Internal Medicine Commons^™

Vascular Complications And Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement In Patients On Chronic Steroid Therapy: A Meta-Analysis, Song Peng Ang, Jia Ee Chia, Vikash Jaiswal, Muhammad Hanif, Ananya Vadhera, Sudarshan Gautam, Anuradha Raut, Saira Rafaqat, Vamsikalayan Borra, Harshwardhan Khandait

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Chronic steroid (CS) therapy was reportedly linked to increased vascular complications following percutaneous coronary intervention. However, its association with vascular complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remained uncertain, with conflicting results being reported.

Objective: The authors aimed to compare the rate of vascular complications and outcomes between patients with and without CS use after TAVR.

Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from their inception until 18th April 2022 for relevant studies. Endpoints were described according to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 definitions. Effect sizes were pooled using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects …

The Internist's Post V.1 N.1, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. School Of Medicine, Diana Othon Martinez, Roque Mifuji Lira, Jian Garcia Cruz, Edgar Dorsey Trevino, Eunbee Cho

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound For The Diagnosis Of Frequent Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review, Ernesto Calderon Martinez, Edna Diarte, Diana Othon, Leonardo Rodriguez Reyes, Daniel A. Aguirre Cano, Carolina Cantu Navarro, Maria G. Ycaza, David Arriaga Escamilla, Jinal Choudhari, George Michel

School of Medicine Publications

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as an indispensable diagnostic tool in cardiology, particularly within the emergency department. This narrative synthesis provides a comprehensive exploration of POCUS applications in cardiovascular diseases, elucidating its multifaceted roles and addressing challenges. The review delves into the technical attributes of POCUS, emphasizing its noninvasive nature, radiation-free qualities, and suitability for non-radiologists. It navigates through educational strategies, stressing the importance of structured programs for the seamless integration of POCUS into clinical practice. Highlighting its efficacy, the synthesis discusses POCUS applications in various scenarios such as dyspnea, chest pain, cardiac arrest, aortic dissection, pericardial effusion, and pulmonary …

Rare Presentation Of Postpericardiotomy Syndrome After Left Atrial Myxoma Removal, Jessy Feng, Shyama Appareddy, Yaman Gibran, Aryana Garza, Jacqueline Luevano, Gustavo Garcia

School of Medicine Publications

Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a known complication of cardiac valve surgery, but it has not been commonly reported as a postoperative complication of cardiac myxoma removal. A 78-year-old female with hypertension and atrial fibrillation presenting with angina was found to have a large left atrial myxoma (7.5 cm × 4.4 cm). The myxoma was resected; however, 1-week postoperation hemoglobin and blood pressure decreased with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Limited transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed moderate pericardial effusion, confirming the diagnosis of PPS. This case highlights the importance of monitoring patients postremoval of myxoma for symptoms of …

Investigating The Complications And Causes Of Failure Of The Angiovac System: A Post-Marketing Surveillance From The Maude Database, Chaitu Dandu, Sardar Muhammad Alamzaib, Dhruvil Patel, Ryan Naughton, Aws Polina, Maria Najam, Rashid Alhusain, Neel Patel, Yasar Sattar, M. Chadi Alraies

School of Medicine Publications

Background Aspiration thrombectomy devices, such as the AngioVac, allow the removal of thrombus, especially in patients with contraindications to anticoagulation use. The AngioVac was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove fresh, soft thrombi or emboli during extracorporeal bypass for up to six hours. Real-world data on the most common modes of failure and complications associated with the AngioVac are unavailable.

Methods The Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database was queried for reports of the AngioVac device failure and adverse events from April 2013 to March 2022. Categorical variables were described as numbers, and all statistical …

The Prevalence Of Cardiovascular Complications And Causes Of Angiojet Failure: A Post-Marketing Surveillance Study Based On The Maude (Manufacturer And User Facility Device Experience) Database, Chaitu Dandu, Dhruvil Patel, Ryan Naughton, Neel Patel, Bandar Alyami, Maria Najam, Mustafa Bdiwi, Rashid Alhusain, Yasar Sattar, M. Chadi Alraies

School of Medicine Publications

Background and objective

Aspiration thrombectomy devices, such as the AngioJet Solent Omni (Boston Scientific Corporation, Marlborough, MA) have been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of thrombi in peripheral arterial disease, venous disease, and AV fistulas. However, there is a dearth of real-world data on the most common modes of failure and complications associated with the AngioJet Solent Omni. In this study, we aimed to address this scarcity of data.

Methods

The MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) database was queried for reports of device failure and adverse events spanning the period from October 2012 to December …

Deeper Seated Than Skin Deep: Report Of A Rare Case Of Follicular Occlusion Tetrad And A Literature Review, Yilen K. Ng-Wong, Blesset Alexander, Mery Bartl, Christine E. Loftis, Dina Hammad, Emilia C. Dulgheru, Mauricio De La Garza, Aidee C. Nunez

School of Medicine Publications

Follicular occlusion tetrad (FOT) is a clinical syndrome consisting of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), acne conglobata (AC), dissecting cellulitis of the scalp (DCS), and pilonidal cyst (PC). These entities typically occur independently, but occasionally present simultaneously comprising FOT. The four components share similar pathophysiology affecting the apocrine glands, follicular hyperkeratinization being the hallmark of each entity.Understanding shared similarities of each disease is paramount for the treatment approach as the relapsing and chronic nature of this syndrome can be burdening to patients. We present the case of a 22- year-old obese Hispanic man with a history of tobacco use who presented with …

A Rare Cause Of Lymphadenopathy In A Young Hispanic Female: Unmasking Recurrent Nodal Rosai-Dorfman Disease, Blesset Alexander, Alfarooq Alshaikhli, Mery Bartl, Emilia Dulgheru

School of Medicine Publications

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare histiocytic disorder that can present with painless bilateral symmetrical cervical lymphadenopathy, mimicking lymphomas. RDD is characterized by excessive tissue infiltration by dendritic cells, macrophages, or monocyte-derived cells, with a histopathologic diagnosis based on the presence of CD68+, CD163+, and S100+ histiocytes, which differentiate it from other histiocytic neoplasms. In this case report, we present a young Hispanic female with recurrent subcutaneous growths and lymphadenopathy, initially thought to be lymphoma, who was diagnosed with RDD after a significant diagnostic workup. Treatment initially consisted of surgical excision; however, due to recurrence, the patient was successfully treated …

Two Cases Of Autoimmune Syndrome Induced By Adjuvants (Asia): A Multifaceted Condition Calling For A Multidisciplinary Approach, Christine E. Loftis, Aidee Nunez, Mauricio De La Garza, Emilia C. Dulgheru

School of Medicine Publications

Silicone implants have been used for cosmetic enhancement and reconstructive purposes for over 60 years. Despite assiduous efforts to ensure safety, there is continuous evidence that they are not as biologically inert as previously postulated. We present two cases of autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) in Hispanic women. The first patient developed biopsy-proven immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy that was successfully treated with the combination of silicone explantation along with immunosuppressive therapy. Findings after implant removal demonstrated rupture and leakage of silicone from gluteal implants. The second patient developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the setting of a ruptured silicone breast implant. …

Two Cases Of Autoimmune Syndrome Induced By Adjuvants (Asia): A Multifaceted Condition Calling For A Multidisciplinary Approach, Christine Loftis, Aidee C. Nunez, Mauricio De La Garza, Emilia Dulgheru

School of Medicine Publications

Silicone implants have been used for cosmetic enhancement and reconstructive purposes for over 60 years. Despite assiduous efforts to ensure safety, there is continuous evidence that they are not as biologically inert as previously postulated. We present two cases of autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) in Hispanic women. The first patient developed biopsy-proven immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy that was successfully treated with the combination of silicone explantation along with immunosuppressive therapy. Findings after implant removal demonstrated rupture and leakage of silicone from gluteal implants. The second patient developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the setting of a ruptured silicone breast implant. …

Efficacy And Safety Of Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma In Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Mila B. Ortigoza, Hyunah Yoon, Keith S. Goldfeld, Andrea B. Troxel, Johanna P. Daily, Yinxiang Wu, Yi Li, Danni Wu, Gia F. Cobb, Andrew N. Dentino

School of Medicine Publications

Importance: There is clinical equipoise for COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of CCP compared with placebo in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving noninvasive supplemental oxygen.

Design, setting, and participants: CONTAIN COVID-19, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of CCP in hospitalized adults with COVID-19, was conducted at 21 US hospitals from April 17, 2020, to March 15, 2021. The trial enrolled 941 participants who were hospitalized for 3 or less days or presented 7 or less days after symptom onset and required noninvasive oxygen supplementation.

Interventions: A unit of …

Doxycycline Didn’T Cure The Fever! An Interesting Case Of Large Granular Lymphocytic (Lgl) Leukemia With Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (Hlh)., Dayan Ojeda Damas, Ayesha Hamid, Kevin Wu, Michael Lapelusa, Nabeel Sarhill, Henry Kwang

School of Medicine Publications

HLH: A rare association with LGL Leukemia Dayan Ojeda-Damas MD, Ayesha Hamid MD, Kevin Wu MD, Michael Lapelusa MS-3, Nabeel Sarhill MD, Henry Kwang MD University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Internal Medicine Residency at Valley Baptist Medical Center. Harlingen, TX Introduction Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially fatal syndrome characterized by excessive immune activation. It is diagnosed in patients of all ages and is classified as either primary from gene mutations or secondary from various triggers. We present an interesting case of HLH in a patient with large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL). Presentation A 53-year-old female with a questionable …