Dynamic Air Bronchogram Ultrasound Sign in a Noninvasive Ventilated Patient.

Acute dyspnea is one of the most common complaints in any emergency department. Physical examination and chest radiography have been insufficient to diagnose these patients accurately and quickly. We present a clinical case of a dyspneic patient presenting to the emergency department, who was promptly diagnosed with lobar pneumonia by point-of-care pulmonary ultrasonography. This permitted the rapid onset of adequate treatment. Furthermore, we describe a dynamic air bronchogram sign in a noninvasive ventilated patient. Chest computed tomography scan was performed confirming consolidation of the middle lobe. The advent of handheld point-of-care ultrasonography is revolutionizing practical care enabling physicians with a high-accuracy, low-cost, fast, safe, and repeatable diagnostic tool.

Anemia hemolítica autoinmune después de la infección por Covid 19 / Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia After Covid 19 Infection

Since its emergence in Wuhan province in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 infection has affected more than 520 million people and caused the death of more than 6.2 million individuals. Despite rare, several haematological disorders have been observed and associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, in particular, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). We present the case of a 71-year-old man with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection, presenting with 5 weeks evolution of asthenia and loss of 10% of body weight. From the initial study, normochromic normocytic anaemia stands out with haptoglobin consumption. Direct Coombs test was positive, with positive direct antiglobulin test for IgG4. The patient was admitted and started corticosteroids therapy with prednisolone 1 mg / kg. Given that the extended etiologic study was negative, covid 19 was assumed to be the trigger of the current clinical picture. During hospitalization, the patient presented a favourable evolution with recovery of haemoglobin value and absence of haemolysis. (AU)

Desde su aparición en la provincia de Wuhan a finales de 2019, la infección por SARS-CoV-2 ha afectado a más de 520 millones de personas y ha causado la muerte de más de 6,2 millones de individuos. A pesar de ser poco frecuentes, se han observado varios trastornos hematológicos asociados a la infección por SARS-CoV-2, en particular la anemia hemolítica autoinmune (AIHA). Presentamos el caso de un varón de 71 años con infección reciente por SARS-CoV-2, que presenta astenia de 5 semanas de evolución y pérdida del 10% del peso corporal. Del estudio inicial destaca anemia normocítica normocrómica con consumo de haptoglobina. El test de Coombs directo fue positivo, con antiglobulina directa positiva para IgG4.El paciente fue ingresado y se inició tratamiento con corticosteroides con prednisolona 1 mg / kg. Dado que el estudio etiológico ampliado fue negativo, se asumió que el covid 19 era el desencadenante del cuadro clínico actual. Durante la hospitalización, el paciente presentó una evolución favorable con recuperación del valor de hemoglobina y ausencia de hemólisis. (AU)

Ultrasound Assessment in a Pregnant Woman? Not just for the Fetus.

Pericarditis is a relatively common diagnosis worldwide; however, there are few data published on the frequency, diagnosis, and management of pericardial diseases in pregnant women. Ultrasonography has established its utmost importance and is worldwide recognized in pregnancy and fetal evaluation. Moreover, point-of-care ultrasonography of pregnant women, guided by clinical examination and history, can play an equally fundamental role. We present a case of a 37-year-old pregnant woman who presented at the emergency department with pleuritic chest pain, fever, and cough. Bedside point-of-care ultrasonography confirmed pericarditis revealing an organized pericardial effusion, leading to patient hospitalization and initiation of therapy. The importance and acknowledgment of portable and hand-held ultrasonography devices are growing since it enables physicians not only to make a fast and accurate diagnosis but also to access evolution in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Invasive Streptococcus agalactiae Disease With Meningitis and Septic Arthritis in a Non-pregnant Patient.

Streptococcus agalactiae is a common constituent of the human flora. However, infection in immunocompetent adults is uncommon and the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) or development of septic arthritis are exceedingly rare and by our knowledge, were only described simultaneously once in a retrospective study. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with S. agalactiae bacteremia presenting meningitis and septic arthritis of the left shoulder. The patient presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and fever. Lumbar puncture revealed cerebral spine fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and elevated proteins. Blood and CSF cultures identified the presence of a susceptible strain of S. agalactiae. During hospitalization, the patient complained of left shoulder pain, enabling the identification of articular fluid collections, which were drained confirming their infectious origin. Colic ulcers were found to be the starting point of this infection with posterior involvement of the CNS and the development of septic arthritis by hematogenous dissemination.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Leading to Postprandial Hypoglycemia: A Case Report.

Postprandial hypoglycemia is a rare complication after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The underlying pathophysiology remains to be fully understood. We present a case of a 49-year-old woman with a past medical history of mesenteric thrombosis due to prothrombin-related thrombophilia, which culminated in RYGB 10 years prior to presentation. The patient had been given anticoagulation treatment for several years, which she abandoned one year prior to presentation. She presented to our consultation with episodes of postprandial hypoglycemia and severe anemia due to iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Dietary adjustments were set in place to prevent hypoglycemia and neuroglycopenic symptoms. Intravenous iron and intramuscular vitamin B12 supplementation led to full recovery of hemoglobin levels, allowing restart of oral anticoagulation to prevent recurrence of thrombotic events.

Pleural Effusion Secondary to Obstructive Uropathy: A Case of Urinothorax.

Urinothorax is a rare type of pleural effusion and usually the result of genitourinary tract disease. An accurate and early diagnosis is crucial as resolution of the underlying pathology is the mainstay of treatment. We report the case of a 69-year-old man who was admitted to the Internal Medicine ward due to obstructive acute kidney injury of unknown origin. The patient was submitted to urinary catheterization and to right percutaneous nephrostomy. Two weeks after admission he developed a large left pleural effusion; a left urinoma was also visible on computed tomography. After thoracentesis, pleural fluid analysis demonstrated a paucicellular transudate with pH <7.40 and pleural fluid/serum creatinine ratio >1.0. The diagnosis of urinothorax was made and further study allowed the diagnosis of prostate cancer as the aetiology of the obstruction. When bilateral percutaneous nephrostomy was performed, resolution of the urinothorax and normalization of renal function occurred. LEARNING POINTS: Urinothorax is a rare and possibly under-recognized cause of transudative pleural effusion; over the last five decades, fewer than 60 cases have been reported in the English literature worldwide.Diagnosis of urinothorax depends upon a high index of clinical suspicion and on pleural fluid analysis, but imaging can also support the diagnosis, for example by showing the presence of a urinoma.Clinicians should recognize urinothorax early in its clinical course as favourable outcomes are often achieved after correction of the underlying genitourinary tract pathology.