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With a goal of informing opioid prescribing after cesarean delivery, we compared inpatient, prescribed, and outpatient Morphine Equivalent Doses (MED) and patient characteristics.Patients were enrolled after cesarean delivery and followed for 2-5 weeks with demographic, opioid use, and clinical characteristics collected from participants and the medical record. T-test, ANOVA, linear regression, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used in analyses.Among 76 women, 21% used all opioids prescribed and 20% used none. History of psychiatric comorbidities was associated with higher outpatient opiate use (172 MED vs 103 MED; p = 0.046). There was no difference in opiates consumed inpatient and amount prescribed at discharge (p = 0.502). However, low, medium, and high inpatient consumers used 53 (SD 76), 111 (SD 96), and 195 (SD 132) MEDs outpatient, respectively (p0.001).Outpatient opioid prescribing based on inpatient needs may facilitate judicious opioid use after cesarean delivery. Significance What Is Already Known: Opioid abuse is a growing problem in this country, and excess prescribing contributes to the availability of opioids. Limited data exist regarding the amount of opioids patients need after cesarean delivery, or what factors are predictive of an individual patient's opioid needs.This study further supports the growing literature demonstrating that providers frequently over-prescribe opioids following cesarean delivery. It uniquely adds associations of patient-specific factors and outpatient opioid needs.

Objective To describe obstetrician-gynecologists' (ob-gyns) knowledge and prescribing practices regarding opioid analgesics. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a national sample of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Fellows and Junior Fellows who are part of the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network. We used a sequential mixed-method approach. We collected data on opioid knowledge and typical prescribing practices, including number, type, and indication for prescriptions. We determined adherence to four recommended practices: 1) screening for dependence, 2) prescribing the smallest amount required, 3) tailoring prescriptions, and 4) counseling on proper disposal. We also explored variables associated with prescribing practices. Results Sixty percent (179/300) of sampled members responded. Respondents reported prescribing a median of 26 (5-80) pills per patient across all indications combined. Ninety-eight percent prescribed opioids after surgery and a smaller proportion for nonsurgical indications: vaginal birth (22%), ovarian cysts (30%), endometriosis (24%), and chronic pelvic pain of unknown cause (18%). The number prescribed varied only by indication for the prescription. Nineteen percent reported adherence to three or more (of four) recommended practices. There was no significant difference in the median number of pills prescribed between those who reported adherence to at least one compared with those who did not adhere to any recommended practices (25 [interquartile range 25-30] vs 28 [interquartile range 20-30], P=.58). Regarding knowledge, 81% incorrectly identified the main source of misused opioids, which is through diversion from a friend or family member, and 44% did not know how to properly dispose of unused prescription opioids. Conclusion Obstetrician-gynecologists reported prescribing a median of 26 opioid pills across all indications combined. Amount prescribed varied widely by indication but not by reported adherence to recommended prescribing practices. This study highlights an urgent need for increased efforts to improve ob-gyns' knowledge of opioid use, misuse, disposal, and best prescribing practices.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a highly lethal gynecologic malignancy arising from the fallopian tubes that has a high rate of chemoresistant recurrence and low five-year survival rate. The ovarian cancer biomarker HE4 is known to promote proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance, and suppression of cytotoxic lymphocytes. In this study, we sought to examine the effects of HE4 on signaling within diverse cell types that compose the tumor microenvironment. HE4 was found to activate STAT3 signaling and promote upregulation of the pro-angiogenic STAT3 target genes IL8 and HIF1A in immune cells, ovarian cancer cells, and endothelial cells. Moreover, HE4 promoted increases in tube formation in an in vitro model of angiogenesis, which was also dependent upon STAT3 signaling. Clinically, HE4 and IL8 levels positively correlated in ovarian cancer patient tissue. Furthermore, HE4 serum levels correlated with microvascular density in EOC tissue and inversely correlated with cytotoxic T cell infiltration, suggesting that HE4 may cause deregulated blood vessel formation and suppress proper T cell trafficking in tumors. Collectively, this study shows for the first time that HE4 has the ability to affect signaling events and gene expression in multiple cell types of the tumor microenvironment, which could contribute to angiogenesis and altered immunogenic responses in ovarian cancer.

Importance Patient-centered care integrates the highest clinical standards with patient preferences surrounding their treatment. Increasing focus is being placed on the identification of patient-centered outcomes to optimize the impact of medical treatments on patient quality of life, as defined by patients themselves. Objective This article will review the central concepts of patient-centered outcomes in benign gynecologic surgery. This expert review will serve as a practical guide for surgeons to incorporate patient preferences into shared surgical decision making. Evidence Acquisition The current literature is examined, defining those outcomes identified by women undergoing gynecologic procedures as the most important factors in their decision making. Available literature on these patient-identified priorities is then reviewed with respect to gynecologic surgery in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. Results Each section of the article concludes with Clinical Pearls, where practical tools and key elements are summarized to assist providers with incorporating these concepts into practice. Conclusions and Relevance Many key outcomes have been identified by women undergoing benign gynecologic surgery in their decision-making process. Patient counseling should address clinically appropriate treatment modalities and include an exploration of patient expectations and preferences around nonclinical outcomes as well. This shared decision-making model will result in improved satisfaction with outcomes.

Surgery is a cornerstone of gynecologic oncology. Minimally invasive techniques have been adopted rapidly, in lieu of open approaches, in cervical and endometrial cancer staging. In addition, nodal assessment has undergone significant changes with the introduction of SLN biopsies. The movement toward less is more has also been seen with perioperative and postoperative care and the advent of ERAS protocols, which attempt to maintain normal physiology with the goal of improving functional recovery. It is imperative that new technology be critically evaluated to ensure that oncologic outcomes are not compromised.

To estimate whether there is a gender difference in scholarly productivity among academic gynecologic oncologists.In this cross-sectional study, the academic rank and gender of gynecologic oncology faculty in the United States were determined from online residency and fellowship directories and departmental web sites. Each individual's h-index and years of publication were determined from Scopus (a citation database of peer-reviewed literature). The h-index is a quantification of an author's scholarly productivity that combines the number of publications with the number of times the publications have been cited. We generated descriptive statistics and compared rank, gender, and productivity scores.Five hundred seven academic faculty within 137 U.S. teaching programs were identified. Of these, 215 (42%) were female and 292 (58%) were male. Men had significantly higher median h-indices than women, 16 compared with 8, respectively (P.001). Women were more likely to be of junior academic rank with 63% of assistant professors being female compared with 20% of full professors. When stratifying h-indices by gender and academic rank, men had significantly higher h-indices at the assistant professor level (7 compared with 5, P.001); however, this difference disappeared at the higher ranks. Stratifying by the years of active publication, there was no significant difference between genders.Female gynecologic oncologists at the assistant professor level had lower scholarly productivity than men; however, at higher academic ranks, they equaled their male counterparts. Women were more junior in rank, had published for fewer years, and were underrepresented in leadership positions.III.