Publications by authors named "Thaddaus R Hellwig"

Purpose: This case series presents 3 patients with acute kidney injury taking apixaban or rivaroxaban and transitioning to a heparin infusion.

Summary: Case 1 was a 78-year-old man admitted with respiratory failure, acute decompensated heart failure, and acute kidney injury. He was taking apixaban for atrial flutter.

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Purpose: The recommended immunizations for adult asplenic patients are reviewed.

Summary: Patients without a spleen are at risk of developing overwhelming postsplenectomy infections due to encapsulated organisms, mainly pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Due to the high mortality rates associated with these infections, vaccinations are recommended as a preventive measure.

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Purpose: A case report describing high-dose argatroban for the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with thrombosis and associated considerations in interpreting laboratory monitoring data are presented.

Summary: A 51-year-old woman with an extensive history of coronary artery disease arrived at the emergency department with complaints of chest pain. The patient was admitted, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery was ultimately performed.

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Background: Vancomycin has been considered the accepted standard of therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and is commonly used as an alternative for methicillin-suceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in cases of allergy or intolerance to other agents. MRSA strains exhibiting elevated vancomycin MICs (minimum inhibitory concentration) within the susceptible range have been associated with increased treatment failure and mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate for evidence of elevated vancomycin MICs among S.

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A potential interaction between valproate (VPA) and doripenem leading to decreased valproic acid concentrations in two patients is described. In the first patient case, a 54-year-old female presented to the emergency department following a seizure episode after stopping her medications a few days prior. She was given a 1500 mg (23 mg/kg) intravenous (IV) bolus dose of valproate and restarted on her home regimen of divalproex sodium 750 mg daily which quickly resulted in valproic acid blood concentrations within the reference range.

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Purpose: A case of apparent gabapentin withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation of gabapentin therapy is reported.

Summary: A 53-year-old woman had coffee ground emesis, a two-day history of black tarry stools, and abdominal pain. The patient did have an elevated ethanol concentration (323 mg/dL), with the last reported ingestion of ethanol about 12 hours before admission.

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