{"title":"Cannabis-Induced Third-Degree AV Block","authors":"J. V. Van Keer","doi":"10.1155/2019/5037356","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5037356","url":null,"abstract":"Background Cannabis (marijuana) is the most widely consumed illicit drug in Europe. However, many are unaware of its potential cardiovascular side effects. Case Report A 19-year-old man presented to the emergency department with palpitations and presyncope after smoking cannabis. A third-degree atrioventricular block (complete heart block) was diagnosed. We believe cannabis exposure to have been the likely cause. Extensive work-up—including Borrelia and auto-immune serology, CT coronary angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrophysiological study—was negative. The patient was initially treated with IV isoprenaline. Within one day, the bradycardia spontaneously resolved. The patient was advised to quit using cannabis. No further therapy was initiated. We discuss the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and evidence from the literature linking cannabis exposure to bradycardia. Conclusion We describe a case of third-degree atrioventricular block after cannabis use. Emergency physicians should be aware of the potential cardiovascular side effects of this drug.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72680421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Rare Presentation of a Rare Entity: Wellens Syndrome with Subtle Terminal T Wave Changes","authors":"Mohammed J. Arisha, A. Hallak, Ahmad Khan","doi":"10.1155/2019/1582030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1582030","url":null,"abstract":"Wellens syndrome is an electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern involving T waves in precordial leads that was first described in 1982 among a group of patients presenting with unstable angina suggestive of critical stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary. It is crucial for emergency physicians and internists to be able to recognize these patterns, as they occur in the symptom-free periods and represent a pre-infarction state that needs early intervention. Type A, which is characterized by biphasic T waves, mainly in V2 and V3, poses a significant challenge to recognize the pattern, and failure to do so can lead to devastating outcome. We report a case of type A Wellens syndrome with subtle T wave changes that went unnoticed during the initial assessment and led to start off on a wrong foot.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80785354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Curious Case of the Persistent Body Stuffer","authors":"Muhammad Durrani, Carla Dugas, Samaresh Dasgupta","doi":"10.1155/2019/3948054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3948054","url":null,"abstract":"A 29-year-old male presented to our emergency department with complaint of abdominal pain after allegedly ingesting a 4-gram packet of heroin in an attempt to evade detection. Initial evaluation including computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen/pelvis with intravenous and oral contrast, as well as laboratory workup was negative and the patient was discharged. The patient returned 3 days later with complaint of “I feel high” and severe constipation, and demonstrated an opiate toxidrome requiring naloxone with improvement of symptoms. A repeat CT of the abdomen/pelvis, this time without contrast revealed a 2.1 × 1.8 cm foreign body in the gastric antrum. The patient was promptly taken to endoscopy with surgical backup. Foreign body removal included multiple plastic bags encasing heroin, which had sustained a small leak causing a gastric outlet obstruction as well as a slow opiate toxidrome. The foreign body was removed and the patient was observed and discharged with a favorable outcome.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87805947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emphysematous Pyelonephritis Presenting as Pneumaturia and the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department","authors":"N. Brown, P. Petersen, D. Kinas, M. Newberry","doi":"10.1155/2019/6903193","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6903193","url":null,"abstract":"Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare form of pyelonephritis causing a severe infection of the renal system that includes gas in the renal parenchyma, collecting system and surrounding tissue often presenting with sepsis. We report the case of a 60-year-old male with poorly controlled insulin dependent diabetes mellitus who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and “peeing air.” CT scan revealed air extending from the left renal parenchyma, perinephric fat and into the bladder, consistent with emphysematous pyelonephritis. Bedside point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) subsequently revealed dirty shadowing and reverberation artifacts in the left kidney and the bladder consistent with gas in the urinary collecting system. By understanding the identifying artifacts seen with EPN, reflective shadow and reverberation artifact, the emergency physician may be alerted to the diagnosis sooner. Often this illness presents similarly to simple, acute pyelonephritis or undifferentiated sepsis. Therefore, POCUS allows for real time consideration of this condition while in the emergency department and thus prompter time to treatment.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90677242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdulaziz Alrabiah, Abdulmalik Alshamrani, Afnan A AlMass
{"title":"Cardiac Arrest due to Butane Gas Inhalation in an 18 Years Old Boy","authors":"Abdulaziz Alrabiah, Abdulmalik Alshamrani, Afnan A AlMass","doi":"10.1155/2019/2461346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2461346","url":null,"abstract":"An 18-year-old male smoker inhaled butane gas out of a pocket lighter with his friend for the purpose of changing his voice. He suddenly collapsed and lost his consciousness. Upon arrival to the Emergency Department, he was found pulseless with a rhythm of ventricular fibrillation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated according to the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocol for three cycles until return of spontaneous circulation archived. After extubation, the patient was ataxic and had significant memory loss and severe confusion. Days later he improved and was discharged with walking aid for his ataxia and a plan to followup with the neurology team for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and electroencephalogram (EEG) as an outpatient.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76959198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Management of Trazodone Overdose with Severe Hypotension","authors":"L. Camacho, Jack Stearns, Richard Amini","doi":"10.1155/2019/2470592","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2470592","url":null,"abstract":"Trazodone is a medication that possesses antidepressant, anxiolytic, and hypnotic properties. Its mechanism of action includes blockade of serotonin type 2 receptors, weak inhibition of serotonin reuptake, blockade of histamine 1 receptors, and blockade of alpha-1-adrenergic receptors. We present a case of intentional ingestion of an estimated 2500 mg of trazodone leading to persistent hypotension, requiring aggressive fluid resuscitation, pressor support, and intensive care unit admission. Complications associated with trazodone overdoses are significant and clinicians should be aware of the associated symptoms and necessary management plans necessary for such ingestions.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81924785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammed Sidayne, Adnane Lahlou, S. Benlamkaddem, M. Berdai, M. Harandou
{"title":"Status Epilepticus Caused by an Herbicide Poisoning","authors":"Mohammed Sidayne, Adnane Lahlou, S. Benlamkaddem, M. Berdai, M. Harandou","doi":"10.1155/2019/3014138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3014138","url":null,"abstract":"Triclopyr is a pyridine derivative, widely used as an herbicide. It controls plant growth by interfering with plant growth hormones, auxins. It should have few effects in humans as these are nonexistent in mammals. It can prove however very severe in cases of acute poisoning.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88086781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Saki Hasegawa-Tamba, Keiki Sugi, Yodo Gatate, Kanako Sugiyama, T. Muramatsu, S. Nishimura, M. Yasuda, K. Fukushima, Shintaro Nakano
{"title":"Successful Bridge-to-Recovery Treatment in a Young Patient with Fulminant Eosinophilic Myocarditis: Roles of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device and Endomyocardial Biopsy","authors":"Saki Hasegawa-Tamba, Keiki Sugi, Yodo Gatate, Kanako Sugiyama, T. Muramatsu, S. Nishimura, M. Yasuda, K. Fukushima, Shintaro Nakano","doi":"10.1155/2019/8236735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8236735","url":null,"abstract":"Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare condition characterized by myocardial eosinophilic infiltration due to various underlying etiologies. The patient with EM may benefit from appropriate use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) that acts as a bridge to myocardial recovery in response to effective immunosuppressive therapy. A 16-year-old boy presented with cardiogenic shock due to fulminant myocarditis, for which a percutaneous ventricular assist device (PVAD) was immediately inserted. Based on the histological diagnosis of EM, immunosuppressive therapy was immediately commenced, leading to improvement of left-ventricular ejection fraction (27% to 47%). The PVAD was successfully removed on day 7. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and dual-tracer myocardial scintigraphy suggested limited extent of irreversible myocardial damage. For fulminant EM, the short-term use of PVAD, together with immunosuppressive therapy guided by an immediate histological investigation, may be an effective bridging strategy to myocardial recovery.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88757619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Andersen, F. de Paoli, Rikke Mærkedahl, S. Jepsen, K. Dalgaard, Thomas Falstie, Gustav Gerstrøm
{"title":"A Case of an Advanced Chain of Survival in Penetrating Cardiac Injury","authors":"M. Andersen, F. de Paoli, Rikke Mærkedahl, S. Jepsen, K. Dalgaard, Thomas Falstie, Gustav Gerstrøm","doi":"10.1155/2019/2895439","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2895439","url":null,"abstract":"The survival rate of penetrating cardiac trauma is dismal, with only a few patients reaching the hospital with any signs of life. Short transport time and close proximity to the trauma center are positive factors for survival. We report the successful case of a 21-year-old male with penetrating cardiac injury and tension-pneumothorax with long distance to a trauma facility. The patient was stabbed twice in the anterior left side of the thorax. The emergency services found the patient with suspicion of left tension-pneumothorax. Urgent left mini-thoracotomy was established resulting in spontaneous respiration and clinical improvement. Due to rapid clinical deterioration and clinical suspicion of pericardial tamponade, patient was transported to the local regional hospital only minutes away. Echocardiography confirmed tamponade, and urgent ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis was performed. During the transport blood was intermittently drained from the pericardial sack until arrival at the trauma center where a penetrating injury to the left ventricle was repaired during urgent cardiac surgery. The patient was discharged 8 days after the incident. Conclusion. Well organized emergency medical transport systems increase the chance of survival in penetrating cardiac injuries. Urgent pericardiocentesis with continuous drainage can help stabilize a patient until arrival at trauma facility.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"109 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80719591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yukino Ariyoshi, H. Naito, T. Yumoto, Atsuyoshi Iida, Hirotsugu Yamamoto, N. Fujisaki, T. Aokage, K. Tsukahara, Taihei Yamada, Y. Mandai, T. Osako, A. Nakao
{"title":"Orbital Emphysema as a Consequence of Forceful Nose-Blowing: Report of a Case","authors":"Yukino Ariyoshi, H. Naito, T. Yumoto, Atsuyoshi Iida, Hirotsugu Yamamoto, N. Fujisaki, T. Aokage, K. Tsukahara, Taihei Yamada, Y. Mandai, T. Osako, A. Nakao","doi":"10.1155/2019/4383086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4383086","url":null,"abstract":"Orbital emphysema occurs when air enters the soft tissue surrounding the orbit. Although orbital blowout fractures are often caused by face trauma, nontraumatic orbital fractures can also occur but have been rarely described. Here, a case of orbital and palpebral emphysema caused by forceful nose-blowing is presented. Examination uncovered gross swelling of the right eye and discernable subcutaneous emphysema. The patient had normal eye movement and visual acuity. Orbital computed tomography (CT) revealed orbital emphysema secondary to an orbit floor fracture into the maxillary sinus, resulting from high intranasal pressure upon blowing her nose. The patient received conservative management with antibiotics and was given instructions not to sneeze or blow her nose. She fully recovered and all her symptoms completely resolved.","PeriodicalId":9624,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Emergency Medicine","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90196223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}