Season's Greetings

I wish all of Canada's PAs the very best over the holiday season as well as a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

See you in Ottawa!

Remote/virtual Endoscopy 'hiccup'

The image at the top right shows a virtual endoscopy probe that has become lodged in a segment of small bowel. The patient had chronic Crohn's disease and, as a result, had multi-focal small bowel strictures; one of which is immediately distal to the probe. The probe created a complete obstruction, exacerbated local inflammation; necessitating the excision of the segment.

I was sorry to see that the batteries had died by the time the specimen arrived in our department (the unit flashes four LED lights every 4 seconds or so). We could have smiled for the camera!

This specimen clearly indicates a contra-indication to virtual endoscopy; ie. in some patients with known chronic Crohn's ileitis.

Time for Change

One of the sub-committees of the PA Section of the CAP has as its mandate the brushing-up and maintenance of a web site for Canada's PAs. So as to avoid stealing any of that site's thunder, as it were, you will notice a few changes on this site; focusing more, I hope, on images and other medical or pathological-based issues confronting PAs. I considered going the other way; writing about issues of a more personal nature but I'm sure you would be bored and quite frankly, I don't have enough interesting stuff to share!

So, accordingly, I'll try to hunt down some interesting images and will re-post as soon as I'm able.

I want to say how glad I am to hear that there are so many people who check this site from time to time. For some, this site has actually served the purpose for which it was created.