A 40-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) after the acute onset of dyspnea. The patient was tachypneic with accessory muscle usage and diffuse wheezing on initial examination. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient deteriorated and was intubated. This case takes the reader through the differential diagnosis and systematic workup of a patient presenting to the ED with dyspnea and arrives at the unexpected cause for this patient’s presentation.
We present a case series of 14 OUD patients with SI who were given buprenorphine and a referral to outpatient substance use treatment in the ED. All experienced SI resolution, engaged with outpatient services, and remained in outpatient substance use treatment 30 days after ED discharge.
In our case series, we identified seven adolescents diagnosed with EVALI. We describe their signs and symptoms on presentation to the emergency department and their clinical course.
Author Affiliation Abdullah Khan, MD Loma Linda University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda, California Karli Parlette, DO Loma Linda University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda, California Heather M. Kuntz, MD Loma Linda University, Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda, California Introduction Case series Results Discussion Conclusion ABSTRACT Introduction Lung injury associated with the […]
We describe a patient presenting with bilateral leg pain without any respiratory symptoms or fever who ultimately was found to be COVID-19 positive and had thromboembolism of the aorta and bilateral iliac occlusion. This report reviews available evidence on the prevalence of arterial thromboembolism in COVID-19 patients and some proposed mechanisms of the pathophysiology of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.
Author Affiliation Andrew LaFree, MD University of California, San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California Alexis Lenz, DO University of California, San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California Christian Tomaszewski, MD, MBA University of California, San Diego, Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego, California Faith Quenzer, DO University of California, San […]
We report a case of a previously healthy male patient who presented to the emergency department with headache and extremity paresthesia. The patient was diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and found to have a positive COVID-19 test. Inpatient anticoagulation was initiated, and symptoms had largely resolved at discharge.
This clinical case highlights the presentation of a 52-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and fever, ultimately attributed to COVID-19 infection.
Author Affiliation Mathew Nelson, DO North Shore University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Manhasset, New York Dorothy Shi, MD North Shore University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Manhasset, New York Miles Gordon, MD North Shore University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Manhasset, New York Yash Chavda, DO North Shore University Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, […]
We present two cases of patients with COVID-19 who had ultrasonographic findings of turbulent blood flow within the deep venous system, without clear evidence of acute proximal DVT, who were subsequently found to have significant VTE.
A 60-year-old female presented to the ED with normal vital signs and intermittent left-sided flank pain that radiated to her groin. She also had a history of obstructive nephrolithiasis. Within 20 minutes of arrival she became febrile (101.2°Fahrenheit), tachycardic (114 beats per minute), tachypneic (21 breaths per minute), and had a blood pressure of 114/82 millimeters mercury.
We present a case of intentional ingestion of a piece of plastic explosive in a military patient that resulted in tonic-clonic seizure and gastrointestinal illness. Although uncommon, such ingestions have been reported in military journals since the Vietnam War. Access to plastic explosives is generally limited to military personnel, and non-military medical providers may not be familiar with treatment of acute intoxication.
A 64-year-old male presented with seizures and persistent altered mental status. Computed tomography demonstrated findings consistent with bilateral ischemia. Cerebral angiography was performed with no thrombus identified but moyamoya disease present.
We present the first documentation of a metal phosphide exposure in Lebanon. A middle-aged woman presented to the emergency department following the ingestion of an unknown rodenticide. Spectroscopy analysis of the sample brought by the patient was used and helped identify zinc phosphide. The patient developed mild gastrointestinal symptoms and was admitted to the intensive care unit for observation without further complications.
A 22-year-old female presented with dental pain and difficulty swallowing that developed 48 hours after she underwent a dental extraction. The physical exam showed an uncomfortable, afebrile female with dysphonia, inability to tolerate secretions, and crepitus over the neck and anterior chest wall.
A 20-year-old man with a reported history of asthma presented to the emergency department in cardiac arrest presumed to be caused by respiratory failure.
A 37-year-old male with no past medical history presented to the emergency department (ED) with vague abdominal pain as well as 12 days of cyclical fever. He had no significant findings on laboratory workup with the exception of a mild aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase and relative neutrophilia between outpatient, urgent care, and ultimate ED visit.
We report a case of a fall associated with extraluminal PICC migration and perforation causing mediastinitis and severe sepsis after total parenteral nutrition (TPN) infusion in a 54-year-old woman. Our patient required a right-sided PICC for long-term home TPN due to severe malnutrition following gastric bypass surgery. During a routine home care visit our patient was found tachypneic, hypoxic, and short of breath.
This is a report of a patient presenting to the ED with ring avulsion injury after a workplace accident, initially transferred to a tertiary care hospital with general hand surgery, who then required a second transfer for consideration of microsurgical revascularization.
A 20-year-old otherwise healthy male, with a history of monorchism, presented to the emergency department with vague testicular pain. A POCUS was performed, which demonstrated attenuated arterial flow of the patient’s single testicle as well as twisting (“whirlpool sign”) of the spermatic cord, both highly specific ultrasonographic findings of testicular torsion.
In this case report, we present a 52-year-old male who was brought to the ED with complaints of chest pain and pressure after a motor vehicle collision. He was subsequently found to have both a displaced sternal fracture and simultaneous acute myocardial infarction with 100% occlusion of the mid left anterior descending artery without dissection requiring stent placement.
A 44-year-old female with well-controlled hypertension and asthma presented with chest tightness. An initial electrocardiogram yielded a normal corrected QT interval of 423 milliseconds (ms) (normal <480 ms in females). Albuterol was administered and induced agitation, tremulousness, and tachycardia.
We report a case of a 28-year-old male competitive weightlifter with a history of chronic anabolic steroid use who presented to the ED with acute left shoulder pain after weightlifting. History and physical exam were concerning for pectoralis major rupture, and POCUS confirmed the diagnosis.
We describe a 41-year-old male under house arrest with an electronic monitoring device on his right ankle who presented to our emergency department with several days of progressive pain and swelling over the medial malleolus. Point-of-care ultrasound revealed a thick-walled cystic structure consistent with medial malleolar bursitis. Bursal aspiration was performed. Fluid culture yielded Staphylococcus aureus.
