Marathon pancreatitis: a case of acute pancreatitis caused by distance running.

Marathon running or other forms of strenuous exercise have been reported as a rare cause of acute pancreatitis. Theories as to the mechanism of acute pancreatitis include microvascular ischaemia due to dehydration or repetitive trauma to the pancreas. We report a case of a healthy woman in her 30s who developed abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting after a 32 km marathon training run. She was found to have elevated lipase and inflammation of the pancreatic tail with associated pericolic and pelvic free fluid on CT scan. Workup including abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) did not reveal biliary or pancreatic duct pathology. She improved with conservative management. These findings support the hypothesis of exercise-induced pancreatitis from long-distance running.

Choices and Outcomes of the Oldest Old Admitted During the First Wave of COVID-19 in New York City.

Objectives: Morbidity and mortality are higher in older adults with COVID-19, but their decisions about aggressive care, severity of disease, and outcomes during the first surge in New York City are not well characterized. We sought to determine if the oldest patients chose intubation and comfort care at different rates compared to younger geriatric patients. We also studied outcomes among patients admitted with severe disease and those who chose aggressive versus comfort care. Methods: This retrospective analysis used electronic health record data from patients 65 years and older at two medical centers in New York City admitted between 3/5/2020 and 5/15/2020. The primary outcome was comfort care orders, and secondary outcomes included death, palliative care consultation, goals of care discussion, code status, and ventilator weaning. Results: Of the 854 patients, 214 were in the oldest old (OO, age > = 85) group, 269 middle old (MO, age 75-84), and 371 young old (YO, age 65-74). Among those with serious disease, the OO were more likely to choose comfort care (45% vs. 21% MO and 6.8% YO), less likely to be intubated (17% vs. 37% MO and 44% YO), more likely to have a palliative care consult, more likely to be DNR/DNI on admission (60% vs. 17% MO and 9.3%% YO), and more likely to die during admission (65% vs. 42% MO and 21% YO) (all p-values < 0.001). Of all 216 intubated patients, 78% of the OO died, versus 66% of the MO and 36% of the YO (p = <0.001). Conclusions: Adults 85 and above admitted with COVID-19 were more likely to forego intubation and die with comfort-based care. Irrespective of intubation choice, patients 85 and older had a markedly poorer prognosis than other cohorts over 65.

Subtle Imaging Findings Aid the Diagnosis of Adolescent Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Ataxia.

PURPOSE: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and hereditary spastic ataxia (HSA) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders characterized by progressive lower limb spasticity resulting from pyramidal tract dysfunction. By identifying critical imaging findings within the clinical context of spasticity, radiologists are uniquely positioned to recommend specific genetic testing, and thus facilitate diagnosis. METHODS: We present two examples of HSP and HSA that had gone clinically unrecognized for years, and in which magnetic resonance imaging played a critical role in the diagnosis. RESULTS: Radiologists' awareness of HSP and HSA, combined with a critical review of the clinical history and characteristic imaging findings led to specific genetic testing and a definitive diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Awareness of HSP and HSA among radiologists will expedite more accurate diagnosis, explanation of patient symptoms, recommendation for syndrome-specific treatment, and family planning considerations.