49th ICPC: Breathing in new life into a long tradition of promoting a diagnostic excellence
by Rowz Fajardo
The University of the Philippines Medical Students’ Society (UP MSS), in cooperation with the Department of Pathology, UP College of Medicine — Philippine General Hospital (UPCM-PGH), concluded its 49th Interscholastic Clinicopathologic Conference (ICPC) last Saturday, March 19. The Iloilo-based West Visayas State University — School of Medicine won the championship title as well as the best visual presentation award. One of its members also bagged the best speaker award.
A competition for diagnostic talents
The ICPC is an annual event held for nearly fifty years by the UP MSS. Its main event is a clinical case diagnosis competition where the most prominent medical schools participate. Originally a face-to-face, one-day event, this year’s ICPC was held as a one-day virtual event in light of the current pandemic.
For 2022, the ICPC’s theme is invigorating as it is entitled “Second Wind,” a phenomenon in distance running wherein an athlete, who is fatigued and out of breath, suddenly finds the strength to continue performing. “Second Wind” was used for the ICPC as a metaphor for continuing an effort with renewed strength and energy. With this, the event hopes to breathe new life into a long tradition of promoting diagnostic excellence.
The competition was held last March 19 in a closed Zoom conference with 15 medical schools participating including Cebu Doctors’ University; University of the East — Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc.; Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health; Mariano Marcos State University; Metropolitan Medical Center; De Lasalle Health and Sciences Institute; West Visayas State University; Brokenshire College; Emilio Aguinaldo College; Jose Maria College of Medicine Foundation; University of St. Lasalle; Bicol University; Manila Central University; San Beda University; and University of the Visayas.
The seated panelists for the clinical case diagnosis are Dr. Deonne Thaddeus Gauiran, an active consultant at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and San Juan De Dios Education Foundation Inc.; Dr. Maria Sonia Salamat, a training officer and clinical associate professor at UPCM-PGH; Dr. Vanessa Charlene Co-Tanco, an active consultant at PGH and member of the board of directors of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines; and Dr. Geraldine Zamora, a clinical associate professor at UPCM and an active consultant at St. Luke’s Medical Center BGC and Manila Doctors’ Hospital.
The case to be diagnosed
For the competition, all 15 participating schools were given a case to study and analyze prior to the contest proper. The case presented involved a 45-year-old female who was rushed to the emergency room with hematemesis. Two weeks prior to admission, the patient experienced abdominal pain and bilateral pruritic lower extremity rashes. It was also noted that there was worsening abdominal pain and the rashes also progressed to the thighs. The patient began to experience weakness and fatigability. According to the assessment by a local hospital, the patient has a nodular toxic goiter so she was given Metoprolol, Propylthiouracil, Coumadin, and Tapazol (Methimazole). In the interim, there was continued worsening and increase in the size of the rashes.
During the night prior to her admission, the patient experienced hematemesis of two full cups and weakness, and difficulty in breathing. A few hours before the admission, the patient once again experienced hematemesis of one cup and vaginal bleeding with fully soaked pants and napkin. The patient was then rushed to the hospital.
Winners of clinical diagnosis
The West Visayas State University — School of Medicine bagged the championship with an astonishing score of 96 percent. The team’s diagnosis was: Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome secondary to Hypovolemic Shock secondary to IgA Vasculitis; Hospital Acquired Pneumonia caused by A. baumanii; Hypertensive Heart Disease; and Graves Disease.
The winning team was composed of Nelson Christian G. Co, who also won the best speaker award; Shaun Andre V. Tan; Nathaly Kate N. Bohulano; and Joshua Sydney R. Tomas.
Meanwhile, Brokenshire College — School of Medicine ranked first runner-up and the University of the East — Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc., second runner-up.
Moreover, the West Visayas State University — School of Medicine also won the best visual presentation award.
