Health Care Disparities in Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy for Benign Indications: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how markers of health care disparity are associated with access to care and outcomes among patients seeking and undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through January 23, 2022. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: The population of interest included patients in the United States who sought or underwent hysterectomy by any approach for benign indications. Health care disparity markers included race, ethnicity, geographic location, insurance status, and others. Outcomes included access to surgery, patient level outcomes, and surgical outcomes. Eligible studies reported multivariable regression analyses that described the independent association between at least one health care disparity risk marker and an outcome. We evaluated direction and strengths of association within studies and consistency across studies. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Of 6,499 abstracts screened, 39 studies with a total of 46 multivariable analyses were included. Having a Black racial identity was consistently associated with decreased access to minimally invasive, laparoscopic, robotic, and vaginal hysterectomy. Being of Hispanic ethnicity and having Asian or Pacific Islander racial identities were associated with decreased access to laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy. Black patients were the only racial or ethnic group with an increased association with hysterectomy complications. Medicare insurance was associated with decreased access to laparoscopic hysterectomy, and both Medicaid and Medicare insurance were associated with increased likelihood of hysterectomy complications. Living in the South or Midwest or having less than a college degree education was associated with likelihood of prior hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Studies suggest that various health care disparity markers are associated with poorer access to less invasive hysterectomy procedures and with poorer outcomes for patients who are undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. Further research is needed to understand and identify the causes of these disparities, and immediate changes to our health care system are needed to improve access and opportunities for patients facing health care disparities. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42021234511.

Surgical Removal of Midurethral Sling in Women Undergoing Surgery for Presumed Mesh-Related Complications: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether some, or all, of the mesh needs to be removed when a midurethral sling is removed for complications. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. MEDLINE, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from January 1, 1996, through May 1, 2021, were searched for articles that met the eligibility criteria with total, partial, or a combination of anti-incontinence mesh removal. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: All study designs were included (N≥10), and a priori criteria were used for acceptance standards. Studies were extracted for demographics, operative outcomes, and adverse events. Meta-analysis was performed when possible. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: We double-screened 11,887 abstracts; 45 eligible and unique studies were identified. Thirty-five were single-group studies that evaluated partial mesh removal, five were single-group studies that evaluated total mesh removal, and five were studies that compared partial mesh removal with total mesh removal. All of the studies were retrospective in nature; there were no randomized controlled studies. Comparative studies demonstrated that partial mesh removal had lower rates of postoperative stress urinary incontinence (SUI) than total mesh removal (odds ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.22-0.96). Single-group studies supported lower rates of postoperative SUI with partial mesh removal compared with total mesh removal (19.2% [95% CI 13.5-25.7] vs 48.7% [95% CI 31.2-66.4]). Both methods were similar with respect to associated pain, bladder outlet obstruction, mesh erosion or exposure, and lower urinary tract symptoms. Adverse events were infrequent. CONCLUSION: Postoperative SUI may be lower with partial mesh removal compared with total mesh removal. Other outcomes were similar regardless of the amount of mesh removed. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD 42018093099.

Prioritizing Surgical Services during on-Going Pandemic Response: Modification and Reliability of the Medically Necessary Time Sensitive Surgery (MeNTS) Scoring Tool.

Health systems are struggling to manage a fluctuating volume of critically ill patients with COVID-19 while continuing to provide basic surgical services and expand capacity to address operative cases delayed by the pandemic. As we move forward through the next phases of the pandemic, we will need a decision-making system that allows us to remain nimble as clinicians to meet our patient's needs while also working with a new framework of healthcare operations. Here, we present our quality improvement process for the adaptation and application of the Medically Necessary Time-Sensitive (MeNTS) toolto gynecologic surgical services beyond the initial COVID response and into recovery of surgical services; with analysis of the reliability of the modified-MeNTS tool in our multi-site safety net hospital network. This multicenter study evaluated the gynecology surgical case volume at three tertiary acute care safety net institutions within the LA County Department of Health Services: Harbor-UCLA (HUMC), Olive View Medical Center (OVMC), and Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC). We describe our modified-Delphi approach to adapt the MeNTS tool in a structured fashion and its application to gynecologic surgical services. Blinded reviewers engaged in a three-round iterative adaptation and final scoring utilizing the modified tool. The cohort consisted of 392 female consecutive gynecology patients across three Los Angeles County Hospitals awaiting scheduled procedures in the surgical queue.The majority of patients were Latina (74.7%) and premenopausal (67.1%). Over half (52.4%) of the patients had cardiovascular disease, while 13.0% had lung disease, and 13.8% had diabetes. The most common indications for surgery were abnormal uterine bleeding (33.2%), pelvic organ prolapse (19.6%) and presence of an adnexal mass (14.3%). Minimally invasive approaches via laparoscopy, robotic-assisted laparoscopy, or vaginal surgery was the predominant planned surgical route (54.8%). Modified-MeNTS scores assumed a normal distribution across all patients within our cohort (Median 33, Range 18-52). Overall, ICC across all three institutions demonstrated "good" interrater reliability (0.72). ICC within institutions at HUMC and OVMC were categorized as "good" interrater reliability, while LAC-USC interrater reliability was categorized as "excellent" (HUMC 0.73, OVMC 0.65, LAC+USC 0.77). The modified-MeNTS tool performed well across a range of patients and procedures with a normal distribution of scores and high reliability between raters. We propose that the modified-MeNTS framework be considered as it employs quantitative methods for decision-making rather than subjective assessments.

Pregnancy in Women With Prior Treatments for Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Although the peak incidence of surgery for pelvic floor disorders does not occur until after menopause, an increasing number of younger women are seeking treatment for these problems. Whereas most surgeons would recommend delaying surgery until the completion of childbearing, published cases and case series address outcomes after subsequent pregnancies in women who have been treated for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. This document synthesizes the available evidence on the impact of pregnancy on women with prior treatment for pelvic floor disorders and on the impact of these prior treatments on subsequent pregnancy. Pregnancy after the repair of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration is also discussed. Consensus recommendations are presented based on available literature review and expert involvement.

Surgical interventions for posterior compartment prolapse and obstructed defecation symptoms: a systematic review with clinical practice recommendations.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Several posterior compartment surgical approaches are used to address posterior vaginal wall prolapse and obstructed defecation. We aimed to compare outcomes for both conditions among different surgical approaches. METHODS: A systematic review was performed comparing the impact of surgical interventions in the posterior compartment on prolapse and defecatory symptoms. MEDLINE, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to 4 April 2018. Randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective comparative and single-group studies of women undergoing posterior vaginal compartment surgery for vaginal bulge or bowel symptoms were included. Studies had to include both anatomical and symptom outcomes both pre- and post-surgery. RESULTS: Forty-six eligible studies reported on six surgery types. Prolapse and defecatory symptoms improved with native-tissue transvaginal rectocele repair, transanal rectocele repair, and stapled transanal rectocele repair (STARR) surgeries. Although prolapse was improved with sacrocolpoperineopexy, defecatory symptoms worsened. STARR caused high rates of fecal urgency postoperatively, but this symptom typically resolved with time. Site-specific posterior repairs improved prolapse stage and symptoms of obstructed defecation. Compared with the transanal route, native-tissue transvaginal repair resulted in greater improvement in anatomical outcomes, improved obstructed defecation symptoms, and lower chances of rectal injury, but higher rates of dyspareunia. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery in the posterior vaginal compartment typically has a high rate of success for anatomical outcomes, obstructed defecation, and bulge symptoms, although these may not persist over time. Based on this evidence, to improve anatomical and symptomatic outcomes, a native-tissue transvaginal rectocele repair should be preferentially performed.

Now Anyone Can Kegel: One-Time Office Teaching of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises.

OBJECTIVE: In women with pelvic floor disorders, we sought to determine time-to-teach (TTT) correct pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction, prevalence of inappropriate muscle contractions, and the association between TTT with PFM strength (PFMS). METHODS: From August 2017 to April 2018, patients from 2 pelvic floor disorder clinics participated in a prospective study examining PFMS. Assessment of PFMS was performed to obtain TTT, inappropriate accessory muscle, and Modified Oxford Grading Scale scores for pelvic floor muscle contractions 1 to pelvic floor muscle contractions 2. RESULTS: Of 100 women, 77 were from low-resource setting and 23 from high-resource setting. Mean TTT overall was 64.1 seconds (±26.0; range, 9-160 seconds), and mean TTT between settings was not significant. Mean overall TTT was significantly less than 90 seconds. Seventy-one women (71%) demonstrated at least 1 inappropriate accessory muscle, and of those, up to 50% of patients contracting 2 accessory muscle groups with abdominal muscles most frequently contracted at baseline. Thirty-nine percent of patients had a PFM contraction of at least 3 at baseline compared with 82% of patients upon completion of teaching, with 60% of women with scores of 4 or 5. The mean difference overall between baseline and pelvic floor muscle contractions 3 was 1.27 (confidence interval, 1.08-1.46; P < 0.001), and this increase was significant. CONCLUSIONS: One-time PFMS teaching can be done in a time-proficient fashion and is translatable across high-resource and low-resource settings. Most patients show improvement in PFMS immediately and can quickly acquire this learned skill for proper home practice.

All Levels of Providers Can Effectively and Efficiently Teach Pelvic Floor Strength Assessment at Time of Pelvic Examination.

OBJECTIVE: In women who undergo provider-guided vaginal biofeedback of pelvic floor muscle strength, we sought to determine whether the level of the provider correlates with the patient's ability to achieve adequate pelvic floor muscle contractions (PFMCs). METHODS: From August 2017 to April 2018, patients from 2 urogynecology clinics were recruited to participate in an institutional review board-approved, prospective study examining PFMCs. Pelvic examination and teaching session were done by providers who had specific training on how to assess pelvic floor muscle strength using the validated, modified Oxford scale. Patients were asked to perform a baseline PFMC during a 2-digit pelvic examination. Thereafter, patients were counseled to relax their muscles, identify the levator ani muscles during provider teaching, and perform 3 consecutive provider-guided PFMCs. The strength of each PFMC was measured, and the time-to-teach (TTT) was recorded. The level of provider and TTT were correlated with PFMC1 to PFMC3 using Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: One hundred women participated. Obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) residents (post-graduate years 1-4) evaluated 20 patients; female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship trainees (post-graduate years 5-7), 38 patients; OB/GYN nurse practitioners, 18 patients; generalist OB/GYN faculty, 9 patients; and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery faculty, 15 patients. There was no correlation between level of provider and TTT or between level of provider and strength of PFMC1, PFMC2, or PFMC3. CONCLUSIONS: At the time of pelvic floor muscle assessment, the level of provider does not impact teaching time or PFMC1 to PFMC3. Teaching pelvic floor muscle exercise is a cost-effective, low-resource tool to improve patient care, and providers of any level should be encouraged to teach pelvic floor muscle exercise to patients at the time of office examination.

Effectiveness of Assessing Ureteral Patency Using Preoperative Phenazopyridine.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of phenazopyridine when used intraoperatively to assess ureteral patency and to investigate factors that may influence its efficacy. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review performed at the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, a Los Angeles County teaching hospital, from January 2014 through July 2016. Patients undergoing cystoscopy at the time of gynecologic surgery were identified via department case logs. All women receiving preoperative oral phenazopyridine were included. If ureteral flow was unable to be visualized with phenazopyridine alone, the medication was deemed ineffective, and sodium fluorescein was given intraoperatively. Patients were divided into a phenazopyridine effective or phenazopyridine ineffective group. Patient demographics, renal function, intraoperative fluids and urine output, estimated blood loss, timing and dose of medication administration, and complications were gathered from the chart and compared between groups using Fisher exact test, 2-sample t test, Wilcoxon test, and logistic regression for multivariable analysis. P < 0.05 was determined to be significant. RESULTS: Preoperative phenazopyridine was effective in 190 (91.8%) of 207 patients. It was ineffective in 17 patients who then required intraoperative sodium fluorescein. The group in which phenazopyridine was effective was more likely to have been given a 200-mg (vs 100-mg) dose (P = 0.02) and had lower intraoperative urine output (median, 450 vs 800 mL; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative oral phenazopyridine is effective in more than 90% of cases to detect during gynecologic surgery. A higher phenazopyridine dose and lower intraoperative urine output were associated with increased efficacy.

The Relationship of Anterior Vaginal and Apical Position to Postvoid Residual Urine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between severity of anterior vaginal or apical prolapse and postvoid residual volume (PVR). METHODS: The charts of all women who presented to Urogynecology Clinic at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center for a 2-year period were reviewed. Demographic data, the degree of prolapse pelvic organ prolapse quantification points Aa, Ba, and C, and PVR were recorded. Patients with incomplete pelvic organ prolapse quantification assessment or improperly measured PVR were excluded. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-two patients were included. Median age was 54 years (range, 26-80). Mean gravidity and parity were 4.4 and 3.7, respectively. Mean body mass index was 29.9 kg/m. One hundred forty-nine women had previous pelvic surgery. Median PVR was 25 mL, and 40 patients (11.4%) had a PVR of 100 mL or greater.Considering 15 potential PVR predictors, we found that the position of apex/cervix (point C) significantly correlated with an increase in PVR and also after controlling for the other significant covariates (rate of change b = 4.7% increase in PVR/cm, P = 0.0007). The other significant (P < 0.05) covariates were gravidity (5.7% per pregnancy), postmenopausal status (32.4%), and vaginal surgical history (61.4%). This was not true, however, for the anterior vaginal position (points Aa, Ba; P > 0.15). There was no difference in mean PVR in patients with versus without a hysterectomy (P = 0.236). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PVR values have long been linked with prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall. We found that there is a linear association between PVR and the anatomic position of the apex. There was no association of PVR with the position of the anterior vaginal wall.

Pelvic organ prolapse: a disease of silence and shame.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to better understand women's experience with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and to compare this experience between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking women. METHODS: Women with POP were recruited from female urology and urogynecology clinics. Eight focus groups of 6 to 8 women each were assembled-4 groups in English and 4 in Spanish. A trained bilingual moderator conducted the focus groups. Topics addressed patients' perceptions, their knowledge and experience with POP symptoms, diagnostic evaluation, physician interactions, and treatments. RESULTS: Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking women expressed the same preliminary themes-lack of knowledge regarding the prevalence of POP, feelings of shame regarding their condition, difficulty in talking with others, fear related to symptoms, and emotional stress from coping with POP. In addition, Spanish-speaking women included fear related to surgery and communication concerns regarding the use of interpreters. Two overarching concepts emerged-first, a lack of knowledge, which resulted in shame and fear and second, public awareness regarding POP is needed. From the Spanish speaking, an additional concept was the need to address language barriers and the use of interpreters. CONCLUSIONS: Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking women felt ashamed of their POP and were uncomfortable speaking with anyone about it, including physicians. Educating women on the meaning of POP, symptoms, and available treatments may improve patients' ability to discuss their disorder and seek medical advice; for Spanish-speaking women, access to translators for efficient communication is needed.

Communication barriers among Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders: lost in translation?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate barriers in communication and disease understanding among office staff and interpreters when communicating with Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate barriers to communication with Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders among office staff and interpreters. Sixteen office staff and interpreters were interviewed; interview questions focused on experiences with Spanish-speaking patients with pelvic floor disorders in the clinic setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several barriers in communication as identified by office staff and interpreters. Three major classes were predominant: patient, interpreter, and system-related barriers. Patient-related barriers included a lack of understanding of anatomy and medical terminology and inhibited discussions due to embarrassment. Provider-related barriers included poor interpreter knowledge of pelvic floor vocabulary and the use of office staff without interpreting credentials. System-related barriers included poor access to information. From these preliminary themes, an emergent concept was revealed: it is highly likely that Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders have poor understanding of their condition owing to multiple obstacles in communication. CONCLUSIONS: There are many levels of barriers to communications with Latin women treated for pelvic floor disorders, arising from the patient, interpreter, and the system itself. These barriers contribute to a low level of understanding of their diagnosis, treatment options, and administered therapies.

Communication between physicians and Spanish-speaking Latin American women with pelvic floor disorders: a cycle of misunderstanding?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of the initial visit with a specialist on disease understanding among Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: Spanish-speaking women with referrals suggestive of urinary incontinence (UI) and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) were recruited from public urogynecology clinics. Patients participated in a health literacy assessment and interview before and after their physician encounter. All interviews were analyzed using Grounded Theory qualitative methods. RESULTS: Twenty-seven women with POP (n = 6), UI (n = 11), and POP/UI (n = 10) were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 55.5 years, and most women had marginal levels of health literacy. From our qualitative analysis, 3 concepts emerged. First, was that patients had poor understanding of their diagnosis before and after the encounter regardless of how extensive the physician's explanation or level of Spanish-proficiency. Second, patients were overwhelmed with the amount of information given to them. Lastly, patients ultimately put their trust in the physician, relying on them for treatment recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize the difficulty Spanish-speaking women with low health literacy have in understanding information regarding pelvic floor disorders. In this specific population, the physician has a major role in influencing patients' treatment decisions and helping them overcome fears they may have about their condition.

Regulation of elastolytic proteases in the mouse vagina during pregnancy, parturition, and puerperium.

Recent evidence indicates that failure of elastic fiber assembly and synthesis is involved in the pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse in mice. It has been long been hypothesized that parturition-induced activation of proteases in the vaginal wall and its supportive tissues may contribute to pelvic organ prolapse in women. In this investigation, we determined the expression of matrix metalloproteases with elastase activity (matrix metalloproteinase [MMP] 2, MMP9, and MMP12) and their inhibitors in the vaginal wall of nonpregnant, pregnant, and postpartum mice. Data obtained using mRNA levels and enzyme activity measurements indicate that MMP2, MMP9, and 21- to 24-kDa caseinolytic serine proteases are regulated in vaginal tissues from pregnant and postpartum mice. Although suppressed during pregnancy and the early postpartum time period, MMP2 and MMP9 enzyme activities are increased after 48 h, a time when mRNA levels of protease inhibitors (tissue inhibitor of MMP2 [Timp2], cystatin C [Cst3], and alpha-1 antitrypsin [Serpina1]) are decreased. We conclude that recovery of the vaginal wall from pregnancy and parturition requires increased elastic fiber assembly and synthesis to counteract the marked increase in elastolytic activity of the postpartum vagina.

Neurovascular anatomy of the sacrospinous ligament region in female cadavers: Implications in sacrospinous ligament fixation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to further characterize the anatomy of the coccygeus muscle-sacrospinous ligament (C-SSL) complex and to correlate the findings with sacrospinous ligament fixations (SSLF). STUDY DESIGN: Dissections were performed in 21 female cadavers. RESULTS: In all dissections, nerves originating from S3, S4, S5, or a combination passed over the anterior surface of the C-SSL at its midsegment, and either the pudendal or third sacral nerve coursed on the superior border of C-SSL at its midpoint. In 100% of specimens, the internal pudendal artery (IPA) passed behind or just medial to the ischial spine. The average distance of the inferior gluteal artery (IGA) from the ischial spine and the superior border of the C-SSL was 24.2 (range, 15-35) mm and 3.4 (range, 1-5) mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Nerves to the coccygeus and levator ani coursed over the midportion of the C-SSL where SSLF sutures are placed. The pudendal nerve and IGA were in proximity to the superior border of the C-SSL at its midportion, whereas the IPA passed behind the ischial spine, lateral to the recommended site for suture placement.

Anatomic relationships of the distal third of the pelvic ureter, trigone, and urethra in unembalmed female cadavers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship of the ureter to paravaginal defect repair (PVDR) sutures and to evaluate the anatomy of distal ureter, trigone, and urethra relative to the anterior vaginal wall. STUDY DESIGN: Dissections of the retropubic space were performed in 24 unembalmed female cadavers following placement of PVDR sutures. Lengths of the vagina, urethra, and trigone were recorded. RESULTS: The mean distance between apical PVDR sutures and the ureter was 22.8 (range, 5-36) mm. The average lengths of the urethra, trigone, and vagina were 3 cm, 2.8 cm, and 8.4 cm, respectively. The trigone was positioned over the middle third of the anterior vaginal wall in all specimens and the distal ureters traversed the anterolateral vaginal fornices. CONCLUSION: The ureters may be injured during paravaginal defect repairs, anterior colporrhaphies, and other procedures involving dissection in the upper third of the vagina. Cystotomy during vaginal hysterectomies is most likely to occur 2-3 cm above the trigone.

Uterosacral ligament suspension sutures: Anatomic relationships in unembalmed female cadavers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to characterize anatomic relationships of uterosacral ligament suspension (USLS) sutures. STUDY DESIGN: The relationship of USLS sutures to the ureters, rectal lumen, and sidewall neurovascular structures was examined in 15 unembalmed female cadavers. RESULTS: The mean distance of the proximal sutures to the ureters and rectal lumen was 14 mm (range, 0-33) and 10 mm (range, 0-33), respectively. The mean distance of the distal sutures to the ureters was 14 mm (range, 4-33) and to the rectal lumen 13 mm (range, 3-23). Right sutures were noted at the level of S1 in 37.5%, S2 in 37.5%, and S3 in 25% of specimens. Left sutures were noted at the level of S1 in 50%, S2 in 29.2%, and S3 in 20.8% of cadavers. Of 48 sutures passed, 1 entrapped the S3 nerve. Sutures perforated the pelvic sidewall vessels in 4.1% of specimens. CONCLUSION: USLS sutures can directly injure the ureters, rectum, and neurovascular structures in the pelvic walls.

Thin endometrial echo complex on ultrasound does not reliably exclude type 2 endometrial cancers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the ultrasonographic characteristics of the uterus and endometrial echo-complex (EEC) of postmenopausal patients diagnosed with type 2 endometrial cancer, including uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC), clear cell carcinoma (CCC), and other endometrial high-grade carcinomas (HGC). METHODS: Postmenopausal patients with type 2 endometrial cancer who underwent preoperative pelvic ultrasound were identified. Histologic diagnoses were made by biopsy or hysterectomy. Ultrasound reports were abstracted for the following parameters: EEC thickness, presence of intracavitary fluid or lesion, myometrial mass, uterine size, and adnexal mass. Ultrasound films were re-reviewed by a single gynecologic ultrasonographer. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with detailed ultrasound reports comprised the study population. Twenty-six films were available for re-review and inter-examiner agreement was 92%. Forty-four women (85%) presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Thirty-four patients (65%) had a thickened EEC measuring >5 mm. In 9 cases (17%), the EEC measured <4 mm. In an additional 9 patients (17%) the EEC was indistinct. One or more other ultrasound abnormalities were found in each of the 18 cases with a non-thickened EEC: intracavitary fluid or lesion (8; 44%), myometrial mass (12; 67%), enlarged uterus (13; 72%), or adnexal mass (5; 28%). CONCLUSION: A thin or indistinct endometrial stripe, especially when associated with other ultrasound abnormalities does not reliably exclude type 2 endometrial cancer. Postmenopausal vaginal bleeding requires endometrial sampling despite a thin EEC in the presence of other ultrasonographic abnormalities or persistent bleeding.

Endovascular workforce for peripheral vascular disease: current and future needs.

BACKGROUND: The current status and future needs of peripheral endovascular utilization and training have not been well defined. This topic is particularly relevant to the future of four specialties: interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, interventional radiology, and peripheral vascular surgery. We attempt to analyze the current numbers of cardiovascular patients and procedures and the numbers of treating physicians and surgeons to make predictions and recommendations for the future. METHODS: The numbers of cardiovascular patients and procedures were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Trend Query web site. The number of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs was obtained with telephone or e-mail contact with the aortic endograft manufacturers. The numbers of different cardiovascular specialists were obtained with contact with different cardiovascular professional societies and the American Board of Specialists via telephone, e-mail, or web site. The numbers of accredited US cardiovascular fellowship programs and first year spots were obtained from the Graduate Medical Education Directory 2000 to 2001. Finally, the numbers of endovascular fellowship programs and first year spots were obtained with contact with the individual programs. RESULTS: The numbers of cardiovascular patients and procedures have risen from 1993 to 1997. This trend is expected to continue as the population ages. Despite the rapid rise of endovascular procedures, the number of open cases has continued to rise as well. However, the number of cardiovascular specialists is predicted to remain stable. Specific numbers and trends are depicted in the manuscript. CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows that a critical shortage of endovascular trained specialists will exist in the future. More surgeons need to receive endovascular training to meet these future needs.

Endoscopic Surgery for Arterial Occlusive Disease.

Endoscopic surgery is not a recent development. In fact, the application of the Edison light bulb to the cystoscope in 1883 was followed by widespread use of endoscopy. In 1910, Jacobeaus proposed the diagnostic use of the cystoscope for investigation of serous cavities, and in 1922, he reported lysis of pleural adhesions to promote artificial pneumothorax in 40 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. For the next 30 years, the thoracoscope was widely used for pneumolysis in tuberculosis patients, but its use waned considerably after the development of effective antibiotic treatment for tuberculosis. With the advent of laparoscopy, endoscopy has become popular again and here we review the application of endoscopic techniques in cardiovascular surgery.