Systemic lupus erythematosus in a male patient in lower Assam

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the numerous diseases called “the great imitators” because it frequently resembles or is misdiagnosed as other illnesses. SLE is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects multiple systems and has a wide range of symptoms. The female to male ratio varies between 7 and 15 to 1. A number of observations point to an estrogen impact as the cause of this variance. Because sex hormonal impacts are likely to be modest in youngsters, the female to male ratio is 3:1. Renal involvement and seizures are more common in male SLE patients than photophobia and cutaneous symptoms. Males likewise appear to have a more devastating consequence. As a result, we feel that male lupus patients are uncommon, the illness’s symptoms are life-threatening, and that early discovery of the disease will result in a better outcome for these patients. Here, we report the case of SLE with an unusual presentation in a 44-year-old man from lower Assam to emphasize the importance of a high index of suspicion in such patients.

Sinonasal Plasmablastic Lymphoma Arising in the Setting of Recurrent Nasal Polyposis in an Immunocompetent Individual

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive, rare variant of B-cell lymphoma typically associated with human immunodeficiency virus and other immunocompromised populations. Most commonly found in the oral cavity, PBL can occasionally originate in the sinonasal tract. Diagnosis of PBL is difficult due to overlapping features with other malignancies; however, early detection and treatment are imperative given its aggressive clinical course. When in the sinonasal tract, the diagnostic process can be further complicated if the patient has a history of recurrent nasal polyposis. Described is the case of a 57-year-old immunocompetent male who initially presented with benign nasal polyposis, only to return a year after sinus surgery with a unilateral sinonasal mass consistent with PBL. As literature has yet to characterize this phenomenon, this article presents the first case reported of sinonasal PBL arising in the setting of recurrent nasal polyposis. This case emphasizes the importance of investigating sinonasal masses showing laterality, maintaining a high index of suspicion for malignancy, and keeping close surveillance of the patient after treatment of PBL.

Vesical Gossypiboma with Urethral Migration Causing Acute Urinary Retention: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Vesical gossypiboma is a retained surgical sponge in the urinary bladder following abdominal or pelvic surgery. It is probably under-reported due to medico-legal issues. It usually poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. A high index of suspicion is essential to make a timely diagnosis. Case Presentation: We present a case of vesical gossypiboma in a 64-year-old male patient who presented with a history of persistent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and acute urinary retention following trans-vesical prostatectomy. The urinary retention was relieved by a suprapubic cystostomy. On cystoscopic examination, a large whitish spongiform structure in the urethra and bladder was revealed. A gentle attempt of cystoscopic removal was failed. At exploration, a retained surgical sponge was revealed and removed from the bladder. Postoperatively, the patient reported improvement of symptoms and was passing urine normally. Discussion Vesical gossypiboma is relatively rare as very few isolated cases have been reported, and its migration through the urethra is even rarer. Patients with intravesical gossypiboma may manifest with either acute or chronic symptoms due to complications. Gossypiboma is an avoidable condition, and its occurrence can be prevented by thorough exploration of the surgical site and count of surgical materials at the end of the procedure. Conclusion Vesical gossypiboma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with persistent LUTS following open bladder or prostate surgery. Open surgical removal is one of the feasible treatment options. But prevention is a preferable solution.

Chlorhexidine – a commonly used but often neglected culprit of dialysis associated anaphylactic reactions (case report)

Background Hemodialysis-associated anaphylactic reactions are rare and frequently complex in nature due to the sheer number of possible culprit agents. Unfortunately, dialysis is often unavoidable or strictly essential for life-saving solute clearance or fluid removal in patients with end stage kidney failure and those with severe acute kidney injury. It is of utmost importance that the culprit agent is identified and avoided to allow continuation of dialysis treatment as needed. Case presentation We present 2 cases of hemodialysis-associated anaphylactic reactions. These patients developed anaphylactic reactions peri-dialysis and were initially suspected to have dialyser reactions. They were investigated in a controlled healthcare setting and possible culprit agents were systemically identified and eliminated. They both underwent allergy testing and were diagnosed with chlorhexidine allergy. Of note, Case 1 was an incident dialysis patient at the time of presentation and Case 2 was a prevalent dialysis patient. This suggests that the time from initial sensitization to reaction may not always be helpful in determining if a particular agent is the culprit of an anaphylactic reaction. In both cases, the patients were dialysed through a tunnelled dialysis catheter. We postulate that the presence of an exit site, which represents a compromise to the integrity of the skin’s epidermal barrier, may have a significant role in the development of these reactions. As chlorhexidine is a widely used disinfectant in hemodialysis, it is imperative that we consider it as a possible culprit agent when these reactions arise. To our knowledge, there are no other reported cases of anaphylaxis secondary to chlorhexidine use in dialysis patients other than a previous report in 2017. Our report also highlights the possibility of these reactions occurring more frequently in patients with damaged epidermal barriers and in patients exposed to higher environmental concentrations of chlorhexidine. These are novel concepts that can be explored with further research. Conclusion Chlorhexidine associated anaphylactic reactions can occur in the peri-dialysis setting and a high index of suspicion is paramount to diagnosis.

Patellar Osteomyelitis in a 9-Year-Old Patient with Chronic Granulomatous Disease: A Case Report

Hematogenous osteomyelitis is commonly reported in long tubular bones in the pediatric population. Acute osteomyelitis involving the patella is extremely uncommon in children, and its diagnosis is frequently delayed due to its rarity and variable clinical manifestations. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare genetic immunodeficiency disorder characterized by severe recurrent bacterial and fungal infections. The most commonly affected sites of infection are the lungs, lymph nodes, skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis of the patella associated with CGD has never been reported. Our report describes the first case of acute hematogenous patellar osteomyelitis in a pediatric patient with CGD. Her clinical manifestations were similar to other possible differentials such as septic arthritis; however, use of advanced imaging confirmed the diagnosis, and the patient was successfully managed surgically. Since hematogenous osteomyelitis in children is uncommon, a high index of suspicion and advanced imaging may help with its diagnosis, and in cases where antibiotic treatment proves to be insufficient, prompt surgical management is imperative.

Pneumomediastinum following a dental procedure

Background: Subcutaneous emphysema is a common presentation to the emergency department. The presence of emphysema in the head and neck region due to dental procedure is not common, and the presence of pneumomediastinum is exceedingly rare. Case Report: A young lady, presented to the emergency department with chest pain, found to have pneumomediastinum following a dental procedure including a wisdom tooth extraction. Conclusion: Complications following dental procedures are not uncommon, hence there should be a high index of suspicion for the emergency physicians for such patients, especially those where air turbine dental tools have been used.

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor-induced euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019: a case report

Background Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are among the new-generation oral antihyperglycemic agents that have been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. With the recent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and rise of cases in the third wave, diagnosis of life-threatening euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis may easily be overlooked or missed. Case presentation We present the case of a 37-year-old Malay gentleman with underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus on empagliflozin, who presented to our hospital with symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 infection and diabetic ketoacidosis. He developed severe rebound euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis due to the continuous usage of empagliflozin for glycemic control alongside intravenous insulin. Conclusions Physicians should have a high index of suspicion in diagnosing and managing euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, including withholding treatment of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors during the acute management of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Vesical Gossypiboma with Urethral Migration Causing Acute Urinary Retention: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: Vesical gossypiboma is a retained surgical sponge in the urinary bladder following abdominal or pelvic surgery. It is probably under-reported due to medico-legal issues. It usually poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. A high index of suspicion is essential to make a timely diagnosis. Case Presentation: We present a case of vesical gossypiboma in a 64-year-old male patient who presented with a history of persistent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and acute urinary retention following trans-vesical prostatectomy. The urinary retention was relieved by a suprapubic cystostomy. On cystoscopic examination, a large whitish spongiform structure in the urethra and bladder was revealed. A gentle attempt of cystoscopic removal was failed. At exploration, a retained surgical sponge was revealed and removed from the bladder. Postoperatively, the patient reported improvement of symptoms and was passing urine normally. Clinical Discussion: Vesical gossypiboma is relatively rare as very few isolated cases have been reported, and its migration through the urethra is even rarer. Patients with intravesical gossypiboma may manifest with either acute or chronic symptoms due to complications. Gossypiboma is an avoidable condition, and its occurrence can be prevented by thorough exploration of the surgical site and count of surgical materials at the end of the procedure. Conclusion Vesical gossypiboma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with persistent LUTS following open bladder or prostate surgery. Open surgical removal is one of the feasible treatment options. But prevention is a preferable solution.

Urticarial eruption in COVID-19-positive children: A report of two cases

Recent literature has reported a variety of dermatological manifestations in children and adults associated with COVID-19. Herein, we report urticarial eruptions in two COVID-19-positive children. In the first case, urticaria with angioedema preceded a febrile episode and only partially responded to conventional doses of antihistamines. In the second case, urticaria followed the appearance of fever and upper respiratory symptoms. Both cases recovered completely within two weeks of diagnosis. These cases demonstrate that urticaria and angioedema, precedent or following a febrile illness, with or without respiratory symptoms, may be a presenting symptom of COVID-19 infection in children. A high index of suspicion in such cases helps the early administration of treatment and isolation of the patients to limit the spread of the virus.

Operative Management Considerations in a Patient With Multiple Occult Penetrating Cardiac Injuries

Penetrating cardiac injury remains one of the deadliest traumatic injuries. Early identification and definitive operative management are critical tenets for patient survival; however, variable clinical presentations can obscure the diagnosis. Here, we present the case of a 58-year-old obese man who presented to an urban level 1 trauma center with multiple stab wounds to the epigastrium and lateral left chest in the axillary line with an unknown weapon. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy, median sternotomy, and attempted repair of multiple full-thickness lacerations of the right ventricle and left and right atrium. This case demonstrates several instructive points. First, a high index of suspicion for penetrating cardiac injury is needed, especially during triage of multiple injuries. Second, careful release of cardiac tamponade is critical. Finally, there are several indications for cardiopulmonary bypass, which include multichambered injuries, uncontrollable hemorrhage, and concern for intracardiac injury.