The American journal of emergency medicine
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Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an inflammatory marker. Recent studies have shown that there is a negative correlation between platelet count (PC) and MPV and that the ratio of these two values may be more meaningful. The aim of our study was to investigate the diagnostic value of MPV and the MPV/PC ratio in acute appendicitis. ⋯ In our study, MPV and the MPV/PC ratio were not useful in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
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Case Reports
Unusual etiology of bilateral acute visual impairment: Optochiasmatic cavernoma haemorrhage.
Optochiasmatic cavernoma haemorrhage is unusual etiology of bilateral acute visual impairment. This vascular hamartoma is extremely rare with a prevalence rate of 0.4-0.9% of the general population. They are frequently revealed by an optochiasmal apoplexy. ⋯ So our attitude was to carry out a close follow-up. After one year the visual evolution was satisfactory, no clinical worsening has been noticed and the MRIs examinations showed the same aspect with the same size. The aim of this observation is to evoke the diagnosis of an optochiasmatic cavernoma haemorrhage in case of acute chiasmal compression syndrome within patients in the third and fourth decades.
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Simple bone cyst (SBC) also known as unicameral bone cyst is a benign, radiolucent bone lesion that is seen commonly in childhood. These lesions are usually found incidentally although pain and swelling can be seen. The most common complication is a pathological fracture, and this is often the cause of presentation. Here, we present a 22-year-old male with right lower quadrant pain due to SBC related pathological fracture of right iliac bone which is mimicking acute appendicitis.
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Refractory ventricular fibrillation with cardiac arrest caused by occlusion of the left main coronary artery may rapidly become fatal. In this report, we describe the case of a 70-year-old male who presented to emergency department with chest pain. Electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in leads aVR and aVL and ST-segment depression in leads v3, v4, v5, v6, 2, 3, and aVF. ⋯ Emergency coronary angiography showed almost total occlusion of the left main coronary artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention with a stent restored coronary perfusion. The patient was discharged on day 6 without serious sequelae or neurological deficits.
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Cranial polyneuropathy is commonly caused by Lyme disease. We discuss the case of a man who presented with cranial nerve deficits causing dysphagia, dysphonia and facial weakness. ⋯ On review, this phenomenon is rarely reported, but has been observed with a number of herpes family viruses. In emergency department settings, clinical suspicion should be raised for VZV infection even in the absence of rash in patients that present with multiple cranial nerve palsies.