Heroin addict with gangrene of the extremities, rhabdomyolysis and severe hyperkalemia.

INTRODUCTION: Long-time consumption of narcotics leads to altered mental status of the addict. It is also connected to damages of different organic systems and it often leads to appearance of multiple organ failure. Excessive narcotics consumption or abuse in a long time period can lead to various consequences, such as atraumatic rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure and electrolytic disorders. Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by injury of skeletal muscle with subsequent release of intracellular contents, such as myoglobin, potassium and creatine phosphokinase. In heroin addicts, rhabdomyolysis is a consequence of the development of a compartment syndrome due to immobilization of patients in the state of unconsciousness and prolonged compression of extremities, direct heroin toxicity or extremities ischemia caused by intraluminal occlusion of blood vessels after intraarterial injection of heroin. Severe hyperkalemia and the development of acute renal failure require urgent therapeutic measures, which imply the application of either conventional treatment or a form of dialysis. CASE REPORT: We presented a male patient, aged 50, hospitalized in the Emergency Center Kragujevac due to altered mental status (Glasgow Coma Score 11), partial respiratory insufficiency (pO2 7.5 kPa, pCO2 4.3 kPa, SpO2 89%), weakness of lower extremities and atypical electrocardiographic changes. Laboratory analyses, carried out immediately after the patient's admission to the Emergency Center, registered the following disturbances: high hyperkalemia level (K+ 9.9 m mol/L), increased levels of urea (30.1 mmol/L), creatinine (400 micromol/L), creatine phosphokinase--CK (12,0350 IU/L), CK-MB (2500 IU/L) and myoglobin (57000 microg/L), with normal levels of troponin I (< 0.01 microg/L), as well as signs of anemia (Hgb 92 g/L, Er 3.61 x 10(12)/L), infection (C-reactive proteine 184 microg/mL, Le 16.1 x 10(9)/L) and acidosis (base excess--18.4 mmol/L, pH 7.26. Initial examination of the patient revealed swelling and paleness of the right lower leg, signs of gangrene of the right foot and the 1st and the 4th toes of the left foot. The patient had normal values of arterial pressure (130/80 mmHg) and heart rate (64/min(-1)); roentgenographic lungs examination and computerized tomography (CT) brain examination did not reveal pathological changes in lung and brain parenchyma; toxicological analyses confirmed the presence of heroin in patient's organism. The patient was treated by intensive conventional treatment (infusion of crystalloid solutions, 8.4% solution of sodium bicarbonate, i.v. infusion of diuretics, calcium gluconate and short-acting insulin), and also by antibiotics and anticoagulants. Normalization of kalemia and fast regression of electrocardiographic changes were registered. The patient refused the suggested surgical treatment (fasciotomy, foot amputation). After stabilization of kidney function and improvement of his mental state, the patient agreed to undergo surgical procedure. Therefore, on the day 30 of hospitalization the above-knee amputation of the right leg was performed, and on the day 38 the transmetatarsal amputation of the left foot was carried out. After 46 days of hospital treatment, the patient was released and sent to home treatment. CONCLUSION: The routine laboratory diagnostics, which implies determining of the levels of potassium, urea, creatinine and CK in the serum of all hospitalized heroin addicts can contribute to timely detection of hyperkalemia and acute kidney weakness and undertaking of appropriate therapeutic measures.

Prostatic carcinoma bilateral iris metastases.

We described a patient with bilateral iris metastases resulted from prostatic cancer. Slit lamp and ultrasonography examination of the both eye demonstrated tumor of the iris, as an amelanotic vascular mass located on the superior temporal quadrant. On open biopsy revealed undifferentiated tissue that stained strongly positive for prostate carcinoma, confirming the diagnosis of metastasis prostate adenocarcinoma. Early diagnostic procedures are essential for the causal therapy of prostate carcinoma as the primary neoplasm.

[Successful treatment of polymedicamentous poisoning with metoprolol, diltiazem and cilazapril].

INTRODUCTION: Poisoning caused by drugs with cardiodepressive effects is an urgent condition in medicine which is associated with high mortality rate regardless of modern therapeutic methods. Accidental or intentional poisoning whit these drugs produces heart activity depression and cardiovascular collapse as consequences. Current therapy for severe poisoning caused by beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers includes both unspecific and specific antidote therapy whit glucagon, as well as application of adrenergic drugs, calcium, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and hyperinsulinemia/euglycemia therapy. However, even whit the application of these drugs, prompt measures of unspecific detoxication therapy and cardiopulmonary reanimation are crucial for survival of patients with severe poisoning. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old female patient was hospitalized for cardiogenic shock and altered state of conscioussnes (Glasgow coma score = 4), caused by acute poisoning with 2 g of metoprolol (Presolol), 1.8 g of diltiazem (Cortiazem) and 50 mg of cilazapril (Zobox). Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied during the first 16 hours of hospitalization, including administration of crystaline solutions (8 L), 17 mg of adrenaline, 4 mg of atropine, 4 mg of glucagone and 1.6 g of dopamine, with electro-stimulation by temporary pacemaker and mechanical ventilation. In a defined time period, normalized state of consciousness was registered, mechanical ventilation was stopped and normal heart activity and hemodynamic stability were accomplished. During hospitalization the patient was treated for mild pneumonia and after ten days, completely recovered, was released and sent to home treatment. CONCLUSION: Prompt measures of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and multidisciplinary treatment in intensive care units significantly increase the chances of complete recovery of a patient with severe poisoning caused by drugs with cardiodepressive efects.