Impact of Body Mass Index on Operative Time in Women Undergoing Benign Hysterectomy.

Background: Optimization of surgical scheduling represents an opportunity to improve resource utilization and increase patient access. Increasing body mass index (BMI) has been associated with increased operating time and may provide an opportunity to more accurately predict operating time.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between BMI and operative time for benign hysterectomy and develop a predictive model for hysterectomy operating time based on patient BMI.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors as radiation countermeasures for long-duration space flights.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are effective countermeasures to chronic radiation injuries in rodent models, and there is evidence for similar effects in humans. In rodent models ACE inhibitors are effective mitigators of radiation injury to kidney, lung, central nervous system (CNS) and skin, even when started weeks after irradiation. In humans, the best data for their efficacy as radiation countermeasures comes from retrospective studies of injuries in radiotherapy patients.

Radiation Increases Bioavailability of Lisinopril, a Mitigator of Radiation-Induced Toxicities.

There are no FDA-approved drugs to mitigate the delayed effects of radiation exposure that may occur after a radiological attack or nuclear accident. To date, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are one of the most successful candidates for mitigation of hematopoietic, lung, kidney, and brain injuries in rodent models and may mitigate delayed radiation injuries after radiotherapy. Rat models of partial body irradiation sparing part of one hind leg (leg-out PBI) have been developed to simultaneously expose multiple organs to high doses of ionizing radiation and avoid lethal hematological toxicity to study the late effects of radiation.

Chronic Pelvic Pain Educational Experience Among Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellows and Recent Graduates: A Needs Assessment.

Study Objective: Learning to evaluate and treat chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is an established curriculum objective within the Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS). Our aim was to investigate current educational experiences related to the evaluation and management of CPP and the impacts of those experiences on FMIGS fellows and recent fellowship graduates, including satisfaction, confidence in management, and clinical interest in CPP.

Design: The AAGL-Elevating Gynecologic Surgery Special Interest Group for pelvic pain developed a 33-item survey tool to investigate the following topics: (1) current educational experiences with the assessment and management of patients with CPP, (2) satisfaction with fellowship training in CPP, (3) perceived preparedness to treat patients with CPP, (4) plans to incorporate management of CPP into clinical practice, and (5) perceived desires to expand CPP exposure.

Effect of length of surgery on the incidence of venous thromboembolism after benign hysterectomy.

Background: Venous thromboembolism is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality postoperatively. The current venous thromboembolism risk assessment tools have not been validated in gynecologic patients. Most patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications will receive mechanical or pharmacologic prophylaxis based on preoperative risk assessment.

Optimizing contraceptive access for women undergoing bariatric surgery.

With the dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity, there is a corresponding increase in surgical procedures to treat obesity. Reproductive aged women (18-45 years old) undergo half of the bariatric surgical procedures performed in the United States each year. These women experience profound physiologic changes in response to bariatric surgery, including dramatic changes in reproductive function.

The New Zealand white rabbit animal model of acute radiation syndrome: hematopoietic and coagulation-based parameters by radiation dose following supportive care.

Purpose: Animal models that accurately reflect human responses to radiation injury are needed for advanced mechanistic investigation and development of effective therapeutics. The rabbit is an established animal model accepted by the FDA for studies of cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism, the development of anticoagulants, testing of bone implants, and the development of treatments for infectious diseases such as HIV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the New Zealand White (NZW) Rabbit model as a model of acute radiation exposure because of its established similarity to human vascular, immune, and coagulation responses.

Patient-Physician Interactions Regarding Dyspareunia with Endometriosis: Online Survey Results.

Introduction: Dyspareunia can be a debilitating symptom of endometriosis. We performed this study to examine women's experiences with painful sexual intercourse, the impact of dyspareunia on patients' lives, and perceptions of interactions with healthcare practitioners.

Methods: An anonymous 24-question online survey was provided through the social media network MyEndometriosisTeam.

Preserving and advocating for essential care for women during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has redefined "essential care," and reproductive healthcare has become a frequently targeted and debated topic. As obstetricians and gynecologists, we stand with our patients and others as advocates for women's reproductive health. With the medical and surgical training to provide all aspects of reproductive healthcare, obstetricians and gynecologists are indispensable and uniquely positioned to advocate for the full spectrum of care that our patients need right now.

Risk factors for repeat hernia repair in women of childbearing age.

Purpose: Herniorrhaphy is a source of substantial cost and morbidity. Although women are a substantial proportion of patients seeking repair, gender-specific data, including the influence of childbirth on hernia recurrence, are lacking. Our objective was to estimate the rate and identify risk factors for repeat herniorrhaphy in reproductive-aged women.

Predictors of Admission After the Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathway for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways in gynecologic surgery have been shown to decrease length of stay with no impact on readmission, but no study has assessed predictors of admission in this population. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of admission after laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) and robotic-assisted hysterectomy (RAH) performed under an ERAS pathway.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study of women undergoing LH/RAH for benign indications within an ERAS pathway.

Mentoring millennials in surgical education.

Purpose Of Review: We seek to define the Millennial generation and identify strengths that can be employed to improve medical and surgical education and career development. We outline how generational traits can be incorporated into adult learning theory, offer suggestions for modernizing traditional teaching and mentorship models, and discuss why Millennials are ideally positioned to succeed in 21st century medicine.

Recent Findings: Millennials (born ∼1981 to 1996) have several consistently identified traits that should be considered when teaching trainees and mentoring junior faculty.

Chemical radiosensitizers: the Journal history.

To review the Journal's coverage of chemical radiosensitizers. I have reviewed all the possibly-relevant papers that appeared in the Journal prior to 1970 and since 2010, plus the most highly-cited papers from the intervening years. I excluded papers that dealt only with oxygen as a sensitizer, that referred to sensitization of phototoxicity or hyperthermia, or that described interactions with antineoplastic agents unless they clearly distinguish between additive toxicity and radiosensitization.

Effects of Diet on Late Radiation Injuries in Rats.

It has been speculated that the addition of antioxidants to diet could act as either radioprotectors or as mitigators of radiation injury. In preparation for studies of the mitigation efficacy of antioxidants, rats were placed on a modified version of AIN-76A, the diet typically used in such studies. This AIN-76A diet is refined and has no synthetic antioxidants or isoflavones.

WAG/RijCmcr rat models for injuries to multiple organs by single high dose ionizing radiation: similarities to nonhuman primates (NHP).

Defined animal models are needed to pursue the FDA Animal Rule for approval of medical countermeasure for radiation injuries. This study compares WAG/RijCmcr rat and nonhuman primate (NHP) models for acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE). Irradiation models include total body irradiation, partial body irradiation with bone marrow sparing and whole thorax lung irradiations.

Opioid Use in the Postoperative Arena: Global Reduction in Opioids After Surgery Through Enhanced Recovery and Gynecologic Surgery.

Enhanced recovery programs aim to reduce surgical stress to improve the patient perioperative experience. Through a combination of multimodal analgesia and maintaining a physiological state, postoperative recovery is improved. Many analgesic adjuncts are available that improve postoperative pain control and limit opioid analgesia requirements.

Uterine weight and complications after abdominal, laparoscopic, and vaginal hysterectomy.

Background: Although uterine size has been a previously cited barrier to minimally invasive hysterectomy, experienced gynecologic surgeons have been able to demonstrate that laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy is feasible with increasingly large uteri. By demonstrating that minimally invasive hysterectomy continues to have superior outcomes even with increased uterine weights, opportunity exists to meaningfully decrease morbidity, mortality, and cost associated with abdominal hysterectomy.

Objective: We sought to determine if there is an association between uterine weight and posthysterectomy complications and if differences in that association exist across vaginal, laparoscopic, and abdominal approaches.

Perioperative Management and Implementation of Enhanced Recovery Programs in Gynecologic Surgery for Benign Indications.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are a multimodal approach to optimize the surgical experience. Intraoperative and postoperative pain management is essential because the stress of surgery results in significant neurohormonal and metabolic shifts that can influence patient analgesia. Enhanced recovery after surgery programs address the physiologic and psychological factors that contribute to pain outcomes and overall satisfaction scores.

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy for a 6095-g Myomatous Uterus in a Patient of the Jehovah's Witness Faith.

Study Objective: To demonstrate techniques for addressing the unique challenges for a minimally invasive approach to hysterectomy presented by a massive myomatous uterus.

Design: Technical video of an operation demonstrating the methods used to perform hysterectomy in this setting, highlighting such aspects as port placement (Fig. 1), uterine manipulation (Fig.

McCall Culdoplasty during Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of a McCall culdoplasty at the time of total laparoscopic hysterectomy and to evaluate the differences in the total vaginal length, vaginal apex during Valsalva, and sexual function 12 months after McCall culdoplasty compared with standard cuff closure.

Design: A pilot randomized controlled, single-masked trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Setting: An academic tertiary care hospital.