Publications by authors named "Leah M Savitsky"

Article Synopsis
  • * Latest guidelines suggest managing chronic hypertension during pregnancy to keep blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg and advocate treating severe gestational hypertension (≥160/110 mmHg) to reduce risks.
  • * The authors argue for treating gestational hypertension with blood pressure between 140/90 and 160/110 mmHg, using evidence and their clinical expertise, believing it could lower severe health risks.
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Objective: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of universal fetal echocardiogram for patients with pregestational diabetes mellitus by first-trimester hemoglobin A 1c (Hb A 1c ) level.

Methods: We developed a cost-effectiveness model comparing two strategies of screening for critical fetal congenital heart disease among patients with diabetes: universal fetal echocardiogram and fetal echocardiogram only after abnormal findings on detailed anatomy ultrasonogram. We excluded ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defects, and bicuspid aortic valve from the definition of critical fetal congenital heart disease.

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Objective: The health care system has been struggling to find the optimal way to protect patients and staff from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our objective was to evaluate the impact of two strategies on transmission of COVID-19 to health care workers (HCW) on labor and delivery (L&D).

Study Design: We developed a decision analytic model comparing universal COVID-19 screening and universal PPE on L&D.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study observed a low overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 at 2.7% among pregnant and postpartum patients who underwent universal testing.
  • - For symptomatic patients, the prevalence rates were comparable, with 22.2% under targeted screening and 19.1% under universal testing methods.
  • - Among 170 asymptomatic patients, only 2 tested positive or inconclusive; however, repeat testing after 24 hours came back negative.
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Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways provide a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to the care of surgical patients. They have been shown to decrease postoperative length of stay and cost in several surgical subspecialties, including gynecology, but have not been well-studied in obstetric patients who undergo cesarean delivery.

Objective: We sought to determine whether the implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for cesarean delivery would decrease postoperative length of stay and postoperative direct cost compared with historic controls.

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Objective: We sought to identify factors associated with a successful trial of labor (TOL) following two cesarean deliveries (CDs) in a contemporary North American cohort.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study of term, nonanomalous, singleton, vertex pregnancies attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) following a history of two previous CDs in the United States from 2012 to 2014. Maternal and intrapartum factors were analyzed using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.

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New York State (NYS) established guidelines for nonoccupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) to HIV in 1997. To assess current nPEP practices in NYS Emergency Departments (EDs), we electronically surveyed all ED directors in NYS, excluding Veterans' Affairs hospitals, about nPEP and linkage-to-care protocols in the EDs. Basic descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

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