A rare occurrence of Premature Birth and Recurrent Acute Pulmonary Oedema in the mother due to Cushing’s Syndrome: A case report / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

@#Presentation of Cushing’s syndrome during pregnancy is extremely rare. We report a 21-year-old female with Cushing’s syndrome diagnosed at 23 weeks of gestation and had recurrent acute pulmonary oedema during the antepartum and postpartum period. She delivered prematurely via emergency caesarean section at 28 weeks of gestation. This case highlights the rare occurrence of recurrent acute pulmonary oedema during pregnancy and consequential premature birth in a patient with adrenal Cushing’s. She was diagnosed with adrenal Cushing’s during the postpartum period based on unsuppressed serum cortisol after overnight and low-dose dexamethasone suppression test with a suppressed ACTH. CT scan of the adrenal glands revealed a right adrenal cortical adenoma. The risk of complications in infants and mothers who suffer from Cushing’s syndrome needs to be handled carefully. The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome in pregnant women often overlaps and is difficult to establish in early pregnancy.

Near death 18 weeks preeclampsia in molar pregnancy

Authors present a case of a molar pregnancy of 18 weeks with preeclampsia complicated with acute pulmonary oedema. A condition carrying a significant risk to mother, therefore, raising an important issue on preeclampsia symptoms on pregnancies before 20 weeks. A 31-year-old woman gravida 2, parity 1 presented with dyspnea at 18 weeks' gestation. Blood pressure was very high (180/110 mmHg) and there was markedly proteinuria (+4). She had severe dyspnea and her oxygen saturation level was 75%. Her chest X-ray graph showed massive acute pulmonary oedema. Ultrasonography shows endometrial cavity containing multiple small cystic spaces, creating a characteristic “snowstorm” and “cluster of grapes” appearance. Markedly elevated quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (250.000 mIU/mL). The acute pulmonary oedema has been managed by diuretics (Furosemide) and oxygen. There was no cardiac abnormalities in the tranthoracic echocardiogram. Authors administered antihypertensive therapy (intravenous nicardipine and lmethyldopa in per os), and magnesium sulfate in prevention of eclamptic seizures. The pregnancy was terminated by uterine evacuation under oxytocin infusion by manual ultrasound aspiration. She was followed up intensive care unit for two days. Causes of secondary high blood pressure had been eliminated. The patient's blood pressure rapidly normalized two days after delivery. Dyspnea disappeared one day later. Pathologic and cytogenetic analyses revealed a complete hydatiform mole. Two days after delivery; the serum β-hCG level was 99000 mlU/ml. A control ultrasonography shows an empty uterus. Hydatidiform mole is classified into 2 different subtypes, complete hydatidiform mole and partial or incomplete hydatidiform mole development of preeclampsia prior to 20 weeks of gestation should prompt a clinical evaluation to exclude the possibility of an underlying hydatidiform molar pregnancy. Ultrasonography and level of serum BHCG are the initial investigation of choice for the detection of hydatidiform mole. Aspiration is the treatment of reference.

High-altitude pulmonary oedema: Newer treatment modalities for an age-old problem

Background & objectives: High-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) continues to challenge the healthcare providers at remote, resource-constrained settings. High-altitude terrain itself precludes convenience of resources. This study was conducted to evaluate the rise in peripheral capillary saturation of oxygen (SpO2) by the use of a partial rebreathing mask (PRM) in comparison to Hudson's mask among patients with HAPE. Methods: This was a single-centre, randomized crossover study to determine the efficiency of PRM in comparison to Hudson's mask. A total of 88 patients with HAPE referred to a secondary healthcare facility at an altitude of 11,500 feet from January to October 2013 were studied. A crossover after adequate wash-out on both modalities was conducted for first two days of hospital admission. All patients with HAPE were managed with bed rest and stand-alone oxygen supplementation with no adjuvant pharmacotherapy. Results: The mean SpO2on ambient air on arrival was 66.92�.8 per cent for all patients with HAPE. Higher SpO2values were achieved with PRM in comparison to Hudson's mask on day one (86.08�15 vs. 77.23�09%) and day two (89.94�96 vs. 83.39�93%). The difference was more pronounced on day one as compared to day two. Interpretation & conclusions: Mean SpO2values were found to be significantly higher among HAPE patients using PRM compared to those on Hudson's mask. Further studies to understand the translation of this incremental response in SpO2to clinical benefits (recovery times, mortality rates and hospital stay) need to be undertaken.

Valvuloplastia mitral percutánea de emergencia en un paciente con edema pulmonar refractario / Emergency percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in a patient with refractory pulmonary oedema

Resumen La estenosis mitral usualmente es causada por fiebre reumática. A pesar de ser una patología poco frecuente en los países desarrollados, es prevalente en los países en vía de desarrollo, donde aproximadamente dos tercios de la población mundial vive, haciendo de esta condición, una enfermedad valvular común. Es importante considerar la estenosis mitral en el diagnóstico diferencial de los pacientes con edema agudo de pulmón cardiogénico refractario y la valvuloplastia mitral percutánea de emergencia como el tratamiento definitivo. Se presenta el caso de un paciente femenino de 21 años, con edema agudo de pulmón cardiogénico refractario, secundario a estenosis mitral muy severa de origen reumático, tratado con valvuloplastia percutánea con balón de urgencia. Se realiza una revisión sobre la estenosis mitral y se examina el tratamiento con especial énfasis en los casos publicados en la literatura de valvuloplastia mitral percutánea de emergencia.

Abstract Mitral valve stenosis is usually caused by rheumatic fever. Although it is an uncommon disease in developed countries, it is prevalent in developing countries where approximately two-thirds of the world population lives, making this condition a common valve disease. It is important to consider mitral stenosis in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute refractory cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, and emergency percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty as the definitive treatment. The case is presented of a 21 year-old female with acute refractory cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, secondary to a very severe mitral stenosis of rheumatic origin, and who was treated with an urgent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. A review of mitral stenosis is presented, and the treatment is examined, with special emphasis on cases of emergency percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty published in the literature.

Study of Clinical Profile of Organophosphate Compound Poisoning with Special Reference to Electrocardiographic Changes and Electrolyte Derangements

Now a day's compound poisoning is a problem and in that, Organo phosphorus compound (OPC) poisoning is a global problem and is most common medico-toxic emergency in India and is associated with high rate of mortality, if not diagnosed early and treated adequately. We studied clinical profile, electrocardio graphic changes and electrolyte derangements in patients with OPC poisoning. We studied randomly selected 100 patients of OPC poisoning admitted within 12h of consumption[1]. Clinical profile, electrocardiographic changes and serumelectrolytes derangements wereanalyzed on outcome basis. Analysis of electrocardiographic changes will be a useful parameter in assessing prognosis of organophosphate compound poisoning patients. ECG changes like QTc prolongation are potentially dangerous and indicate the necessity of continuous cardiac monitoring[2]. Serum electrolyte derangements are not helpful in assessing prognosis in organophosphorus compound poisoning patients.

Negative pressure pulmonary oedema after routine elective surgery.

Negative Pressure Pulmonary Oedema (NPPE) is known to occur in healthy subjects in the early post anaesthesia period, in the absence of fluid overload or left ventricular dysfunction. This type of non cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is also reported in literature following upper airway obstruction. We report two such cases of negative pressure pulmonary edema. Both the patients developed NPPE during postanaesthesia period due to persistent laryngospasm leading to upper airway obstruction. Both the patients were treated with diuretics, bronchodilators & antibiotics in intensive care unit. Within 24 hours the coarse crepitations disappeared and the patients were weaned off the ventilator. Awareness, early recognition and prompt treatment of negative pressure pulmonary oedema could be life saving.

Fatal stings: Autopsy findings in scorpion envenomation.

Scorpion envenomation represents one of the common clinical emergencies in various parts of India. There is considerable literature regarding clinical manifestations and management protocols; however only a few studies are available dealing with autopsy findings. One of the reasons is that mortality is not very high in scorpion envenomation as compared to snakebite envenomation. The present study describes autopsy findings derived from five cases that were autopsied during a five year period. Common site for scorpion sting appears to be some peripheral part of the body, and the sting mark is usually one in number. In the present series, toxic myocarditis was suspected in 3 cases, while one person manifested cardiogenic shock, and the other had respiratory distress syndrome with multiorgan failure. At autopsy, pulmonary oedema was noted in all the cases, and a state of circulatory failure in 3 cases. Correlation of gross and microscopic findings suggest that a state of shock occurs, resulting in circulatory failure and subsequent multiorgan failure.

Fatal re-expansion pulmonary oedema in a mechanically ventilated patient.

Fatal course of re-expansion pulmonary oedema (REPO) is infrequent and very rarely documented in mechanically ventilated patients. We report a case of fatal REPO following tube thoracostomy for a right-sided pneumothorax in an elderly patient of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with respiratory failure on mechanical ventilation.

Re-expansion pulmonary oedema in chronic pneumothorax.

A case of unilateral re-expansion pulmonary oedema in a chronic pneumothorax is presented. The patient had a longstanding left-sided pneumothorax. Intercostal drainage tube was inserted following which the patient developed severe hypotension and respiratory failure. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) showed partial lung expansion with unilateral pulmonary oedema. The patient responded to the standard management of pulmonary oedema and the lung was fully re-expanded.

A case of pulmonary oedema induced by suffocation / Un caso de edema pulmonar inducido por sofocación

A 57-year old female civilian was suffocated by an intruder. The victim (experienced severe dyspnoea) but violently resisted the assault. Two hours after this event, on admission to a Trauma Centre, she demonstrated left facial swelling with low percutaneous oxygen saturation. Chest X-ray and computed tomography demonstrated pulmonary oedema. This improved dramatically within a short time and she was discharged on the 5th hospital day. Pulmonary oedema induced by suffocation has been reported only rarely. The possible mechan-isms by which pulmonary oedema might form after the relief of airway obstruction are discussed.

Una ciudadana de 57 años fue sofocada por un intruso. La víctima experimentó una disnea severa, pero resistió violentamente el ataque. Dos horas después de este acontecimiento, al ser ingresada en un Centro de Traumas, se le observó hinchazón en el lado izquierdo de la cara, con una baja saturación percutánea de oxígeno. La radiografía del pecho y la tomografía computarizada mostraron un edema pulmonar. Este cuadro clínico mejoró dramáticamente en corto tiempo, y fue dada de alta al quinto día de su hospitalización. El edema pulmonar inducido por sofocación ha sido raramente reportado. Se discuten los posibles mecanismos por los cuales el edema pulmonar podría formarse después de desbloquearse la obstrucción de la vía respiratoria.

Study on the changes of arterial blood gas criteria in animals with acute pulmonary oedema due to intoxicated with nitrogen oxides

In this study, 35 rabbits were divided into 2 groups: group A included 15 rabbits, that were intoxicated with nitrogen oxide at dose 274.48 mg/m3 of the air; and group B included 20 rabbits that were intoxicated at dose 203.04 mg/m3. Results: all of rabbits in group A died from acute pulmonary edema; PaO2 strong decreased after intoxication, CtO2 decreased at 8 hours after intoxication, PaCO2 and t.CO2 in arterial blood increased. In group B, 55% of rabbits died after intoxication, and the changes of blood gas measurements were similar to those in group A. However, these measurements in survival rabbits were decreased after 24h and then increased at 48h after intoxication