Anecdotes in medicine-15 years of Lancet Case Reports.

摘要

Primary research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical guidelines rely on what accumulates from millions of doctor-patient interactions over time. This information is distilled into those different formats to provide an evidence-based approach to medical practice. But what of the individual interactions that occur? Each one is different. Each patient is unique. Each scenario varies. The dynamic of the consultation will never be replicated. Case reports provide an opportunity for some of these individual-and important-stories to be told. There have been situations in which important information gained from case reports has brought about a change in clinical practice. Today, Lancet Case Reports seldom lead to a change in practice, but function to further inform practice. Our current format has remained true to the style introduced in 1995. Authors present their clinical anecdotes in one page; described in three paragraphs are the clinical presentation, investigations, treatment, outcome, and then there is a discussion. We tend to favour stories that entertain and contain a learning point of use to the junior doctor, perhaps with wider applicability and appeal.