BMJ case reports
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Necrotising skin and soft tissues infections are most commonly bacterial in origin. However, saprophytic fungi of the class Zygomycetes, family Mucoraceae, can cause highly aggressive infections (mucormycoses) mainly in immunocompromised patients. ⋯ This report describes a case of serious necrotising soft tissue infection caused by Mucor sp following primary fungal environmental wound contamination in a multiply injured patient. Despite undelayed diagnosis and proper treatment (surgical debridement and limb amputation, amphotericin B therapy) the patient presented a fatal outcome.
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An unusual case of penile incarceration in a 13-year-old boy is presented, with lessons to be learned for Accident and Emergency Department junior doctors in particular and for all in general. The presentation was misleading and the condition would have gone undiagnosed with fatal consequences without a team effort. The object used was a wedding ring in this case. ⋯ The need for development of necessary paediatric history taking and examination techniques among Emergency Department doctors and staff is highlighted. Recalling the basics, this case report emphasises the importance of thorough physical examination. With early diagnosis and treatment, lifelong disabilities can be prevented.
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This report concerns a case of torsades de pointes (TdP) associated with the concomitant administration of methadone and voriconazole in a patient with comorbid medical conditions. A 57-year-old man, with a medical history of human immunodeficiency virus, infective endocarditis, hepatitis C and orbital Aspergillus infection, was admitted to the intensive care unit following several episodes of TdP. The patient was being treated with methadone for opioid addiction and had started taking voriconazole 2 weeks prior for orbital Aspergillosis. ⋯ The pronounced inhibitory impact of voriconazole on methadone metabolism via the cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6 isoenzyme was identified as a probable cause of the arrhythmia. Voriconazole was subsequently temporarily withheld and the methadone dose was significantly reduced. The patient received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, did not experience additional episodes of TdP during hospitalisation, and was discharged from the hospital on day 13.
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Acute delirium is a commonly encountered problem in the intensive care unit (ICU), which has a myriad of causes and contributes to poor outcomes. We present the case of an alcoholic critically ill patient who developed prolonged acute ICU delirium wrongly diagnosed as sedation and alcohol withdrawal. Protracted vomiting, swallowing disorders and continuous aspirations prevented him from enteral feeding and discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. ⋯ After thiamine supplementation, his state improved but he was discharged only on day 32. Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute reversible neuropsychiatric emergency, which is falsely considered as uncommon, and is largely misdiagnosed, especially in critically ill patients. Thiamine should be systematically given to all critically ill alcoholic patients, especially those with protracted vomiting.
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A 15-year-old asymptomatic girl was found to have a large left lower chest wall mass associated with chest wall invasion on an opportunistic chest radiograph. The tumour was excised and shown to be a clear cell sarcoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered and she was disease free at her 10 month follow up.