• Jace C Bradshaw, Jason Arthur, and Zachary B Lewis.
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Little Rock, Arkansas.
• J Emerg Med. 2021 Oct 1; 61 (4): e60-e63.

BackgroundAcute-onset, unilateral weakness is an alarming presentation due to the possibility of a cerebrovascular accident. When considering cerebrovascular accidents in patients younger than 35 years, emergency physicians should evaluate embolic sources.Case ReportA 28-year-old man with no reported past medical history presented to the Emergency Department with a complaint of acute-onset left-sided hemiparesis and facial droop that started a day prior to arrival. He was stable, had unilateral weakness, hyperreflexia, and slightly slurred speech. He reported no sensory deficits. A computed tomography scan of the head demonstrated areas of ischemia. Patient demographics suggested an embolic source, so point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) was performed by emergency practitioners, leading to the discovery of a large, mobile, left atrial mass. After admission and confirmatory imaging, the mass was surgically removed. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: In young, otherwise healthy individuals, heart masses should be considered as a cause of unexplained stroke-like symptoms. POCUS can identify these masses and expedite care.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

18 keywords...

hide…