Serotonin Syndrome in the Emergency Department.

With the widespread use of serotonergic agents including many antidepressants, antiemetics, illicit drugs, and even some herbal supplements, serotonin syndrome is a condition seen more frequently. It can appear abruptly and, if untreated, can progress to a life-threatening state. Prompt recognition and treatment is imperative to avoid complications.

A Case of Disseminated Zoster in an Immunocompetent Patient.

The incidence of herpes zoster, more commonly known as shingles, is approximately 1.2 million individuals per year, which has been increasing worldwide. While the most common presentation of zoster is a rash and acute neuritis (the pain associated with the rash) within one or more contiguous dermatomes, other more serious manifestations such as herpes zoster ophthalmicus, acute retinal necrosis, Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus), aseptic meningitis, pneumonitis, bacterial superinfection and disseminated zoster ought to be considered by the clinician.

Improving Ambulation and Minimizing Disability with Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in a Stiff-person Syndrome Patient with Recurrent Falls.

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare, autoimmune, neuromuscular disorder that manifests with axial and proximal muscle stiffness, rigidity, and painful muscle spasms, often causing progressive disability due to limited movement. First-line therapies comprise symptomatic management with γ-aminobutyric acid-modulating drugs such as benzodiazepines and baclofen. Patients resistant to these treatments are often given intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg).

Symptomatic May-Thurner Syndrome Without Deep Venous Thrombosis.

The authors present a case of symptomatic May-Thurner syndrome in the absence of a deep venous thrombosis. This is an unusual case, as most cases are diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis as the underlying finding. The clinical presentation and suggested diagnostic workup are discussed.

Emergency Department Approach to Testicular Torsion: Two Illustrative Cases.

We present two cases of young men with spontaneous nontraumatic testicular pain. While the differential diagnosis for scrotal or testicular pain can include less urgent causes, such as epididymitis, hydrocele, referred pain, idiopathic scrotal edema, and inguinal hernia, for example, the most feared etiology for acute scrotal pain is testicular torsion. The fact that a testicle can torse and detorse is also a confounding factor.

Persistent Trigeminal Artery Playing a Protective Role in a Case of Vertebral Artery Dissection and Stenosis.

Several fetal anastomoses have been described between the carotid and vertebrobasilar circulations. These anastomoses usually revert while the P1 segment (posterior cerebral artery segment 1) develops. However, these primitive intracranial embryonic anastomes can occasionally persist in adult age.

Electrical Cardioversion for Wide Complex Tachycardia.

We present a case of electrical cardioversion used to treat a hemodynamically unstable wide complex tachycardia (WCT). The patient returned to normal sinus rhythm after being cardioverted with 100 joules (J) on the first attempt. He was admitted to the hospital for cardiac evaluation and ultimately discharged home on flecainide and nebivolol after a negative cardiac workup.

Left Atrial Myxoma Associated with Malignant Anomalous Course of Right Coronary Artery: A Rare Concurrent Incidence of Two Rare Diseases.

Cardiac atrial myxoma is a primary cardiac tumor with a prevalence of 0.0017-0.19% at autopsy.

Traumatic Corneal Abrasion.

Corneal abrasions can have potentially sight-threatening consequences if not accurately diagnosed and managed appropriately in the acute period. Simple corneal abrasions can be managed with antibiotic and tetanus prophylaxis, analgesia, and next-day follow up with ophthalmology. However, if there is any suspicion for penetrating eye injury, corneal ulcer, a sight-threatening infection such as bacterial keratitis, or ophthalmic zoster, an emergent referral is imperative.

New versatile dual-support pediatric heart pump.

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices for pediatric patients continue to lag in development behind those for adults. There is no heart pump with the design innovation to support dysfunctional states of heart failure and the anatomic heterogeneity of cardiac defects in pediatric patients. To address this unmet need, we are developing a versatile MCS technology with 2 separate blood pumps under 1 housing, whereby a centrifugal pump rotates around an axial pump.

A Rare Case of Extramedullary Plasmacytoma Presenting as Massive Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement by multiple myeloma is a rare entity. Clinical manifestations depend on the site and extent of involvement. GI bleeding, obstruction, and perforation can complicate the disease course.

Robotic single-site endometriosis resection using near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green: a prospective case series and review of literature.

We present our preliminary experience comparing robotic near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) to 2D laparoscopic white light (WL) and 3D robotic WL illumination, in their ability to visually detect endometriosis lesions during a robotic endometriosis resection procedure in a single center. A total of twenty women were screened and seven of them with symptomatic endometriosis were included in this prospective case series. The mean patient age was 33 years with the mean body mass index being 28.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: An Unusual Presentation with Intractable Headache.

Esthesioneuroblastoma, also known as olfactory neuroblastoma, is a malignant tumor of the upper nasal cavity. This report illustrates the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with intractable headaches. Subsequent radiologic evaluation and correlation with histopathologic analysis confirmed esthesioneuroblastoma.

Back to Basics: A Case of Adult Epiglottitis.

The authors report a case of a 69-year-old female with difficulty swallowing and neck swelling and review the clinical presentation, radiographic features and treatment of adult epiglottitis. Epiglottitis remains a medical emergency, with the potential for airway compromise. The authors present this case because it is a potentially life-threatening infection that warrants prompt diagnosis and management.

Early On-Scene Management of Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Can Result in Improved Likelihood for Neurologically-Intact Survival.

Aim: To evaluate the frequency of neurologically-intact survival (SURV) following pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (POHCA) when comparing traditional early evacuation strategies to those emphasizing resuscitation efforts being performed immediately on-scene.

Methods: Before 2014, emergency medical services (EMS) crews in a county-wide EMS agency provided limited treatment for POHCA on-scene and rapidly transported patients to appropriate hospitals. After 2014, training strongly concentrated upon EMS provider comfort levels with on-scene resuscitation efforts including methods to expedite protocols on-site and control positive-pressure ventilation.

Adult Medulloblastoma: Occurrence of a Rare Event.

Medulloblastoma is the most common type of aggressive pediatric primary brain malignancy. This case describes a 45-year-old Hispanic male with no significant past medical history who presented to the emergency department (ED) complaining of 15 days of 10/10 intractable headaches with one day of lightheadedness, confusion, and loss of balance. An urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a 4.

Clostridium causing malignant edema in a trauma patient: a case report and review of literature.

Clostridium infection is a rare but potentially lethal infection associated with abortions, injury, contaminated wounds, and illicit drug use. It causes a recognizable syndrome with marked leukocytosis. Rapid diagnosis and aggressive sepsis management is required for optimal outcome.

A case of recurrent pneumatosis intestinalis.

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), defined as free gas in the bowel wall, is associated with autoimmune conditions, drugs, pulmonary disease and many other etiologies. Patients with findings of PI may have variable clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to acute abdomen necessitating urgent surgery. Here, we present the case of an individual with recurrent PI whose suspected etiologies ultimately varied from benign to lethal between visits.

Non-surgical Pneumoperitoneum in the Setting of Gram-negative Sepsis.

Pneumoperitoneum is described as the presence of free air in the peritoneal cavity. In the majority of cases, it is the manifestation of abdominal viscus perforation, requiring an emergent surgical exploration. In rare cases, however, no evidence of perforation of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tracts can be found at exploration, and in such cases, the pneumoperitoneum is referred to as non-surgical pneumoperitoneum.

Emergency Management of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis - A Clinical Review.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) has a high mortality rate; early antimicrobial therapy is essential for improving patient outcomes. Given that cirrhotic patients are often coagulopathic, the perceived risk of bleeding may prevent providers from performing a paracentesis and ruling out this potentially deadly disease. We examine the pathophysiology and risk factors for SBP, and current guidelines for its diagnosis and treatment.

Bridging gaps in care: Implementation of a pharmacist-led transitions-of-care program.

Purpose: The development and implementation of a hospitalwide, pharmacist-led transitions-of-care (TOC) program are described.

Methods: This 21-week quality improvement initiative was conducted from October 1, 2015, to February 26, 2016, at Memorial Hospital Pembroke. A TOC team was comprised of pharmacists, a pharmacy resident, pharmacy students, a physician, case managers, and nurses.

Paraganglioma of the Urinary Bladder: A Rare Cause of Hypertension and Urinary Tract Infections.

Pheochromocytoma is a neoplasm, which develops from cells of the chromaffin tissues that are derived from the ectodermic neural system and mostly situated within the adrenal medulla. Approximately 15% of pheochromocytoma cases arise from extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue. Pheochromocytoma of the bladder is rare and accounts for less than 0.

A Case of Streptococcus anginosus Brain Abscess Caused by Contiguous Spread from Sinusitis in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Brain abscesses are infections of the brain parenchyma that can arise from either contiguous spread from local infection or by hematogenous spread from a distant site. Streptococcus anginosus of the Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) is a commensal microbe of the mucosae of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and urogenital tract. We present a case of mono-microbial brain abscess caused by contiguous spread from relatively asymptomatic sinusitis that initially presented as a subdural hemorrhage on computed tomography.

Communicating Value in Simulation: Cost Benefit Analysis and Return on Investment.

Value-based health care requires a balancing of medical outcomes with economic value. Administrators need to understand both the clinical and economic effects of potentially expensive simulation programs to rationalize the costs. Given the often-disparate priorities of clinical educators relative to health care administrators, justifying the value of simulation requires the use of economic analyses few physicians have been trained to conduct.