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Biomedical subjects

C W Nager

Publications and source records attributed to C W Nager.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Operative laparoscopy versus laparotomy for the management of ectopic pregnancy: a prospective trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare prospectively operative laparoscopy to laparotomy in the management of hemodynamically stable patients with ectopic pregnancy (EP). DESIGN, PATIENTS, Intervention: Patients with suspected EP presenting to a university-based residency teaching program were prospectively allocated to laparoscopy (n = 26) or laparotomy (n = 37) on alternating months for operative management. RESULTS: Operative times between laparoscopy and laparotomy did not differ significantly. Laparoscopy-treated patients had a significant reduction in estimated intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, narcotic requirement, time to normal activity, and total hospital cost. There was no statistical difference in intrauterine pregnancy rates or in EP rates. CONCLUSIONS: In a university-based residency program, operative laparoscopy is a safe alternative for the management of appropriately selected patients with suspected EP.

Female

Ectopic pregnancy.

The diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy is changing rapidly. More sensitive pregnancy tests and high-resolution transvaginal sonography are making the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy easier and earlier. In the future, we may become more confident with the ultrasound diagnosis of some ectopic pregnancies such that laparoscopic confirmation will not be required. These patients may be treated with systemic methotrexate. However, at the present time laparoscopy is essential for diagnostic confirmation of most ectopic pregnancies. It is senseless for a skilled laparoscopist to perform a diagnostic laparoscopy, remove the laparoscope, and then proceed with laparotomy or some nonsurgical treatment. There is sufficient evidence in the literature to demonstrate that laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancies is equally safe, equally effective, and less traumatic than laparotomy. It should replace laparotomy as treatment for most ectopic pregnancies. Unfortunately, there are not enough trained laparoscopists to manage the 88,000 ectopic pregnancies per year in the United States. Operative laparoscopy deserves more emphasis in postgraduate and residency training programs.

Algorithms

Cervical ripening and labor outcome with preinduction intracervical prostaglandin E2 (Prepidil) gel.

Delivery with an unfavorable cervix using oxytocin is frequently unsuccessful. Used widely in Europe and increasingly in this country, locally applied prostaglandin E2 appears to improve labor induction. The present study prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of a prostaglandin gel (0.5 mg) placed intracervically. The use of the gel, when compared to a control group who received no pretreatment prior to labor induction, resulted in improved Bishop scores (7.5 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.3, P less than 0.0001), reduced induction to delivery intervals (10.1 +/- 2.1 vs. 20.6 +/- 2.0 hours), reduced oxytocin infusion duration (10.0 +/- 2.1 vs. 20.0 +/- 2.3 hours. P less than 0.0001) resulting in a lower cesarean delivery rate, 26 vs. 47 per cent (P greater than 0.05). Thirty-two per cent of patients receiving the prostaglandin gel labored and delivered within 12 hours and required no oxytocin. In addition, the use of prostaglandin E2 gel appeared safe in that no patient experienced an untoward reaction. Two cases of uterine hyperstimulation occurred that required uterine tocolysis but were not associated with fetal distress. The use of prostaglandin gel appears to be a safe and effective method to improve cervical inducibility in patients undergoing induction for a variety of maternal and fetal indications.

Apgar Score