Highlights of ACOG’s 64th annual meeting

The 2016 Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists runs Saturday, May 14^th, to Tuesday, May 17^th, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. It will provide insights and research findings from leaders and experts in obstetrics and gynecology from across the United States and around the world.

Sharon T. Phelan, MD, this year’s chair of the Committee on Scientific Program and a board member of Contemporary OB/GYN, explains: “The ACOG Scientific Program Committee is transforming the annual clinical meeting by having more relevant science with hundreds of posters presented as well as oral presentations. Acknowledging the adult learning styles of practicing physicians, we have venues that use hands-on teaching, flip classroom [interactive, comprehensive learning/retention], and debates on current controversies as well as didactic sessions. There are sessions that will help practitioners meet various state and ABOG criteria for maintenance of certification. To keep providers current on new developments in the field, presidents of our leading partner organizations will address late breaking news in Cutting-Edge Topics sessions and a special presentation on Zika.”

Core themes, debates, issues

Last year’s meeting included specific themes for each conference day, and this year’s gathering has been built around a similar daily topical focus. On Saturday, menopause was the theme, followed by minimally invasive surgery on Sunday, high-risk obstetrics on Monday, and family planning on Tuesday. Every day also offers sessions covering important aspects in the research and practice of obstetrics and gynecology.

Myriad offerings include clinical seminars, lunch seminars and small-group discussions with experts, updates on topics and trends, and postgraduate courses. In-depth debates include:

• Complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia, and

• HPV testing: Is it ready to replace the Pap? (Sunday)

• If no elective inductions before 39 weeks, why not induce everyone at 39 weeks? and

• Is there a place for outpatient pre-induction cervical ripening at term? (Monday)

The latest research

Leading healthcare professionals are presenting more than 500 posters during the meeting. Some highlights of this wealth of new research, many of which have received award-level recognition, are:

• How understanding factors in postpartum readmission can lead to quality metrics and strategies addressing postpartum readmission increases

• Does omitting intrauterine cleaning after cesarean lead to more complications?

• Can vaginal delivery be safe for monoamniotic monochorionic twins?

• Are health care providers following new Pap screening interval guidelines?

• Provider’s role in encouraging vaccination for Tdap/influenza during pregnancy

• Novel prenatal care model retains patient satisfaction/obstetrical outcomes with fewer in-office visits

• Role of ob-gyns in transition-related medical needs of transgender patients

• Evaluating postpartum LARC insertion program to predict future expulsion risk

• As home births rise, what should those with prior cesarean know re: neonate risks?

• Can community hospitals adopt ACOG/SMFM cesarean guidelines successfully?

• Do online and cell phone app fertility calculators live up to their promise?

• Does increasing VBAC rate in clinical setting lead to increased maternal or neonatal morbidity?

• Encountering mixed messages on safety of marijuana use during pregnancy

• Implementing ACOG’s “labor longer” recommendations in clinical practice

• Ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination as options in tubal factor infertility

For more information, including a complete list of sessions and presenters, see: http://www.acog.org/acm.