A Case Report on the Diagnosis of Acute Abdominal Aortic Occlusion Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department.

Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) can be used to detect and evaluate for an aneurysm and/or a dissection of the abdominal aorta in suspected patients in the Emergency Department (ED). Despite the routine use of PoCUS for the assessment of the abdominal aorta in suspected aortic aneurysms and dissections, there is limited literature regarding its use in the diagnosis of acute abdominal aortic occlusions in the emergency setting. This is a case demonstrating the use of PoCUS in identifying an acute aortic occlusion in a 71-year-old female patient with known hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Massive purulent pericardial effusion with ultrasound features of tamponade secondary to non-typhoid Salmonella infection.

Purulent pericardial effusions are rare and represent the most severe form of bacterial pericarditis. The authors present a case of a male in his 40s with a massive purulent pericardial effusion due to non-typhoid Salmonella, who presented with ultrasound features of a cardiac tamponade. Invasive non-typhoid Salmonella cardiac infection is a rare but important consideration in immunocompromised individuals.

Clinical Profile of Acute Coronary Syndrome Presentation to the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital: High Prevalence Among the Minority Indian Population.

Background Cardiovascular diseases were responsible for 17% of the 460236 natural deaths in South Africa in 2015. Previous studies have reported a disproportionately higher incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and its risk factors among individuals of Indian descent residing in South Africa. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical profile of patients presenting with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to compare the characteristics of patients of Indian descent to those of non-Indian descent.

Foreign Body Aspiration - A Potentially Life-Threatening Complication of Seizures.

In adults, foreign body aspiration is an uncommon clinical presentation. Aspiration can occur during a seizure and in the post-ictal period due to the loss of airway reflexes. Commonly aspirated contents include saliva, blood, or vomited gastric contents.

What intracranial pathologies are most likely to receive intervention? A preliminary study on referrals from an emergency centre with no on-site neurosurgical capabilities.

Introduction: Access to neurosurgical facilities remains limited in resource-restricted medical environments worldwide, including Africa. Many hospitals refer patients to off-site facilities if they require intervention. Unnecessary referrals, however, can be detrimental to the patient and/or costly to the healthcare system itself.