J Emerg Med
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Case Reports
Hemorrhagic Pericardial Cyst Diagnosis Accelerated by Emergency Physician Echocardiography: A Case Report.
The differential diagnosis for chest pain in the emergency department is broad and includes both benign and life-threatening conditions-with pericardial cyst as a rare example. Emergency physician-performed point-of-care focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) is increasingly recognized as a useful modality in the evaluation of patients with chest pain. ⋯ We report a case of hemorrhagic pericardial cyst in a young woman presenting with chest pain in which findings on FOCUS contradicted findings on chest x-ray study and thus, accelerated diagnosis and definitive treatment. We also comment on epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of this uncommon, potentially fatal cause of chest pain. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case report aims to bring an uncommon case to the attention of emergency providers and emphasize the importance of facility with FOCUS. Although definitive diagnosis and management were not accomplished at the bedside in this case, an abnormal finding on FOCUS prompted further investigation and timely treatment.
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Various complications are reported with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), including fulminant CDI. Fulminant CDI is an underappreciated life-threatening condition associated with complications such as toxic megacolon and bowel perforation. ⋯ A 79-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with altered mental status. She was admitted and conservatively treated for a left thalamic hemorrhage. While hospitalized, she developed watery diarrhea due to Clostridium difficile. Although metronidazole was initiated, she developed altered mental status and septic shock. Abdominal x-ray study and computed tomography revealed a significantly dilatated colon and a massive pneumoperitoneum. She underwent subtotal colectomy with a 14-day course of intravenous meropenem. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case suggests that we must be aware of the complications that CDI may present and adequately consider surgical management because early diagnosis and surgical treatment is critical to reduce the mortality of fulminant CDI.
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Rash is a common complaint in the emergency department. Many causes of rash are benign; however, some patients may have a life-threatening diagnosis. ⋯ Rashes can be divided into petechial/purpuric, erythematous, maculopapular, and vesiculobullous. After this differentiation, the presence of fever and systemic signs of illness should be assessed. Through the breakdown of rashes into these classes, emergency providers can ensure deadly conditions are considered.
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Choroid detachment is a rare disease process that has a multitude of etiologies; usually related to recent ophthalmological surgery, eye trauma, corneal ulcers, or intraocular pressure-lowering agents. Point-of-care ocular ultrasound has high utility and accuracy in diagnosing pathology of the eye. ⋯ We present a case of a patient who presented with vision loss caused by a choroid detachment diagnosed on point-of-care ultrasound because fundoscopic examination was limited due to cataracts. Ultrasound findings based on location and appearance during both static and dynamic evaluation that help differentiate a choroid vs. a retinal detachment are also described. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Choroid detachments have a different sonographic appearance, as well as management, compared to a retinal detachment.