Complex Presentation of a Dieulafoy Lesion in a Geriatric Patient with Multiple Comorbidities.

Dieulafoy lesions (DL) consist of tortuous, thick-walled submucosal arteries that protrude through a small mucosal defect, often surrounded by otherwise normal mucosa. They are commonly located in the proximal stomach, particularly along the lesser curvature and near the esophagogastric junction, typically within 5 cm. However, they can also occur in various other regions of the GI tract, including the esophagus, duodenum, and colon. We present the case of a 76-year-old female with a complex medical history who arrived at the ED with hematemesis and melena. Her condition rapidly deteriorated; her blood pressure significantly dropped. Upon stabilization, upper endoscopy uncovered a 5-cm red lesion near the gastroesophageal junction, indicative of DL. Immediate intervention with clips was successful. Following the procedure, while the patient was in the ICU, she started to experience left-sided chest pain and diaphoresis, leading to the suspicion of acute coronary syndrome. Further investigations revealed non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). This case highlights the life-threatening nature of upper GI bleeding, especially in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and extensive medication regimens. Timely diagnosis and intervention for DL are crucial, particularly in elderly patients with multiple health comorbidities. This underscores the significance of prompt medical attention and intervention in such complex scenarios.

Early Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Afibrinogenemia: A Case Report of Umbilical Stump Bleeding.

Afibrinogenemia is an extremely rare bleeding disorder characterized by the absence or severe deficiency of fibrinogen, a major protein involved in the regulation of blood clotting. This disorder can have both hemorrhagic and/or thrombotic manifestations. We present the case of a female neonate who was diagnosed with congenital afibrinogenemia within the first two weeks of life. The patient presented with persistent bleeding from the umbilical stump, prompting a thorough investigation and workup. Early diagnosis and management were essential to preventing life-threatening bleeding events.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Obese Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, which is increasingly prevalent in the modern era. All international guidelines strongly advise the administration of anticoagulants to individuals with AF who are at high risk of stroke. These guidelines recommend the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin because warfarin is significantly associated with increased rates of major bleeding, numerous interactions with food and drugs, and the necessity for frequent monitoring. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in obese patients with atrial fibrillation. Two authors independently conducted a comprehensive literature search using electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE from inception to June 1, 2023. The efficacy outcome assessed in this meta-analysis included the composite of stroke and systemic embolism. For safety analysis, major bleeding events were compared among the study groups. Eleven studies fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analysis enrolling 144,502 patients. In this study, DOACs demonstrate superior efficacy in preventing stroke/systemic embolism compared to warfarin. Among the DOACs, apixaban emerged as the most effective, followed by rivaroxaban, warfarin, and dabigatran. In terms of safety, apixaban was also found to be the most favorable treatment option, followed by rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and warfarin. In summary, our study concludes that apixaban exhibited greater effectiveness and safety when compared to other DOACs and warfarin in obese patients with AF.

Comparison of High Ligation Versus Low Ligation of the Inferior Mesenteric Artery (IMA) on Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes in Sigmoid Colon and Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Meta-analysis.

This study was done to compare the perioperative outcomes and long-term outcomes between low ligation and high ligation of the inferior mesentric artery (IMA) in sigmoid colon and rectal cancer surgery. This study was conducted following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A literature search was performed in electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHIL, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify studies published between January 1, 2015, and April 30, 2023. The outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included postoperative complications (anastomotic leakage, surgical site infection, and postoperative ileus), intraoperative outcomes (duration of surgery in minutes, total intraoperative blood loss in milliliters, total lymph nodes harvested, and total number of metastatic lymph nodes), recovery outcomes (time to first flatus and length of hospital stay), and long-term outcomes (five-year mortality rate and disease-free survival rate). A total of 17 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Of these, six were randomized control trials (RCTs) and 11 were retrospective cohort studies. This meta-analysis suggests that lower ligation may be associated with a lower risk of anastomotic leakage compared to higher ligation in patients undergoing colon cancer surgery. However, there was no significant difference between the two techniques in terms of surgical site infection, postoperative ileus, total lymph nodes harvested, number of metastatic lymph nodes, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay. Time to first flatus was significantly shorter in patients who underwent lower ligation. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the five-year mortality rate and disease-free survival rate between the two techniques. The results of this study indicate that both techniques are comparable in most aspects and suggest that the choice of technique should be based on individual patient factors and surgeon preference.

Efficacy of Molnupiravir for the Treatment of Mild or Moderate COVID-19 in Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of molnupiravir among mild or moderate COVID-19 patients. This meta-analysis was reported according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Two authors independently performed a comprehensive search for relevant studies in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The keywords used to search for relevant records were "Molnupiravir," "COVID-19," and "efficacy." This meta-analysis included studies that compared the effectiveness of molnupiravir with a placebo for COVID-19 treatment. The primary outcome assessed in this meta-analysis was the composite of hospitalization and all-cause mortality (30 days). In addition, we assessed all-cause mortality and hospitalization separately and the number of patients who tested negative for viral RNA on day five. A total of 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Among the 10 studies, five were randomized controlled trials and five were observational studies. Based on the results presented in the meta-analysis, it can be concluded that molnupiravir has a significant impact on reducing all-cause mortality and improving the proportion of patients who test negative for viral RNA on day five. The risk of hospitalization and composite outcome was also lower in molnupiravir-treated patients, although the difference was statistically insignificant. The subgroup analysis showed consistent results across all subgroups, indicating that the effect of molnupiravir is consistent regardless of patient characteristics.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Undiagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations affecting multiple organs. While standardized diagnostic criteria are commonly used, the lack of pathognomonic presenting signs and symptoms often makes the diagnosis challenging. Of the many pulmonary manifestations, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is one of the most severe complications caused by the disruption of the capillary alveolar interface. Although this condition is rarely encountered, it has a rapidly progressive course and can be life-threatening, which warrants a prompt diagnostic workup and an aggressive therapeutic approach. We report a case of a 58-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with dyspnea and multiple episodes of hemoptysis. Further investigations revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and diffuse bilateral infiltrates on high-resolution computed tomography, consistent with DAH in a patient with undiagnosed SLE.