Transient Cardiomyopathy and Quadriplegia Induced by Ephedrine Decongestant.

Ephedrine decongestant products are widely used. Common side effects include palpitations, nervousness, and headache. More severe adverse reactions include cardiomyopathy and vasospasm. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 37-year-old woman who presented with acute-onset quadriplegia and heart failure. She had a normal chest radiograph on admission, but developed marked pulmonary edema and bilateral effusions the next day. Echocardiography revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.18 and no obvious intrinsic pathologic condition such as foramen narrowing on spinal imaging. Laboratory screening was positive for methamphetamines in the urine, and the patient admitted to having used, over the past several weeks, multiple ephedrine-containing products for allergy-symptom relief. She was ultimately diagnosed with an acute catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy and spinal artery vasospasm consequential to excessive use of decongestants. Her symptoms resolved completely with supportive care and appropriate heart-failure management. An echocardiogram 2 weeks after admission showed improvement of the left ventricular ejection fraction to 0.33. Ten months after the event, the patient was entirely asymptomatic and showed further improvement of her ejection fraction to 0.45. To our knowledge, ours is the first report of spinal artery vasospasm resulting in quadriplegia in a human being after ephedrine ingestion.

Ultrasound for internal medicine physicians: the future of the physical examination.

OBJECTIVES: With the advent of compact ultrasound (US) devices, it is easier for physicians to enhance their physical examinations through the use of US. However, although this new tool is widely available, few internal medicine physicians have US training. This study sought to understand physicians' baseline knowledge and skill, provide education in US principles, and demonstrate that proper use of compact US devices is a skill that can be quickly learned. METHODS: Training was performed at the Mayo Clinic in June 2010 and June 2011. The participants consisted of internal medicine residents. The workshop included didactics and hands-on US experiences with human and cadaver models in a simulation center. Pretests and posttests of residents' knowledge, attitudes, and skills with US were completed. We reassessed the 2010 group in the spring of 2012 with a long-term retention survey for knowledge and confidence in viewing images. RESULTS: A total of 136 interns completed the workshop. Thirty-nine residents completed the long-term retention survey. Posttest assessments showed a statistically significant improvement in the knowledge of US imaging, confidence in identifying structures, image identification, and image acquisition (P < .0001). In the long-term retention study, knowledge of US imaging and confidence in identifying structures did decline. CONCLUSIONS: This educational intervention resulted in improvement in US knowledge and image acquisition. However, the knowledge diminished over time, suggesting that further education is needed if US is to become an important component of internal medicine training and practice.

Effect of ramipril on walking times and quality of life among patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2013; 309: 453-460.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of the trial was to examine whether ramipril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), improves walking distance and health-related quality of life in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) associated with claudication. STUDY POPULATION: The study enrolled 212 patients with risk factors and symptoms of PAD treated by conventional therapies at three centers in Australia. All patients had an ankle-brachial index (ABI) of less than 0.90 at rest and intermittent claudication in at least one leg, which were stable for at least 6 preceding months along with the medication regimen. The patients were excluded if blood pressure was not controlled (brachial blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg or greater); if there was current or recent use of either ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, potassium-sparing diuretics, or potassium supplements; renal failure (serum creatinine level 2.3 mg/dL or greater [200 µmol/L]); renal artery stenosis; previous coronary or peripheral artery revascularizations, recent myocardial infarction and other health conditions other than PAD that could adversely influence walking ability at the time of screening and for 1 year thereafter. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple blinded study of ramipril at the high daily dose (10 mg) for 6 months. Primary outcomes were pain-free and maximum walking times assessed by a standard treadmill exercise test. Secondary outcomes were ABI changes; symptoms and functional status assessed by the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ)(1); health-related quality of life assessed by the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36)(2); and stenosis severity assessed by duplex ultrasound of the lower limb arteries. At baseline and at follow-up, pain-free and maximum walking distances were assessed by the standard constant load treadmill exercise test performed at a speed of 3.2 km/h and a grade of 12%.(3) ABI was calculated in both legs. Duplex ultrasonography was used to determine stenosis in lower-limb vessel segments. Functional changes per WIQ, and perceived disability assessed on the Physical Component Summary and the Mental Component Summary of the SF-36 were self-reported. Sample size was calculated as 100 patients per each group needed to provide a power of 80% at an α of 0.05 to detect a 120-second change in walking time and a 65-second change in pain-free walking time. A two-sided p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Baseline variables were compared using the χ(2) test and one-way analysis of variance. The analysis of covariance model with baseline and post-treatment values after 6 months used Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance. Imputations for missing 6-month data were performed. Data were analyzed on the intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Of 921 potential participants screened, 212 eligible participants were randomized into equal-sized ramipril and placebo groups where baseline parameters were not different. Compliance was monitored by pill count and adverse effects were monitored through interval clinical assessments, laboratory tests, and telephone calls. There was a 100% adherence rate to the study medications among 200 patients who completed the study. Ramipril was associated with a 75-second increase in mean pain-free and a 255-second increase in maximum walking time. There was a modest (less than 5 mmHg) blood pressure reduction and a small (0.1) ABI increase at rest and after exercise compared to placebo. The maximum walking time increase after ramipril therapy compared to placebo was greater in the subgroup of patients with femoropopliteal disease (286 seconds) than in those with aortoiliac disease (127 seconds). Patients treated with ramipril showed improvement of the median distance, speed and stair climbing scores on the WIQ, as well as of the Physical, but not the Mental, Component Summary score on the SF-36. The most frequent side effect was dizziness, more common in the ramipril (8.5%) than in the placebo (2.8%) group. Persistent cough occurred in 6.6% of patients on ramipril, causing their withdrawal from the study.

Outcomes of venoplasty with stent placement for chronic thrombosis of the iliac and femoral veins: single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To assess retrospectively 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year patency of chronically occluded iliofemoral venous thrombotic lesions treated with stent placement in a case series from a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 189 consecutive patients treated by interventional radiology for iliofemoral venous occlusions between March 1, 2003, and December 1, 2008, were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 89 patients (27 men; median age, 46.2 y) with chronic iliac or iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis without involvement of the inferior vena cava met criteria for analysis. RESULTS: All patients (91 limbs) successfully underwent placement of venous self-expanding stents. Patency rate at discharge was 100%. Following the index procedure, mean pressure gradient across the lesion decreased from 5.63 mm Hg (95% CI, 3.51-7.75) to 0.71 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.08-1.34; P < .0001). There were no bleeding complications. Median follow-up was 11.3 months (range, 0.8-72.4 mo). Follow-up at 30 days demonstrated 90 of 91 limbs to be patent. Primary patency rates of treated limbs at 1 and 3 years were 81% and 71%, respectively. Primary patency was lost in 17 cases (19.1%); interventions to maintain or restore stent patency were performed in 13 cases (14.6%). Primary assisted limb patency rates at 1 and 3 years were 94% and 90%, respectively; secondary patency rate was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Angioplasty with stent placement for treatment of chronically thrombosed iliofemoral veins is a low-risk procedure with acceptable patency rates for as long as 3 years. The outcomes in patients treated in a quaternary referral center are similar to those reported by other centers.

Bilateral traumatic chylothorax treated by thoracic duct embolization: a rare treatment for an uncommon problem.

Prolonged chylothorax is a rare, life-threatening, pleural effusion that may be encountered in the setting of trauma. Conservative treatment may be successful and is the traditional approach in cases of limited chyle output. Early surgical intervention is required in cases with large refractory chyle output, but may be associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous thoracic duct embolization is an uncommon, minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment alternative. We report a case of successful thoracic duct embolization to treat large-volume chylothorax due to blunt trauma.

Acrocyanosis: the Flying Dutchman.

Acrocyanosis is symmetric, painless, discoloration of different shades of blue in the distal parts of the body that is marked by symmetry, relative persistence of the skin color changes with aggravation by cold exposure, and frequent association with local hyperhidrosis of hands and feet. Described over a century ago and despite seeming familiarity, it remains a poorly understood condition that shares much in clinical presentation with other conditions characterized by skin color changes in the distal parts of the body. The diagnosis remains mostly clinical, and pathological mechanisms vary suggesting that acrocyanosis may not be a single entity. We performed an extensive literature review to summarize existing knowledge about the demographics, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.

Fibrin d-dimer concentration, deep vein thrombosis symptom duration, and venous thrombus volume.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the relationship between fibrin D-dimer levels, symptom duration, and thrombus volume, consecutive patients with incident deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were evaluated. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study design, patient symptom onset was determined by careful patient questioning. Venous thrombosis was confirmed by compression duplex ultrasonography. Thrombus volume was estimated based on patient's femur length using a forensic anthropology method. Fibrin D-dimer was measured by latex immunoassay. RESULTS: 72 consecutive patients with confirmed leg DVT agreed to participate. The median symptom duration at the time of diagnosis was 10 days. The median D-dimer concentration was 1050 ng/dL. The median thrombus volume was 12.92 cm(3). D-Dimer levels correlated with estimated thrombus volume (P < .0006 CI 0.12-0.41; R(2) (adjusted) = .15) but not symptom duration, patient's age, or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Despite varying symptom duration prior to diagnosis, fibrin D-dimer remains a sensitive measure of venous thrombosis and correlates with thrombus volume.

Enhancing national capacity to conduct child and family disaster mental health research.

A substantial number of children and families experience emotional difficulties in the aftermath of disasters and terrorist events. Only recently has training in disaster preparedness and response been systematically incorporated into the curricula of mental health disciplines. The goal of the Child & Family Disaster Research Training & Education Program is to enhance the nation's capacity and infrastructure needed to conduct rigorous disaster mental health research on children and families. This article describes the creation and training of 10 specialized research teams, curriculum development, implementation of the program, and progress to date as well as lessons learned and challenges to sustainability.

Nutcracker phenomenon and nutcracker syndrome.

Nutcracker phenomenon refers to compression of the left renal vein, most commonly between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, with impaired blood outflow often accompanied by distention of the distal portion of the vein. The nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is the clinical equivalent of nutcracker phenomenon characterized by a complex of symptoms with substantial variations. Depending on specific manifestations, NCS may be encountered by different medical specialists. Although it may be associated with substantial morbidity, the diagnosis of NCS is often difficult and is commonly delayed. Diagnostic and treatment criteria are not well established, and the natural history of NCS is not well understood. We performed an initial review of the literature through MEDLINE, searching from 1950 to date and using the keywords nutcracker syndrome, nutcracker phenomenon, and renal vein entrapment. We performed additional reviews based on the literature citations of the identified articles. We attempted to elucidate clinical relevance of these conditions and their prominent features and to summarize professional experience.

Qualitative methods in the development of a national child and family disaster mental health research training program.

Conducting research in the aftermath of disasters is complicated by chaotic conditions, competing priorities, and resource constraints, and raises a variety of ethical concerns. Ultimately, research should extend our understanding of the impact of disasters on children, families, and communities and translate findings into improved services and public policies that afford enhanced protection and promote recovery. Unfortunately, the existing research base on children and disasters has not been adequate to inform the development of effective psychosocial services and interventions, and decision-making about the allocation of behavioral health resources. To improve research capacity, the Child & Family Disaster Research Training & Education program provides child disaster mental health research training for mental health and public health professionals. The program has engaged a national faculty to develop a comprehensive modular disaster research curriculum covering basic concepts, current knowledge, clinical issues and interventions, research and ethical issues, public health structures, and response options. Focus groups were held prior to training to elicit the participants' knowledge of and attitudes about child and family disaster mental health research, to understand training needs, to identify research topics of interest and perceived barriers to generating and conducting research. The results were then used to refine the curriculum.