Use of high-flow nasal cannula in obese patients receiving colonoscopy under intravenous propofol sedation: A case series.

Intravenous sedation during colonoscopy has become the standard practice in the United States given its higher patient satisfaction and procedural quality. This practice is not free of side effects as a significant proportion of patients undergoing this procedure tend to have respiratory depression and desaturation events. Obesity, as it relates to higher levels of body mass index (BMI) has a positive correlation with the incidence of hypoxemia. During colonoscopy High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) may potentially improve oxygen performance in patients receiving colonoscopy under intravenous sedation. Here we present 3 cases of patients undergoing adjunctive oxygen therapy with HFNC during colonoscopy with intravenous sedation. We found patients to have lower number of desaturation events and were satisfied with their experience.

Feasibility and Safety of Flexible Bronchoscopy Performed Via Tracheal Tubes in Patients With Tracheostomies: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is commonly performed to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with respiratory disease, and is typically performed via transnasal or transoral approaches. FB can be performed via tracheal tubes in patients with tracheostomies; however, the safety and technical feasibility has not been established. The present study evaluates the safety and feasibility of performing FB via tracheal tubes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients underwent 56 procedures involving FB via tracheal tubes at a single institution from November 2013 to November 2014 and were included in this retrospective case series. RESULTS: Patients had a median age of 68 years (interquartile range, 56 to 82.5), and 51% were female. Most patients had 2 comorbidities (interquartile range, 1 to 3), with the most common being hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Upper airway obstruction was the primary indication for bronchoscopy in 40% of patients. Fifty-three percent of patients had a Shiley tube #6, [internal cannula diameter (ICD) of 6.5 mm]; tracheal tubes in the remaining patients ranged from Shiley #4 (ICD, 5.5 mm) to Shiley #8 (ICD, 8.5 mm). One patient did not complete the procedure due to severe hypertension (intraprocedural systolic blood pressure >180 mm Hg). During FB, no patients experienced cardiorespiratory arrest, arrhythmia, bleeding, or desaturation that required resuscitation. Eleven patients had a mucus plug leading to atelectasis during bronchoscopy, and 8 of these had a postprocedural chest x-ray finding of lung reexpansion. CONCLUSION: FB via tracheal tubes is a technically feasible and safe procedure that does not compromise patient oxygenation.

Primary Psychiatric Disorder Masking the Diagnosis of Neuropsychiatric Lupus in a Patient with Altered Mental Status: A Case Report.

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) has a wide variety of neurologic and psychiatric features. NPSLE symptoms and the psychotic features of primary psychiatric disorders often overlap with each other. These psychotic features often mask and delay the diagnosis of NPSLE. We present the case of a 59-year-old female previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder presenting with altered mental status (AMS), subsequently diagnosed with neuropsychiatric lupus. Initially, medication overdose was suspected as an empty bottle of trazodone was found beside her. Obtaining an appropriate history was difficult due to the patient's altered mental status and absence of family members at bedside. The patient was found to have an elevated gamma gap, and further workup was pursued. Subsequently, positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA) was detected. During the hospitalization, she was found to meet the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein with no bacteria and likely a non-infectious process. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spectroscopy of the brain revealed a reversal of normal Hunter's angle, with elevated choline-to-creatine ratio within the white matter, and a lactate peak, which may be present in neuropsychiatric lupus. The patient was diagnosed with SLE with neuropsychiatric manifestations. Consequently, a kidney biopsy was obtained showing Class IV diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis with fibrillary component likely related to lupus nephritis. The patient was started on treatment for neuropsychiatric lupus, which includes treatment for lupus nephritis with high dose pulse methylprednisolone. The anti-dsDNA titers decreased from 81 to 15 IU/ml and the patient displayed a gradual improvement in her mental status. She was started on cyclophosphamide while inpatient and discharged with the combination of cyclophosphamide, prednisone, along with rheumatology follow-up. This case stresses the importance of ruling out organic causes of AMS before diagnosing patients with a psychiatric disorder. Not every patient with SLE will meet the criteria for diagnosis at the same point in time; hence, it is important to obtain an appropriate history and physical examination to support such diagnosis. We believe our patient had a neuropsychiatric manifestation of SLE, which demonstrates the importance to keep this diagnosis in the list of differentials when assessing a patient presenting with AMS.

Left Main Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in a Young Male with Rheumatic Heart Disease and Porcelain Aorta.

We highlight the presence of a calcified mass in the left main coronary artery without significant atherosclerosis seen in the other coronary arteries or in the peripheral large arteries. In our view, the calcified character of the obstruction and the calcification of the aortic valve are characteristic of a variant type of coronary artery disease (CAD) not associated with the same risk factors as diffuse coronary atherosclerosis, but, in this case, with rheumatic heart disease. This case report also emphasizes the interventional approach for patients with aortic valve stenosis secondary to rheumatic heart disease.