Number of times in the OR per month...

[DrJD]

So the Rad Onc I was with today went down to the OR and put in an applicator for HDR treatment of Cervical cancer and I was asking her how much time she spent down there each month. Between Urologists taking some of the prostate cases and other changes, she guessed she was down there a few times a month.

What has all of your guys experience been?

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[deleted4401]

On my gyn rotation, it can be a lot. 5 times this week. 5 times last week. More than I want to be there I think at major institutions with strong gyn onc programs, that might be typical - a few EUAs a week, a few stent placements a week, an interstitial implant every month or so.

It's a pain, because clinic is going on at the same time. I wonder how people are following the Medicare rules about having a doc in clinic during all treatments.

-S

 

[Gfunk6]

On our GYN rotation it varies from 5-9 times per week. On our GU services that do mainly external beam, it is usually 3-5 per month.

 

[Wallachia]

A side note question, for you folks doing multiple gyn insertions (presume t&o) . . . if you guys are doing HDR, are all insertions under general anesthesia? I have heard of places doing first insertion in OR with sleeve placement and subsequent insertions as outpatient.

 

[deleted4401]

Only if they are from way out of town do we do our sleeve placements and the first tandem/ring HDR tx on the same day. But that's a really long day for the patient. Otherwise, sleeve placed in OR, and then 5 outpatient treatments, with some Ativan +/- morphine. It's generally tolerated (i.e. some screaming and a fair amount of expletives).
-S

 

[medgator]

It's generally tolerated (i.e. some screaming and a fair amount of expletives).
-S

glad to know that regimen is equally effective everywhere.