Medical Professionalism and Self-Reflection in Medical Education / 의학교육논단

Recently, unprofessional behavior by physicians and misconduct by medical students have led to increased public concern over medical professionalism. Many studies have been conducted to explore strategies that reinforce professionalism education and prevent misconduct in medical students. However, most studies focused on defining the medical professionalism and its conceptual components. In this study, we conducted a conceptual analysis based on the literature review to categorize issues of unprofessional behavior, and identified doctors' indifference to self and others as the reason for the unprofessional behavior. In this regard, self-reflection provides a practical tool to overcome such indifference. We suggest ‘education and evaluation based on self-reflection and reflective practices’ as the effective strategies to enhance the professionalism in medical students.

Clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of fetal omphalocele / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of fetuses with omphalocele. METHODS: The study enrolled all fetuses diagnosed prenatally with omphalocele at a single institution, from August 1996 to April 2008. Data were collected retrospectively by reviewing the maternal and neonatal medical records. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 54 cases with prenatally diagnosed omphalocele. In all, 15 fetuses were live-born, 29 were terminated, four died in utero, and six were lost to follow-up. Associated anomalies were found in 72.9% (35/48). Abnormal karyotype was found in 33.3% (16/48). In the live births, associated major anomalies were present in 46.7% (7/15) and were associated with increased neonatal morbidity. The rate of severe neonatal morbidity was 53.3% (8/15). In one case, death followed prolonged hospitalization with complications related to associated anomalies. The neonatal mortality rate was 6.7% (1/15) with no postoperative deaths. CONCLUSION: In this study, the neonatal mortality rates were low in the absence of associated anomalies or genetic defects. The results emphasize the importance of identifying both those fetuses with a potentially positive prognosis and favorable outcome and those which are likely to have a fatal outcome.

The clinical outcomes on fetal gastroschisis / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the perinatal courses, fetal treatment and postnatal outcomes of fetal gastroschisis. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 35 cases with a prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis was conducted between March 1997 and April 2007. RESULTS: Twenty-eight fetuses were followed up and 17 fetuses of them were born alive. Chromosomal study was performed in 22 fetuses and no abnormality was detected in them. Associated anomalies except for gastrointestinal anomalies were found in 12 (34.2%) cases: amniotic band syndrome (n=8), scoliosis (n=6), cleft lip (n=1), hydrops (n=1), hydrocephalus (n=1), acrania (n=1). In 4 fetuses, amnioinfusion and amnioexchange were performed simultaneously for treatment. Four cases (23.5%) were delivered by cesarean section. All neonates received corrected operation immediately after birth and 8 (47.1%) of them had postoperative complications. Three of them were died and the overall survival rate was 82.4%. The average length of hospital stays for the survivors was 36 days (2~210days). CONCLUSION: Fetal gastroschisis diagnosed prenatally has a good prognosis and high survival rates. The result of this study was not different from that of preexisting studies and will be a useful guide in counseling parents with a prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis.

Clinical review of 9 cases of pregnant women with Moyamoya disease / 대한산부인과학회지

To describe the clinical manifestations and to establish the management of pregnancy and delivery in pregnant patients with Moyamoya disease. We identified nine women with Moyamoya disease. Six of these patients underwent cesarean section. General anesthesia was administered to only one patient, while epidural or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was used for the others. The patient diagnosed during pregnancy was epidural anesthesia used for vaginal delivery and two patients diagnosed during post-delivery were delivered vaginally without anesthesia. Three patients showed pregnancy-related complications: intracranial hemorrhage, severe pre-eclampsia, and stroke. Five patients had term delivery, and four had pre-term delivery. The babies were healthy and had no complications. As blood pressure control is the most important factor for the pregnant women with Moyamoya disease, we recommend a spinal or epidural anesthesia in order to reduce the potential complications. Management of the patient's underlying disease is also crucial.