Semergen
-
The Takotsubo syndrome, also called transient apical dyskinesia syndrome, was first described in Japan in the 1990s. It is a rare entity found in almost 1% of all patients with suspicion of acute coronary syndrome. It usually affects postmenopausal women with a few cardiovascular risk factors. ⋯ Unlike acute coronary syndrome, patients with left ventricle dysfunction do not have atherothrombotic disease in the coronary arteries. In addition, the alterations described are reversible. Some clinical diagnostic criteria have been proposed, although they are still controversial, as well as in the complementary examinations required for diagnosis.
-
Abdominal aortic aneurysm has a population prevalence of 2-5% and mortality in case of rupture of 80%. Up to 91% of cases is accompanied with low back pain, so it is important to include aortic aneurysm in the differential diagnosis of chronic low back pain. Low back pain is one of the most frequent reasons for consultions in Services Emergency Hospital Emergency and Primary Care Services, with an estimated 80% of population having spinal pain at some point in their lives, with 90% of them having a benign course.
-
To evaluate the lipid profile of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome in Toledo (Spain) between 2005 and 2008. ⋯ While most patients admitted with first episode of acute coronary syndrome to the Toledo Health Area have a lipid profile according to current guidelines, only 10% of those with recurrent acute coronary syndrome presented optimal LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels, which suggest the need to be more aggressive in the lipids control.
-
Raynaud's phenomenon is a clinical disease characterized by episodic attacks of vasoconstriction of the arteries and arterioles of the extremities such as fingers and toes, sometimes the ears and nose, in response to cold or emotional stimuli. A classic attack is the pallor of the distal extremity, followed by cyanosis and redness, accompanied by paresthesia, usually as heat. When it occurs without apparent cause is called primary Raynaud's phenomenon. ⋯ The secondary table is associated with increased frequency of rheumatic diseases of collagen. They can also present certain drugs that cause vasoconstriction, such as ergotamine, beta-adrenergic antagonists, contraception and sympathomimetic drugs. Regarding the latter, we present a case of Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to methylphenidate in a 14 years.
-
Pulmonary infarction is a parenchymal ischemic lesion that occurs in the context of a pulmonary embolism when arterial blockage deprives perfusion to that area and the adjacent bronchial circulation does not provide the necessary flow. It appears in approximately 40% of pulmonary embolisms. Emergency Physicians are able to diagnose a pulmonary infraction at the patient bedside, in a quick, easy, safe and efficient way with the availability of ultrasound in our Emergency Rooms and Health Centres. The possibility of approaching the aetiology, firstly with a clinical suspicion then adding risk factors, symptoms, clinical and radiological signs and the use of in situ imaging, increases the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis.