Clinical course and management of an unknown multiple-magnet ingestion in a teenage male.

Foreign body ingestion in the paediatric population, especially when the details surrounding the ingestion are unknown, can be particularly difficult to manage. Magnets pose a unique challenge, as their magnetic field and caustic properties can instigate significant damage to the gastrointestinal tract if not treated in a timely manner. We report the case of a teenage male who presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of cramping and abdominal pain. He was found to have multiple metallic foreign bodies within the lumen of the stomach, the distal ileum and the ascending colon/ileocecal valve region, which he did not have any recollection of ingesting. The management of an unknown multiple-magnet ingestion in the older paediatric population is not well documented, and this case may provide unique insight for the management of similar cases.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome Masquerading as Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome refers to anatomical compression of the celiac artery and/or ganglion by fibrous attachments of the median arcuate ligament. It typically presents as a vague constellation of abdominal symptoms that are often initially attributed to various other gastrointestinal pathologies; thus, it can be very difficult to diagnose. We present a case of median arcuate ligament syndrome in a 68-year-old woman, whose diagnosis and treatment were delayed by many years as her symptoms were taught to be the result of functional abdominal pain syndrome, ultimately corrected by laparoscopic decompression of the celiac axis. This case demonstrates that surgical decompression of the celiac axis is an effective treatment for median arcuate ligament syndrome and the importance of continuing to reassess the clinical picture of patients labeled with functional abdominal pain syndrome.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atrial fibrillation: possible pathophysiological links and therapeutic interventions.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) share common risk factors and appear to have an association. Independently, the incidence and prevalence of both diseases are on the rise. Epidemiological evidence, experimental studies and various randomized clinical trials suggest a link between the 2 entities, delineating cumulative risks and clinical strategies to improve outcomes. Dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, inflammatory milieu, and activation of the renin-angiotensin system are likely common pathophysiological mechanisms linking AF and NAFLD. In this article we review the known pathways and pathophysiology that link the 2 conditions. This review also discusses therapies that target both NAFLD and AF, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, metformin, and vitamin E. We further discuss other potential medications that have shown effects in NAFLD or AF through anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, or renin-angiotensin system inhibiting effects. Future epidemiological studies are needed to establish a direct causal relationship between NAFLD and AF.

The Impact of Appendectomy in Clostridium difficile Infection and Length of Hospital Stay.

Introduction We aim to investigate Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) recurrence, severity, complications, and length of hospital stay in patients with and without prior history of appendectomy who were admitted to the hospital with CDI. Method We analyzed retrospective data for 862 patients, 18 years and older, with C. difficile inpatients diagnosed between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 and sorted into two groups, with or without prior appendicectomy, to look for outcomes such as recurrence, hospital stay, complications, and related death in each group and use statistical analysis for comparison. Result There were 862 patients admitted with CDI, of which 122 (14.2%) had a prior history of appendectomy and 740 (85.8%) did not. Patients with an appendectomy prior were older (median age of 75 vs. 69, p = 0.0033) and had a higher proportion of females (68.9% vs. 53.6%, p = 0.0017). C. difficile recurrence in prior appendicectomy group vs. no appendectomy group was 12.3% and 9.3%, respectively, but no statistical difference was noted (p = 0.28). Also, there was no statistical difference in complications like ileus, colectomy, and mortality related to CDI in both groups. However, patients with appendectomies had significantly shorter hospital stays during C. difficile admission compared to patients without appendectomies (median of six days vs. seven days, p = 0.0014). Conclusion Our study shows that there is no statistical difference in the recurrence, severity, and complications of CDI in the presence or absence of the appendix but remarkably noted that people with prior appendicectomy had a shorter hospital stay.

Amiodarone-Induced Acute Liver Injury.

Amiodarone is a lipophilic structure with a half-life of 25-100 days. Long-term oral amiodarone is associated with photosensitivity, thyroid dysfunction, and pulmonary and hepatic toxicity. Intravenous amiodarone can lead to sweating, heating sensation, nausea, phlebitis at the injection site, and rarely acute hepatitis. This is a compelling case of a 60-year-old male who developed acute liver injury 24-36 h after starting amiodarone. All the possible causes of acute liver injury were ruled out, and his liver enzymes improved after discontinuing amiodarone.

Famotidine induced hypomagnesemia leading to hypocalcemia.

Fifty-five-year-old female with a past medical history of gastroesophageal reflux disease was admitted to hospital due to increased confusion, and muscle cramps for last 15 days. She was taking famotidine 20 mg twice a day for the last 2 years. She was alert and oriented to person and place only. She had dry skin, positive Chvostek's and Trousseau's sign. Blood work showed 141 mmol/L of sodium, 0.7 mg/dl of creatinine, 5.7 mg/dl of calcium, 0.55 mg/dl of magnesium, low PTH but normal parathyroid related peptide PTHrP, vitamin D (25) and vitamin D (1.25). She was discharged home on electrolyte supplements. She was readmitted with very low calcium and magnesium. Extensive workup including 24 h of urine calcium and magnesium was unimpressive. She was treated with IV therapy and discharged to follow up with nephrology in the clinic, and famotidine was discontinued on second discharge. Her calcium and magnesium levels remained normal, and in a few weeks later, oral electrolyte supplements were discontinued.