1/5. An unusual intrapleural foreign body: ignored aspiration.A 54-year-old male patient was admitted to our department with fever, dyspnea and chest pain. Left pleural effusion and destroyed left lower lobe was noticed in his computerized chest tomography. After chest tube drainage, massive hemoptysis developed. An emergency thoracotomy was performed. A bronchopleural fistula, destroyed left lower lobe and the head of an oat were detected in the pleural space. Left lower lobectomy and perioperative pneumoperitoneum were performed. The patient had an uneventful postoperative (p.o.) course and was discharged on p.o. day 6. We present this case because of the rarity and to emphasize the clinical presentation. The physicians should be aware of life threatening complications of oat head aspiration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. Parapneumonic empyema. A pitfall in diagnosis.Two patients eventually shown to have empyema were encountered in which the initial thoracentesis revealed fluid compatible with either a simple or a complicated parapneumonic effusion. In both cases, the diagnosis of empyema was made by a second thoracentesis done at a close interval of time from a different site. Therefore, the physician should approach parapneumonic effusions systematically, and remember that in some cases, multiple thoracenteses may be required to make the correct diagnosis of an empyema.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Tension pyopneumothorax.Tension pyopneumothorax is a rare complication of pneumonia and subpleural abscess eroding into the pleural space. We present a case of tension pyopneumothorax in a drug addict. Successful treatment consisted of pleural drainage and parenteral antibiotics. The presence of an air-fluid level accompanying tension pneumothorax on chest radiograph should alert the physician to the possibility of this emergency condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Unusual presentation of cervicothoracic actinomycosis complicated by pericardial effusion: a case report.actinomycosis is a chronic-suppurative disease characterized by abscesses and draining sinus tracts, with fibrosis and granulation involving the face and neck and thoracic or pelvic-abdominal regions. Dermatological findings in patients at high risk are the key to the correct diagnosis. actinomycosis is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until the correct diagnosis is made after surgical resection. Alcoholic, homeless, and disadvantaged individuals and patients with other factors predisposing to infection including poor dentition, alcoholism, seizures, and trauma are common in the emergency department; thus, emergency physicians should be aware of the different presentations and complications of this disease. The treatment of choice is a high dose of penicillin in conjunction with surgical debridement. The prognosis is excellent with correct diagnosis and therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Descending cervical mediastinitis.Descending cervical mediastinitis is an uncommonly reported presentation of infection originating in the head or neck and descending into the mediastinum, which is fraught with impressive morbidity and mortality rates of 30% to 40% or more. We present the INOVA-Fairfax-Alexandria Hospital experience with descending cervical mediastinitis, January 1, 1986, to April 1, 1997; in addition we review the English-language medical and surgical literature with regard to this entity. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging serve to aid both diagnosis and management. The application of broad-spectrum antibiotics should initially be empiric, with an eye to coverage of mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections. Definitive treatment mandates early and aggressive surgical intervention. All affected tissue planes, cervical and mediastinal, must be widely debrided, often leaving them open for frequent packing and irrigation. The treating physician must remain always alert to the further extension of infection, which, if it occurs, must be further debrided and drained. tracheostomy serves a dual role of further opening cervical fascial planes and securing an often compromised airway.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |