Critical obstetric and gynecologic procedures in the emergency department

Emergency Delivery

Despite the majority of US births occurring in hospitals and under the direct care of obstetricians, there is a subset of patients who will deliver imminently in the emergency department (ED). ED physicians must be skillfully trained to manage both uncomplicated and complicated delivery scenarios. An ED delivery may require resuscitation of both mother and infant, so supplies should be readily available and all necessary consultants and support staff should be involved to ensure the best outcome. Most births are uncomplicated and require no significant additional interventions but ED staff must be prepared for these more complicated scenarios.

Improving Emergency Care Through a Dedicated Redesigned Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergency Unit at the Women's Hospital, Doha, Qatar

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVE

STUDY DESIGN

RESULTS

CONCLUSION

Episiotomy practice in six Palestinian hospitals: a population-based cohort study among singleton vaginal births

OBJECTIVE

To explore the rates, characteristics and indications for episiotomy among women delivering vaginally for the first time, as well as parous women.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, population-based birth cohort study.

SETTING

Obstetric departments in six Palestinian government hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

All women with singleton vaginal births (n=29 165) from 1 March 2015 until 1 March 2016.

METHODS

All women were divided into two groups: first vaginal birth group (n=9108), including primiparous women and women with their first vaginal birth after one caesarean section, and the parous group (n=20 057). Each group was analysed separately. Data were presented as numbers and percentages or range. Differences in rates were assessed by the p values of χ² test, or Fisher's exact test if there are cell counts less than 5.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Episiotomy rates and indications among women of singleton births.

RESULTS

The overall episiotomy rate was 28.7%: 78.8% for women with first vaginal birth (range 56.6%-86.0%) and 5.9% for parous women (range 1.0%-9.5%). The most common indications for episiotomy were 'primiparity' in the first vaginal birth group (69.9%) and 'protecting the perineum' in the parous group (59.5%). The least common indications were prolonged second stage (1.5%) and fetal distress (6.9%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In Palestine, the majority of women who delivered vaginally for the first time had an episiotomy. Education of birth attendants, clinical audits, educational interventions and adherence to the updated guidelines may help to decrease the routine overuse of episiotomy.

Transitioning From a Level II to Level I Trauma Center Increases Resident Patient Exposure

Increased patient exposure has been shown to improve residency training as determined by better patient outcomes. The transition of John Peter Smith Hospital from a level II to a level I trauma center in 2009 provided a unique opportunity to investigate the direct effects of increased patient exposure on residency training in a relatively controlled setting. We evaluated the effect of the transition to a level I trauma center on residency training. In 2014, we examined the annual facility reports and separated the data into 2 groups: level II (2001 to 2008) and level I (2010 to 2013). The primary outcome measures were patient volume, surgical volume, patient acuity, and scholarly activity by the residents. The patient volume in all units increased significantly (p < .05 for all) after the transition to a level I center. The surgical volume increased significantly for the general surgery, orthopedics, and podiatry departments (p < .05 for all) but remained unchanged in the gynecology and oral maxillofacial surgery departments. The volume measures were performed on all 98 residents (100%). Patient acuity and scholarly activity increased by 17% and 52%, respectively; however, the differences in these data were not statistically significant. The scholarly activity per resident was measured for the orthopedic and podiatry departments. For those departments, the total number of residents was 30, and scholarly activity was measured for 100% of them. Overall, resident education improved when the hospital transitioned to a level I trauma center, although certain subspecialties benefited more than did others from this transition.

Quality of life and sexual activity during treatment of Bartholin's cyst or abscess with a Word catheter

OBJECTIVES

Cysts and abscesses of the Bartholin glands are a common occurrence in gynecologic or general practice. Little is known about restrictions in patient's daily life and sexual activity during treatment of Bartholin's cysts in general and especially with the Word catheter. This study is to assess the Quality of Life and Sexual Activity during treatment of Bartholin cyst's and abscesses with the Word-catheter.

STUDY DESIGN

Between March 2013 and May 2014 30 women were included in the study. Pain before treatment and during catheter insertion and removal was assed using a standardized VAS scale. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the Short-Form-12-Health-Survey. Fallowfield's Sexual Activity Questionnaire was administered to investigate sexual limitations. During treatment patient self-reported to a pain-diary (VAS 0-10).

RESULTS

Pain levels decreased from a 3 [0-10] on day 1 to 0 [0-6] on day 6 with the median staying at 0 for the remaining treatment period. Discomfort and pain during sexual activity decreased significantly from initial presentation to end of treatment. The mental component summary score of the SF 12 increased significantly from 46.94±10.23 before treatment to 50.58±7.16 after treatment (p=0.016); the physical component summary score did not change significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The Word catheter is well tolerated for the treatment of Bartholin's cysts and abscesses with few and no serious side effects and little impingement of sexual health. A more relevant informed consent ahead of treatment, specifically with regard to pain in the first few days after catheter placement, might further increase acceptance of the catheter and adjust patient expectations.