[Dissection of the carotid artery following blunt trauma: still a pitfall]. / Dissectie van de A. carotis door een stomp trauma: nog altijd een valkuil.

Two young patients, an 18-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man, were admitted to hospital after accidents with a car. They developed very severe complications as a consequence of blunt carotid artery dissection. This diagnosis was delayed in both patients until serious cerebral ischaemia had occurred. Despite current awareness of carotid dissection as a possible result of blunt trauma, this injury is often overlooked. Early diagnosis by means of Doppler ultrasonography and CT-angiography is important in adequate management of this injury and may reduce morbidity and mortality. The treatment of carotid dissection consists of antithrombotic, endovascular or surgical therapy and needs to be individualized.

Severe diffuse interstitial pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in a patient with respiratory insufficiency.

We report a 25-year-old man presenting with high fever, dyspnoea and somnolence. The presence of severe diffuse interstitial pneumonia with extrapulmonary symptoms, such as myositis and subclinical haemolysis, strongly suggested an infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. This diagnosis was supported by high titres of cold agglutinins and a positive Coombs test, and directly confirmed by specific IgM serological tests. After initiation of the appropriate antimicrobial treatment mechanical ventilation could be avoided and the patient showed a slow but complete clinical recovery. This diagnosis should be considered in any febrile patient with hypoxaemia and diffuse interstitial pneumonia, and rapid initiation of appropriate antibiotic treatment seems to be crucial for a favourable outcome.