Objective : We examined the utility of distal perfusion (DP) in open stent grafting (OSG) for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Methods : Fifty patients who underwent OSG were categorized into two groups (the Non-DP group and the DP group) based on the presence or absence of distal perfusion in OSG. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to patient characteristics. Results : There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to operation time, but, cardiopulmonary bypass time (178±22 min vs. 193±18 min ; p <0.01) and aortic cross clamp time (84±23 min vs. 106±19 min ; p<0.01) were significantly longer in the DP group. Lower-body circulatory arrest time (46±11 min vs. 20±5 min ; p<0.001) was significantly longer in the Non-DP group. Postoperative paraplegia and paraparesis occurred in one case each in the Non-DP group, whereas permanent spinal cord ischemia did not occur in the DP group. Postoperative intubation time (72.6±40.1 h vs. 40.1±34.7 h ; p<0.05) was significantly longer in the Non-DP group. There were two in-hospital deaths due to stroke and respiratory failure in the Non-DP group, and one in-hospital death due to respiratory failure in the DP group. The postoperative maximum value of BUN (38.5±15.6 mg/dl vs. 30.8±9.8 mg/dl ; p<0.05) and s-Cr (1.9±1.0 mg/dl vs. 1.3±0.4 mg/dl ; p<0.01) were significantly higher in the Non-DP group. Conclusion : DP in OSG was an effective method for prevention of spinal cord ischemia, and for protection of respiratory and renal function.

To evaluate training methods for basic clinical skills before bedside learning, we used questionnaires to ask students and instructors their opinions about the fixed-instructor system, in which one instructor teaches the entire course, and the rotation system, in which instructors share responsibilities for teaching according to their specialty. Students had positive impressions of training with both systems. Many students felt that communication with in structors was good inthe fixed-instructor system and that the specialized education provided by multiple instructors was good in the rotation system. However, students expressed dissatisfaction about differences in educational content between the systems. Instructors believed an advantage of the fixed-instructor system was that skills learned could be applied to all medical fields, whereas the rotation system made teaching easier because it was specialized. On the basis of this investigation, we conclude that training should establish good communication between instructors and students and should include the required educational contents. We also found that unifying educational contents is difficult, regardless of the training system. Few reports about educational methods used to teach basic clinical skills have been published in Japan, but studies focusing on this issue are becoming increasingly necessary.

BACKGROUND: In general practice, though patients often stop visiting ambulatory clinics of their own vo-lition despite the need for ongoing medical treatment, there is little reported research on the reasons for nonattendance in Japan. In this study, we investigated whether the patient/doctor relationship influences nonattendance rates in general practice. In addition, we investigated the reasons why patients stopped visiting the hospital.
METHODS: We collected data from 115 patients (58 males, 57 females; age range: 16 to 94 years old, median age: 52 years old) whose initial diagnoses were made in our department from June to July 2000. We classified the patients into five groups based on the level of their complaints concerning the initial consultation (‘A’ representing the highest degree of complaint, ‘E’ representing the lowest) and determined the relationship between the strength of complaints and the non-attendance rate. Furthermore, we investigated the reasons for non-attendance concerning 28 patients who stopped visiting the hospital from April 2000 to November 2001.
RESULTS: The non-attendance rates were 0% (014) for group A, 14.3% (2114) for group B, 5.6% (5189) for group C, 33.3% (216) for group D, and 50% (1/2) for group E. The rate tended to be higher in groups with fewer complaints. The reasons for non-attendance were the following: remission of symptoms (9 patients), request for another hospital or department (6 patients), relief due to consultation at the university hospital (6 patients), and lack of time to come to the particular hospital (5 patients) . In contrast, the most common reason for satisfaction at the time of consultation was ‘enough explanation and listening to complaints well’ in 7 of 11 patients who were satisfied with the consultation.
CONCLUSIONS: The level of patient's complaints at the time of consultation is related to the non-attendance rate. However, sufficient explanation about symptoms and careful listening to complaints are important for establishing a good patient/doctor relationship.

1) We investigated the patients'evaluations of the students, our management of the medical training, and the patients' recognition of our outpatient clinic education. We then requested the patients to give their opinions regarding such interviews.
2) The patients'evaluations of the outpatient clinic and the patients'recognition of our outpatient clinic education were relatively good, but some patients complained about the short duration of medical care and also expressed anxiety over the students'medical interview.
3) Many patients expressed the desire to positively participate in medical education because the patients had high expectations of the medical students.In addition, this interview training fulfilled the patients'desire to be listened to and have their concerns acknowledged.