Polytrauma from a North American Black Bear Attack.

Bear attacks, although rare, can inflict life-threatening injuries. We present the case of a 50-y-old woman from rural Pennsylvania who was attacked by a North American black bear, Ursus americanus. She sustained multiple complex injuries including near-complete scalp avulsion, bilateral ear avulsions, and fractures of the face, ribs, and pelvis. These injuries are similar to those sustained in other bear maulings reported in the literature and required both acute intervention and a multidisciplinary approach to recovery.

Hypertension and Acute Mountain Sickness in Himalayan Trekkers in Nepal: An Observational Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: A history of preexisting hypertension is common in people participating in mountain activities; however, the relationship between blood pressure (BP), preexisting hypertension, and acute mountain sickness (AMS) is not well studied. We sought to determine these relationships among trekkers in the Everest region of Nepal. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study of a convenience sample of adult, nonpregnant volunteers trekking in the Everest Base Camp region in Nepal. We recorded Lake Louise Scores for AMS and measured BP at 2860 m, 3400 m, and 4300 m. The primary outcome was AMS. RESULTS: A total of 672 trekkers (including 60 with history of preexisting hypertension) were enrolled at 2860 m. We retained 529 at 3400 m and 363 at 4300 m. At 3400 m, 11% of participants had AMS, and 13% had AMS at 4300 m. We found no relationship between AMS and measured BP values (P>0.05), nor was there any relation of BP to AMS severity as measured by higher Lake Louise Scores (P>0.05). Preexisting hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 0.16; 95% CI 0.025-0.57), male sex (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.37-0.96), and increased SpO2 (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.87-0.98) were associated with reduced rates of AMS in multivariate analyses adjusting for known risk factors for AMS. CONCLUSIONS: AMS is common in trekkers in Nepal, even at 3400 m. There is no relationship between measured BP and AMS. However, a medical history of hypertension may be associated with a lower risk of AMS. More work is needed to confirm this novel finding.

Symptomatic Pericardial Cyst: An Atypical Case of Pleuritic Chest Pain.

Pericardial cysts were first described in 1837 as diverticula extending from the pericardium. They are rare and frequently asymptomatic. Symptomatic presentations may be similar to more common causes of chest pain or dyspnea such as acute coronary syndrome or pulmonary embolism. Emergency physicians should consider mediastinal mass, and in this case pericardial cyst, in the differential diagnosis of chest pain because of the risk for tamponade, sudden cardiac death, or other life-threatening complications. Here, we describe a novel presentation of a pericardial cyst presenting as atypical chest pain.

Older age, chronic medical conditions and polypharmacy in Himalayan trekkers in Nepal: an epidemiologic survey and case series.

BACKGROUND: The number of tourists in Nepal doubled between 2003 and 2013 is nearly 800 000. With the increased popularity of trekking, the number of those with pre-existing medical conditions requiring access to healthcare is likely to increase. We therefore sought to characterize the demographics and health status of trekkers on the Everest Base Camp route in the Solukhumbu Valley. In addition, we report cases that illustrate the potential complications of an ageing and medicated population of trekkers with underlying diseases. METHODS: Trekkers over 18 years were enrolled in a larger observational cohort study on blood pressure at high altitude at 2860 m. They answered a questionnaire regarding demographics, medical history and current medications. Acute medical problems relating to medication use that were brought to the attention of investigators were documented and are presented as case reports. RESULTS: We enrolled 670 trekkers, 394 (59%) male, with a mean age of 48 years (range 18-76). Pre-existing medical conditions were reported by 223 participants (33%). The most frequent conditions included hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, migraines and thyroid dysfunction. A total of 276 participants (41%) reported taking one or more medications. The most common medications were acetazolamide (79, 12%), antihypertensives (50, 8%) and NSAIDs (47, 7%), with 30 classes of drugs represented. Excluding acetazolamide, older trekkers (age >50 years) were more likely than younger ones to take medications (OR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.57-3.00; P <0.05). Acetazolamide use was not related to age. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate a wide variety of medical conditions present in trekkers in Nepal with wide-ranging potential complications that could pose difficulties in areas where medical care is scarce and evacuation difficult. Our cases illustrate the potential problems polypharmacy poses in trekkers, and the need for local and expedition healthcare workers to be aware of, and prepared for the common medical conditions present.