Cardiovascular Diseases Commons^™

Cardiovascular Risk Factors In The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population, Christian C. Iannuzzelli, Andrea L. Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The population of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have multiple risks and barriers that may make access to proper health care more difficult. After extensive research, some of these barriers may have been identified that pose greater risks to generating proper care for those with ASD. Some of these barriers include medical complexity, more sedentary lifestyles, poor food choices, as well as health comorbities. Some of these health comorbidities include hypertension, metabolic dysfunction, sleep apnea, and inflammation. This study aims to understand what barriers and risks for CVD are present in those with ASD.

Exploring Mindfulness Meditation In Managing Elevated Blood Pressure And Heart Rate In Debilitating Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Han Jie Liu, Krish Patel, Zachary Coren, Youssef Daoud, Zeshan Fahim, Shikhar Rastogi, Justin Le, Avinash Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, with elevated blood pressure (BP) significantly contributing to its progression. Mindfulness meditation has emerged as a high-value preventative care strategy for managing BP and heart rate (HR); however, its specific effects on managing BP and HR in individuals with debilitating CVD remain poorly understood. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in this population. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we employed a tailored Boolean string to search PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane …

Chemical Exposures In Utero: Phthalates And Congenital Heart Defects, Demi Poulathas

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect. Approximately 80% of CHDs have unknown causes, and phthalates may play a contributing role. Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental chemicals used as plasticizers in a wide range of products, including cosmetics and electronic devices. After entering the body, phthalates bind to the progesterone receptor, which is necessary for fetal development. While multiple studies have explored environmental factors in CHD development, few have examined the effects of phthalates on CHDs in humans. Methods: A literature review was conducted to investigate the relationship between parental occupational phthalate exposure and the …

Analysis Of Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, And Cholesterol Screening Results Collected During Street Outreach Events In Atlantic County, New Jersey, As Part Of A Mobile Community Health Worker Program To Identify Residents At High Risk For Severe Covid-19, Kenneth W. Stagliano, Richard T. Jermyn, Alexander E. Abbott, Donato F. Tassoni, Amy Palen, Frank Carozza, Nicole M. Miller

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: This study seeks to evaluate the status of random blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screening results in Atlantic County, NJ. This study also aims to identify the rates of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension within the target population, and potential differences between surveyed age demographics.

Methods: Medical students participating in the COVID-19 CHW Service Corps collected blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screenings at multiple screening events in Atlantic County, NJ during a two-year period. This data was analyzed retrospectively using ANOVA, non-parametric Kruskal Walis Test, and Tukey's pairwise comparisons.

Results: Senior adults had significantly higher SBP than …

Case Report: Ruptured Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Jenna Rapone

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency with high mortality rates. We report a case of a 79-year-old male with no reported past medical history but a significant lifelong smoking history who presented to the emergency department with generalized weakness, lower abdominal pain, hypotension, tachycardia, and a reported syncopal episode. Emergency medical services (EMS) found the patient at home during a welfare check, appearing pale and weak. Upon movement from his bed to a stretcher, he experienced a syncopal episode, became tachycardic, and was transiently hypoxic. Initial laboratory studies revealed a hemoglobin of 13 g/dL, hematocrit …

Out Of The Blue: A Case Of Acute Limb Ischemia In A Healthy Young Woman, Julian Coz, Melanie Angelo

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is a critical condition caused by arterial occlusion, often due to thrombotic or embolic events in atherosclerotic vessels. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to prevent limb loss and complications. While typically seen in patients with known vascular risk factors, ALI can also affect individuals without them.

We present a case of a 49-year-old female with sudden-onset left foot pain and paresthesia, highlighting the importance of recognizing ALI in seemingly healthy patients. Despite the absence of typical risk factors, imaging revealed significant atherosclerosis and arterial occlusion, leading to the diagnosis of ALI. This case emphasizes the …

Case Report: Spontaneous Aortic Dissection In A 63-Year Old Male Presenting As Left Abdominal, Flank And Back Pain, Dean Austin Esma

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition in which the inner walls of the aorta tears, compromising its ability to supply blood to organs. The classic presentation involves sudden, severe, “tearing” chest pain, but subtle presentations are often overlooked as symptoms of another condition, leading to missed diagnoses. This report presents a case of spontaneous aortic dissection who presented with sudden onset of left upper abdominal pain, left flank and upper back pain while brushing his teeth.

Tricyclic Antidepressant (Tca) Overdose Causing Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: A Case Report, Md Fateha, Jose Aragon, Joan Wiley

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose is an uncommon complication that results from excessive administration of TCAs. Signs and symptoms include bradycardia, fever, dry mouth, and altered mental status. Patients can develop cardiac arrhythmia and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, which can be fatal. This case report details a 65-year-old female who experienced a suspected TCA overdose as a suicide attempt. She had a history of depression and a previous suicide attempt. The patient was unresponsive with declining oxygen saturation, necessitating emergent intubation. Important lab findings included a decreased partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (P/F ratio) and prolonged QRS …

Physical Activity Measurement Reactivity Among Midlife Adults With Elevated Risk For Cardiovascular Disease: Protocol For Coordinated Analyses Across Six Studies., Kiri Baga, Gabrielle M Salvatore, Iris Bercovitz, Amanda L Folk, Ria Singh, Laura M König, Meghan L Butryn, Jacqueline A Mogle, Danielle Arigo

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and adults aged 40-60 years with specific health conditions are at particularly elevated risk for developing CVD. Physical activity (PA) is a key cardioprotective behavior and many interventions exist to promote PA in this group. Effective promotion requires accurate assessment of PA behavior; as PA is often estimated by averaging across multiple days, a threat to accurate assessment is measurement reactivity, or an atypical increase in PA behavior at the start of measurement periods that may bias conclusions. Evidence for PA measurement reactivity is equivocal, though …

Canary In The Carpal Tunnel: A Pilot Study Of The Value Of The Screening For Amyloidosis In Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trevor Ruesch, Nevil Khurana, Logan Hansen Md, Katiya Barkho, Julia Malewicz, Charles Day Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction/Purpose:

Transthyretin amyloidosis occurs in two forms, hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR), and wild-type ATTR (wtATTR)². Amyloidosis can result in restrictive cardiomyopathy presenting as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)⁴. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that amyloidosis may be underdiagnosed and can be caught earlier in the disease course⁵. The proteins causing amyloidosis can also deposit into various tissues including the carpal tunnel leading to carpal tunnel syndrome ².

In this pilot study, we propose that early detection of amyloid via a biopsy of the transverse carpal ligament or tenosynovium in the …

Meta-Analysis On Sex Differences In Mortality And Neurodevelopment In Congenital Heart Defects, Alyssa K Crain, Zhia N Lim, Chloe J Sarfatis, Magela Arias, Travis Holder, Alvaro G Moreira, Antonio F Corno, Tina O Findley

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Given the increasing survival rates among congenital heart disease (CHD) patients and the growing emphasis on their quality of life, there is a need to comprehensively assess the impact of surgical interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes. With increasing awareness in sex-related disparities in CHD, there is a need to explore potential differences in surgical mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes between male and female patients. In this systematic review, we adhered to PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registration (#CRD42021225610). Articles published from 2015 to 2021 were searched using MeSH descriptors in three major databases (MEDLINE Ovid, Elsevier Embase, and Cochrane Library). Study selection criteria …

The Prevalence And Impact Of Extrarenal Involvement In Fibromuscular Dysplasia: A Systematic Review, Alyssa L. Sepulveda, Yolanda V. Gutierrez, Ronald A. Shaju

Research Symposium

Background: Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) is a non-inflammatory vascular disease affecting medium-sized arteries, characterized by arterial stenosis, dissection, or aneurysm formation. While renal arteries are most involved, extrarenal manifestations, particularly in the carotid and vertebral arteries, are increasingly recognized. These non-renal presentations can lead to complications such as dissection, aneurysm, and ischemic events, influencing diagnosis and management strategies. This systematic review evaluates the prevalence and clinical impact of extrarenal FMD, with a focus on its role in patient outcomes and treatment.

Methods: A systematic review of PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane was conducted to identify studies published from 2000 to 2025. …

Impact Of Voluntary Exercise On Systemic Inflammation In A 2? Hit Model Of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction., Heather Quiriarte, Eunhan Cho, Youyoung Kim, Jake E. Doiron, Gregory Davis, James Stampley, Robert C. Noland, Zhen Li, Sanjiv J. Shah, Brian A. Irving, Guillaume Spielmann, David J. Lefer, Timothy D. Allerton

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Development And Validation Of Risk Stratification For Heart Failure After Acute Coronary Syndrome Based On Dynamic S100a8/A9 Levels, Jie Ma, Ke Ma, Jing Chen, Xinying Yang, Fei Gao, Hai Gao, Hui Zhang, Xin-Liang Ma, Jie Du, Ping Li, Yulin Li

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The early assessment of heart failure (HF) risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can help reduce mortality. S100A8/A9 is not only rapidly released after myocardial ischemia, but is also involved in reperfusion injury, which is an important predictor of HF after ACS. We attempted to construct a reliable HF risk stratification tool for evaluating patients with ACS after reperfusion therapy based on S100A8/A9 dynamic changes.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective study included 3 independent cohorts of patients with ACS who received reperfusion therapy. The discovery cohort was divided into 2 subgroups: the longitudinal subgroup (n=264) with serum …

Comparative Outcomes Of Endovascular Vs. Surgical Treatment In Craniocervical Junction Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Basel Musmar, Joanna Roy, Atakan Orscelik, Sravanthi Koduri, Spyridon Karadimas, Saman Sizdahkhani, Elias Atallah, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Gooch, Hekmat Zarzour, Ritam Ghosh, Richard Schmidt, Robert Rosenwasser, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Craniocervical junction dural arteriovenous fistulas (CCJ-DAVFs) are rare and complex vascular malformations that are challenging to diagnose and treat. This study aims to compare surgical and endovascular treatments for CCJ-DAVFs through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to July 2024.

RESULTS: Fifteen studies involving 266 patients were included. Of these, 143 (53.8 %) patients underwent surgical treatment alone and 123 (46.2 %) underwent endovascular treatment alone. In the surgical group, the complete obliteration rate at last …

Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Risk After Catheter Ablation In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Pongprueth Rujirachun, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, Svita Taveeamornrat, Patompong Ungprasert, Nithi Tokavanich, Krit Jongnarangsin

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: The association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) is well-established. However, data on the impact of RA on AF recurrence postcatheter ablation (CA) remain unclear. This current study aimed to assess the impact of RA on AF recurrence after catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation.

METHODS: Potentially eligible studies were identified from Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to December 20, 2023. Eligible study must consist of two cohorts of patients with and without RA who underwent catheter ablation for AF. Pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI were calculated using Dersimonian and Laird's random-effect, …

Is There An Association Between Living In A Rural Area And The Incidence Of Postoperative Complications Or Hospital Readmissions Following Left Ventricular Assist Device (Lvad) Implantation, Compared To Urban Lvad Recipients? A Systematic Review., Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Sri Banala, Sheraj Singh, Kiran Tadi

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are utilized as a therapeutic option for patients with end-stage heart failure. While LVAD implantation can enhance survival rates and quality of life, the procedure has its risks, and postoperative complications are common. This review aims to investigate whether there is an association between living in a rural area and the incidence of postoperative complications or hospital readmissions following LVAD implantation, compared to urban LVAD recipients.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review examined studies that compared postoperative outcomes between rural and urban LVAD recipients. Data on adverse events, hospitalizations, and mortality rates were extracted, focusing …

A Case Of Severe Synodic Stenosis In A Patient With Granalomatosis With Polyangitis Requiring Tracheostomy, Yousuf Sherwani, Mohan Sengodan

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is characterized by vasculitis of small and medium sized blood vessels and granulomatous lesions of the upper respiratory tract. A rare condition associated with GPA, subglottic stenosis, presents in about 20% of cases on inpatient GPA. Symptoms such as stridor, hoarseness, dyspnea and dysphagia are hall marks of subglottic stenosis. Here we present the case of a male patient with life threatening subglottic stenosis that required tracheostomy.

Navigating The Complexity Of Ards And Cardiogenic Shock With Veno-Arterial Ecmo: A Case Report, Sanjana Kesireddy, Mohan Sengodan

North Texas Research Forum 2025

INTRODUCTION: When deciding between VA ECMO (veno-arterial ECMO) and VV ECMO (veno-venous ECMO), the primary consideration is the underlying pathology affecting the patient’s heart and lungs. VA ECMO provides support for both the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, making it suitable for patients experiencing cardiogenic shock or combined cardiac and respiratory failure. In contrast, VV ECMO is used exclusively for respiratory failure, offering support to patients with severe lung dysfunction but intact cardiac function. CASE PRESENTATION: 41 year old male with no known past medical history presented s/p cardiac arrest secondary to aspiration pneumonia due to alcohol and opioid intoxication. Chest …

A Case Of Isolated Sma Dissection With Failed Initial Conservative Management, Salma Emara, Madison Kropp, Masoud Akbari, Kristin Cook

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Isolated superior mesenteric dissection (ISMAD) is an uncommon condition, often diagnosed incidentally for presentations of acute abdominal pain. Early identification and treatment are crucial as complications such as bowel ischemia or vessel rupture can occur. There remain no established treatment guidelines, making surgical and endovascular indications controversial. A 60-year-old male presented with acute abdominal pain, and was diagnosed with ISMAD via computed tomography imaging. He was initially managed conservatively which progressed to worsening abdominal pain, hypertensive crisis, and hemoperitoneum on follow-up computed tomography angiography (CTA). A mesenteric angiogram revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) which was subsequently …

Editorial: Cardiogenic Shock: Basic And Clinical Consideration, Volume Ii, Umberto Di Dedda, Indranee Rajapreyar, J. Eduardo Rame, Clement Delmas, Paolo Meani

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Changes In Depression On Cardiovascular Outcomes In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease., Nishant Vatsa, Josiah Bennett, Sonika Vatsa, Alireza Rahbar, Daniel A Gold, Vardhmaan Jain, Matthew E Gold, Alexander Razavi, Adithya Yadalam, Shivang Desai, Muhammad Owais, Joy D Hartsfield, Yi-An Ko, Laurence Sperling, Viola Vaccarino, Puja K Mehta, Arshed A Quyyumi

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Whether longitudinal changes in depression affect MACE in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the hypothesis that increasing or persistent depression predicts MACE in patients with CHD.

METHODS: At baseline, 3,483 Emory Cardiovascular Biobank participants (median age 65.5 years, 31.6% female) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ8) for depression evaluation. At 1 year, 2,639 of these event-free participants repeated the questionnaire. Depression was defined as a PHQ8 score >9 and change in depressive symptoms (Δ" role="presentation"> PHQ8) was year 1 score minus baseline …

Breaking Boundaries: Unveiling A Cardiac Fistula From The Right Coronary Artery To The Sinus Venosus And From The Sinus Venosus To The Left Subclavian; A Singular Encounter, Maria Eugenia Torres Perez, Carlos Luis Alejos, Jose Romeo Villareal Calderon, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Kamesh Sivagnamam

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Coronary artery fistulas are rare congenital or acquired malformations in the coronary circulation, creating abnormal connections between coronary arteries and heart chambers (coronary-cameral fistulas) or systemic/pulmonary vessels (coronary arteriovenous malformations). Although often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during coronary catheterization, they can lead to life-threatening complications such as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary hypertension.

Case presentation: A 47-year-old patient with hypertension, multiparity and previous history of a large pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade managed with pericardiocentesis and medical management presented to the emergency department one year after her pericardiocentesis complaining of shortness of breath (SOB) and upper back …

Efficacy Of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Versus Medical Therapy For Treatment Of Type B Aortic Dissection, Karam Motawea, Samah Rouzan, Rowan Elhalag, Abdelrhaman Abdelwahab, Hussam Al Hennawi, Salem Elshenawy, Mai Saad Mohamed, Pensée Chébl, Mohamed Salem Madian, Mostafa Elsayed Elsayed Hewalla, Sarya Swed, Wael Hafez, Bisher Sawaf, Samer Kaspo, Naim Battikh, Mohammed Najdat Seijari, Amr Farwati, Amine Rakab

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Techniques in endovascular therapy have evolved to offer a promising alternative to medical therapy alone for Type B aortic dissections (TBADs).

AIM: The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare mortality and overall complications between thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and best medical therapy (BMT) in patients with TBADs.

METHODS: We included randomized control trials and prospective or retrospective cohort studies that compared TEVAR and BMT for the treatment of type B aortic dissection. Multiple electronic databases were searched.

RESULTS: Thirty-two cohort studies including 150,836 patients were included. TEVAR was associated with a significantly lower 30-day mortality rate than …

Factors Associated With Recanalization And Reintervention Following Below Knee Polidocanol Endovenous Microfoam Ablation For Great Saphenous And Small Saphenous Veins, John Fang, Christian Fang, Andy Moyal, Enrico Ascher, Anil Hingorani, Natalie Marks

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Polidocanol endovenous microfoam (PEM) has been used to treat lower extremity venous reflux for almost one decade with specific advantages for below knee (BK) truncal veins where thermal ablation poses a risk of injury to adjacent nerves. The current literature of the BK segment often examines short-term outcomes with modest sample sizes. We aim to identify factors associated with recanalization and reintervention in this subset of patients.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of patients from a single institution who underwent 1% PEM ablation for BK great saphenous vein (GSV) and small saphenous vein …

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening And Surveillance – Can We Do Better? A Qi Project, Hassan Saeed, Hania Liaqat, Vidisha Master, Binita Neupane

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Abstract

Background:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has a global prevalence of about 5% and its first presentation can be acute and fatal. USPSTF recommends one time screening for men aged 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked. We designed a study to evaluate the effect of resident education on AAA screening ordered in our outpatient primary care clinic.

Methods:

All men aged 65 to 75 years of age attending appointments in the resident run clinic were included in the study. Pre-intervention data was collected retrospectively for 5 weeks which included patient demographics and the rates of appropriate AAA screening …

Vascular Risk Profile And Changes Of Arterial Hypertension After Surgical Revascularization In Adult Moyamoya Patients, Patrick Haas, Lucas Moritz Wiggenhauser, Jonas Tellermann, Helene Hurth, Daniel Feucht, Marcos Tatagiba, Nadia Khan, Constantin Roder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare stenoocclusive cerebral vasculopathy often treated by neurosurgical revascularization using extracranial-intracranial bypasses to prevent ischemic or hemorrhagic events. Little is known about the vascular risk profile of adult MMD patients compared to the general population. We therefore analyzed 133 adult MMD patients and compared them with data from more than 22,000 patients from the German Health Update database. Patients with MMD showed an age- and sex-adjusted increased prevalence of arterial hypertension, especially in women between 30 and 44 years and in patients of both sexes between 45 and 64 years. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed significantly …

Clinical Outcomes For Va-Ecmo Patients Associated With Hyperlipidemia: An Analysis Of The National Inpatient Sample, Dakota B. Pastore, Tony Elias, Rafail Beshai, Kyrillos Girgis, Maziyar Daneshvar, Keith Anacker

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is considered the most advanced temporary life support which provides complete hemodynamic support in addition to gas exchange. There is limited data available on the impact of hyperlipidemia (HLD) on VA-ECMO patients. We sought to examine the national inpatient sample (NIS) database to describe in-hospital outcomes among these patients.

Methods: The NIS was searched for hospitalizations of adult VA-ECMO patients with and without a concomitant diagnosis of HLD for the years 2019 and 2020. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality.

Results:This study included 3,885 VA-ECMO patients, of which 1,082 (27.8%) patients had HLD. …

Effects Of Exercise On The Cardiovascular Health Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Down Syndrome, Samarth Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: It is known that the incidence of Down Syndrome has increased over time and that this condition is associated with congenital heart defects, lower cardiorespiratory capacity, and increased rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that individuals who have congenital heart defects but not Down Syndrome have increased cardiorespiratory function after engaging in exercise. Unfortunately, the role of exercise in improving cardiovascular health outcomes among individuals with DS is not yet fully understood.

Results: Exercise has been found to improve several health outcomes among individuals with Down Syndrome. For example, moderate to vigorous treadmill exercises …

Brief Review: Regional Anesthesia For Vaso-Occlusive Pain Crises, Oluwatomi Alade

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Vaso-occlusive pain crisis occurs with obstruction of blood vessels from sickled red blood cells. This results in ischemic injury causing in pain. Acute vasoocclusive pain crisis is one of the most common reasons for patients with sickle cell disease to present to the hospital for medical attention. Acute treatment involves IV opioid therapy, non-opioid therapy, and IV hydration. There is a known lack of trust between a patient in acute pain and a provider in the emergency department (ED) and hospital secondary to stereotypes regarding pain seeking behavior. Here we discuss a case of vasoocclusive pain crisis refractory to opioid …