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ST segment elevations (STEs) on an electrocardiogram (EKG) gravitate immediate attention to the heart. However, these EKG changes can sometimes be the result of noncardiac pathologies. Here, we present an interesting case of small bowel obstruction (SBO) masquerading as an inferior wall myocardial infarction. A 77-year-old woman with a history of aortic stenosis status postsurgical aortic valve replacement presented with chest pain. Workup revealed elevated high-sensitivity troponins and STE in the inferior leads. She subsequently underwent a left heart catheterization, which showed no critical plaques or stenosis. Persistent abdominal pain prompted further evaluation with a computed tomography scan of the abdomen, which demonstrated evidence of SBO. Conservative treatment with bowel decompression resulted in symptom improvement and complete resolution of the STEs on a follow-up EKG. This case underscores the importance of considering noncardiac etiologies, such as SBO, in the differential diagnosis of STE on EKG for accurate diagnosis and management.
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Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a cardiac systolic dysfunction caused by various stressful triggers. It is often transient and reversible upon the reversal of the underlying stressor. We present the case of a 70-year-old female with SCM in the setting of gastric volvulus and incarcerated para-esophageal hernia.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Haemophilus influenzae (HI) is an exceedingly rare cause of infective endocarditis (IE). CASE PRESENTATION/METHODS: We present a case of a 90-year-old female diagnosed with HI-IE involving the native tricuspid valve in the absence of traditional risk factors for right-sided endocarditis. She was treated with a 5-week course of IV Ampicillin from negative cultures and suffered no complications. We also conducted a thorough literature review through PubMed and Google Scholar, which yielded a mere 15 reported cases of HI-IE. RESULTS: Fourteen of the reported HI-IE cases included epidemiological data, showing no gender predominance. The mean age of the subjects was 39.5, with the mitral valve being the most implicated (64%) and tricuspid valve involvement being rare (21%). CONCLUSION: Native tricuspid valve IE is an uncommon entity, especially in the absence of IV drug use. Haemophilus influenzae is an extremely rare cause of IE, with a literature review showing merely 15 reported cases. This article cites the 16th case of HI-IE published in the literature.
RESUMO
Gastric pneumatosis, an uncommon radiologic finding characterized by the presence of gas within the gastric wall, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its association with both benign gastric emphysema and more severe emphysematous gastritis. The contrasting outcomes and management approaches for these conditions underscore the necessity for accurate diagnosis and appropriate intervention. We present a case of a 29-year-old female with a medical history significant for type 1 diabetes mellitus who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Initial evaluation revealed elevated blood glucose levels, an anion gap metabolic acidosis, and evidence of gastric pneumatosis on imaging. The patient was managed with aggressive fluid resuscitation and intravenous insulin therapy per diabetic ketoacidosis protocol. General surgery evaluation ruled out the need for acute surgical intervention and attributed the gastric pneumatosis to increased intragastric pressures from prolonged vomiting. The patient was managed with conservative measures, including nasogastric tube decompression and antibiotics. Over the course of a few days, the patient showed signs of clinical and radiologic improvement, with a resolution of symptoms. This case highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate management strategies tailored to the underlying pathology to optimize patient outcomes in cases of gastric pneumatosis.
