Cryptococcal Pneumonia in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Rare Occurrence.

Cryptococcosis is an invasive yeast infection commonly found among immunosuppressed patients. Pulmonary cryptococcal infection can have variable presentations ranging from pulmonary nodules and masses to consolidation. A patient can present with shortness of breath, cough, sputum production, chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss. Diagnosis can be made using fungal culture, histology, radiographic findings, and cryptococcal antigen in serum as well as in the cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment is usually with a combination or a single antifungal agent. Few cases have been reported in immunocompetent individuals. Here we present a case of 69-year-old immunocompetent individual, who was initially seen in the outpatient clinic for dyspnea, cough, and fatigue and was treated for pneumonia. The patient remained symptomatic despite multiple courses of oral antibiotics. He was then sent for inpatient admission. CT scan was obtained that showed patchy infiltrates and consolidations, followed by bronchoscopy. The cytology confirmed adenocarcinoma. The fungal smear and culture grew Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient was treated with fluconazole with improvement of his symptoms before starting chemotherapy. We are reporting this case as clinicians usually focus on bacterial etiologies in outpatient setting. Our patient, who was immunocompetent, had a new diagnosis of cryptococcal pneumonia and was also found to have lung adenocarcinoma. This case highlights the rare occurrence of this type of pneumonia in immunocompetent patients and the importance of considering fungal causes of pneumonia in patients.

Utility of color flow Doppler ultrasound to identify peripheral intravenous catheter position in adult surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate color flow Doppler flow ultrasound compared to standard clinical techniques, to detect the intravascular position of peripheral intravenous catheters in adult surgical patients. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in adult (>18 years old) patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery. Peripheral intravenous catheter position was evaluated with standard clinical techniques (free flow of fluid from a hanging bag, easy saline injection, and aspiration of blood), and with color flow Doppler ultrasound proximal to the insertion site to identify intravascular catheter position. Comparative test performance was carried out. RESULTS: In total, 174 patients were enrolled. The venous catheter was deemed to be intravascular in 92.53% (n = 161) and 90.23% (n = 157) based on clinical evaluation and color flow Doppler, respectively (p = 0.206). Moderate to substantial agreement between the two approaches was found. Cohen's kappa was 0.64 (95% CI 0.43-0.83). Specificity of clinical judgment to detect catheter extravascular position was only 58.82%, when the color flow Doppler technique was set as the gold standard. Free flow from a hanging bag method showed the best agreement with color flow Doppler to determine intravascular position of a catheter (p = 0.3173, kappa = 0.68), with sensitivity of 98.09% and specificity of 64.71%. CONCLUSION: Color flow Doppler is a specific tool complementary to sensitive clinical indicators to detect peripheral venous catheter infiltration. The ability of color flow Doppler to accurately determine the position of a peripheral venous catheter depends on experience and familiarity with the tool by providers, who can master the technique with education and training.

Manejo da dor crônica / Chronic pain management

O presente capítulo tem como objetivos a explanação, classificação, abordagem e manejo da dor crônica na prática médica. Foi escolhido dada sua importância no dia-a-dia do profissional de saúde. Este capítulo está dividido em introdução, classificação, neurofisiologia da dor, apresentação do paciente com dor crônica, tratamento e conclusão.

Our aim in this chapter is to explain, classify, assess and manage chronic pain in medical practice. The topic was chosen due to its relevance in daily health care practice. This chapter is divided into introduction, classification, pain neurophysiology, the patient presented with chronic pain, treatment and conclusion.

Manejo da queimadura de mão / Management of hand burn

O tratamento adequado do paciente queimado não se limita apenas em melhorar sua sobrevida, mas também na recuperação do aspecto funcional e estético da área acometida. Esse conceito é indispensável, sobretudo no manejo de queimaduras em áreas especiais, como em queimaduras de mão, que exigem uma abordagem inicial precoce e especifica objetivando preservar sua função.

Proper treatment of burn patients is not limited only to improve survival, but also the recovery of functional and aesthetic appearance of the affected area. This concept is essential, especially in the management of burns in special areas, such as hand burns, requiring an early initial approach and specifies aiming to preserve its function.

Sangramento vaginal anormal na emergência / Abnormal vaginal bleeding in emergency

O sangramento vaginal anormal é um sintoma frequente das pacientes que procuram a emergência. Podemos atribuir esse sangramento tanto às doenças do trato genital inferior, quanto do superior. As hipóteses diagnósticas para este sintoma variam de acordo com a faixa etária em que ocorre. Neste trabalho, revisamos os principais diagnósticos e tratamentos relacionados ao sangramento vaginal anormal conforme a idade.

Abnormal vaginal bleeding is a common symptom of patients visiting the emergency room. Diseases either in the lower or in the upper genital tract can cause this disorder. The possible diagnoses for this symptom vary with the age at which it occurs. In this paper, we review the diagnostics and treatments of this condition related to the patient age at which it occurs.