Physician-patient communication: a lost art?

In the face of rapid advances in technology, there has been a progressive deterioration of effective physician-patient communication. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has identified that patients rate the orthopaedic profession as high in technical and low in communication skills. Poor communication, especially patient-interviewing skills, has been identified in medical students as well as in practicing physicians. Effective communication is associated with improved patient and physician satisfaction, better patient compliance, improved health outcomes, better-informed medical decisions, and reduced malpractice suits, and it likely contributes to reduced costs of care. Recognition of the importance of communication has influenced medical schools to revise curricula and to teach communication skills in residency training and continuing medical education programs. National certifying examinations also are being designed to incorporate these skills. Although written material is useful in increasing awareness of the importance of good physician-patient communication, behavioral change is more likely to occur in a workshop environment. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is taking leadership in designing and implementing such an approach for its membership.     

Malignant melanoma and filariasis: a coexistence or an association?

Malignancy has been reported with chronic lymphedema, especially lymphangiosarcoma. The authors report on a patient with lymphedema due to filariasis, presenting with an ulcerated pigmented lesion that was malignant melanoma. A literature search revealed no previous report of such lesions existing together.     

Training in obstetric general anaesthesia: a vanishing art?

General anaesthesia in obstetric practice has largely been replaced by the use of regional techniques. We have studied this phenomenon and the subsequent impact on training in this technique both retrospectively and with a prospective audit. There has been a decline in the use of general anaesthesia for Caesarean section such that trainee anaesthetists are getting less practical exposure to this important procedure. Audit revealed a deficit with consultant involvement in training and heightened awareness has resulted in improved supervision. Possible implications for future consultant working practices are discussed.     

Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma: a congenital and an acquired anomaly? Two cases and a review of the literature

Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma is an uncommon benign abdominal mass. Two cases of mesenteric cystic lymphangioma are presented, both in combination with malrotation and intermittent volvulus. Both mesenteric cystic lymphangiomas were located near the duodenojejunal junction, the usual area of torsion in case of a volvulus. These findings suggest that mesenteric cystic lymphangioma could have evolved as a consequence of chronic intermittent volvulus. We hypothesize that in patients with malrotation and volvulus, mesenteric cystic lymphangioma may be regarded as an acquired anomaly.     

Myelomeningocele and female sexuality: an issue?

During the last 40 years more and more myelomeningocele (MMC) patients have survived to adulthood and since the 1980s there is growing interest in sexual functioning of these patients. However, most of what is known about the impact of MMC on sexual functioning pertains to males. We have reviewed the literature pertaining to female sexuality and MMC with regard to sexual development, activity, dysfunction, sexual knowledge and education, pregnancy and delivery, as well as future trends.