Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Requiring Desensitization Prior to Planned Percutaneous Catheterization Intervention.

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) consists of a triad of asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, and a hypersensitivity reaction to aspirin consisting of nasal congestion and broncho-constriction. This disease presents a conundrum in cardiac patients undergoing percutaneous catheterization intervention (PCI) who might require stent deployment due to the need for aspirin as part of the dual antiplatelet therapy required if a stent is placed. Here, we present the case of a patient who underwent a coronary angiogram showing two-vessel disease but had to undergo aspirin desensitization first before planned PCI as he had a history of severe aspirin allergy in the past.

Septic Shock Secondary to Severe Gastroenteritis Resulting From Sapovirus Infection.

Sapovirus causes acute gastroenteritis (AGE) which manifests as severe diarrhea and vomiting. It is most often seen in, but not limited to, children and toddlers but can occur in people of all ages. It is typically more prevalent in low to middle-income countries but has also been reported in progressive countries such as the United States.

Incidental Finding of an Extensive Type B Aortic Dissection Extending to the Iliac Arteries.

An aortic dissection is a life-threatening event that requires urgent evaluation. A dissection is defined as a tear in the innermost layer of the aortic wall forming a true and false lumen. This is normally diagnosed with a CT with contrast when clinical suspicion is present.

Stroke-like Symptoms as Presenting Signs of Varicella Zoster Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Adult.

Varicella zoster is one of the common causes of aseptic meningitis, typically seen in immunosuppressed individuals and rarely in the immunocompetent. The varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is normally associated with a dermatomal rash in the abdomen with spread to the back. The small prevalence of VZV in immunocompetent individuals may be due to lack of recognition; thus, it is always important to keep it in mind when meningitis is in the differential.

A Broken Heart: A Case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Emotional stress-induced left ventricular dysfunction, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a condition that has become more prevalent since the turn of the century. Seen most commonly in postmenopausal women who experience an acute emotional stressor, its presentation resembles that of acute coronary syndrome with electrocardiogram changes, which is why most patients receive a left heart catheterization revealing clean or nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Food Bolus Masquerading as a Cardiac Mass on Echocardiogram.

An echocardiogram is the most utilized imaging modality in the evaluation of patients with intracardiac masses. Of these, left atrial myxomas are the most common intracardiac tumors in which diagnostic recognition is important for appropriate management. This paper demonstrates a case study on how a proper physical exam along with proper imaging modalities may result in avoiding misdiagnosing patients with large sliding hiatal hernias who present with the complaint of chest pain.

Torsades de Pointes With a Normal Magnesium Level in the Setting of Short Bowel Syndrome.

Torsades de pointes (TdP) is a potentially fatal arrhythmia, typically presenting with a congenital or acquired etiology. Low serum magnesium level is a known cause leading to this arrhythmia. However, it has been found that even in the setting of a normal serum magnesium level and with no other foreseeable etiology, TdP may still occur, especially in those with chronic electrolyte deficiencies.

COVID-19 With an Initial Presentation of Intraperitoneal Hemorrhage Secondary to Spontaneous Splenic Rupture.

The WHO declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic in early 2020. As the pandemic has continued to evolve over a period of several months, many cases of unusual presentations are now emerging, which pose a greater challenge for physicians in terms of quickly identifying COVID-19 patients based on initial signs and symptoms. In this report, we present one such unusual presentation in a patient with sudden intraperitoneal hemorrhage and spontaneous splenic rupture with COVID-19 as the likely etiology and contributing factor.

Brugada Pattern Phenocopy Induced by Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Brugada syndrome is a congenital cardiac channelopathy characterized by ST-segment elevation (≥2 mm) and subsequent inverted T wave in a minimum of two right precordial leads (Brugada type 1 ECG [electrocardiogram] pattern) on ECG. Brugada syndrome is estimated to be responsible for 4%-12% of all sudden cardiac deaths and up to 20% in patients with structurally normal hearts. Development of a temporary Brugada pattern, known as Brugada phenocopy, has been observed in individuals presenting with reversible underlying conditions such as hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, acidosis, ischemia, and pulmonary embolism, among others.

Extreme Weight Loss and Psychosis as Presenting Signs of Thyrotoxicosis.

Thyroid storm is an acute, life-threatening syndrome due to an exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis, which is when you have an excess of thyroid hormone in the body. Thyroid storm can be precipitated by infections, surgery, or untreated thyrotoxicosis. Multisystem involvement is often seen.

An Atypical Presentation of Serotonin Syndrome.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight an uncommon presentation of serotonin syndrome and discuss important points such as causes, the manifestation of symptoms, and available treatments. The report highlights the importance of recognizing typical signs and symptoms in order to uncover an atypical presentation of serotonin syndrome. Serotonin toxicity can become life-threatening if not identified early in its course and the offending agents discontinued.

Meloxicam-Induced Pancreatitis.

There are 525 drugs that have been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having the potential to cause pancreatitis. The most well-known drugs include mesalamine, azathioprine, and simvastatin, all of which have been well described in the literature. However, drug-induced pancreatitis only used to account for about 1%-2% of cases in the 1990s; this number has increased to up to 5% in some studies.

Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Pancreatitis as a Result of Quetiapine use.

Pancreatitis is caused by a number of different etiologies, most commonly caused by gallstone induced, alcohol, and familial hypertriglyceridemia. Other less common causes include trauma, medications, and autoimmune conditions. Drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is only responsible for less than 2% of all cases but is a very important etiology that has been observed with increasing frequency in the acute setting.

Gas in Your Stomach? A Curious Case of Complicated Emphysematous Gastritis With Concomitant Portal Venous Gas and Pneumoperitoneum Caused by Candida Glabrata.

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare life-threatening infection caused by gas trapping within the gastric mucosal wall. It is diagnosed by radiological or operative findings most typically by CT scan of the abdomen. It is caused by gas-producing bacteria.

Cannabis-induced Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Coincidence or Not?

Marijuana, derived from the plant, is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. Now, more than ever, due to changing regulations, marijuana is more readily available and is known to be habitually used by millions. The neuropsychiatric effects of marijuana are well-known which include chronic fatigue syndrome and polyphagia.

A Case of Pneumomediastinum and Pneumoperitoneum with Concurrent Massive Subcutaneous Emphysema due to Repositioning of a Tracheostomy Tube.

Tracheostomy is a common procedure seen in critically ill patients that require long term ventilatory support. As with all airway access procedures, tracheotomy with prolonged tracheal tube placement comes with possible risks such as tracheal scarring, tracheal rupture, pneumothorax, tracheoesophageal fistula among others. Another possible complication, though rare, is escape of free air into the surrounding tissue, as well as pneumomediastinum (PM).

Response and relapse in patients with schizophrenia treated with olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, or haloperidol: 12-month follow-up of the Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (IC-SOHO) study.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 12 months' treatment with olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, or haloperidol in preventing relapse of schizophrenia. The study also examined other measures of clinical effectiveness and tolerability.

Method: Outpatients with schizophrenia (ICD-10 or DSM-IV), who initiated or changed antipsychotic treatment, entered this 3-year, naturalistic, prospective, observational study between November 2000 and December 2001.