ABSTRACT
We are reporting a case of missed blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI). A 28 year male presented with chest pain following a motor vehicle accident. He was discharged following normal clinical signs and chest radiograph. The following day he complained of lower limb weakness. Traumatic aortic dissection was revealed via computer tomography (CT) of the thorax. BTAI cannot be ruled out with normal clinical signs and chest radiograph alone. CT thorax is mandatory to rule out BTAI in high impact chest injury.
ABSTRACT
Aluminium phosphide (ALP) is highly toxic and poisoning can result in high mortality rates. A 26-year-old female who allegedly ingested a toxic dose of ALP presented with vomiting and diarrhoea. She developed cardiac arrest with refractory pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Despite aggressive resuscitation, she succumbed to death seven hours following ingestion. In cases like this, a better outcome can be achieved with early arrival, prompt diagnosis, aggressive resuscitation and intensive monitoring.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the correlation between central venous pressure (CVP) measured by conventional central venous access and ultrasonographic measurement of internal jugular vein (IJV) height and inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, convenience sampling observational study. Results: 25 patients from the Emergency Department (ED) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were studied between 1st March and 30th April 2013. The median age was 63 years (95% CI 54-67). There was a significant correlation between IJV height and CVP using central venous access (r=0.64 p8cm predicted a CVP >8cm H2O (sensitivity 71.4%, specificity of 83.3%). Conclusion: Measurement of IJV height and IVC diameter by ultrasonography correlates well with invasive CVP and is useful for the assessment of volume status in critically ill patients in the ED.