The use of lightly embalmed (fresh tissue) cadavers for resident laparoscopic training

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The value of a cadaver training program in laparoscopic surgery has rarely been studied. As there is a dearth of cadaver training programs, it is important to evaluate them. The goal of this study was to estimate if our cadaver training program significantly and relatively rapidly taught residents laparoscopic surgical skills. DESIGN: Observational, timed comparative study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Fresh Tissue Laboratory, Louisville, KY. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine obstetric/gynecology residents (15 postgraduate year PGY 2 and 14 PGY 3) participated in the study. INTERVENTION: During 5 half days, we compared the performance of each postgraduate year (PGY) 2 and PGY 3 obstetric/gynecology resident to his or her own results on five outcome skills before and after training in lightly embalmed cadavers. The testing was performed at the beginning and at the end of the week so that all improvement was secondary only to the training experience with the cadaver. Residents were assessed using laparoscopic techniques in a physical-reality simulator for three outcomes: bead transfer time, number of beads transferred, and suturing time on a stuffed vinyl glove and in two specific areas of the cadaver pelvis, with one slightly more difficult than the other. Assessment of suturing time was made on the two distinct tasks using the embalmed cadavers. Although the number of residents was relatively small, it covered two levels for one year. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The residents were assessed on a simulator before and after laparoscopic surgical training on the cadaver. The median decrease in bead transfer time (task I, simulator) was 38.5 seconds (p=.02); 69% of the residents showed some reduction in time to complete this task. The median increase in the number of beads transferred (task II, simulator) was 2.5 beads (p=.0001); 72.4% of the residents transferred at least one more bead after training. The median decrease in suture time (task III, simulator) was 63.5 seconds (p=.001); 79.3% of the residents performed this task more quickly after training. The median decrease in suture time (task IV, cadaver) was 54.5 seconds (p=.001); 72.4% of the residents showed improved performance on this task after training. The median reduction in suture time (task V, cadaver) was 53.5 seconds (p<.001); 82.8% of the residents completed this task more quickly after training. CONCLUSIONS: This cadaver surgical training program appeared to significantly improve laparoscopic surgical techniques in PGY 2 and PGY 3 obstetric/gynecology residents in a relatively short time. This model teaches residents specific training in the handling and manipulation of tissue as well as practice in surgical techniques for adnexal surgery, pelvic dissection, laparoscopic hysterectomy, and dissection within the space of Retzius that is not possible with mechanical trainers.     

Clinical use of CA-125 in gynecology. Preliminary experience

CA-125 levels were measured in 27 normal women, 11 with benign gynecologic pathology and 13 with ovarian cancer in different stages of evolution. The analysis of data was made retrospectively. Considering a level of 65 U/ml as normal, no false positives were found. Patients with benign gynecologic pathology behave as the normal ones with no significative differences in their levels. Levels higher that 65 U/ml were always found in women with ovarian cancer. There were 4 patients with negative levels and clinically or surgically verified disease. Positive levels correlated with histologic type and with surgical staging. In patients with serial levels, decrease in tumoral volume was correlated with decrease in levels. These data suggest that the behaviour of CA-125 in our local population is the same as reported in the literature. It is useful, when is positive, in follow-up, management and prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. Its negativity is not guarantee of cure and positive levels make evident the presence of the disease. It is a poor diagnostic method because of its low sensitivity.     

79例妊娠合并系统性红斑狼疮临床资料分析

目的　探讨影响妊娠合并系统性红斑狼疮 (SL E)妊娠结局的相关因素 ,提出 SL E患者最佳的受孕时机和孕期的监护 ,预防妊娠 SL E的恶化及 SL E对妊娠的不良影响 ,以提高围产质量。　方法　回顾分析 79例妊娠合并 SL E的临床资料。　结果　妊娠合并 SL E其新生儿体重明显低于正常妊娠组 ,二次以上妊娠组新生儿妊娠结局较初次妊娠组差。在 SL E活动期受孕者其妊娠结局亦较在 SL E缓解期受孕组差 ,SL E肾炎型孕妇妊娠结局较非肾炎型组差。　结论　 SL E患者应首先控制疾病的活动 ,在产科医师和内科医师的指导下受孕 ,并应避免多次妊娠对下次妊娠结局带来的不利影响。泼尼松是目前安全可靠的妊娠期预防 SL E恶化 ,控制 SL E活动的药物之一。 SL E孕妇应加强孕产期的监护 ,以争取良好的妊娠结局     

Clinical experience with the chemotherapy of gynecologic cancer

The report is given about the experiences with chemotherapy of gynecological cancer. The best results were achieved with the long time prolonged therapy of the ovarian cancer. Very good results were registered by the stages III. and IV. of cervix uteri cancer and by all recurrencies of the stages I. and II. of cervical carcinoma. By all cases of advanced corpus uteri cancer and its recurrencies was used systematically chemotherapy.     

Clinical experience with the triple test for Down's syndrome screening.

The introduction of maternal serological screening for chromosome disorders in pregnancy in women aged over 30 years at the estimated date of delivery was monitored in two hospitals. The test used involved measurement of three substances in maternal serum combined with maternal age (the triple test). This is the first report of such screening applied to an unselected antenatal clinic population. Test uptake was high but there was no overall increase in amniocentesis numbers because the increase in younger mothers was compensated for by a decrease in older women who previously, without serological testing, might have gone directly to amniocentesis. It is anticipated that widespread introduction of such testing will lead to improved detection of Down's syndrome as predicted from retrospective studies.