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  • Kure Nissen posted an update 1 year, 6 months ago

    Complicated appendicitis, in children, can present with baffling findings. Timely identification of an ill child, adequate workup, prompt resuscitation, and source control are imperative for a successful outcome.Calcium channel blocker (CCB) poisoning frequently presents with cardiovascular complications such as cardiogenic shock and arrhythmia. We present a case of massive verapamil overdose causing refractory noncardiogenic pulmonary edema successfully treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. To our knowledge, this is the first case with these features reported in literature. A 27-year-old female patient presented with an overdose of 18,000 mg of verapamil. Her clinical condition deteriorated to severe hypoxic respiratory failure despite being treated with calcium, high-dose insulin, and full invasive ventilation support. She eventually required venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for three days with full recovery. Large ingestion of verapamil could lead to noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. VV-ECMO might play an important role to support the treatment in severe cases with refractory hypoxia.A 32-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) with a productive cough for 4 days and confusion for 2 days prior to presentation. He was febrile, tachycardic, and hypotensive. Initially, labs and influenza A/B PCR were performed. An elevated WBC of 17.3 and a lactate level of 3.1 were noted. He was given a bolus of normal saline and broad spectrum antibiotics, ceftriaxone and azithromycin. The patient was then subsequently found to be positive for influenza A via rapid antigen testing of the nares. On hospital day 2, the patient’s mental status and respiratory distress worsened requiring intubation with mechanical ventilation. CT of the head without contrast revealed symmetric areas of hypoattenuation in the frontoparietal deep white matter. Lumbar puncture showed a slight elevation in WBCs and mild lymphocytic pleocytosis. Brain MRI without contrast revealed symmetric hyperintense T2 FLAIR signaling in the periventricular white matter and the splenium of the corpus callosum. He was found to haion of rapidly progressive sequelae.Double-inlet left ventricle (DILV) is the commonest form of the anatomic univentricular heart which has different ventriculoarterial connection; generally, the most prevalent type is DILV with the hypoplastic right ventricle on the left side. The disease is associated with several heart defects, and the treatment method is different based on the anatomy of the heart, but treatment methods are almost always palliative. In this paper, we described one adult patient with DILV and severe left AV (atrioventricular valve) stenosis who is managed with a novel palliative intervention; it means AFR (atrial flow regulator) device implantation for the first time.Anesthetic management for patients with certain neuromuscular disorders may be challenging due to contraindications to triggering agents secondary to increased susceptibility for malignant hyperthermia (MH). Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory muscle disease that causes concern for the anesthesiologist due to potential respiratory muscle weakness and hyperkalemia with succinylcholine. Elevated serum creatinine kinase levels found in IBM also raise the possibility of increased susceptibility to MH. This case report describes a successful anesthetic course with special considerations in a patient with IBM undergoing general anesthesia for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).

    Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus (HBV) infection remains a severe problem worldwide. An estimated 240-400 million persons are reported to have chronic HBV infection, and the annual mortality from HBV-related complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was 600,000 persons. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of HBV chronic infection is particularly high while in South Sudan, hepatitis B remains a serious problem of public health importance with health care workers being more at greater risk. Vaccination coverage against HBV is low among all age groups, yet vaccination status among health care workers is not even known in South Sudan. This study aimed at assessing viral hepatitis B vaccination uptake among health care workers at Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba City, South Sudan.

    To assess the uptake of viral hepatitis B vaccination among health care workers in Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba City, South Sudan.

    An analytical cross-sectional study design was conducted targeting 154 health workted with hepatitis B vaccination. Imidazole ketone erastin Availability of the vaccine and vaccination guidelines were the health-related factors associated with hepatitis B vaccination. The government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Health should first track approval of the viral hepatitis B vaccination policy and ensure that it is adopted and implemented by all hospitals. Health care workers must be prioritized and mandatorily vaccinated against viral hepatitis B.

    To measure International Normalized Ratio (INR) in hemodialysis patients with tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs), blood sampling is frequently obtained via the catheter at the start of the session. INR measurements via finger-prick point of care testing (POCT) and via blood sampling taken from the dialysis circuit are evaluated as alternatives.

    In 14 hemodialysis patients with TDCs, treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA), INR measurements via POCT were compared with plasma INR samples taken via the catheter at the start of dialysis and via the dialysis circuit after 30 and 60 minutes during 3 nonconsecutive dialysis sessions.

    Blood samples taken at the start of dialysis at the catheter site were frequently contaminated with heparin originating from the locking solution (unfractionated heparin concentration (UFH) >1.0 IU/ml in 13.2%). POCT INR at the start of dialysis was not different from plasma INR after 30 and 60 minutes (Wilcoxon test

    =0.113,

     = 37, and

    =0.631,

     = 36, respectively). Moreover, there was no difference between POCT INR at the start of dialysis and POCT INR after 30 and 60 minutes (Wilcoxon test

    =0.