ABSTRACT
Aortic dissection is a life-threatening, time-sensitive emergency. Conventional diagnostic imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) can be time-consuming to obtain, and require that the patient leave the emergency department (ED); as such, they are unsuitable for unstable patients. Emergency focused transthoracic echocardiography (ETTE) is commonly performed in the ED as part of the evaluation of a patient presenting with chest pain, but the suprasternal notch view (SSNV) is much less well-known and infrequently included in this assessment. We present a case of a 51-year-old previously healthy man who presented to the ED complaining of chest pain that had resolved prior to arrival, and a mild headache. His vital signs were notable for hypotension, but physical exam was unremarkable. Chest x-ray revealed a borderline widened mediastinum. A standard ETTE was within normal limits, but additional SSNV demonstrated a dissection flap in the aortic arch. The patient was taken to the operating room for surgical repair 75 minutes after the ED ultrasound was performed; the operation was successful, and the patient was discharged to home post-operatively with good outcome. Standard ETTE has limited ability to visualize the ascending aorta and aortic arch. Addition of SSNV allows visualization of these structures and may improve diagnostic accuracy and time to diagnosis of proximal aortic dissection. Topics: Aortic dissection, emergency echocardiography, point-of-care ultrasound, POCUS, emergency ultrasound, suprasternal notch view.
ABSTRACT
The incidence of seizures is generally accepted to be greater in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population, and rarely, MS can initially present as seizure. To present a case report of seizure as the initial symptom of MS, to quantify the occurrence of seizures among MS patients, and to classify patients according to when seizures occur relative to onset of MS. The medical history of patients presenting with MS and seizure in our clinic was examined. In addition, 25 scientific papers were reviewed and the number and characteristics of patients with MS and seizure recorded. Data from the literature review and from our own clinical series were combined and examined. Of the MS patients, 1.95% experienced seizures at any time during life. Patients experiencing seizures before MS diagnosis were classified into three categories: (a) 25 (7.3% of patients with MS and seizures) with seizure as the initial presentation of MS; (b) 27 (7.9%) with seizures appearing with other signs and symptoms of MS; and (c) 68 (20%) with seizures occurring years or an unknown period of time before MS onset. Seizure occurring as a symptom of MS relapse was found in 29 patients. The prevalence of seizures among MS patients was higher than that in the general population, indicating a relationship between seizures and MS. Seizures occurred before MS diagnosis in a small percentage of patients.