Can J Emerg Med
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Case Reports
Priapism as the Presenting Complaint in Fatal Group A Streptococcal Induced Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
A 60-year-old male presented to an emergency department (ED) with priapism following a sore throat illness. He did not have typical findings of sepsis. ⋯ Autopsy showed group A streptococcal (GAS) sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and a septic thrombosis to the penile vein. This is the first known case of priapism being the presenting symptom of DIC.
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Post-cardiac arrest hypotension is associated with worse outcomes. However, a significant proportion of patients may not be responsive to intravenous (IV) fluids, and vasopressor infusions require significant time to initiate. This case series describes the successful use of a bolus dose of epinephrine to rapidly treat IV fluid refractory hypotension among three patients in the post-arrest period. A bolus dose of epinephrine may be considered as a treatment for post-arrest hypotension that does not respond to IV fluids, but further studies should be performed prior to routine use.
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The causes of high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) are well described in the literature. However, sometimes more frequent causes of HAGMA cannot explain its occurrence. In the case of HAGMA and severe neurological depression in the absence of other causes of HAGMA, clinicians should consider an intoxication with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) as a possible cause. ⋯ Synthetic GHB was initially used as an anesthetic but is now only licensed for medical use in a limited number of indications such as the treatment of narcolepsy. Because of its euphoric effects, it became popular for recreational use under the street names: Liquid Ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy, and Liquid G. We describe the clinical case of a patient who suffered from severe neurological depression and HAGMA.
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We describe the successful use and complications of bolus-dose alteplase to treat strongly suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) with cardiac arrest in a patient initially presenting as ST-elevation myocardial infarcation (MI). Case description is followed by a review of the indications, safety, and dosing of systemic thrombolytic therapy for high-risk PE in the emergency department (ED). Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to PE in critically ill patients is also considered, including the potential utility of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in the ED.