The American journal of emergency medicine
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Adverse reactions to intravenous (IV) iodinated contrast media are classified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) Manual on Contrast Media as either allergic-like (ALR) or physiologic (PR). Premedication may be beneficial for patients who have prior documented mild or moderate ALR. We sought to perform a retrospective analysis of patients who received computed tomography (CT) imaging in our emergency department (ED) to establish whether listing of an iodinated contrast media allergy results in a delay in care, increases the use of non-contrast studies, and to quantify the incidence of listing iodinated contrast allergies which do not necessitate premedication. ⋯ A chart-documented iodinated contrast allergy resulted in a significant increase in time to obtain a contrast-enhanced CT study. This delay persisted among patients who did not meet ACR criteria for premedication. Appropriately deferring premedication could potentially reduce the ED length-of-stay by over 4 h for these patients.
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Case Reports
Case report of a phencyclidine false positive due to lamotrigine use with confirmatory testing.
Urine toxicology screens are useful in diagnosing patients who present with acute psychosis with a history of substance abuse. Being aware of potential false positive reactants is paramount in diagnostic accuracy. Currently, lamotrigine is not listed among common cross-reactants with phencyclidine (PCP). ⋯ There is little in the medical literature describing cross-reactivity of lamotrigine and PCP on urine drug screens. This can be especially difficult to deduce in a known drug abuser who presents psychotic and non-contributory in their work up.
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Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) is a rare condition characterized by a severely swollen, cyanotic, blue extremity due to a large proximal (iliofemoral) deep venous thrombosis extending into the collateral veins. Mortality in PCD ranges 20-40%. Due to severely compromised venous drainage, compartment pressures can rapidly increase 16-fold within 6 h, but rarely result in arterial compromise. ⋯ We present a case of a middle-aged woman with no prior history of deep venous thrombosis, with a blue swollen left leg in intractable severe pain unresponsive to 3 doses of hydromorphone. Her pain was successfully alleviated with IV Lidocaine. Patient was found to have phlegmasia cerulea dolens resulting in compartment syndrome of her left leg. Although the patient initially had no motor function, after catheter-directed thrombolysis and emergent thrombectomy, she regained her motor function and made a full recovery. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Phlegmasia cerulea dolens complicated by severe compartment syndrome is a rare entity. Prompt recognition and treatment are necessary to prevent irreversible limb ischemia and associated morbidity and mortality. IV Lidocaine may be considered as an option for analgesia for such patients.
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Case Reports
Acute pulmonary emboli following rebound phenomenon after Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir treatment for COVID-19.
The return of COVID-19 symptoms after Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Nm/R) treatment is being increasingly reported. Limited evidence suggests most cases of rebound symptoms are mild and do not require further intervention. ⋯ Our case highlights the need to evaluate known complications of SARS-CoV-2 including venous thromboembolism in patients reporting recurring symptoms. Further, cases of severe rebound phenomenon should continue to be reported by clinicians to better appreciate the use of the Nm/R during the Omicron wave and among vaccinated persons.
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Serotonin syndrome is a rare, frequently misdiagnosed, serious condition with high morbidity. ⋯ An understanding of serotonin syndrome can assist emergency clinicians in diagnosing and managing this disease.