A 24-year-old female presented to the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain after involvement as a restrained driver in a motor vehicle collision (MVC). Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a traumatic abdominal wall hernia due to rectus wall rupture with complete bowel herniation.
In this case presentation, an 84-year-old male with Fitzpatrick type IV skin tone experienced blistering due to bullous pemphigoid (BP), first on the distal upper left extremity and then on the distal lower extremities, chest, and back. These symptoms resulted in three visits to the emergency department within a month, as well as an episode of hospitalization. Despite treatment, the blistering did not resolve until future outpatient care with dermatology.
This case describes the classic imaging findings of pyolaryngocele and highlights the importance of prompt imaging for diagnosis of clinically occult airway lesions. The case also highlights how pyolaryngoceles can become large and present with acute-onset clinical symptoms, including stridor and dyspnea.
The diagnosis of ocular pathology by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been well established for entities such as retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, posterior vitreous detachment, and lens dislocation.
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However, the use of ultrasound to detect other conditions such as orbital abscess and endophthalmitis in the emergency setting is rarely reported.
Traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the limbs are rare, with few cases described in vascular literature. Treatment is variable and dependent upon presentation and impact on local anatomy affected. Rapid assessment can be performed with ultrasound and assist in treatment decisions. We describe a case of traumatic anterior tibial artery pseudoaneurysm, which was rapidly identified with point-of-care ultrasound leading to definitive surgical management.
Clonazolam is a designer benzodiazepine that can be purchased illicitly on the internet. The use of designer benzodiazepines is increasing in both the United States and abroad, and patients may present to the emergency department (ED) after intentional or non-intentional overdose.
Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) includes the disease processes of aortic dissection, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and intramural hematoma. This case demonstrates an atypical presentation of the disease and offers approaches to potentially prevent missed diagnoses.
Mycotic pseudoaneurysms are rare but severe sequelae of an arterial wall infection. If undiagnosed and untreated they can lead to significant morbidity and mortality through complications such as arterial rupture or dissection.
Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of blunt traumatic injury and is thought to be due to the Macklin effect, a pathophysiologic process comprised of three steps: alveolar rupture secondary to blunt injury; air dissecting along bronchovascular sheaths; and spread of pulmonary interstitial edema into the mediastinal space. Pneumomediastinum is rarely associated with pneumoretroperitoneum.
Sacral wounds are commonly seen in the emergency department and typically get diagnosed as a pressure ulcer of varying stage. However, other disease processes and infections can affect the sacrum.
Traumatic vertebral artery dissections resulting in stroke are relatively rare occurrences, especially in the absence of classic physical examination findings.
The inhaled anesthetic sevoflurane is an uncommon etiology of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). As DAH typically presents in the inpatient, postoperative setting, it has been infrequently reported in the anesthesiology literature and, to our knowledge, has not been reported in the emergency medicine literature to date.
The costoclavicular brachial plexus block (CCBPB) has emerged as a more effective approach to regional anesthesia of the upper extremity. The costoclavicular space is the anterior portion of the superior thoracic aperture, located between the clavicle and first rib. The brachial plexus cords traverse this space clustered together in a superficial location lateral to the axillary artery and share a consistent topographical relationship to one another. By targeting the brachial plexus at this specific anatomical location, the CCBPB offers a powerful, single-shot, sensorimotor block of the upper extremity below the shoulder. We present a novel application of the CCBPB to facilitate emergency department (ED) analgesia and closed reduction of an upper extremity fracture.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of myocardial infarction. Patients suffering SCAD are often young women without typical risk factors for atherosclerotic heart disease. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for SCAD.
We sought to describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features, and outcomes of a cohort of patients who presented to our emergency departments with mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) infection between May 1–August 1, 2022.
Being named as a defendant in a malpractice lawsuit is known to be a particularly high-stress and vulnerable time for a physician. Medical malpractice stress syndrome (MMSS) is a consequence of being named as a physician defendant in a malpractice lawsuit. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, and insomnia, which may lead to burnout, loss of confidence in clinical decision-making, substance abuse, strain on personal and professional relationships, and suicidal ideation. Although the legal process requires strict confidentiality regarding the specific details of the legal case, discussing the emotional impact of the case is not prohibited. Given that physicians often do not choose formalized therapy with a licensed professional, there is a recognized need to provide physicians with options to support their wellness during a lawsuit.
