title: Is tissue an issue? Current practice and opinion in Western Australia for routine histopathology on products of conception.
abstract: An anonymous questionnaire-based survey was used to determine current practices and opinions of senior health professionals working in Western Australian (WA) hospitals performing gynaecological procedures, regarding the routine use of histopathology for products of conception (POC) obtained either from the surgical management of miscarriage or termination of pregnancy. Sixty-one senior health professionals completed the survey. Tissue histopathology on POC was routinely requested for miscarriage and termination of pregnancy (TOP) by 87 and 59% of respondents, respectively. Respondents listed the main reasons for requesting routine histopathology as avoidance of misdiagnosis, medico-legal and quality assurance. There were inconsistent practices among WA health professionals regarding sending POC for histopathology; 63% of gynaecology head of departments recommend the introduction of state or national guidelines for the use of histopathology in the surgical management of miscarriages or terminations of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Shui-Jean
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Jared C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Tiffany J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Faithfull
authors.forename: Sabrina Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Kate L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wylde
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McGurgan
mesh_terms: D037881:Aborted Fetus / Q000473:pathology*; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D010820:Physicians; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia
keywords: histopathology; miscarriage; products of conception; surgical evacuation; termination