Respiratory medicine case reports
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2020
Case ReportsNebulized fentanyl for refractory dyspnea secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A case report.
We present a case where we evaluated the effectiveness of nebulized fentanyl in the treatment of refractive dyspnea in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with major complications and comorbidities. Nebulized fentanyl was used to successfully decrease the subjective symptoms of refractory dyspnea in this given patient. Nebulized fentanyl appears to be a cost-effective treatment option in patients that experience episodes of severe shortness of breath (SOB).
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It mainly affects the lungs and common symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumothorax has been noted to complicate Covid-19 cases requiring hospital admission, however the exact incidence and risk factors are still unknown. ⋯ Our cases are a reminder that an acute deterioration with hypoxia in a Covid-19 patient could indicate a pneumothorax. Pneumothorax is one of the reported complications in Covid-19 and clinician vigilance is required during assessment of patients, as both share the common symptom of breathlessness and therefore can mimic each other.
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2020
Case ReportsA presentation of E-Cigarette vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) caused by THC-Containing electronic smoking device.
Several cases have recently been reported concerning the development of a syndrome of acute lung injury associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, leading to respiratory failure and several deaths. We present a case of a young veteran who presented with e-cigarette vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) to a primary care clinic and who required subsequent inpatient admission and home oxygen therapy after discharge. ⋯ This outpatient case of EVALI prompts primary care providers to raise suspicion of this condition, and enquire about the use of e-cigarettes, particularly THC-containing vaping products. Furthermore, in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, similar clinical and radiographic presentations between COVID-19 and EVALI can be seen.
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Respir Med Case Rep · Jan 2020
Case ReportsUpper airway obstruction in an adolescent: Can airway foreign bodies be missed without self-reporting?
Upper airway obstruction due to foreign body aspiration is rare in adolescents. Diagnosis of the same is difficult, and incorrect, delay of treatment is common in patients with no aspiration history. ⋯ However, this unnecessary surgical procedure was narrowly avoided because his symptoms resolved after he expelled the chewing gum from his airway. Despite being questioned several times about aspiration of any foreign bodies, he did not self-report the incident because he did not suspect that his symptoms were due to swallowing of the chewing gum.
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There are growing reports of adverse health effects from e-cigarette use or vaping. The U. ⋯ Vaping has been associated with acute eosinophilic pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, lipoid pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypersensitivity pneumonia, and giant cell interstitial pneumonitis. Here we present a case of vaping-associated diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.