Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:To compare 3-dimensional saline infusion sonohysterography (3DSIS) with 2-dimensional sonohysterography (2DSIS) using hysteroscopy and histologic diagnosis as the gold standard. METHOD/METHODS:A retrospective analysis of all SIS examination performed between July 1, 2005 and April 30, 2007 in our gynecological sonographic unit. 2DSIS or 3DSIS sonographic techniques were used randomly. Management decisions and operative procedures were done by the referring provider. Patients that had diagnostic hysteroscopy and complete histologic evaluation were included. Concordance between the various assessment methods as well as sensitivity and specificity were compared between 2DSIS and 3DSIS. Student's t test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT/RESULTS:Of 804 patients that had SIS, 125 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patient median age was 48 (range 19-82). Also, 77 patients were premenopausal, and 48 patients were postmenopausal. Furthermore, 43 patients had 2DSIS and 82 patients had 3DSIS. 3DSIS was found to correlate with hysteroscopic findings more often than 2DSIS (p < 0.05). A trend for higher specificity of 3DSIS with the different uterine pathologies was seen, but it did not reach statistical significance. No difference in sensitivity of 3DSIS compared with 2DSIS was found for all pathologic diagnoses. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:3DSIS correlated better with hysteroscopy than 2DSIS. Specificity for histologic diagnosis appears to be higher with 3DSIS compared with 2DSIS but larger-scale studies are needed to confirm this finding.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to gain insight into the nature of obstetric fistulae in Africa through patient perspectives. STUDY DESIGN: At l'Hopital Saint Jean de Dieu in Tanguieta, Benin, 37 fistula patients underwent structured interviews about fistula cause, obstacles to medical care, prevention, and reintegration by 2 physicians via interpreters. RESULTS: The majority of participants (43%) thought their fistulae were a result of trauma from the operative delivery. Lack of financial resources (49%) was the most commonly reported obstacle to care, and prenatal care (38%) was most frequently reported as an intervention that may prevent obstetric fistulae. The majority (49%) of the participants requested no further reintegration assistance aside from surgery. CONCLUSION: Accessible emergency obstetric care is necessary to decrease the burden of obstetric fistulae in Africa. This may be accomplished through increased and improved health care facilities and education of providers and patients.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the feasibility, utility and resident attitudes towards an interactive, Web-based computer learning program. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Pretest/ posttest evaluation of an interactive curriculum to teach current recommendations for cervical cancer screening and classification and management of abnormal Pap smears. Thirty-five Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/ GYN) residents were encouraged to complete a Web-based computer program that consisted of a pretest, 9 educational sections (3 didactic and 6 case based), a posttest and an exit survey. Clinical cases involved virtual case management of patients' cytologic, histologic and colposcopic images. Mastery was set at 82% (or 23/28 correct answers). RESULTS:Thirty-one of the 35 residents (89%) completed the curriculum. No resident demonstrated mastery (82%) on the pretest; 15 of 31 residents demonstrated mastery on the posttest (p = 0.04). Mean improvement for all residents was 9 additional questions answered correctly. All the residents thought that the Web site was useful and covered all the learning objectives and would recommend it to other residents. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A program to teach current cervical cancer screening, classification and abnormal Pap smear management guidelines was useful, feasible and well accepted by residents in this population.

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to assess whether a surgical skills simulator laboratory improves resident knowledge and operative performance of laparoscopic tubal ligation. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Twenty postgraduate year 1 residents were assigned randomly to either a surgical simulator laboratory on laparoscopic tubal ligation together with apprenticeship teaching in the operating room or to apprenticeship teaching alone. Tests that were given before and after the training assessed basic knowledge. Attending physicians who were blinded to resident randomization status evaluated postgraduate year 1 performance on a laparoscopic tubal ligation in the operating room with 3 validated tools: a task-specific checklist, global rating scale, and pass/fail grade. RESULTS:Postgraduate year 1 residents who were assigned randomly to the surgical simulator laboratory performed significantly better than control subjects on all 3 surgical assessment tools (the checklist, the global score, and the pass/fail analysis) and scored significantly better on the knowledge posttest (all P < .0005). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Compared with apprenticeship teaching alone, a surgical simulator laboratory on laparoscopic tubal ligation improved resident knowledge and performance in the operating room.

OBJECTIVE:This study was undertaken to assess whether a surgical skills laboratory improves residents' knowledge and performance of episiotomy repair. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Twenty-four first- and second-year residents were randomly assigned to either a surgical skills laboratory on episiotomy repair or traditional teaching alone. Pre- and posttests assessed basic knowledge. Blinded attending physicians assessed performance, evaluating residents on second-degree laceration/episiotomy repairs in the clinical setting with 3 validated tools: a task-specific checklist, global rating scale, and a pass-fail grade. RESULTS:Postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) residents participating in the laboratory scored significantly better on all 3 surgical assessment tools: the checklist, the global score, and the pass/fail analysis. All the residents who had the teaching laboratory demonstrated significant improvements on knowledge and the skills checklist. PGY-2 residents did not benefit as much as PGY-1 residents. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A surgical skills laboratory improved residents' knowledge and performance in the clinical setting. Improvement was greatest for PGY-1 residents.

OBJECTIVE:To report our experience of selective embolotherapy in 8 consecutive patients with cervical pregnancy (CxP) presenting with vaginal bleeding. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:A total of 9 selective pelvic embolization procedures were performed on 8 patients with CxP, either as an emergency, for control of vaginal hemorrhage (2 patients), or on a nonemergency basis, for moderate vaginal bleeding (6 patients). One patient underwent 2 embolization procedures, once for each indication. RESULTS:Successful hemostasis was obtained in both emergency cases. In 3 of the nonemergency cases, the CxP rapidly resolved. In the 3 other nonemergency cases, elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels persisted, with a new episode of vaginal bleeding in 2 patients 2 and 4 weeks later, respectively; the bleeding resolved after the administration of methotrexate. Significant vaginal hemorrhage occurred 4 weeks later in the third patient and responded to repeat embolotherapy. One patient required a blood transfusion. The uterus was preserved in all 8 patients. One patient was lost to follow-up, but normal menses resumed in all 7 of the others; and 2 patients had subsequent successful pregnancies. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Embolotherapy is effective in treating and preventing vaginal hemorrhage associated with CxP while allowing uterine preservation. Along with methotrexate and other medical treatment of CxP, we recommend routine use of embolization in patients presenting with vaginal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE:Our purpose was to determine whether a borderline amniotic fluid index observed during antepartum testing confers a significant risk of adverse perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:We conducted a retrospective review of all patients entering antepartum testing at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Women's and Children's Hospital during a 4-month period beginning January 1, 1996. Women with singleton pregnancies who underwent antepartum testing within 1 week of delivery and who were delivered at our institution were identified for our study. An amniotic fluid index >5 and <10 cm was defined as "borderline" and an amniotic fluid index of 10 to 24 cm was considered normal. Markers of adverse perinatal outcome included intrapartum fetal distress, 5-minute Apgar score <7, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and intrauterine growth restriction. RESULTS:There was a 2-fold increase in the incidence of adverse perinatal outcome among the women with borderline amniotic fluid index in comparison with control subjects with normal amniotic fluid volume. This difference reflected a 4-fold increase in the incidence of fetal growth restriction among women with a borderline amniotic fluid index. CONCLUSIONS:A borderline amniotic fluid index observed in antepartum testing is associated with an increased risk of intrauterine growth restriction and overall adverse perinatal outcome. These observations suggest that borderline amniotic fluid index merits twice-weekly antepartum testing.