What's New and Exceptionally Cool in Obstetrics & Gynecology!

Advanced Clinical Skills Labs

Some of the best parts of this specialty involve using our technical and surgical skills to help our patients.  Even after doing more than 3000 of them, I still get a rush when I deliver a baby.  Imagine the wow-factor in being able to save a life by performing emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy.  These techniques are not learned overnight and mastery does not come without some serious Time on Task! 

Because vaginal deliveries, suturing, and gynecological procedures, aren't as easy as they may look, we have recently developed an Advanced Skills Lab for our undergraduate students as a "next step up" from the basic labs held during our Introduction to Clerkship period.

These popular labs provide opportunities for developing surgical skills using simulation and fun. 

Margaret Burnett
Associate Head - Academic

At the end of the session the students will be able to:

Station 1A Obstetrics
1. View and discuss the video Pregnant Abdomen reviewing (Leopold’s maneuvers, measuring fundal height, estimate gestational age based on fundal height).
2. Determine fetal position by external exam (perform Leopold's and correctly determine fetal position and presentation.
3. Use electronic fetal monitoring equipment (EFM) to assess labour and fetal status.
4. Recognize normal and abnormal FHT’s.
5. Explain the rationale for the importance of sterile technique.
6. Scrub properly for deliveries and for surgery.
7. Gown and glove properly for surgery, without breaking sterile technique.
8. Assist in a simulated vaginal delivery.
9. Assess a normal newborn and discuss APGAR scores.

Station IB Obstetrics
1. View a 5 minute video on how to do a vaginal delivery.
2. Discuss the basic items found on the Obstetrical tray and how to prep the perineum for delivery.
3. Determine the position of the baby by performing a pelvic exam.
4. Define cervical dilation and effacement.
5. Demonstrate accurate assessment of cervical dilation and effacement using models.
6. Perform a vaginal delivery using a simulator.

Station II. Suturing and Episiotomy Repair
1. View a short video on episiotomy repair.
2. Review knot-tying and suturing.
3. Repair an episiotomy using a beef tongue model.

Station III. Gynecological Procedures
1. View a short video on the pap smear.
2. Perform a thorough breast exam on models noting any lumps or changes.
3. Review the techniques for pelvic examination and specimen collection.
4. Perform a speculum exam, endometrial biopsy and IUCD insertion using models.