Modifying pre-operative antibiotic overuse in gynecologic surgery.

Purpose Previous studies indicate adherence to pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines has been inadequate. The purpose of this paper is to determine adherence rates to current perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines in gynecologic surgery at a tertiary care, academic institution. As a secondary outcome, improving guidelines after physician re-education were analyzed. Design/methodology/approach A retrospective chart review (2,463 patients) was completed. The authors determined if patients received perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in accordance with current guidelines from the America College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Data were obtained before and after physician tutorials. Quality control was implemented by making guideline failures transparent. Statistical analysis used Fisher's exact and agreement tests. Findings In total, 23 percent of patients received antibiotics not indicated across all procedures. This decreased to 9 percent after physician re-education and outcome transparency ( p<0.0001). Laparoscopy was the procedure with the lowest guideline compliance prior to education. The compliance improved from 52 to 92 percent ( p<0.0001) after re-education. Practical implications Gynecologic surgeons overuse antibiotics for surgical prophylaxis. Physician re-education and transparency were shown to enhance compliance. Originality/value Educational tutorials are an effective strategy for encouraging physicians to improve outcomes, which, in turn, allows the healthcare system a non-punitive way to monitor quality and mitigate cost.

The 80-hour work week for residents: views from obstetric and gynecology program directors.

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandated an 80-hour work week restriction for residency programs. We examined program directors' views on how this mandate affects the education of Obstetrics and Gynecology residents. A 25 question survey was administered via Survey Monkey to Obstetrics and Gynecology program directors in the United States over three months in 2011. Fifty program directors (response rate of 28%) completed it with more men (62%) than women (38%) respondents. Overall, only 28% (14/50) responded that the program had improved, with significantly fewer men (5/14; 16.1%) than women (47.4% 9/19; p < 0.0169) directors reporting this. There was little perceived improvement in any of the six core ACGME performance objectives and in the CREOG scores, with the improvement ranging from 8% to 12%. In fact, while we observed the percentage of women directors reporting improvement in patient care and interpersonal and communication skills significantly higher compared with their male counterparts, the majority of women still reported either no improvement or a decline in these areas. Though our sample size was small, we found some significant difference between the views of male and female program directors. Both groups nonetheless responded with the majority with a decline or no change rather than a perceived improvement in any of the educational endeavors studied.

Use of a Yankauer suction tip combined with the Colpo-Pneumo Occluder balloon to suction the surgical field at the vaginal cuff during robotic hysterectomy.

A 39-year-old patient with complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypia underwent robotic total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The procedure was technically challenging because of the patient's obesity (body mass index 50 kg/m(2)). Concomitant suction of pooled blood and retraction of bowel and omentum were necessary to close the vaginal cuff. An endoscopic retractor was used through the assistant's port, and a Yankauer suction tip was placed through an inflated Colpo-Pneumo Occluder balloon in the vagina to provide directed suction to the vagina cuff. This technique enabled efficient closure of the vaginal cuff.

Use of Pathology Data to Improve High-Value Treatment of Cervical Neoplasia.

We investigated the influence of pathology data to improve patient outcomes in the treatment of high-grade cervical neoplasia in a joint pathology and gynecology collaboration. Two of us (B.S.D. and M.D.) reviewed all cytology, colposcopy and surgical pathology results, patient history, and pregnancy outcomes from all patients with loop electrosurgical excision procedure specimens for a 33-month period (January 2011-September 2013). We used this to determine compliance to 2006 consensus guidelines for the performance of loop electrosurgical excision procedure and shared this information in 2 interprofessional and interdisciplinary educational interventions with Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pathology faculty at the end of September 2013. We simultaneously emphasized the new 2013 guidelines. During the postintervention period, we continued to provide follow-up using the parameters previously collected. Our postintervention data include 90 cases from a 27-month period (October 2013-December 2015). Our preintervention data include 331 cases in 33 months (average 10.0 per month) with 76% adherence to guidelines. Postintervention, there were 90 cases in 27 months (average 3.4 per month) and 96% adherence to the 2013 (more conservative) guidelines (P < .0001, χ2 test). Preintervention, the rate of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in loop electrosurgical excision procedures was 44%, whereas postintervention, there was a 60% high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion rate on loop electrosurgical excision procedure (P < .0087 by 2-tailed Fisher exact test). The duration between diagnosis of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and loop electrosurgical excision procedure also increased significantly from a median 25.5 months preintervention to 54 months postintervention (P < .0073; Wilcoxon Kruskal-Wallis test). Postintervention, there was a marked decrease of loop electrosurgical excision procedure cases as well as better patient outcomes. We infer improved patient safety, and higher value can be achieved by providing performance-based pathologic data.

Low-pressure headache presenting in early pregnancy with dramatic response to glucocorticoids: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Obstetricians are familiar with postural headaches in their postpartum patients following spinal or epidural anaesthesia. The rare occurrence in the antepartum patient without inciting event, may pose a diagnostic and treatment dilemma with resultant prolongation of disabling headaches in affected patients. Awareness of this condition, if accurately diagnosed, may allow for earlier relief from disabling headache, which may take weeks to months to otherwise resolve. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of low-pressure or postural headache (spontaneous intracranial hypotension) in a 39-year-old Caucasian patient in early pregnancy follows. She was initially misdiagnosed with migraine headache, but subsequently thought to have low-pressure headache. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetricians/neurologists need to be aware of the potential treatment options for pregnant patients. Due to the desire to limit caffeine (a standard treatment for low-pressure headache) in pregnancy, high-dose glucocorticoids may provide rapid relief without significant risk to the immunocompetent patient or the pregnancy. Our case offers a non-interventional approach in the pregnant patient with resultant quick response to treatment without significant adverse fetal risk.