Irish journal of medical science
-
Newborns show a series of behavioral and physiological reactions to painful stimuli. ⋯ It is concluded that as GA and BW increase, so do the pain responses of the infant, which showed that the pain thresholds of term-preterm infants are different, and decrease as GA and BW increase.
-
The current sparsity of surgical trainees' exposure to training in operative trauma surgery is multifactorial. This concern has been addressed in the revised Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) for general and vascular surgery (2021). In the lead up to its implementation, we aimed to assess both trainee and consultant confidence levels as a surrogate reflection in the core competency operative skills in general emergency trauma surgery, identify individual experience in commonly performed trauma procedures and gauge interest in a career in trauma surgery. ⋯ Self-reported competencies in operative trauma skills across all subgroups were sub-standard with incremental levels of perceived competence proportional to years of surgical training. Our data supports the necessity of the new curriculum, in addition to modern training pathways with direct exposure to operative trauma surgery involving dedicated trauma centres and networks, and responsibility of training pathways in the provision of training trauma surgery.
-
COVID-19 has greatly impacted medical students' clinical education. This study evaluates the usefulness of a rapidly implemented on-site simulation programme deployed to supplement our disrupted curriculum. ⋯ Our rapidly implemented simulation programme for undergraduate medical students helped mitigate pandemic restrictions, enabling improved competence despite necessarily reduced clinical activity encouraging further development.
-
The outcomes of acute medical admissions have been shown to be influenced by a variety of factors including system, patient, societal, and physician-specific differences. ⋯ No difference in mortality and minor differences in LOS were observed. The prior pattern of improved outcomes year on year for emergency medical admissions appears ended.
-
Obesity and its increasing prevalence are global public health concerns. Following joint replacement, there is evidence to support that obese patients are more likely to suffer complications. We examined 10-year trends in BMI of the primary total hip and total knee replacement cohorts in our institution to discern whether the BMI of these patients has changed over time. ⋯ The average BMI of patients undergoing primary hip and knee arthroplasty in our high-volume tertiary orthopaedic centre has remained relatively unchanged over the past 10 years; however, our local service is caring for a greater number of overweight/obese patients due to the increase in overall volume. This will have significant implications on health care expenditure and infrastructure going forward which further emphasises the importance of ongoing national obesity prevention strategies. The increase in BMI seen in females aged < 45 may mark an impending era of obese younger patients with end-stage osteoarthritis.