Does residency training improve cognitive competence in obstetric and gynaecologic surgery?

Objective: To develop an operative knowledge assessment tool to evaluate the cognitive competence of trainees in obstetric and gynaecologic surgery and to determine the rate of change in competence during a five-year residency program.

Methods: Twenty-eight participants in five training groups (PGY-1 to PGY-5) in McGill University's residency program in obstetrics and gynaecology underwent an evaluation based on surgical cognitive competence (SCC) assessment tools developed for three different obstetric and gynaecologic operations: open total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), Caesarean section, and laparoscopic bilateral tubal sterilization (BTL). The tools were developed as checklists listing every step in each operation based on techniques described in current surgical texts.

Intrapartum temperature changes following the intravenous crystalloid bolus for epidural analgesia.

Objective: To assess the effect of the intravenous crystalloid bolus given before epidural analgesia on maternal temperature during labour. Multiple studies have demonstrated a hyperthermic trend in parturient women receiving epidural analgesia. This temperature rise may be affected by the pre-epidural intravenous crystalloid bolus.