Southern medical journal
-
Southern medical journal · Sep 1999
Case ReportsAir embolism after intravenous injection of contrast material.
Venous air embolism, though considered rare, occurs more frequently than it is recognized. We report the case of a 54-year-old man who was incidentally found to have air in the left brachiocephalic vein and right ventricle after contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). ⋯ Because these emboli are small to moderate size and are usually venous, the patients are usually asymptomatic. We review the pathophysiology of air embolization and the recommended treatment.
-
Mammalian bite wounds are commonly encountered in the emergency department. When patients come early (<8 hours after injury), local infection is not usually evident. At this stage, the issue of providing prophylactic antibiotic therapy arises. ⋯ This patient did not seek medical treatment immediately after the cat bite, and distinct local infection did not develop. Nevertheless, his course was complicated with acute Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. We discuss the common pathogens involved in a cat bite infection, including S aureus, and delineate the indications for prophylactic antibiotic therapy after a mammalian bite wound.