Case Reports in Emergency Medicine最新文献

Lemierre's syndrome is an acute oropharyngeal infection with a secondary septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IVJ) that was first reported in literature in 1936. It involves the progression of disease from a focal suppurative peritonsillar infection to a local septic thrombophlebitis with hematogenous progression to and distant septic emboli. It is a rare and potentially fatal syndrome requiring prompt diagnosis and management. We present the case progression of an 18-year-old male who presented to our hospital with resolved sore throat, fever, and chest discomfort who experienced a sharp clinical decline. His case, physical exam, laboratory abnormalities, and radiologic studies highlight important facets of this rare but important syndrome.

Managing acutely agitated or violent patients in the emergency department (ED) represents a significant challenge. Acute agitation as an initial manifestation of neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD) is an extremely rare clinical entity. A 44-year-old male, who had been complaining about a severe headache and fever for several days, was admitted to our ED due to acutely presented incontinence and agitation. On admission, physical restraint and sedation with sevoflurane and propofol were required for his combative and violent behavior. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed increased cell count. Fluid attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging showed a high intensity signal in the left parietal lobe and bilateral occipital lobe. As infectious meningoencephalitis was suspected, empirical therapy was immediately started. He recovered uneventfully without neurological defect in seven days. Based on positive human leukocyte antigen B-51 and clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of NBD was made and remitted by steroid therapy. Although acute NBD commonly presents with focal neurological symptoms, psychiatric symptoms could be considered the first manifestation. A focused and thorough examination coupled with appropriate management strategies can assist emergency clinicians safely and effectively manage these patients.

High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for survival from cardiac arrest. However, various chest compression-associated injuries have been reported. Internal mammary artery (IMA) injury is one of the rare complications after CPR, and most of cases include rib and sternum fractures. In this report, we describe a rare case of IMA injury without chest wall fractures after CPR. An 85-year-old man with a history of acute myocardial infarction 2 weeks prior visited to our hospital for sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). After admission, sustained VT requiring CPR occurred several times. Emergency coronary angiogram revealed 90% stenosis at the left anterior descending artery. Hence, emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed. During the PCI, blood gas analysis showed decreasing serum hemoglobin levels. Contrast computed tomography revealed hemothorax and extravasation at the branch of the right IMA without chest wall fractures. The patient's deteriorating hemodynamic condition precluded thoracotomy or embolization to stop the bleeding. The patient died on the next day of hospitalization. IMA injury can occur after CPR, regardless of chest wall fractures and can be fatal without early diagnosis. For an emergency physician, IMA injury should be considered as a cause of unknown anemia after CPR.

Emergency department (ED) physicians frequently encounter patients presenting with angioedema. Most of these involve histamine-mediated angioedema; however, less common forms of angioedema (bradykinin-mediated) also occur. It is vital physicians correctly recognize and treat this; particularly since bradykinin-mediated angioedema does not respond to antihistamines, corticosteroids or epinephrine and hereditary angioedema (HAE) laryngeal attacks can be fatal. Here we present four case reports illustrating how failures in recognizing, managing, and treating laryngeal edema due to HAE led to asphyxiation and death of the patient. Recognition of the specific type of angioedema is critical for rapid and effective treatment of HAE attacks. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema should be efficiently differentiated from the most common histamine-mediated form. Improved awareness of HAE and the associated risk of life-threatening laryngeal edema among emergency physicians, patients, and relatives and clear ED treatment protocols are warranted. Moreover, appropriate treatments should be readily available to reduce fatalities associated with laryngeal edema.

We report the case of a person who went into cardiac arrest after being given chlorpromazine for hiccups and was subsequently diagnosed with congenital Long QT Syndrome. Long QT Syndrome is an uncommon, congenital condition that carries a high risk of sudden cardiac death. Clinicians need to recognize the risk that chlorpromazine may prolong the QTc and prepare to manage potential complications.

We describe a case of a young male who presents to the emergency department with severe sepsis and decompensated heart failure with underlying Methamphetamine-Associated Cardiomyopathy that was previously undiagnosed. This presentation is unique because Methamphetamine-Associated Cardiomyopathy is an uncommonly reported condition that presented in a complex clinical scenario of severe sepsis and decompensated congestive heart failure. We discuss how we used point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in this case to identify an unsuspected disease process and how it changed our initial resuscitation strategy and management. Emergency physicians can utilize point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to help identify these high-risk patients in the emergency department and guide appropriate resuscitation. Methamphetamine-Associated Cardiomyopathy (MAC) is an infrequently described complication of methamphetamine abuse, most commonly presented as a nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. With the rise in methamphetamine abuse in the United States, complications from methamphetamine use are more commonly presenting to the emergency department. Proper education and rehabilitation, with a goal of abstinence from amphetamine use, may allow patients to potentially regain normal cardiac function. Since the majority of patients present late with severe cardiac dysfunction, early detection is essential amongst critically ill patients since recognition may significantly influence ED management.

Background: Acute liver failure can result from acetaminophen overdose, viral infection, toxins, and other disease conditions. Liver transplant is available in limited fashion and the criteria are strict as to who should get an available liver. N- Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) has been used in non-acetaminophen induced liver failure with success. Here we report a case of acute liver failure from cocaethylene that was reversed with NAC along with other medical therapy.

Case presentation: A 50-year-old female patient presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a two-day history of coffee ground vomiting and hematemesis. She reported occasional substance abuse and heavy alcoholism. She reported shortness of breath and chest pain from the recurrent forceful vomiting. The rest of the review of systems was unremarkable except a fall from intoxication. Physical examination revealed anicteric conjunctiva and nontender abdomen and her vital signs were within normal limits. Initial blood work revealed acute liver and renal failure. The patient was started with general medical management and liver transplant service rejected the case due to active substance abuse. She underwent brief hemodialysis and was started on NAC. Over the course of her hospital stay her liver function and kidney function improved significantly and patient was discharged to home.

Conclusion: In cases where liver transplant is not an option for various reasons including active substance abuse, a trial of N-Acetyl Cysteine may be beneficial and should be considered in the Emergency Department.

This case describes a 70-year-old female who presented with right flank pain around the site where a stent had been placed in her right kidney at an outside hospital several months earlier. The patient arrived tachycardic with a leukocytosis and a lactic acidosis. Further imaging revealed a very hydronephrotic right kidney and an extremely large fluid collection in the right retroperitoneum extending into the right flank consistent with leakage of urine from the obstructed right kidney. Prompt treatment of this rare phenomenon is crucial for delay in medical care can lead to abscess, hydronephrosis, electrolyte instability, and a progressive loss of renal function. Treatment for small urinomas is usually conservative as the collection will most often be reabsorbed. Larger urinomas even without systemic signs often necessitate more aggressive medical treatment. A drainage catheter can be placed with ultrasound or CT guidance. Percutaneous nephrostomy tubes are often used as well for additional drainage and decompression. Fluid culture is recommended to guide antibiotic treatment.

The first-line recommended treatment for stable paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is the use of vagal maneuvers. Often the Valsalva maneuver is conducted. We describe two patients who converted to sinus rhythm without complications, using a head down deep breathing (HDDB) technique.