OB GYN News articles from November 2002

OB GYN News archives from November 2002

CDC issues vaccine schedule for adults. (Use in Pregnancy Addressed).
November 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- For the first time, a comprehensive adult immunization schedule is available to remind physicians which individuals aged 19 and older require vaccinations. But while the color-coded schedule, released by the Centers for...

Menopause Society releases report on HRT: the report was well received but still leaves many pressing questions unanswered. (Consider Lower than Normal Doses).
November 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- A report issued by the North American Menopause Society offers some recommendations on the use of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women but leaves many pressing questions about the therapy unanswered. The report...

Oophorectomy may not ease chronic pelvic pain: procedure didn't improve on hysterectomy. (Endometriosis-Related Pain).
November 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Bilateral oophorectomy in women undergoing a hysterectomy for endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain has no additional impact on sexual function, postoperative pain, or quality of life, Dr. Richard Marvel reported. This finding...

Postmenopausal oophorectomy linked to increased fracture risk. (Women Followed for 16 Years).
November 1, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- The ovaries of postmenopausal women may play an important role in preventing osteoporosis and fractures. In a study of 338 postmenopausal women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy and were followed for an average of 16.6...

Data Watch: Leading Causes of Death for U.S. Women, 2000. (News).
November 1, 2002... DATA WATCH Leading Causes of Death for U.S. Women, 2000 % of Deaths Total Deaths Diseases of the heart 365,953...

Recommended Immunizations for Adults with Medical Conditions, Unites States, 2002-2003.
November 1, 2002... Recommended Immunizations for Adults With Medical Conditions, United States, 2002-2003 Medical Tetanus- Conditions Diphtheria Pneumococcal Vaccine (Td) *...

Letters.
November 1, 2002... HRT Assumptions 'a Shame' The ill effects of hormone replacement therapy reported in the Women's Health Initiative and the Heart and Estrogen! Progestin Replacement Study II apply only to Prempro and other continuous-combined HRT regimens,...

CPP a form of reflex sympathetic dystrophy? (Small Study).
November 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Chronic pelvic pain that does not respond to standard treatments such as surgery or drug therapy may be a form of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, according to Dr. Thomas Janicki. This distinction could have important therapeutic...

Staff your pain clinic with Oprah, Marcus Welby, and a drill sergeant. (Be Sweet and be Available).
November 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- The ideal staff of a pain clinic should include Oprah, Marcus Welby, and a really stern drill sergeant, according to speakers at a meeting sponsored by the International Pelvic Pain Society. A passion for helping difficult...

Multisystem convergence may explain pelvic pain. (Inflammation or Injury).
November 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Inflammation or injury to one organ in the pelvis may affect the activity of nearby organs, including the uterus, and could contribute to conditions such as chronic pelvic pain, Dr. Karen Berkley said at a meeting sponsored by the...

Alendronate edges risedronate in raising BMD. (Expert Says Study is Flawed).
November 1, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- The first head-to-head comparison of two bisphosphonates shows that alendronate is more effective than risedronate in increasing bone mineral density, but at least one observer says the study has design flaws that undermine its...

Breast self-exam didn't cut ca mortality in study. (Farequency of Screening Unknown).
November 1, 2002... Breast self-exams did not reduce a woman's risk of dying from breast cancer in a large decade-long study conducted in China. After 10-11 years of follow-up, death rates from breast cancer were not significantly different between 132,979...

Strong bones may signal an increased risk of breast ca. (Estrogen Implicated).
November 1, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- Women with stronger-than-average bones have a twofold increased risk of breast cancer, based on a case-control study of 418 women. The increased risk is large enough to warrant screening women for their bone density and then...

Wrong women getting screened for chlamydia. (California Data).
November 1, 2002... DENVER -- The majority of women aged 25 years and younger who should be routinely screened for chlamydia are not being tested in physician's offices or public clinics in California. At the same time, a significant proportion of screening...

Many pharmacists lack knowledge about ECs. (Pennsylvania Study).
November 1, 2002... DENVER -- Years after Food and Drug Administration approval of emergency contraception, many pharmacists still lack basic knowledge about the pill regimens and discourage women from attempting to fill prescriptions for them, Wendy Bennett said...

Surgical light may help avoid bladder Penetration. (Expert Opinion).
November 1, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- The LightMat surgical illuminator is a boon to gynecologic surgeons, Dr. S. Robert Kovac said at the 12th International Pelvic Reconstructive and Vaginal Surgery Conference. The device greatly enhances visualization within the...

Hysteroscopic resectoscope: avoiding fluid overload. (Know the Patient's Fluid Intake).
November 1, 2002... BIG SKY, MONT. -- A good way to avoid fluid overload complications when performing surgery through the hysteroscopic resectoscope is to train the surgical team to call out the net fluid intake every 15 minutes, Dr. Joseph S. Sanfilippo urged....

Single-dose prophylaxis best way to prevent postop infection, expert says. (Ensure Normal Vaginal Microflora).
November 1, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Stick to a single dose of antibiotic for prophylaxis against postoperative infection, Dr. Sebastian Faro urged at the 12th Pelvic Reconstructive and Vaginal Surgery Conference. "Please don't go to 2- and 3-day dosing. You're...

Beads said to ID a woman's most fertile days. (Family Planning).
November 1, 2002... DENVER -- Researchers have devised a family planning method that uses colored beads to alert women to the most fertile points in their menstrual cycles. CycleBeads, when used in conjunction with abstinence on fertile days, were associated...

Listeriosis outbreak linked to sliced deli Turkey. (Pregnant Women at Increased Risk).
November 1, 2002... Sliced turkey deli meat may be harboring the strain of Listeria responsible for an outbreak of listeriosis in the northeastern United States that began this summer and is continuing into the fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Nighttime aspirin, BP test target preeclampsia. (Predicting who will Develop the Disorder).
November 1, 2002... New studies support two innovative strategies in the war against preeclampsia--the tolerance-hyperbaric test and low-dose aspirin taken at night. The tolerance-hyperbaric test (THT) can be used as early as the first trimester to identify...

Aspirin. (Drugs, Pregnancy, and Lactation).
November 1, 2002... Because aspirin is widely used, many women are exposed to it before they know they are pregnant. Moreover, during the last few years, aspirin has increasingly been used in the preventive treatment of various conditions associated with...

State laws on syphilis screening in pregnancy vary. (Often Poorly Implemented).
November 1, 2002... BANEF, ALTA. -- Despite abundant state laws mandating syphilis screening during pregnancy, the content of such laws varies greatly, and most are inconsistent with syphilis screening recommendations made by the American College of Obstetricians...

No link found between epidural use and back pain. (2-Year Follow-Up).
November 1, 2002... There appears to be no link between epidural use during labor and subsequent back pain, reported Dr. Charlotte J. Howell of North Staffordshire Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, England, and her colleagues. Of 184 women randomized to receive an...

3-D scans may help change behaviors, attitudes. (Offer Reassurance, Pinpoint Anomalies).
November 1, 2002... SACRAMENTO - With 3-D ultrasound becoming more routine, physicians have to be aware of the profound impact these scans can have on expectant parents. The 2-D scans do not compare, Dr. Dolores H Pretorius said at an ultrasound update...

Doppler 'a great addition' in risky pregnancies. (Fewer Inductions, Better Outcomes).
November 1, 2002... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Just how useful is Doppler ultrasound surveillance of highrisk pregnancies? It's useful enough that ob.gyns. at Geisinger Health System, the nation's largest rural HMO, routinely ask women with high-risk pregnancies to...

Common questions posed by pregnant patients. (Is it Safe to dye My hair? Drink Coffee?).
November 1, 2002... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Be sure to ask about caffeine intake in women with first-trimester pregnancy loss, Dr. Jodi Schucker advised at an ob.gyn. update sponsored by the Geisinger Health System. Several epidemiologic studies have linked high...

Glyburide called boon for 'brittle' dabetics in pregnancy. (Combined with Insulin).
November 1, 2002... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Dr. Jodi Schucker finds the use of glyburide in women with gestarional diabetes has made a real difference in her practice. "I was always taught that you cant use anything like this in pregnancy But now there are...

Second abortion seekers still aren't using contraception. (Better Education Needed).
November 1, 2002... DENVER -- Women who have had at least one previous abortion were no more likely to have been using contraception than those presenting for a first abortion in a study of 301 women seeking second-trimester abortions. Since virtually all...

Expert offers advice on the management of breeches. (Questions not Addressed by Guidelines).
November 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 2001 committee opinion affirming cesarean section as the preferred method of breech delivery left. some questions unanswered, Dr. E.J. Quilligan said. Dr. Quilligan,...

Access eased to SCHIP funds for prenatal care. (Acog, Asrm Express Concern).
November 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- States seeking to cover prenatal care through the State Children's Health Insurance Program won't have to request a waiver from the federal government anymore. Starting this month, they will be able to file a "state plan...

Electronic Medical Records: one organization's experience. (This is the Future).
November 1, 2002... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Medical software salespeople have been known to promise the moon. Here's a more realistic view of what physicians can expect to achieve through a switch to a full-bore electronic medical record (EMR) system and related...

Nonoxynol-9 Nixed. (Policy & Practice).
November 1, 2002... The Planned Parenthood Federation of America will no longer distribute condoms lubricated with nonoxynol-9, the organization says. Planned Parenthood's decision is a result of recent research from the World Health Organization and the Centers...

Voter Support for EC. (Policy & Practice).
November 1, 2002... Seventy-two percent of American voters support federal legislation that would provide the public with information about emergency contraception, a new survey says. The survey of more than 500 voters was commissioned by the Reproductive Health...

New Stem Cell Law. (Policy & Practice).
November 1, 2002... Defying the federal government's limitations on available federal funds for stem cell research, California instituted a new law that promotes this type of research in the state. "Stem cell research. is responsible research that could...

Antiabortion License Plates. (Policy & Practice).
November 1, 2002... The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to block the sale of "Choose Life" license plates in Louisiana after a bid from abortion activists. The New York-based Center for Reproductive Law and Policy had argued that the sale of such plates...

Medicare Appeals Process. (Policy & Practice).
November 1, 2002... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing a system for Medicare patients to appeal local or national Medicare coverage determinations. Although beneficiaries currently have the right to appeal individual claims denials, the...

Investigate insurers before signing their contracts. (Fee Schedules, Appeals Process).
November 1, 2002... SANDESTIN, FLA. -- A number of factors are important to investigate when it comes to signing a contract with an insurance company Dr. Robert A. Skidmore Jr. said at a meeting of the Alabama Dermatology Society. For one thing, be sure to...

More antioxidants, less fat may curb Alzheimer's. (Diet During Midadult Life).
November 1, 2002... STOCKHOLM -- A high-antioxidant, low-fat diet during midadult life may reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, Grace J. Petot said in a poster presentation at the Eighth International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related...

Drug update: lipid modification for secondary prevention of coronary events.
November 1, 2002... Mitchel L. Zoler, editor Bruce Jancin, writer Current consensus is that virtually everyone with known coronary disease ought to be on an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, regardless of LDL cholesterol level. These well-studied drugs, commonly...

CDC to recommend use of alcohol-based rubs. (Cuts Infections, Less Irritating than Soap).
November 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- "Rub-a-dub-dub" is about to take on a whole new meaning for U.S. health care workers. New guidelines on hand hygiene to be released this fall by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will promote the use of...

Hand-hygiene program saved hospital $12 million over 3 years. (Reduction in Nosocomial Infections).
November 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- A simple educational campaign to encourage hospital workers to disinfect their hands with alcohol-based products saved $12 million in costs in a 3-year period, Dr. Didier Pittet said at the annual Interscience Conference on...

Anemia Web site. (FYI).
November 1, 2002... The National Anemia Action Council has launched a Web site, www.anemia.org, to make health care professionals more aware of the prevalence, symptoms, and treatment of anemia associated with serious diseases. The site features recent anemia...

New Depakote warning. (FYI).
November 1, 2002... The Food and Drug Administration and Abbott Laboratories have strengthened the contraindications, warnings, and precautions sections of the label for divalproex sodium, valproic acid, and valproate sodium, marketed as Depakote tablets, Depakote...

Self-help guides. (FYI).
November 1, 2002... "Recovering Your Mental Health" is a series of self-help guides for patients with psychiatric disabilities. Created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the series includes: "Building Self-Esteem," "Making and...

Building better Bones. (FYI).
November 1, 2002... "Building Strong Bones: It Takes a Lifetime," a free brochure from the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, emphasizes the lifelong importance of diet, exercise, and healthy habits to build and maintain strong bones. It also...

Life After Cancer. (FYI).
November 1, 2002... The Facing Forward Cancer Survivor Series addresses the challenges of life after cancer treatment. The brochure "Life After Cancer Treatment" covers follow-up medical care, emotional changes, and workplace issues; it also comes in a Spanish...

Needle-stick prevention. (Products).
November 1, 2002... Abbott Laboratories, a company which offers a variety of needle-stick prevention systems, has launched a new Web site, www.abbottnps.com, to provide health care professionals with information about preventing needle sticks. Visitors to the Web...

Protective cleansing systems. (Products).
November 1, 2002... FoamCare is a line of protective cleansing systems available in 1-liter and 500-mL formats, along with hand- or color-coded foot-pump dispensers. The line of cleansers includes antimicrobial surgical hand scrubs, and when used with a FoamCare...

Smoking cessation watch. (Products).
November 1, 2002... The QT-Watch is a computerized messaging wristwatch that displays about 500 motivational messages designed to help smokers quit their habit and maintain long-term cessation. The computerized device looks and performs like a standard digital...

Postop nausea prevention. (Products).
November 1, 2002... Kytril (granisetron hydrochloride) injection has been approved for the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The recommended dose is 1 mg, according to Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., 973-235-5000, www.kytril.com.

Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule, United States, 2002-2003. (News).
November 1, 2002... Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule, United States, 2002-2003 Age 19-49 years Vaccine Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) * 1 dose booster every 10 years (1) Influenza ...

Smallpox vaccine plan released. (Hospital-based Health Care Workers).
November 15, 2002... ATLANTA -- Approximately 510,000 hospital-based health care workers in the United States would receive the smallpox vaccine to prepare for a possible bioterrorism attack, under a new plan recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and...

WHI researchers defend their findings on HRT: some workshop attendees criticize study; others support its conclusions. (Women's Health Initiative).
November 15, 2002... BETHESDA, MD. -- Women yearning for a simple, straightforward "yes" or "no" as to whether they should take hormone replacement therapy aren't going to get one from researchers in the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial. The only firm...

Registry data show UAE effective in the short term: reintervention needed in 1% after 30 days. (A Total of 2,332 Cases Reported).
November 15, 2002... SEATTLE -- Short-term data collected in a multicenter registry suggest that uterine artery embolization is comparable in safety with other treatment approaches for fibroids, Dr. Evan Myers reported. Thirty-day postprocedure outcomes are now...

Vital signs.
November 15, 2002... VITAL SIGNS Dietary Supplements: Sales and MarketShare in 2000 Sales % of (in billions) Market Vitamins $5.9 35 Herbals and...

National Institutes of Health hands over WHI data to Wyeth. (Data on Combination Therapy).
November 15, 2002... The National Institutes of Health has given unpublished data from the Women's Health Initiative to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals at the company's request, even as WHI researchers continue to analyze the findings. "We simply plan to evaluate it and...

ACIP: vaccine not for pregnant women, herpes patients. (Routine Pregnancy Tests not Recommended).
November 15, 2002... ATLANTA--Up to 30% of hospital-based individuals targeted for smallpox vaccination could be excluded because of pregnancy, dermatologic conditions such as herpes, or HIV infection, according to guidelines that were laid out by the Centers for...

Sildenafil may ease SSRI-Induced sex dysfunction. (Preliminary Data).
November 15, 2002... Los ANGELES -- Three open-label studies and preliminary data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study support the use of sildenafil in women who have sexual dysfunction induced by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The studies,...

Two drinks daily may improve insulin sensitivity. (Postmenopausal Women).
November 15, 2002... Moderate daily drinking improved insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women, said Michael J. Davies, Ph.D., of the Beltsville (Md.) Human Nutrition Research Center and his associates. A cohort of 51 nondiabetic postmenopausal women at...

Manufacturer recalls prefilled Lunelle syringes. (Risk of Contraceptive Failure).
November 15, 2002... All prefilled syringes of the monthly injectable contraceptive Lunelle are being voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer "due to a lack of assurance of full potency and possible risk of contraceptive failure," the Food and Drug Administration...

Spontaneous abortion tied to folate deficiency. (Case-Control Study).
November 15, 2002... Women with low folate levels are at greater risk for spontaneous abortion than women with normal or high levels, said Dr. Lena George of the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, and her associates. A population-based, case-control study...

Participation in executions. (Guest Editorial).
November 15, 2002... Before the a vent of lethal injection as a method of execution, the question of physician participation in capital punishment was not regarded by medical societies as a matter of concern since physicians did not function as hangmen, gun...

Elective c-section for women with low HIV loads. (Lower Transmission Rates?).
November 15, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Elective cesarean sections for HIV-infected women with low viral loads may reduce viral transmission rates beyond those seen with antiretroviral therapy alone. But the supporting data are not yet strong enough to suggest that...

Second-trimester ultrasound a viable alternative to amniocentesis, expert says. (Testing for Down Syndrome).
November 15, 2002... SACRAMENTO -- A second-trimester ultrasound exam using three parameters is a viable alternative to amniocentesis for evaluating the possibility of Down syndrome, Dr. John C. Hobbins said at an ultrasound update sponsored by the University of...

Colposcopy in pregnancy: generally avoid biopsy. (Observation May be Best).
November 15, 2002... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Cervical biopsy should be performed selectively in pregnancy because of the heightened risk of bleeding complications, Dr. John Marlow said at an ob.gyn. update sponsored by the Geisinger Health System. Bearing in mind...

West Nile virus transmitted via breast milk? (Infected Mother Nursed Infant for 17 Days).
November 15, 2002... IgM specific to the West Nile virus has been found in the serum of a 25-day-old infant who was nursed on breast milk that also tested positive for viral antibodies. These findings suggest that the child has been infected with the virus,...

Breast-feeding: no protection against asthma, allergies? (Other Benefits Remain).
November 15, 2002... Breast-feeding-while beneficial for many reasons-may not protect children from developing allergies or asthma, reported Dr. Malcolm Sears of McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., and his colleagues. A group of 1,037 children were enrolled in...

Study finds Rh factor not linked to GBS status. (Large Retrospective Analysis).
November 15, 2002... BANFF, ALTA.--Pregnant women who are Rh-factor negative don't appear to be at higher risk of group B streptococcus colonization than their Rh-positive counterparts, Dr. Philip Mead said at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society...

Benefits of emergency cerclage unclear; tell patients of risks. (Expert Opinion).
November 15, 2002... WASHINGTON--There are no empiric data showing a clear benefit to emergency cerclage, and it should be performed only after extensive patient counseling about its inherent risks, Dr. Errol Norwitz said at the Third World Congress on...

Pregnancy can have minimal impact on cystic fibrosis. (Good Prepregnancy Condition Needed).
November 15, 2002... Pregnancy in women with cystic fibrosis has relatively little effect on maternal health if the patient is in good general condition before pregnancy, a retrospective study has shown. The study included 75 women with cystic fibrosis (CF) who...

HRT proven effective for reducing bone fractures. (More Whi Data).
November 15, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- Results from the Women's Health Initiative trial have definitively proven for the first time that hormone replacement therapy can cut the incidence of bone fractures in postmenopausal women. Findings from earlier studies had...

Long-term combined HRT may raise leiomyoma risk. (Patients with Low BMI).
November 15, 2002... CHICAGO -- Long-term use of combined hormone replacement therapy was associated with a 70% increased risk of uterine leiomyoma in peri- and postmenopausal patients in a recent case-control study. The study--said to be the first to look...

Estrogen still an option for osteoporosis treatment in selected women, expert says. (Breast Cancer Risk at Issue).
November 15, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- Estrogen is not finished as a treatment for osteopenia or osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, despite the dramatic results from the Women's Health Initiative study, according to Dr. Susan L. Greenspan. Hormone replacement...

COPD patients face high risk of vertebral fracture. (Severe Fractures).
November 15, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have an increased risk of severe vertebral fractures, which often go unrecognized by their physicians, based on a study with 296 patients. "Patients with [chronic...

Vaginal tape treats stress incontinence in obese. (Less Blood Loss than with Sling Procedure).
November 15, 2002... NEW ORLEANS -- Tension-free vaginal tape may be the treatment of choice for genuine stress urinary incontinence in obese women, Dr. Maurice K. Chung said at an international congress sponsored by the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. ...

Expert praises suburethral sling for stress urinary incontinence. (Downplays Osteomyelitis).
November 15, 2002... ST. LOUTS -- The trouble with most of the 170 operative procedures for stress urinary incontinence is that they don't aim to restore normal anatomy, Dr. S. Robert Kovac said at the 12th International Pelvic Reconstructive and Vaginal Surgery...

Radiofrequency therapy may improve fecal incontinence. (Novel Adaptation of Antisnoring TX).
November 15, 2002... ST. LOUTS -- Targeted radiofrequency energy may have a vibrant future for treatment of fecal incontinence. Two recent prospective studies have shown that radiofrequency energy using the Secca system reduces symptoms of fecal incontinence...

Extended-release Cipro found effective for UTI. (Study of New Formulation).
November 15, 2002... SAN DIEGO--Extended-release ciprofloxacin appears to be as effective and safe as the conventional twice-daily formulation for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, Dr. Ernie Riffer reported at the annual Interscience...

Renal scars often seen after acute pyelonephritis. (Major Complications Rare).
November 15, 2002... SAN DIEGO--Renal scars and moderately reduced renal function are common in women with previous acute pyelonephritis, but long-term serious clinical complications appear to be rare, Dr. Raul Raz said at the annual Interscience Conference on...

Fluconazole may curb recurrent candidiasis. (Effective in 91% as Maintenance Therapy).
November 15, 2002... SAN DEGO -- Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis was suppressed for 6 months in 91% of women given weekly fluconazole as a maintenance therapy, compared with 36% of those given placebo in a randomized, double-blind study of 387 women. The...

Sex puts teens at increased risk for EBV infection. (Females at Greater Risk).
November 15, 2002... Sexual contact appears to be a strong risk factor for infection with Epstein-Barr virus in teenagers, reported Dr. Dorothy H. Crawford of the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), and her colleagues. Of 1,006 University of Edinburgh students,...

Precautions to limit risk of self-inflicted injury. (Make use of Safety Devices).
November 15, 2002... NEW YORK -- The rate of accidental injuries to medical personnel during clinical procedures is nearly 7%--an unnecessarily high figure, Dr. Zoltan Trizna said at the American Academy of Dermatology's Academy 2002 meeting. Not surprisingly,...

Expert: use synthetic mesh for those who've had recurrences. (Gynecologic Reparative Surgery).
November 15, 2002... ST. LOUIS -- Gynecologic reparative surgery traditionally lags about 20 years behind general surgery in adopting technical advances, so it's worth noting that a dramatic shift in the use of graft materials has been going on in general surgery...