Hemoptysis due to a mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm in an injecting drug user.

Infected aneurysms of the pulmonary artery are a rare consequence of injected drug use. Hemoptysis of pulmonary arterial origin is also infrequent; however, the mortality is as high as 50%. We report here a case of hemoptysis in an intravenous drug user, caused by a pulmonary artery aneurysm due to septic microemboli, originating from a groin abscess. We highlight the importance of recognizing and treating thromboembolic complications associated with deep venous thrombosis in injecting drug users.

Land mine injuries in the northernmost border of Greece: our experience at the University Hospital of Alexandroupolis during 1991-2003.

We studied the mortality and morbidity caused by land mine injuries in 169 cases that presented at the University General Hospital of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece, during the period of 1991 to 2003. The data analyzed included the emergency room records, the admission records, and the autopsy records from the coroner that provided information on cause of death either in the prehospital phase, the initial treatment, or during the period following definitive surgical repair. Eleven percent of the casualties were lethally injured, the majority of whom died before reaching the hospital. Twenty-eight percent suffered severe injuries that required hospitalization and surgical management, placing an organizational and financial strain upon the hospital's resources, and 40% bore light injuries requiring only ambulatory treatment in the emergency room.