Conscious sedation for the performance of gynecologic examination of individuals with intellectual disability.
OBJECTIVE
Gynecologic examination of some individuals with intellectual disability can be especially problematic. Many of these women reside in a community setting and a widely applicable method for performing these examinations is desirable.


METHODS
Intellectually disabled women were referred by their primary care providers for gynecologic examinations under sedation in the emergency room facility of a community hospital. Intravenous conscious sedation was administered under the direction of an emergency room physician.


RESULTS
Thirteen adult women underwent 22 examinations over a four-year period. Papanicolau smears, screening for sexually transmitted disease and cervical and endometrial biopsies were obtained without complications. Hospital charges were relatively low and lengths of stay were short.


CONCLUSIONS
In selected individuals with intellectual disability, intravenous conscious sedation in a community hospital emergency room setting provides a safe, effective and relatively inexpensive means for performing gynecologic examinations.
Jaffe
Joshua S
JS
Sharon Hospital, Sharon, New York, USA. jjaffe@snet.net
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods