Natl Med J India
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Observational Study
Clinical profile of patients and sensitivity of troponin I in patients with and without acute coronary syndrome: An observational study.
Background Various clinical conditions can cause troponin elevation in the absence of myocardial ischaemia. Elevated troponin represents the likely occurrence of myocardial necrosis and does not itself provide any indication of the aetiology. Identifying the cause for troponin elevation and its sensitivity and specificity in predicting acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cardiac mortality is an important step in determining the optimal management for these patients. ⋯ Conclusion A variety of conditions apart from myocardial infarction can lead to elevated TnI. Hence, caution should be exercised while diagnosing a patient with ACS based on TnI value in the absence of other supporting evidence given its low specificity. Elevated TnI portends a worse prognosis regardless of the aetiology and has a role in predicting all-cause and cardiac mortality.
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A lobar re-expansion pulmonary oedema (REPO) after pleural drainage procedure is rare and usually asymptomatic. We report a 56-year-old man with severe left lower lobar REPO after tube thoracostomy drainage of a loculated hydro-pneumothorax of 2 days' duration with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ⋯ The severity of lobar REPO was probably related to the pre-existing emphysematous changes and airway obstruction. Supplemental oxygen and intermittent pleural drainage led to clinical recovery within 24 hours, followed by radiological clearance of alveolar opacities within 3 days.
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Background Fundus examination is an integral part of the clinical evaluation of patients with medical emergencies. It is done at the bedside using a portable direct ophthalmoscope. Smartphone fundus photography (SFP) is a novel technique of retinal imaging. ⋯ Papilloedema (21.4%), haemorrhages (20%) and Roth spots (12.5%) were most common. DO missed early papilloedema and findings in the peripheral retina. Conclusions SFP is as effective as DO, in detecting retinal findings in patients with medical emergencies and can be performed at the bedside by the physician.