COVID-19 and preeclampsia with severe features at 34-weeks gestation.

The evolving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a rapid expansion of knowledge on the disease's clinical manifestations, laboratory and radiographic abnormalities, and patient trajectories. One area of particular focus is the effect that this illness may have on pregnancy and maternal-fetal disease. As of April 24, 2020, we identified 55 English language reports in the scientific literature summarizing data for 339 women and 258 fetuses and neonates. The majority of these data have focused on maternal-fetal transmission and neonatal outcomes. One systematic review and meta-analysis including the spectrum of coronaviruses [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19] in pregnancy noted increased rates of adverse outcomes associated with this group of infections. Here, we report the case of a COVID-19 positive woman presenting to our emergency department (ED) at 34 weeks gestation with preeclampsia. This case highlights the unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with treating patients with these concomitant diseases.

Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Headache is one of the most common reasons for presentation to the emergency department (ED), seen in up to 2% of patients.1 Most are benign, but it is imperative to understand and discern the life-threatening causes of headache when they present. Headache caused by a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from a ruptured aneurysm is one of the most deadly, with a median case-fatality of 27-44%.2 Fortunately, it is also rare, comprising only 1% of all headaches presenting to the ED.3 On initial presentation, the one-year mortality of untreated SAH is up to 65%.4 With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, mortality can be reduced to 18%.5 The implications are profound: Our careful assessment leading to the detection of a SAH as the cause of headache can significantly decrease our patients' mortality. If this were an easy task, the 12% reported rate of missed diagnosis would not exist.6 We have multiple tools and strategies to evaluate the patient with severe headache and must understand the strengths and limitations of each tool. Herein we will describe the available strategies, as well as the ED management of the patient with SAH.

An Unlikely Cause of Hypokalemia.

BACKGROUND: Hypokalemia is a common clinical disorder caused by a variety of different mechanisms. Although the most common causes are diuretic use and gastrointestinal losses, elevated cortisol levels can also cause hypokalemia through its effects on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Cushing's syndrome refers to this general state of hypercortisolemia, which often manifests with symptoms of generalized weakness, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, menstrual disorders, and psychiatric changes. This syndrome is most commonly caused by exogenous steroid use, but other etiologies have also been reported in the literature. Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone production by small-cell lung cancer is one rare cause of Cushing's syndrome, and may be associated with significant hypokalemia. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 62-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with weakness and hypokalemia. The patient was initially misdiagnosed with furosemide toxicity. Despite having a 30-pack-year smoking history, this patient's lack of respiratory complaints allowed him to present for medical attention twice before being diagnosed with lung cancer. It was later determined that this patient's hypokalemia was due to Cushing's syndrome caused by ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone production from small-cell lung cancer. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case reminds emergency physicians to consider a broad differential when treating patients with hypokalemia. More importantly, it prompts emergency physicians to recognize comorbid conditions and secondary, less common etiologies in patients with repeated visits for the same complaint.