[Severe respiratory insufficiency as manifestation of a pulmonary metastasized Ewing's sarcoma]. / Schwerste Atemnot als Manifestation eines pulmonal metastasierten Ewing-Sarkoms.

A previously unknown tumor led to respiratory failure due to pulmonary metastasis in a young male. The shortness of breath began gradually and then rapidly progressed within 2 weeks. With the cause of respiratory failure still unclear, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment was initiated to gain time for the definitive diagnosis. After the exclusion of infectious lung diseases the diagnosis could be made by a biopsy. Surprisingly, a Ewing's sarcoma was diagnosed and chemotherapy was initiated. This led to tumor regression within about 3 weeks, so that the patient could be successfully weaned from ECMO treatment.

[Septic shock in a female patient with miliary tuberculosis]. / Landouzy-Sepsis bei einer Patientin mit Miliartuberkulose.

This article reports the fulminant course of a pneumogenic sepsis with severe ARDS (acute respiratory failure) in a 36-year-old female Indian patient, who died within 14 h after admission to the intensive care unit due to a multiorgan failure. During treatment the diagnosis of a miliary tuberculosis was suspected but was only confirmed by the autopsy. Due to high hygiene standards, miliary tuberculosis as the cause of septic shock is rare in Europe. Only 1-2% of the patients with pulmonary miliary tuberculosis develop an ARDS with a mortality of 60-90%. Based on this case the diagnostics as well as treatment of the patient are described. Furthermore, the management of an open tuberculosis on an intensive care unit is explained.