Recognizing a MIS-Chievous Cause of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis.

Historically, children evaluated for vomiting and diarrhea secondary to viral enteritis have symptoms lasting 2-4 days and respond to supportive care, including oral rehydration and anti-emetics if required. Recently, within a 14-day timespan, we encountered three children with severe diarrhea who rapidly became dehydrated and went into hypotensive shock. Although SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests were negative by nasopharyngeal swab, all were later found to have MIS-C. This small case series underscores features reported in previous larger studies and emphasizes the rapid clinical evolution of this condition. We highlight the importance of early recognition of cardinal laboratory findings characteristic of MIS-C (i.e., lymphopenia, markedly elevated acute phase reactants, and hypoalbuminemia). We also show serologic evidence that the pathophysiological mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 related diarrhea may differ from other causes of dehydrating vomiting and diarrhea, with no serologic evidence of villus cell injury.

Descriptions and outcomes of cardiac evaluations in pediatric patients hospitalized for asthma.

Objective: Patients hospitalized for asthma can exhibit concurrent cardiac symptoms and undergo cardiac work up. We identify patients admitted for asthma that underwent cardiac workup and describe outcomes to evaluate the utility of cardiac testing in this population.Methods: Patients aged 4 to 17 years admitted for status asthmaticus from 2012 - 2016 were screened for EKG, ECHO, or cardiac enzyme obtainment.Results: Out of 1296 patients, 77 (6%) received cardiac testing. The most common reasons for testing were chest pain (25, 32%), blood pressure abnormalities (11, 14%), tachycardia (8, 10%), arrhythmia (6, 8%), and syncope (6, 8%). Sinus tachycardia (43, 66%) was the most common EKG finding. 4 out of 27 patients who underwent ECHOs had abnormalities: 2 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 1 with vascular ring, and 1 with evidence of pulmonary hypertension. All patients who underwent an EKG to evaluate tachycardia had normalization of heart rate at discharge. Cardiac ischemia was not evident in any patients who underwent workup with cardiac enzymes to evaluate chest pain. All cases of arrhythmias resolved on discharge. Diastolic hypotension (DhTN) was found in 10 out of the 11 blood pressure abnormalities. There was mixed efficacy of fluid bolus in correcting DhTN. All DhTN resolved on discharge. One patient with syncope had a new diagnosis of HCM.Conclusions: While cardiac complications are seen in patients admitted for status asthmaticus, the etiology rarely stems from underlying cardiac disease. EKGs, ECHOs, and cardiac enzymes should have a minimal role in the management of the hospitalized asthmatic patient.

Gastropericardial fistula as a delayed complication of a Nissen fundoplication.

A 41-year-old man presented to the emergency department with substernal chest pain and was found to have ST elevations in the inferior leads on his electrocardiogram. An emergent cardiac catheterization did not identify significant coronary narrowing. Computed tomography of the thorax demonstrated a pneumopericardium and a hiatal hernia. The patient had a complicated past surgical history, including a Nissen fundoplication and three additional surgeries for postoperative complications. An esophagram later revealed an ulcer and possible fistula, and the patient underwent gastropericardial fistula resection after the fistula failed to close with fibrin sealant application. Enteropericardial fistulas occur infrequently but have high morbidity and mortality rates. This possibility is much more likely in patients with prior gastroesophageal surgery, including laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.