Are you handling genital oedema confidently?

Men, women or children can suffer from oedema (swelling) of the genitalia. When differential diagnosis has excluded acute trauma or pathology and swelling remains, the condition may be diagnosed as genital lymphoedema, a chronic condition that increases the relative risk of cellulitis. Diagnosis of genital oedema is often delayed due to problems with patient and health professional behaviour, in terms of embarrassment, lack of confidence or lack of knowledge. Awareness of this condition and knowledge on how to manage it will go a long way in helping both patients and clinicians overcome the challenges of addressing genital oedema. This article describes the authors' experiences in managing genital oedema. It also briefly discusses a new international project that seeks to identify the knowledge and training that health professionals need to manage this condition more confidently.

[Causes of pain in obstetrics]. / Etiologie des douleurs en obstétrique.

For women, the childbearing period is a source of pain related to dysmenorrhoea, childbirth, abortion, gynaecological diseases, etc. Physiologically, female sex hormones influence pain modulation. Whatever its cause, appropriate evaluation and treatment should be offered to relieve these women.

Gynaecological assessment and history taking.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) rarely undertake gynaecological histories or female genital examinations yet, by doing so, they can broaden their scope of practice. This article discusses what NPs should ask women about their gynaecological histories and how to undertake pelvic examinations, and reviews common gynaecological symptoms. Further articles will cover different aspects of the pelvic examination and potential differential diagnoses.

Chorioamnionitis: prevention and management.

Chorioamnionitis most often occurs during labor, affecting as many as 10% of laboring women. When intrapartum chorioamnionitis occurs, women are at peripartal risk for endometritis, cesarean birth, and postpartum hemorrhage; and the neonate is at significant risk for sepsis, pneumonia, respiratory distress, and death. The impact is greater for preterm infants where the incidence of chorioamnionitis is nearly 30%. When chorioamnionitis is believed to be present, antibiotics are administered, but not without potential adverse consequence to the mother/fetus, as well as significantly increased healthcare cost. A number of factors increase the risk of chorioamnionitis, including use of intrauterine pressure catheters and fetal scalp electrodes, urogenital tract infections, prolonged rupture of membranes, digital vaginal examinations, and the nature of perineal hygiene. This article presents key intrapartum factors and those nursing actions that can help to reduce rates of chorioamnionitis and improve perinatal outcomes.

Resultados citopatológicos de mulheres que realizaram exame do colo do útero em um laboratório escola da Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia-GO: estudo de prevalência / Cytopathological results from women that realized the examination of cervix in a laboratory-school from Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia-GO: prevalence study

Objetivo - Avaliar a prevalência de câncer de colo do útero e infecções genitais em mulheres atendidas no serviço de saúde pública de Goiânia-GO. O exame de Papanicolaou é o método utilizado para detecção das lesões intraepiteliais e neoplásicas da cérvice uterina, tendo importante papel na prevenção do câncer do colo do útero e no diagnóstico das infecções genitais. Métodos - Estudo retrospectivo dos laudos dos exames citopatológicos das mulheres atendidas nas Unidades de Atenção Básica em Saúde (UABS) de Goiânia-GO, entre 03/2006 a 05/2008. Os esfregaços citológicos foram analisados no Centro de Análises Clínicas Rômulo Rocha da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade Federal de Goiás (CACRR/FF/UFG). Resultados - Um total de 15.615 mulheres foi incluído no estudo. A mediana de idade foi de 33 anos (14-93 anos), a maioria (57,6%) tinha entre 20 e 39 anos e 6,6% (n=1.034) eram < 20 anos de idade. Mais de 50% dos casos de infecção entre adultas e adolescentes eram causados por Gardnerella vaginalis e 13,6% por Trichomonas vaginalis. Entre mulheres mais jovens (20-39 anos),16,9% das infecções foi causada por Candida sp. Aproximadamente 7,6% dos esfregaços avaliados apresentaram alterações celulares, sendo 4,9% células escamosas atípicas de significado indeterminado/lesão intraepitelial escamosa de baixo grau (ASC-US/LSIL) para as mulheres entre 20-29 anos e 2,6% células escamosas atípicas com possível lesão de alto grau/lesão intraepitelial escamosa de alto grau e células glandulares atípicas (ASC-H/+) para mulheres entre 20 e 49 anos. Conclusão - Lesões graves em mulheres jovens chamam atenção para a necessidade de políticas de saúde pública que reforcem a importância do Papanicolaou para a prevenção do colo de útero.

Objective - To correlate the prevalence of cervical cancer and genital infections with the age of women treated at public health service of Goiânia-GO. Papanicolaou test is the method used for detection of intraepithelial and neoplastic lesions in the uterine cervix, playing an important role in cervical cancer prevention and helping in female genital infections'diagnosis. Methods - Women's cytopathological tests were analyzed at Health Care Units from Goiânia-GO, between 03/2006 and 05/2008. Smears were analyzed at Clinical Analysis Laboratory Rômulo Rocha, at Pharmacy Faculty of the Federal University of Goiás. Results - The total of 15.615 women were included in this study. The median age was 33 years (14-93 years), 57.6% were between 20 and 39 years of age and 6.6% were adolescents <20 years of age. More than 50% of cases of infection among adults and adolescents were caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, followed by 13.6% by Trichomonas vaginalis and to 16.9% by Candida sp. Approximately, 7.6% of smears evaluated showed cellular alterations, and 4.9% atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/squamous intraepithelial lesion of low grade (ASC-US/LSIL) for women aged 20-29 years and 2.6% atypical squamous cells can damage high-grade/squamous intraepithelial lesion high-grade and atypical glandular cells (ASC-H/+) for women aged 20-49 years. Conclusion - Serious injuries in young women draw attention to the need for public health policies that reinforce the importance of the Papanicolaou test for cervical cancer prevention.

A normal ano-genital exam: sexual abuse or not?

Sexual abuse is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are at the forefront of providing care to children and families. The PNP is in a unique position to educate patients and families regarding sexual abuse and dispel common myths associated with sexual abuse. One such myth is that a normal ano-genital examination is synonymous with the absence of sexual abuse. This article will provide primary care providers, including PNPs, with a framework for understanding why a normal ano-genital examination does not negate the possibility of sexual abuse/assault. Normal ano-genital anatomy, changes that occur with puberty, and physical properties related to the genitalia and anus will be discussed. Photos will provide visualization of both normal variants of the pre-pubertal hymen and genitalia as well as changes that occur with puberty. Implications for practice for PNPs will be discussed.

Sexual health innovators.

Much of the care that patients attending the sexual health clinic at London's St. Mary's Hospital receive is nurse led. Improvements to the service have been boosted by training programmes.

[Effects of pain control education on pain control barrier, postoperative pain and pain control satisfaction in gynecological patients].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative pain control education on the pain control barrier, postoperative pain and pain control satisfaction in gynecological patients. METHOD: The study was a quasi-experimental research design. There were 58 subjects who were admitted for gynecological surgery to D University Hospital in B city. Pain control education was provided individually to the experimental group one day before their operation day for 20 minutes with the 'Pain Control Guide Book' in the patient's admission room. The education book was made by researchers based on pain management references and patient interviews. For assessing the pain control barrier, a simplified version of Barriers Questionnaire was used, postoperative pain was assessed on a numeric scale(0-10) and satisfaction of pain control was assessed by one question. RESULTS: The pain control barrier(F=15.828, p<.001) and the post pain score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. In addition, pain control satisfaction of the experimental group(t=3.612, p<.001) was higher than the control group's. CONCLUSION: With the above results, preoperative pain control education could be an effective nursing intervention for pain control of surgical patients.

The experience of physical symptoms among women living with HIV.

As the number of women living with HIV and AIDS increases, so does survival time for individuals living with this chronic condition. Symptom existence, intensity, and bothersomeness greatly affect quality of life in women living with HIV and AIDS. Symptoms experienced by women living with HIV include symptoms related to HIV infection itself, those related to opportunistic infections, and those related to medications and treatments. Symptoms experienced by women include those common to both genders and those specific to females. The presence and intensity of symptoms varies with progression of the disease and with deteriorating status of HIV disease indicators. While research is limited on this topic, some research on the general symptom experience of women and on symptoms specific to or common among women has been done. Extended life expectancy among women with HIV increases the importance of nursing care focused on symptom assessment and symptom management. This article reviews research on symptoms commonly experienced by women living with HIV and presents implications for the care of women experiencing distressing symptoms.

Cross-mapping ICNP terms with Taiwanese gynecological nursing records.

Cross-mapping the terms of International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) with the handwritten nursing records of gynecological patients at one district of private teaching hospital in the south of Taiwan was conducted in July and August, 2004. The purpose of this study was to validate the applicability of ICNP for electronic nursing records in a gynecological setting. A Chinese version of the ICNP beta 2 browser was used to code nursing record sentences. Medical charts were reviewed until data were saturated. A total of sixty-two patient records were analyzed, producing 6,327 sentences, this included 1,918 sentences on nursing phenomena (30.3%) and 4,409 sentences on nursing action (69.7%). The ratio between the two was about 1:2.3. Coded sentences were compared according to the four levels of applicability with the original records, each was identified as a "perfect fit", "conceptual fit", "partial fit", or "unable to fit". Of the 6,327 sentences, 2,041 (32.3%) were designated as "perfect fit", 2,457 (38.8%) as "conceptual fit", 1,663 (26.3%) as "partial fit", and 166 (2.6%) as "unable to fit". The top ten most described nursing phenomena included: acute pain, high temperature, conscious change, potential infection risk, state of mind change, potential risk patient's mobility change endurance level, gastrointestinal function obstacles, changes in urination, anxiety, and diarrhea. The top ten most described nursing actions included: observe surgical wounds, monitor vital signs, changes of mentality, instruction on medication, arranging clinical check ups, wound infection prevention, urinary drainage tube and urine nature observation, checking for vaginal drainage, pre/post-operative healthcare, and discharge planning. Study results indicated that 71.1% of sentences could be cross-mapped. Further validation is suggested to validate ICNP in other gynecological hospitals.

Effects of Pain Control Education on Pain Control Barrier, Postoperative Pain and Pain Control Satisfaction in Gynecological Patients / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative pain control education on the pain control barrier, postoperative pain and pain control satisfaction in gynecological patients. METHOD: The study was a quasi-experimental research design. There were 58 subjects who were admitted for gynecological surgery to D University Hospital in B city. Pain control education was provided individually to the experimental group one day before their operation day for 20 minutes with the 'Pain Control Guide Book' in the patient's admission room. The education book was made by researchers based on pain management references and patient interviews. For assessing the pain control barrier, a simplified version of Barriers Questionnaire was used, postoperative pain was assessed on a numeric scale(0-10) and satisfaction of pain control was assessed by one question. RESULTS: The pain control barrier(F=15.828, p<.001) and the post pain score of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. In addition, pain control satisfaction of the experimental group(t=3.612, p<.001) was higher than the control group's. CONCLUSION: With the above results, preoperative pain control education could be an effective nursing intervention for pain control of surgical patients.