Radial artery pseudoaneurysm: a simplified treatment method.

A radial artery pseudoaneurysm represents a rare, potentially catastrophic complication of arterial cannulation that has been reported after cardiac catheterization. Treatment options are limited to chemical, mechanical, and combined approaches to obliterate the radial artery pseudoaneurysm and tract. Manual compression protocols using the TR Band (Terumo Medical Corporation, Somerset, NJ) have been variable and anecdotal, without objective measurements of adequate compression, making this technique prone to failure. In this report, we present an efficient, safe, and noninvasive management protocol using a pulse oximeter and the TR Band for treatment of radial artery pseudoaneurysms that is cost-effective and efficient and ensures correction without occlusion of the radial artery.

An Unusual Case of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome.

A 21-year-old pregnant female with no significant past medical history presented with acute onset headache and nausea as well as tonic-clonic seizures, then rapidly decompensated into a coma with complete absence of brainstem reflexes. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP syndrome) and subsequent posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) with brainstem involvement. Emergent delivery and blood pressure control resulted in rapid and complete neurologic recovery.