving emergency obstetric procedure and therefore recommended


Key Words: Labour, Fetopelvic Disproportion, Symphysiotomy


[Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2003, 20: 161-163]