When the plaintiff's lawyer comes after your personal assets
May 1st 2006When Lenard J. Rutkowski, MD, was sued for malpractice in 2001, he found himself fighting the lawsuit and, for the next 11 years, fighting for his financial future. The neurosurgeon found himself in hot water when he performed surgery on a patient, who later sued him for operating on the wrong vertebrae.
OCs increase risk of VTE in women with factor V Leiden mutation
May 1st 2006A recently published systematic literature review suggests thatwomen who have a factor V Leiden mutation-and possibly thosewho have other thrombogenic mutations-who take combined oralcontraceptives (COCs) are at greater risk for venousthromboembolism (VTE) (risk ratios of 1.3–25.1) and cerebralvein or cerebral sinus thrombosis than nonusers with mutations.
Not enough vitamin D in mom sets stage for osteoporosis in child
May 1st 2006Maternal vitamin D insufficiency, a condition common among women ofchildbearing age and during pregnancy, may put offspring at greaterrisk for osteoporotic fractures in adulthood, according to theresults of a longitudinal study.
Which treatment for cervical lesions optimizes pregnancy outcomes?
May 1st 2006It seems laser conization is associated with a slightly lower riskof adverse pregnancy outcomes than cold knife conization or largeloop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ), and laserablation entails the lowest risk of all-findings that couldprove very important to the many women of reproductive agereceiving treatment for intraepithelial or early invasive cervicallesions.
Guest Editorial: Oh, by the way, doctor...we have a new department
May 1st 2006How many times have you completed a patient visit and started to walk through the examine room door, only to hear the woman say, "Oh, by the way ...."? It's frustrating and challenging at the same time, because you don't know whether your patient's next words are going to signal something you can resolve in a few minutes or are just the tip of a clinical "iceberg."
Highlights of the International Pelvic Pain Society Annual Meeting
April 30th 2006The International Pelvic Pain Society program was held in Simsbury, Connecticut April 30 - May 1, 1999. The program was jointly sponsored by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the International Pelvic Pain Society. The course directors were Dr. Fred Howard, President of the IPPS and Debra Metzger, Ph.D., M.D.
The battle against Rh disease is about to get a lot easier
April 15th 2006With the help of PCR analysis, cell-free fetal RhD antigen can be detected in maternal serum, offering the promise of detecting mother/child incompatibilities long before any clinical damage can occur. Here's a brief overview of the technology and why it's still not ready for prime time in the U.S.
The battle against Rh disease is about to get a lot easier
April 15th 2006With the help of PCR analysis, cell-free fetal RhD antigen can be detected in maternal serum, offering the promise of detecting mother/child incompatibilities long before any clinical damage can occur. Here's a brief overview of the technology and why it's still not ready for prime time in the U.S.
What to tell patients about banking cord blood stem cells
April 15th 2006Pregnant patients are more likely than ever to ask about stem cells and umbilical cord blood banking. In this article, an expert provides an update on the pros and cons of cord blood banking, and the controversy over private versus public banks, to help you counsel appropriately.
The search for better reconstructive materials for vaginal surgery
April 15th 2006Can the right graft materials improve the success rates for vaginal repair surgery? Drawing upon the latest research, experts weigh the pros and cons of synthetic and biologic surgical graft materials, citing pore size as arguably the key factor in reducing complications.
Gyn oncologists most effective in treating ovarian Ca
April 15th 2006Women with early ovarian cancer receive better care and live longer if their initial treatment is managed by a gynecologic oncologist. So say the results of a cohort study that compared ovarian cancer care delivered by gynecologic oncologists, gynecologists, and general surgeons.
Is HPV DNA triage of ASCUS cost-effective?
April 15th 2006Yes, says a new cost comparison of immediate colposcopy, HPV DNA testing, and conservative management in nearly 3,500 women over a 2-year period. The data are from ALTS?atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS] and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL] Triage Study.
CRITICAL CARE in OB, PART 3: Recognizing and responding to peripartum cardiomyopathy
April 1st 2006Cardiomyopathy is rare in patients who are at or near term, but it can be deadly. Consider the possibility in any woman who is pregnant or who has recently delivered and complains of swelling and trouble breathing.