Acute Mesenteric Ischemia With Secondary Thromboembolism: A Rare Complication.

Acute mesenteric ischemia presents a clinical challenge due to its subtle presentation and high mortality rate, which can mimic a variety of other conditions. Acute mesenteric ischemia requires a high index of suspicion, especially in those with comorbidities and risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral arterial disease. The inciting thrombus commonly originates in the left atrial appendage or left atrium, embolizing to occlude mesenteric vessels, with resulting gut ischemia. Patients commonly present with post-prandial abdominal pain as mesenteric vascular demands increase, though diarrhea and gastrointestinal bleeding may be the presenting symptom. CT angiography of the abdomen and pelvis provides rapid confirmation of the diagnosis and visualization of the thrombus, aiding vascular surgical management. The authors present a novel case of a 69-year-old female with an acute mesenteric ischemia of her superior mesenteric artery and a second acute arterial thromboembolism to the right axillary artery visualized from her left atrial appendage.

A Case of Brodie's Abscess With Tibial Erosion and Extravasation Into Surrounding Soft Tissue.

Atraumatic limb pain and limp is a common pediatric presentation in the emergency department in the United States. In a majority of cases, these presentations are benign. However, in cases where pediatric patients are repeatedly presenting for atraumatic limb pain, further investigation is required. We present such the case of a 14-year-old female with acute worsening of progressive atraumatic knee pain who was found to have a Brodie's abscess, a subacute pyogenic form of osteomyelitis. This is a particularly challenging diagnosis, as it often presents with no associated symptoms such as fever or weight loss. The consequences of missing this diagnosis include permanent disability and potential amputation, but excellent outcomes can be expected for those who undergo timely surgical debridement and irrigation. We discuss the etiology, common presentations, and treatment of this rare but potentially limb-threatening disease in the hope that clinicians will consider this diagnosis in cases of persistent or progressive atraumatic limb pain.