ABSTRACT
Dieulafoy's lesions (DLs) are a rare and difficult-to-identify cause of acute gastrointestinal bleeding that can lead to hemorrhagic shock. We present a case of a 23-year-old previously healthy male presenting with melenic stools and hemorrhagic shock. Computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis with oral and intravenous contrast showed a possible source of hemorrhage as a hyperdense intraluminal material within the stomach. Initial urgent esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a large, nonbleeding distal esophageal DL, which was treated successfully with 10 mL of 1:10,000 epinephrine and bipolar cauterization with 10 Fr Gold Probe™. Hemorrhage recurred 2 d later, prompting another esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which found another DL within the gastric fundus. Treatment with epinephrine, Gold Probe™, and through-the-scope Hemoclips was unsuccessful because of difficult visualization and positioning. A subsequent attempt was made using the over-the-scope clip (OTSC) Padlock™ Clip Defect Closure System with successful hemostasis and stabilization of the patient. His hospital course was complicated by left lower lobe segmental pulmonary embolism without right heart strain for which he was discharged on 3 months of anticoagulation with apixaban. On follow-up, there was no recurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) despite 3 months of anticoagulation. He did not complete the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training. This case report demonstrates the evaluation and management of a patient with hemorrhagic shock from two DLs and sustained hemostasis with the Padlock™ OTSC in the setting of apixaban anticoagulation.
Subject(s)
Hemostasis, Endoscopic , Shock, Hemorrhagic , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Adult , Hemostasis, Endoscopic/adverse effects , Hemostasis, Endoscopic/methods , Gastric Fundus/surgery , Gastric Fundus/pathology , Shock, Hemorrhagic/complications , Shock, Hemorrhagic/therapy , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/surgery , Epinephrine , Blood Coagulation , AnticoagulantsABSTRACT
A woman in her mid-60s, without known liver disease, was admitted to the hospital with a partial malignant colonic obstruction. Over a 6-day course, she received a total of 13 g of intravenous acetaminophen not exceeding 4 g over a 24-hour period. She developed encephalopathy and an international normalised ratio of 6.1 meeting criteria for acute liver failure (ALF). She was treated with intravenous N-acetyl cysteine and other causes of liver failure were excluded. The patient was discharged with subsequent resolution of encephalopathy and improvement of her liver chemistries. Though ALF is rare, in countries where acetaminophen is readily available, almost 50% of ALF cases are acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and most have been documented as oral ingestion of acetaminophen. We present a rare case of intravenous acetaminophen-induced ALF.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Liver Failure, Acute , Female , Humans , Acetaminophen/adverse effects , Liver Failure, Acute/etiology , Acetylcysteine/therapeutic use , Brain Diseases/complicationsSubject(s)
Airway Obstruction , Anesthesia , Anesthesia/adverse effects , Humans , Respiratory Muscles , Respiratory SystemABSTRACT
Fostering cultural competence in higher education institutions is essential, particularly in training future health care workers to care for diverse populations. The opportunity to explore techniques to address diversity and cultural competence at a new medical school was undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of librarians, faculty, staff, and medical students. From 2011 to 2015, the team sponsored a voluntary programming series to promote cultural competence and raise awareness of health care disparities for the medical school. Thirteen events were hosted with 562 participants across all. This approach to diversity proved effective and could be adapted in any higher education setting.