Can J Emerg Med
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Electrocardiographic changes resulting from apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may mimic an acute coronary syndrome. A 67-year-old Sudanese male without cardiac risk factors presented to hospital with chest pain and electrocardiographic findings of septal ST-segment elevation, ST-segment depression in V4-V6, and diffuse T-wave inversion. He was treated as an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction with thrombolytics. ⋯ Ventriculography, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were consistent with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The patient was discharged three days later with outpatient cardiology follow-up. We highlight the clinical and electrocardiographic findings of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with an emphasis on distinguishing this from acute myocardial infarction.
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ABSTRACTSustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) can result in hypoperfusion or devolve into more dangerous rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation. In an unstable patient with VT and a pulse, synchronized cardioversion is the first-line treatment. ⋯ Here we describe a case of double sequential synchronized cardioversion of a patient with unstable VT refractory to standard direct current cardioversion, resulting in a rapid conversion to sinus rhythm and return to hemodynamic stability. The benefit of this technique is that it may obviate the need for rapid infusion of medications, such as amiodarone, in the acute setting that may worsen hypotension in the already unstable patient.
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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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Clinical questionDoes the analgesic effect of intravenous ketorolac differ if given in doses of 10, 15, or 30 mg to patients presenting to the emergency department with acute pain?Article chosenMotov S, Yasavolian M, Likourezos A, et al. Comparison of intravenous ketorolac at three single-dose regimens for treating acute pain in the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med 2017;70(2):177-84.
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Case Reports
Intentional overdose of liraglutide in a non-diabetic patient causing severe hypoglycemia.
ABSTRACTCases of liraglutide overdose are rare in the literature. Prior reports have not found hypoglycemia related to the medication overdose. We describe a case of a non-diabetic patient who intentionally overdosed on liraglutide leading to severe hypoglycemia. ⋯ Glucagon-like protein-1 agonists are recognized for their safety and rarely causing hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. However, in this case the patient's non-diabetic status may have put him at risk for hypoglycemia in contrast to prior cases showing no hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. The case highlights the possible dangers of liraglutide overdose and need for blood glucose monitoring in the acute presentation.