The Effect of Shift Timing on Cesarean Delivery Outcomes and Operative Noise Levels.

OBJECTIVE: Intraoperative noise exposure has been associated with an increased risk of complications, communication errors, and stress among surgical team members. This study evaluates intraoperative noise levels in cesarean deliveries during different shift times, for example, night shifts, day shifts, and hand-off times between shifts. STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study which measured volume in decibels, percentage of time above safe levels (>60 dB), startle noise events (events with rapid increase of decibel level above baseline noise), and peak levels (>75 dB) for cesarean deliveries during a 3-month preintervention and postintervention study. This secondary analysis of noise data evaluated whether there were differences in noise for cases occurring during day shifts (6:31 a.m.-4:59 p.m.), night shifts (6:01 p.m.-5:29 a.m.), and hand-off times (5:30 a.m.-6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.). Correlates and postoperative complications during the respective shifts were additionally analyzed. RESULTS: Noise data were collected for a total of 312 cesarean deliveries; 203 occurred during the day shift, 94 during the night shift, and 15 during hand-off times. Median noise in decibels, median noise at various key intraoperative points, number of startle events, percentage of time above 60 dB, and above 75 dB had no significant differences throughout the various shift times. Significantly larger numbers of postpartum hemorrhages, unscheduled, urgent, and STAT cesarean deliveries occurred at hand-off times and on night shifts. CONCLUSION: Noise levels during cesarean deliveries did not significantly vary when comparing night shifts, day shifts, and hand-off times, despite significantly higher numbers of urgent and STAT cases occurring overnight and during hand-off times. However, more than 60% of case time had noise levels exceeding those considered safe. This suggests that ambient background noise may be contributing more to overall noise levels rather than the specific clinical scenario at hand. KEY POINTS: · Noise in cesarean delivery operating rooms frequently exceeded recommended levels.. · Noise in cesarean delivery operating rooms did not vary with shift type.. · Hand-off times had higher rates of urgent and STAT cesareans.. · Night shifts had higher rates of urgent and STAT cesareans..

The Impact of Environmental and Occupational Noise on Maternal and Perinatal Pregnancy Outcomes.

Importance: Pregnant women are exposed to both occupational and environmental noise during their pregnancy. The association between noise and adverse health outcomes is well known. Less is known about the relationship between noise and its effects on the embryo/fetus and pregnancy. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to review what is known about the effect(s) of environment and occupational noise during pregnancy on maternal and perinatal outcomes. Evidence Acquisition: Electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase) were searched from 1995-2023 with the only limitation being that the articles were in English. Studies were selected that examined associations between environmental and occupational noise and pregnancy outcome, maternal outcome, or perinatal outcome. Results: There were 233 articles identified. After reviewing all abstracts and selected full texts, 25 publications were used as the basis of this review. Multiple studies have been undertaken evaluating the effects of noise on embryonal/fetal growth, fetal development, maternal hypertension, gestational diabetes, and maternal anxiety and depression. The overall effects of occupational and environmental exposure on both fetal and maternal outcomes remain uncertain. Conclusions: Further high-quality studies are needed to determine the association between noise and pregnancy outcomes. Relevance: Even though this review suggests a relationship between noise and maternal/fetal outcomes, confirmation will require well designed future studies.

An Extraordinary Cause of Colonic Obstruction: Merkel Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary.

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive and rare neuroendocrine skin cancer with documented metastases to the liver, lungs, and, seldom, the gastrointestinal tract. Metastases to the colon are rare but are seen with primary skin lesions or recurrent disease. Presented is a patient with large bowel obstruction secondary to a large hepatic flexure mass. Pathologic workup revealed Merkel cell carcinoma, and a dermatologic evaluation did not identify a primary cutaneous lesion. This is the first reported case of Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary presenting as large bowel obstruction.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction Secondary to Metastatic Breast Carcinoma 25 Years After Initial Diagnosis: A Mimic of Primary Gastric Carcinoma.

Although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, metastasis to the stomach is incredibly rare. Gastric metastasis of breast cancer has been described in the literature, with an estimated median of 6 years from the initial diagnosis of primary breast cancer to metastasis and multiple instances greater than 10 years. In this case, a patient presented with gastric outlet obstruction in the setting of breast cancer metastasis to the pylorus 25 years after the original diagnosis.