Irish journal of medical science
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Professor Davis Coakley (1946-2022) was an outstanding physician, historian, and leader of reform in medical services and education. This inaugural Davis Coakley Memorial Lecture, delivered in The Edward Worth Library at Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, on 28 September 2023, focuses on 'Medicine in History & History in Medicine'. It explores the position of the physician-historian in medical historiography, discusses Coakley's extensive historical work (especially his many books about the history of medicine), and concludes with comments about one of Coakley's great interests: the work of Sir William Wilde (1815-1876). ⋯ Sir William's comments about patterns of epidemics are especially arresting and relevant today in the immediate wake of COVID-19. Coakley's interest in Sir William echoed Coakley's broader commitment to medical care, progressive education, and genuine scholarship that shed light on suffering, illness, healing, and recovery. The fields of both medicine and history are greatly enriched by Coakley's life and work.
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The diagnosis of pneumothorax is usually made through clinical examination and radiography. Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler mode has not previously been used in the diagnosis of pneumothorax on chest USG. ⋯ PW Doppler is a useful tool in the diagnosis of pneumothorax. It has a high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of pneumothorax. It is also superior to both lung sliding and the barcode sign in detecting pneumothorax. The Dogan's sign can be used safely in the diagnosis of pneumothorax, together with lung sliding and the barcode sign.
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Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) can cause significant morbidity and impact negatively on patients' quality of life. Clinical guidelines provide recommendations regarding screening frequency and the use of structured tools to ensure adequate monitoring of EPS. Despite this, the literature indicates that the documentation and monitoring of EPS remain suboptimal. ⋯ Documentation of EPS monitoring improved significantly across several settings affiliated with a Dublin North City MHS following the systematic adoption of the Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale (EPSS) and clinician education regarding its use.
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Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a pathological condition defined as an acute inflammation of the amniochorionic membranes which has been linked to a wide range of adverse neonatal events. ⋯ Evaluation of the incidence of HCA and associated clinical parameters in this study showed a marked decrease in the incidence of HCA when compared to other studies. Strategies to reduce the incidence of HCA include reducing the length of labor via active labor management. We hypothesize that these findings are due to the consistent use of active labor management and our rural study population, but further investigation is required to confirm this.