Impact of Marking Surgical Incision on Patient's Abdomen
Impact of Marking Surgical Incision on Patient's Abdomen
This is a study looking at patient's satisfaction with incision site and location after
 undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. (Laparoscopy) The study group will have
 the anticipated incision marked with a washable marker on their abdomen. The control group
 will have preoperative counselling as usual. After surgery, will assess patient's
 satisfaction with the incision scar.
This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial examining the impact of marking the
 patient abdomen at the time of the preoperative visit on patient's satisfaction with scar
 appearance and symptoms, and pain at the incision site after undergoing minimally invasive
 gynecologic surgery for benign conditions.

 We hypothesize that preoperative marking and instruction about incision expectations will
 improve patient's postoperative satisfaction with scar appearance and symptoms as well as
 decrease incision site pain compared to traditional preoperative counseling.

 Patients that will undergo laparoscopic surgical intervention will be identified. The patient
 will be randomized into two groups: preoperative marking the abdomen versus conventional
 preoperative counseling.

 If the patient is randomized to the marking the abdomen group (study group) she will then
 have the anticipated incision needed to place the trocars during her surgery marked on her
 abdomen by the surgeon attending physician involved in the patient care during the
 preoperative counseling visit. If she is randomized to the control group, then she will
 undergo traditional preoperative counseling by the same team without marking the abdomen.

 After completed the surgery, information regarding type of surgery, reason for the procedure,
 estimated blood loss, surgical length, complications, location and size of abdominal
 incisions made on the patient's abdomen will be collected. Then at the 6 weeks post op visit,
 patient's satisfaction with the incision scar will be evaluated with a validated patient scar
 assessment questionnaire form and by one 5 point Likert scale question used in previous
 studies. The pain at rest at the incision site will be evaluated by a Visual Analog Pain
 Scale (VAS). Patients will also be asked to evaluate their generalized pain using a modified
 McGill Present Pain Intensity Scale.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Age 18 - 89

 2. Diagnosed with a benign surgical pathology

 3. Patient scheduled for elective minimally invasive gynecologic surgery

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Have a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer

 2. History of prior laparoscopic surgery

 3. Emergency surgery

 4. Inability to provide informed consent

 5. Unable to follow up in the office for post operative visits

 6. Skin hypersensitivity or allergy to marker dye

 7. Positive pregnancy test