Irish journal of medical science
-
Integrating theoretical and practical knowledge and stimulating students' active learning is the most important task of modern and high-quality healthcare education. By analyzing clinical cases, undergraduate medical students are trained to make accurate diagnoses, to choose appropriate therapy based on laboratory results and on adequate diagnostic tests. ⋯ Clinical case presentation has a learning potential and facilitates positive interaction between instructors and students and supporting students to become reflective and competent physicians.
-
Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland; half of all long-term smokers die prematurely from smoking-related diseases. Achieving 'Tobacco Free Ireland' (a smoking prevalence of less than 5%) will require the prevention of smoking initiation and the promotion of smoking cessation. ⋯ This study highlights the need to strengthen smoking cessation in Ireland to increase the number of smokers that successfully quit and achieve a Tobacco Free Ireland. The development and implementation of National Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Tobacco Addiction will play a key role in this.
-
Pulsed radiofrequency treatment adjacent to the cervical dorsal root ganglion is used to treat persistent cervical radicular pain that has not responded to conservative therapies. This technique has gained popularity in years for both cervical and lumbosacral radicular pain. The evidence to support its use is still evolving.
-
Throughout the developed world, the introduction of rotavirus vaccination has led to reductions in the incidence and severity of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children and consequently to reductions in paediatric emergency department (PED) attendances with AGE. Rotavirus vaccination was added to the Irish National Immunisation Schedule in November 2016. ⋯ A reduction in PED presentations with AGE is demonstrated post-rotavirus vaccine introduction into the Irish National Immunisation Schedule. No significant change in paediatric hospital admissions was demonstrated.
-
Prompt carotid endarterectomy for stroke prevention remains an essential component of treatment for symptomatic carotid stenosis. There exist a number of techniques, most commonly, access via a longitudinal arteriotomy for conventional carotid endarterectomy (CCEA), but eversion endarterectomy (ECEA) may also be used. Neither has been definitively proven as superior. We outline the experience in our institution of these two approaches. ⋯ These two carotid endarterectomy techniques are equivalent in terms of outcome, but ECEA can be performed in a significantly shorter operative time and reduces need for shunting.