Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society
Obstetric Section

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MINUTES
CAS Obstetric Section 2001 Business Meeting
June 11, 2000 in Halifax, Nova Scotia

The meeting was called to order at 0700 hrs.

PRESENT

Drs. D. Biehl, D. Campbell, C. Kamra J. Kronberg, A. MacArthur, B. MacAuley, P. Morgan, K. Munn, R. Nunn, R. Preston, J. Tarshis, S. Weeks.

1. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

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2. BUSINESS ARISING

2.1 Announcement of new executive

Rob Nunn: Vice-Chair
Pam Morgan: Secretary
Alison MacArthur: Treasurer
Sue Reid: Member at large
Roanne Preston: Past Chair

2.2 The decision was made to increase the term of the past chair to 3 years instead of 2 years.

2.3 Obstetrical Section luncheon: over 70 registrants signed up and is to be held in Highland Suites 8 and 11.

2.4 Scientific Affairs: chair will continue to cover this position.

2.5 Non reassuring FHR tracing: Dr. Nunn has drafted guidelines for management of non reassuring FHR. These recommendations are presently before CAS and the timing of their presentation to SOGC is not yet finalized. It was suggested that non-reassuring FHR tracing be changed to state fetal bradycardia.

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3. REPORTS

3.1 Scientific Affairs: ACUDA and subcommittee report lack of submissions of abstracts (>700 registrants), significant reduction in number of research submissions (65 abstracts, only 13 in resident’s competition).

3.2 Insufficient poster submissions for obstetrics section; only 1 poster for OB, 1 in residents competition; all of posters part of poster discussion. The following suggestions were made to promote submission of OB posters in the future, including: 

• Prize for best poster: highlight Canadian research: Dr. Kronberg expressed concern about presenting an award with potentially few poster submissions;
  
• Allow duplicate publications so that posters presented at SOAP can also be presented at CAS. Comment re the non-indexing of SOAP abstracts despite publication in Anesthesiology supplement;
  
• Drs. Macarthur and Biehl supported duplicate abstract presentations; and
  
• Best Poster Award would be advertised on website, and on abstract form.

3.3 Obstetrics clinical forum presentation caused some confusion for staff of CAS (feedback from Tuesday meeting).

3.4 CAS speaker reimbursement form essentially unchanged: Refresher Course Lecturer; $400.00, Clinical, Political forum or symposium; $200.00, Residents’ seminar, workshop, seminars; $200.00 and Case Discussions; $100.00.

3.5 There has been a revamping of the CAS office which should improve efficiency.

3.6 New sections: Presently there are 8 sections (with a minimum # of people required to form a section); The CAS determines the number of people in that section by the # of people who tick off the box on the annual membership form. Perioperative medicine is one of the new sections.

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4. TREASURER'S REPORT

4.1 $5, 311.00 carried forward from previous year.

4.2 As of April 30/2001, the balance is $22964.00.

4.3 Dr. Preston: noted importance of getting breakdown of expenses from CAS office to ensure that we are not charged for honoraria to people outside of our section.

4.4 A discussion was held about a possible donation to CARF (Canadian Anesthesia Research Foundation) from the Obstetrics section.

• Dr. Biehl discussed importance of labeling money for Obstetrics.
  
• It was suggested that the money could be used for the OB poster award.
  
• A sum of $5000.00 was suggested, which could be divided to provide the annual poster award.

4.5 CAS has serious concerns about amount of research being done in Canada and the need for finding donors to CARF. Dr. Bevan (Chair of CARF) looking at methods of increasing the donations.

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5. WEBSITE

5.1 Remuneration for Dr. Preston for the web-page listed on the budget under “other” ($800.00).

5.2 E-mail addresses; if change e-mail address, it is important to inform the webmaster.

5.3 Available OB fellowships and jobs will be included on the website.

5.4 Dr. Bruce MacAuley offered to put together a list of articles from journals not often read by anesthesiologists but are of importance to OB anesthesiologists and list them on the website.

5.5 There will be a request to presenters of case presentations and speakers from the CAS to submit their slides etc. for inclusion on the web page.

5.6 Dr. Joanne Douglas has submitted a letter to the editor (on the website) regarding an article written by rural GP physicians in BC and Alberta (references on the website and listed below) regarding intrathecal narcotics for labor. A discussion ensued and it was generally agreed that GP anesthetists should be included as speakers and panel members in our meetings. There will be a meeting in November in Alberta where MOC for rural physicians will be discussed and a group of fellowship anesthesiologists will be present.

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6. NEW BUSINESS

6.1 Need to increase communication with SOJC. Dr. Campbell will be speaking at the fall meeting. He commented that the SOGC is looking for OB papers as opposed to Gyne manuscripts..

6.2 The chair wished to congratulate Dr. Joanne Douglas on her Fred Hehre lecture at the SOAP meeting in San Diego in May.

6.3 The chair congratulated Dr. Sally Weeks as the Royal College Lecturer at the 2001 CAS annual meeting and Dr. Pam Morgan as recipient of the 2001 Clinical Teacher Award being presented at the 2001 CAS annual meeting. 

6.4 A discussion was held about the e-mail list of members and to e-mail Dr. Dave Campbell with changes. Dr. Kamra (St. John’s, Nfld) stated that he had not received confirmation of his OB section membership fee or confirmation that he was a member. Dr. Campbell will discuss with the CAS re: acknowledgments to section members. Dr. Kamra’s e-mail address will be forwarded to Drs. Campbell and Preston.

6.5 It was reiterated that the sponsorship for the CAS OB luncheon was related to its function as an educational event and the purpose of the sponsorship was not a marketing venue.

6.6 The next CAS meeting will be held in Victoria and a site host from UBC is being sought. Suggested names of speakers for OB included: Drs. Craig Palmer, Susan Palmer, Mike Paech, David Birnbach, Sheila Cohen and Bill Camann.

Dr. Susan Palmer’s name was considered favorably by virtue of her work environment, proximity to Victoria and her previously well-received talks.

Dr. Campbell stated that it would be preferable to bring the speaker from the west due to the location of the meeting. Dr. Kronberg suggested Dr. Barbara Leighton as another potential speaker.

It was also suggested that other physicians such as obstetricians and GP anesthetists should also be considered as speakers and panelists.  

Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned @ 08:35.

Respectfully submitted, 

PJ Morgan MD, CCFP, FRCPC
Secretary, Obstetrics Section
Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society

References:

1. Leslie NG. Intrathecal narcotics for labour analgesia; the poor man’s epidural. Can J Rural Med 2000; 5: 226-9
2. Leslie NG. Intrathecal narcotic administration procedure. Can J Rural Med 2000; 5: 230-2
3. Iglesias S. Some new answers to old questions. Can J Rural Med 2000; 5: 195-6.