Case report

[Oblique]

My preceptor has asked me to do a case report on a patient I am following at my rotation site. I have never done a case report before or published any articles. If you have experiences with publishing a case report during your rotations please give me some advice. Thank you.

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[Psai]

Read some case reports in the new england journal of medicine

 

[operaman]

These are really easy and can be written in a weekend if you're a good writer. Lots of different tweaks on the format are fine depending on your case and what exactly about it is worth reporting. Generally though:

Intro -- summarize some basic lit on the disease in question. If it's a disease worthy of a case report there may not be much unless it's a very uncommon presentation of something more common. Clsoe with something like "here we report a case of X in a Y year old Z."

Case presentation -- pretty much like a discharge summary minus the fluff. Include relevant imaging/path as needed.

Discussion -- wax eloquently for a few paragraphs about why this case is worth reporting and what lessons can be learned. Cite any additional relevant literature, especially if it was used as part of the clinical decision making process.

That's basically it. If you know what journal you/your attending want to submit for, make sure they are accepting case reports right now and review any formatting/length/style guidelines in their author instructions. This will save you a rewrite later.

I would also clarify authorship before putting in the time to write. You don't want to put the time in expecting a first author spot and find out later it's going to someone else. Clarify in advance and all is well. Don't feel weird about asking; this is an expected question.

 

[Oblique]

Thank you for the advices guys. I will first author for this report. I'm am happy for this opportunity but nervous at the same time, because I am afraid I might screw it up. I am not a good writer and was never one. Please keep the recommendations coming.

Thanks again.

 

[operaman]

Don't worry, everyone sucks at first. Remember: the editing process is just that - a process. No great paper (or article, or novel, or tv show, or movie) got that way without substantial editing and revision. The best thing you can do (and most impressive) is to turn this sucker around fast and give the attending something to look at. I've found that it takes much longer for me to obsess over a manuscript than it does for me to just write something and get it to my PI for editing. Once you hit that point, the rewriting process begins, but that always seems to go much faster because it's far more goal directed than the initial write. For example, rather than the vague "write up this case," it's much easier to address something like a comment that says, "give more detail about initial physical findings and be sure to mention the initial bedside endoscopy and its findings." The back and forth is actually the best learning experience. Nobody expects a student to churn out perfect papers on the first draft.

 

[Espadaleader]

Thanks fuys