ABSTRACT
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is caused by neonatal asphyxia and can lead to mortality or long-term neurodevelopmental morbidity in neonates. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is one of the few effective ways to manage mitigating neurologic sequelae. The authors describe the case of a neonate who had a perinatal hypoxic insult and sustained no long-term sequelae after being treated with TH. It is important that osteopathic physicians who provide obstetric and gynecologic, perinatal, and emergency medical care are able to recognize a perinatal hypoxic event, understand the stratification of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy risk factors, and implement early TH protocols.
Subject(s)
Asphyxia Neonatorum/therapy , Hypothermia, Induced , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/therapy , Obstetric Labor Complications , Adult , Asphyxia Neonatorum/diagnosis , Asphyxia Neonatorum/etiology , Female , Humans , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/diagnosis , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/etiology , Infant, Newborn , Male , PregnancyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAV) is the most common cardiac valve pathology. BAV is associated with aortic root disorders. The literature has few case reports identifying this condition during routine physical exam. CASE REPORT: A 42-yr-old military reservist flight medic presented for his annual military flight physical. He was found to have a faint cardiac murmur. His past family and medical history were remarkable for familial essential hypertension and being told at age 9 that he had a "murmur." He was referred for cardiology consultation, echocardiography, stress testing, and a computerized tomography angiogram (CTa), which identified BAV with a 4.3-cm aortic root aneurysm. A follow-up at 1 yr was recommended. In the interim he developed severe aortic valve insufficiency, a 4.6-cm aortic root aneurysm. The valve and aortic root were repaired and a single left anterior descending coronary artery lesion was bypassed during surgery. The flight medic made a full recovery but was not returned to flight status. DISCUSSION: This case emphasizes the importance of periodic reassessment by thorough history and careful cardiac auscultation during flight physicals. BAV aortopathy is an uncommon condition seen in the military aviation community. Most flight surgeons will not have the opportunity to identify it specifically via auscultation. This patient had over nine annual flight physicals prior to the one reported and no pathology was ever identified through routine auscultation. The potential role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for survey of vascular and valve status of aviation personnel merits further research.
