1.Successful Surgical Correction for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Two Elderly Patients Aged over 90.
Hiroyuki Ohnishi ; Hitoshi Ohteki ; Kojiro Furukawa ; Yuji Takeda ; Kazuyoshi Doi
Japanese Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2000;29(4):286-289
Surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms in elderly patients aged over 90 is rare, and the surgical indications in such patients is controversial. Two cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm successfully treated surgically are reported. The first case was a 92-year-old woman, who manifested a severe abdominal pain without hypotension. An impending rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm was suggested on enhanced CT scan, and emergency surgery was indicated. The aneurysm was replaced with a woven Dacron Y-graft. Postoperatively, the patient's social activity returned to the preoperative level. The second case was a 91-year-old man, in whom an increasing abdominal aortic aneurysm had been pointed out on UCG and enhanced CT scan. Because he was socially very active for his age, elective surgery was indicated. The aneurysm was resected and replaced with a woven Dacron I-graft. Postoperatively, the patient overcame a respiratory complication and was eventually discharged without any physical complication. Although he was able to climb mountains before the surgery, he lost some physical activity after the surgery. Because of the potential decrease in physical strength especially in very elderly patients, the general risk evaluation did not always correspond to a precise evaluation and prediction of postoperative activity. It is therefore necessary to be flexible in deciding on the surgical indications in each case.
2.Workplace postgraduate education and changes in rehabilitation therapists’autonomy during the medical examination of stroke patients
Daisuke Nishio ; Shinichiro Maeshima ; Aiko Osawa ; Hidetaka Takeda ; Yoshitake Hirano ; Hiroshi Kigawa ; Hitoshi Maruyama
Medical Education 2014;45(2):87-92
Introduction: In the rehabilitation period following a stroke, rehabilitation therapists must thoroughly evaluate the condition of patients for the purposes of goal-setting and effective training. Postgraduate education in the medical examination of patients after stroke was provided for rehabilitation therapists, and changes in their autonomy during medical examinations were subsequently assessed.
Method: The education consisted mainly of reading case reports about patients who had strokes and learning neurological examination techniques. A total of 35 once-weekly education sessions were provided to rehabilitation therapists working in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. The rehabilitation therapists evaluated their independence with respect to obtaining patient backgrounds, vital signs, physical findings, neurological findings, laboratory results, and basic knowledge of illness at the beginning and end of the education sessions and 6 months after the sessions ended. Each evaluation item was compared according to the time of evaluation.
Results: Rehabilitation therapists’ autonomy over obtaining patient backgrounds, neurological findings, laboratory results, and basic knowledge of illness was greater at the end of the education sessions than at the start of the sessions. Their autonomy over obtaining information in these 4 areas and obtaining physical findings was greater 6 months after the end of the education sessions than at the start of the sessions.
Discussion: We conclude that workplace postgraduate training in the medical examination of patients who have had strokes improves rehabilitation therapists’ autonomy during medical assessments.
3.The rise of primary care in Japan and new postgraduate general practice training in the UK
Noriaki Sawa ; Akihiro Tanaka ; Satoshi Kanke ; Hitoshi Takeda ; Tomohiko Ukai ; Takashi Wakayama ; Ryuki Kassai
An Official Journal of the Japan Primary Care Association 2011;34(4):308-316
Introduction :
This article aims to explain the new Membership of Royal College of General Practitioners (nMRCGP), new postgraduate general practice training in the UK. It will also compare this with that of the Japan Primary Care Association to identify areas requiring further development in postgraduate family medicine training in Japan.
Methods :
The introduction of the nMRCGP based on the available literature, followed by discussion amongst family physicians and trainees in Japan.
Results :
Following a comparison between the postgraduate general practice training in the UK and Japan, the following three points were raised : 1) The need for a clear definition of the role that family physicians play in Japan. 2) The importance of formative assessment as part of the membership examination in the form of portfolios. 3) The need for clear competency areas to form the framework for formative assessment, and for the clear standard that trainees are judged against in each of those competency areas.
Conclusion :
The above results were highlighted and discussed as possible areas for further development in postgraduate family medicine training in Japan.