Curēus
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Objective Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a common diagnostic tool used to evaluate diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). We sought to determine whether there is a difference between the composition of CSF sampled from an external ventricular drain (EVD) and lumbar drain (LD) and whether this made a difference in guiding therapeutic decisions. Patients and Methods This study was a retrospective analysis from a single neurosurgery service between the dates of January 2011 and April 2019. ⋯ There was no statistically significant correlation between RBCs (r = 0.276, p = 0.252). Conclusion Our results demonstrate a correlation between the cranial and spinal CSF samples, except for RBCs, with statistically significant differences in WBC, glucose, and protein values between the two sites. This confirms that sampling CSF via lumbar puncture, which carries less risk than a ventriculostomy and provides accurate data to help establish a diagnosis for intracranial pathologies.
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Case Reports
Clinical Reasoning: A 75-Year-Old Man With Dementia, Incontinence, and Gait Dysfunction.
Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by gait apraxia, cognitive decline, and urinary incontinence. It can be difficult to diagnose iNPH as the symptoms may overlap with other neurodegenerative diseases including cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a progressive degenerative disease in which compression of the cervical spinal cord causes gait disturbances and imbalance, loss of dexterity and strength in the hands, and, at late stages, urinary dysfunction. As with iNPH, increased age is associated with higher incidence and prevalence. ⋯ For patients with suspected iNPH and myelopathic findings on examination, it is prudent to obtain a cervical spine MRI to assess for cervical stenosis. Moreover, cervical stenosis can mask the effect of cerebrospinal fluid diversion in patients with comorbid iNPH and cervical myelopathy. Therefore, the differential for patients who have symptomology suggestive of iNPH should include cervical spine myelopathy, with considerations for possible cervical decompression in addition to placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
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The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with a large reduction in the number of attendances at emergency departments (EDs) in March 2020 in the United Kingdom (UK). We sought to identify which patient groups attended EDs least. ⋯ The reduction in ED attendances seen in the early phases of the UK pandemic occurred in all patient groups, but was greatest in the lower acuity patients. Reasons for this are complex and likely to be multifactorial.
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Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is a rare and frequently misdiagnosed lung disease. It occurs as an inflammatory reaction secondary to either aspiration or inhalation of lipids. Our patient had a history significant for recurrent pneumonia and the use of mineral oil for chronic constipation. ⋯ The diagnosis was confirmed with combined bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy that showed lipid-laden macrophages consistent with exogenous lipoid pneumonia. After thorough medication review, apart from mineral oil, no other contributing factors were found. A diagnosis of exogenous lipoid pneumonia associated with the use of mineral oil made and successfully managed by stopping the offending agent and supportive antibiotics.
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Case Reports
COVID-19 Presenting as Acute Bilateral Submassive Pulmonary Embolism in a Young Healthy Female.
Similar symptoms, signs, and laboratory abnormalities between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pulmonary embolism (PE) creates a diagnostic challenge to every physician, and emerging data show an association between COVID-19, hypercoagulable state, and venous thromboembolism. We present a rare case of COVID-19 presented as bilateral sub-massive PE. ⋯ Those two bedside tests directed the urgency of chest CT angiography that showed bilateral sub-massive PE. Since EKG finding of SI QIII TIII pattern and right ventricular strain, and ECHO finding of right ventricular dysfunction are well described in PE but not in COVID-19, these bedside diagnostic tools can help identify COVID-19 patients with underlining PEs.