Crew resource management: using aviation techniques to improve operating room safety.

Introduction: Since the publication of the Institute of Medicine report estimating nearly 100,000 deaths per year from medical errors, hospitals and physicians have a renewed focus upon error reduction. We implemented a surgical crew resource management (CRM) program for all operating room (OR) personnel.

Methods: In our academic medical center, 19,000 procedures per year are performed in 27 operating rooms.

Conservative treatment of placenta accreta.

Prolonged retained placenta causing a delayed postpartum hemorrhage is a relatively common occurrence. However, there is a dearth of medical literature describing fertility-preserving treatments when standard therapy fails. We present two cases in which protracted retained placenta due to placenta accreta was successfully treated by hysteroscopic resection.

Effect of prolactin on follicle-stimulating hormone receptor binding and progesterone production in cultured porcine granulosa cells.

Objective: To determine the effect of prolactin (PRL) on follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSH-R) binding and progesterone (P) production in cultured porcine granulosa cells.

Design: Controlled experiment.

Setting: Academic research laboratory.

Angiotensinogen genotype and plasma volume in nulligravid women.

Objective: To determine if nonpregnant plasma volume is altered in women who are homozygous for the T 235 coding angiotensinogen allele, which predisposes women to an increased risk of preeclampsia.

Methods: We measured plasma volume by Evans blue dilution and analyzed it as a function of angiotensinogen genotype in 15 nulligravid women during midfollicular phase of 26 menstrual cycles. Eleven women were evaluated during two cycles, and four women were evaluated in one cycle.