Critical Care Commons^™

A Rare Case Of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy In An Elderly Lady During Hospital Stay, Himabindu Kolli, Ashika A. Chacko, Pooja Maknoor, Nazish Khan, Timothy Heath

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an acute, reversible form of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, most often triggered by a sudden physical, or less commonly emotional event. Here, we describe a patient who developed Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy during her hospital stay.

Case Description: 74-year-old Hispanic lady, a nursing home resident presented to the ED with altered mental status. She was admitted for septic shock due to UTI. Echocardiogram demonstrated normal systolic function, with 60-65% LV ejection fraction. After initiation of antibiotic therapy, she showed clinical improvement with resolution of shock.

On day 8 of hospitalization, patient became emotionally upset and her clinical …

Covid-19 As A Second Hit For Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome, Himabindu Kolli, Pooja Maknoor, Celin Rajan, Nevin Varghese

Research Colloquium

Background: Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by venous and arterial thrombosis, usually in setting of underlying autoimmune disorders. Here, we present a case of anti-phospholipid syndrome post covid infection.

Case Presentation: 41-year-old lady presented to the ER with complaints of left sided facial droop for 3-day duration. On further evaluation, she was found to have subacute ischemic stroke and was managed with anticoagulation and supportive treatment. Past medical history is significant for a recent diagnosis of Covid infection and for subsequent development of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). She was started on anticoagulation with rivaroxaban for …

Tenofovir Induced Hypokalaemia - A Case Report, Ankisha Gupta, Kiran P. K, Rajendra Prasad S

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Tenofovir, an important medication for HIV/AIDS, carries the risk of hypokalemia in patients receiving treatment. Factors such as dietary deficits, vomiting, or diarrhea further increase this risk. Tenofovir acts as a mitochondrial toxin by inhibiting the DNA polymerase gamma enzyme, crucial for mitochondrial DNA replication. Consequently, ATP generation is depleted through the aerobic pathway, leading to dysfunction in the proximal tubule. This dysfunction manifests as renal acidosis type 2, which involves reduced bicarbonate excretion by the proximal tubule, resulting in renal bicarbonate wasting and decreased serum bicarbonate levels. Consequently, the lumen of the distal nephron becomes negatively charged, leading to …

Characterization Of Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles Of Extensively- And Pan-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Clinical Isolates, Rachel Carr, Justin Halim, Rebecca Fliorent, Henry Fraimow, Dejan Nikolic, Valerie Carabetta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen common in intensive care units (ICUs), particularly among immunocompromised individuals. Nosocomial A. baumannii infections have become increasingly problematic in recent years, as these bacteria rapidly acquire antibiotic resistance, leading to the emergence of multidrug, extensively drug and pan drug-resistant (MDR, XDR, and PDR, respectively) isolates. Recently, Cooper University Hospital (CUH) experienced a large increase in highly drug-resistant A. baumannii infections, which had a mortality rate of 60%. Oftentimes, physicians had to turn to combinations of drugs with no experimental verification or historically shelved antibiotics, such as the polymyxins, in a desperate attempt to save …

Death Due To Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms (Dress) Syndrome: A Case Report, Samantha P. Sternad, Jane Pangburn, Chad Johnston, David Rowe

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a life-threatening, multi-organ adverse drug reaction with an incidence of 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10 000 highrisk drug exposures.

Case Presentation

An elderly female presented to the hospital with progressive weakness and a diffuse erythematous macular rash covering most of her body that started 3 days prior. Over the next 3 days, the patient quickly deteriorated, developing disorientation with acute onset left-sided weakness, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, liver and kidney failure, and hypoxia. Clinical and histological changes supported the diagnosis of DRESS syndrome caused by intravenous (IV) ampicillin …

Impact Of Risk Factors On The Evolution Of Severe Acute Pancreatitis, Andra Maria Trotea, Raluca Grigorescu, Dragos Serban, Radu Palade, Simona Balasescu, Cristian Mihai Branescu, Daniel Radu, Corneliu Tudor, Tiberiu Alexandru Trotea

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Introduction. Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is an acute inflammatory condition of the pancreas with increasing incidence and mortality rates in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age, comorbidities, and different scoring systems on the complications and outcomes of SAP. Materials and Methods. A retrospective study was conducted on 161 patients diagnosed and treated for SAP at the Bucharest University Hospital in the intensive care unit (ICU), in the period 2014-2021. The impact of risk factors for the development of SAP, occurrence of complications (respiratory, cardiac, etc.), length of hospital stays and mortality was …

Recurrent Cyanotic Spells In An Octogenarian, Chin Tong Kwok, Chun Kit Wong

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

We report rare case of an octogenarian who, after years of diagnostic delay, was found to have a patent foramen ovale, and due to an ascending aortic aneurysm that anatomically facilitated right-to-left shunt, presenting with life-threatening cyanotic attacks. The characteristic orthodeoxia-platypnea syndrome and high alveolar arterial gradient hint to the diagnosis. She was eventually treated successfully with urgent percutaneous PFO closure. Routine ordering of a transthoracic echocardiogram, without agitated saline injection under provocation maneuvers, may not be sufficient to rule out shunts.

Lungs Of A Chronic Smoker: The Case Of Heroin Induced Emphysema In A 35-Year-Old Male, Neil Gerts, George Ishak, Ian Joel, Jasprit Takher

Far West Division Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Modified Early Warning Scoring (Mews) Versus Epic Deterioration Index (Edi): Battle Royale For Which Has The Best Patient Outcomes In The Inpatient Setting, Dirk A. Church

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: The increased workload bedside nurses face today requires new tools to assist with the identification of deteriorating patients during hospitalization. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) tool has formed the background of early warning tools. Newer, more complex tools, like Epic’s Deterioration Index (EDI), have been developed to identify patient deterioration earlier. There is lack of evidence in the literature comparing different early warning tools, implementation, and patient outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine models for EWS notification for RRT and patient outcomes between the use of the MEWS and EDI in an adult, …

Improving Use Of A Standardized Medical Icu Order Set, Ernesto Munoz-Pena, Sesha Sai Kanakamedala, Ramzy Daoud, Suhail Saad-Omer, Aarushi Varshney, Tristan Tanner, Alexander Kong, Joshua Shultz, Ashwini Komarla

North Florida Division Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Where’S Adam? Successful Treatment Of Covid-19 Vaccine-Related Refractory Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Christopher Fontela, Alfredo Toll, Jose Fernandez, Gabriel Barciela-Perez, Jorge Diaz, Greisy Curbelo-Sesin, Ilde Manuel Lee, Jose Gascon

East Florida Research Day 2023

A 54-year-old man with a medical history notable for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with altered mental status. Initial assessment revealed altered consciousness, aphasia, and diffuse generalized petechiae. Having recently migrated from Colombia, he had received four doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with the last dose administered one month prior to presentation. Laboratory results indicated severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count: 3), microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, acute myocardial, liver, and kidney injury, prompting a presumptive diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Confirmation was achieved through an ADAMTS13 level of less than 2 percent. Despite initiating high-dose solumedrol and emergent plasmapheresis, …

Atraumatic Splenic Rupture: An Unaccustomed Complication Of H. Parainfluenzae Endocarditis, Daniel P. High, Jose M. Acosta-Rullan, Danay Herrera, Mauricio Danckers

East Florida Research Day 2023

No abstract available.

Cannabis Consumption And The Emergence Of Giant Lung Bullae: A Case Report And Clinical Analysis, Rafael Miret, Jose Rodriguez Castro, Armando Cabrera, Mauricio Danckers, Raiko Diaz, Nikhil Bhardwaj

East Florida Research Day 2023

Please see supplemental content for full abstract with figures and references.

Introduction: Vanishing Lung Syndrome (VLS), also known as idiopathic giant bullous emphysema, is a rare pulmonary condition characterized by the development of large, thin-walled bullae within the lung parenchyma. While the exact etiology of VLS remains unclear, there is growing interest in exploring a potential association between VLS and cannabis use. This case report aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by presenting a case of VLS in a patient with a history of chronic cannabis consumption in prior years.

Clinical Presentation: A 44-year-old former smoker male …