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Study Objective: Several simulation models have been evaluated for gynecologic procedures such as hysterectomy, but there are limited published data for myomectomy. This study aimed to assess the validity of a low-cost robotic myomectomy model for surgical simulation training., Design: Prospective cohort simulation study., Setting: Surgical simulation laboratory., Participants: Twelve obstetrics and gynecology residents and 4 fellowship-trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons were recruited for a 3:1 novice-to-expert ratio., Interventions: A robotic myomectomy simulation model was constructed using <$5 worth of materials: a foam cylinder, felt, a stress ball, bandage wrap, and multipurpose sealing wrap. Participants performed a simulation task involving 2 steps: fibroid enucleation and hysterotomy repair. Video-recorded performances were timed and scored by 2 blinded reviewers using the validated Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS) scale (5-25 points) and a modified GEARS scale (5-40 points), which adds 3 novel domains specific to robotic myomectomy. Performance was also scored using predefined task errors. Participants completed a post-task questionnaire assessing the model's realism and utility., Measurements and Main Results: Median task completion time was shorter for experts than novices (9.7 vs 24.6 min, p = .001). Experts scored higher than novices on both the GEARS scale (median 23 vs 12, p = .004) and modified GEARS scale (36 vs 20, p = .004). Experts made fewer task errors than novices (median 15.5 vs 37.5, p = .034). For interrater reliability of scoring, the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to be 0.91 for the GEARS assessment, 0.93 for the modified GEARS assessment, and 0.60 for task errors. Using the contrasting groups method, the passing mark for the simulation task was set to a minimum modified GEARS score of 28 and a maximum of 28 errors. Most participants agreed that the model was realistic (62.5%) and useful for training (93.8%)., Conclusion: We have demonstrated evidence supporting the validity of a low-cost robotic myomectomy model. This simulation model and the performance assessments developed in this study provide further educational tools for robotic myomectomy training., (Copyright © 2024 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: The purpose of this study is to review the trends in racial and gender representation among the various national obstetrics and gynecology societies' presidents over the past 15 years., Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study., Setting: Data obtained from publicly available information on official websites of the professional societies studied., Patients: Presidents of national societies in obstetrics and gynecology., Interventions: The study was performed by obtaining publicly available data for past presidents from the official websites of the professional societies studied. Gender and race were inferred based on name and image. Racial classification was selected using the United States Census classification system. Educational background, residency training, and practice type were also collected. Assessment of 15-year trends was completed using linear regression analysis and differences in representation was assessed using analysis of variance and post hoc analysis., Measurements and Main Results: Over 15 years, there were 134 presidents elected for the 10 obstetrics and gynecology societies. Of those leaders, 85.2% were white, 8.2% Asian, and 5.2% black; 59% were men and 41% were women. During the study period, there was a significantly increasing slope for representation of women (+2.3% per year; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-4.2; p = .016). The representation of nonwhite presidents (+1.5% per year; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-2.8; p = .028) increased significantly during the same time period., Conclusion: Over the last 15 years, less than 50% of obstetrics and gynecology national societies' presidents were women and most were of white race. However, there has been an increasing trend in the ratio of women to men and nonwhite to white representation among presidents of obstetrics and gynecology national societies., (Copyright © 2023 AAGL. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Hypothesis: The objective was to study the effect of immediate pre-operative warm-up using virtual reality simulation on intraoperative robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy (RALH) performance by gynecology trainees (residents and fellows)., Methods: We randomized the first, non-emergent RALH of the day that involved trainees warming up or not warming up. For cases assigned to warm-up, trainees performed a set of exercises on the da Vinci Skills Simulator immediately before the procedure. The supervising attending surgeon, who was not informed whether or not the trainee was assigned to warm-up, assessed the trainee's performance using the Objective Structured Assessment for Technical Skill (OSATS) and the Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS) immediately after each surgery., Results: We randomized 66 cases and analyzed 58 cases (30 warm-up, 28 no warm-up), which involved 21 trainees. Attending surgeons rated trainees similarly irrespective of warm-up randomization with mean (SD) OSATS composite scores of 22.6 (4.3; warm-up) vs 21.8 (3.4; no warm-up) and mean GEARS composite scores of 19.2 (3.8; warm-up) vs 18.8 (3.1; no warm-up). The difference in composite scores between warm-up and no warm-up was 0.34 (95% CI: -1.44, 2.13), and 0.34 (95% CI: -1.22, 1.90) for OSATS and GEARS respectively. Also, we did not observe any significant differences in each of the component/subscale scores within OSATS and GEARS between cases assigned to warm-up and no warm-up., Conclusion: Performing a brief virtual reality-based warm-up before RALH did not significantly improve the intraoperative performance of the trainees., (© 2023. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Background: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care (CO No. 736) to address severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States by outlining recommendations for care in the critical time following birth. This study aimed to evaluate implementation of and barriers to the recommendations of CO No. 736 among obstetricians in south Louisiana. Methods: A survey to general obstetric providers assessed opinions on the CO No. 736 recommendations, implementation of these recommendations, and barriers to implementation. Fisher exact test was used to compare distributions between resident and attending groups. Qualitative, free-text responses about barriers to implementation were organized by common themes and categorized into systemic and patient factors. Results: Of 124 survey responses, 59.7% of respondents reported that they had read CO No. 736. Of the respondents who had read the document, 86.5% believed it was important to implement these recommendations, but only 50.0% had established the recommendations in their practices. Overall, fewer than half (46.8%) of respondents reported actively implementing the recommendation to make contact with postpartum patients at 3 weeks or sooner, but 86.3% reported having comprehensive clinic visits within 12 weeks of delivery. Commonly identified systemic barriers to implementation included the 3-week contact not being common practice, overbooked schedules, and unclear provider expectations. Commonly identified patient factor barriers to implementation included childcare or transportation and no-shows at postpartum appointments. Conclusion: Both resident and attending obstetricians in South Louisiana believe that the CO No. 736 recommendations are important but reported lacking the ability to implement them into clinical practice., (©2023 by the author(s); Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).)

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols improve outcomes. We investigated ERAS implementation in a population with comorbid conditions, inadequate insurance, and barriers to healthcare undergoing gynecologic surgery., Objective: To investigate ERAS implementation in publicly insured/uninsured patients undergoing gynecologic surgery on hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day hospital readmission rates, opioid administration, and pain scores., Study Design: Data were obtained pre- and post-ERAS implementation. Patients undergoing gynecologic surgery with private insurance, public insurance, and uninsured were included (N = 589). LOS, readmission <30 days, opioid administration, and pain scores were assessed., Results: Implementation of ERAS led to shorter LOS 1.75 vs. 1.49 days (p = 0.008). Average pain scores decreased from 3.07 pre-ERAS vs. 2.47 post-ERAS (p = <0.001). Opioid use decreased for ERAS patients (67.22 vs. 33.18, p = <0.001). Hospital readmission rates were unchanged from 8.2% pre-ERAS vs. 10.3% post-ERAS (p = 0.392)., Conclusions: ERAS decreased pain scores and opioid use without increasing LOS or readmissions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Jernigan reports personal fees from AstraZeneca. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The requirement for informed consent was waived for this study. IRB approval was obtained from the LSU and Tulane IRBs., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Simulation is an important adjunct to traditional surgical training, allowing for repetitive practice of new skills without compromising patient safety. Although several simulation models have been described and evaluated for gynecologic procedures, there is a lack of such models for laparoscopic myomectomy., Objective: This study aimed to design a low-cost, low-fidelity laparoscopic myomectomy simulation model and to assess the model's validity as a training tool., Study Design: The model was constructed using a "cup turner" foam cylinder, felt, a 2-inch stress ball, self-adhesive bandage wrap, multipurpose sealing wrap, red marker, and hook-and-loop fastener. Participants were recruited at a quaternary care academic center and at the Society for Gynecologic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting. The simulation task involved the following 2 steps: fibroid enucleation and hysterotomy repair. Validity evidence was collected by comparing expert and novice simulation task performances. Video recordings were scored by 2 blinded reviewers using the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scale (5-20 points) and a modified Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scale (5-35 points), incorporating 3 novel domains specific to laparoscopic myomectomy. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the task completion times and performance scores. Interrater reliability of scoring was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient. Validity was also assessed with a post-task survey regarding the model's realism, utility, and educational effect., Results: The total cost to construct each model was under $5. A 3:1 ratio was used to recruit 15 novices and 5 experts. The median time to task completion was shorter for experts than for novices (11.8 vs 20.1 minutes; P=.004). The experts scored higher than the novices on both the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scale (median 19 [range 13-20] vs 10 [6-17.5]; P=.007) and the modified Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scale (31.5 [21.5-33.5] vs 18.5 [13.5-32]; P=.009). The interclass correlation coefficient was 0.95 for the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scores and 0.96 for the modified Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scores. Most of the participants agreed that the model closely approximated the feel of fibroid enucleation (70% [14/20]) and suturing the uterus (80% [16/20]). All the participants agreed that the model was useful for learning or teaching laparoscopic myomectomy., Conclusion: This study demonstrates evidence supporting the validity of a novel, low-cost laparoscopic myomectomy model and a novel assessment scale for laparoscopic myomectomy training. This simulation model provides a targeted training tool that allows learners to focus on the key aspects of laparoscopic myomectomy and may improve readiness for the operating room., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)