Karen Gil

Robotic surgical skills: acquisition, maintenance, and degradation.

In newly trained surgeons, this study found that robotic surgical skills degraded significantly within 4 weeks of inactivity. Animate training may provide different skills than those acquired in dry lab.

Clinical disease course during the last year in ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE(S) The objective was to determine whether there were changes in the pattern and nature of hospitalizations during the last year that could be used in the assessment of whether chemotherapy should be continued. METHODS Retrospective data were collected from patients who died from ovarian cancer between 1/2000 and 12/2001. Charts from four hospitals were reviewed to abstract chemotherapy, reason for hospitalization, and the incidence of three significant clinical events (bowel obstruction, pleural effusion requiring thoracentesis, and abdominal ascites requiring paracentesis). Data were analyzed in 3-month intervals. RESULTS Sixty-two patient charts were reviewed. Quarterly admissions increased linearly over the year (7, 18, 27, and 47, P < 0.0001). Hospitalizations for ascites, bowel obstruction, and pleural effusion began increasing around 6 months preceding death. Twenty-two patients did not receive chemotherapy during the last 3 months. Of the 40 patients receiving chemotherapy in the last 3 months, over half were not hospitalized during the period 4-6 months before death, and a further 20% were hospitalized for nonsignificant clinical events. Approximately one-quarter of the patients, however, continued to receive chemotherapy following hospitalization for a significant clinical event. CONCLUSION(S) There were significant changes in the pattern and nature of hospitalization during the last 6 months that included hospitalizations for bowel obstruction, pleural effusion, or ascites. The occurrence of these events suggests that further chemotherapy should be realistically evaluated with the patient, which may reduce the number of patients who receive chemotherapy during their last few months of life.

The use of the Cervilenz device to aid in the diagnosis of premature labor

Abstract Objective: A short cervix measured by transvaginal ultrasound has been correlated with increased risk for preterm delivery (PTD). Many patients presenting with a complaint of possible premature labor (PL); may not have access to cervical length (CL) screening by ultrasound. Cervilenz is an FDA cleared disposable device for obtaining vaginal CL measurements. This study was conducted to correlate Cervilenz measurements of CL with the occurrence of PTD. Methods: Women presenting with regular uterine contractions at gestational age (GA) ≥22 and <34 weeks with intact membranes and cervical dilation <3 cm were recruited. A speculum examination was performed and Cervilenz measurement of CL was obtained. Patients were treated with tocolytics and/or corticosteroids based upon the attending physician’s judgment. The occurrences of PTD as a result of PL or premature rupture of membranes within 7 days, <32 weeks, <34 weeks and <37 weeks, were determined. Patients who were delivered preterm for other maternal or fetal indications were excluded. Negative predictive value (NPV) was calculated. Results: Of the 220 women recruited, 20 were subsequently excluded from analysis because they required PTD for unrelated indications. The mean GA at enrollment was 29.8 ± 2.8 (SD) weeks. One (0.5%), 2 (1.0%), 4 (2.0%) and 29 (14.5%) women delivered at ≤7 days from enrollment, ≤32 weeks, ≤34 weeks, and ≤37 weeks, inclusively. Seventy-seven (38.5%), 39 (19.5%) and 19 (9.5%) women had Cervilenz measurement of ≤30, ≤25 and ≤20 mm, respectively. The NPV for a Cervilenz measurement of >20 mm for delivery at, ≤32, ≤34 and ≤37 weeks were 99.2%, 98.3% and 86.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Cervilenz measurement >20 mm appears to have high NPV for PTD prior to 34 weeks.