Differential cyanosis in a patient with patent ductus arteriosus, severe PH, and right to left shunt (Eisenmenger syndrome).
Note the severe clubbing and cyanosis of the toes as compared to the lesser degree of clubbing and cyanosis of the fingers
Differential cyanosis
●A difference of at least 5% in oxygen saturation (O2 sat) or 20 mm Hg in partial pressure of oxygen (Pao2) between the arms and legs
●Can be a sign of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), or left-heart abnormalities
■A rare variation of differential cyanosis is called reverse differential cyanosis, where the upper extremity oxygen value is less than the lower extremity oxygen value.
*This is most often associated with dextrotransposition of the great arteries (dTGA) with coarctation of the aorta/interrupted aortic arch or with PPHN
A 20-wks pregnant patient is admitted to ICU with septic shock.
Culture reveals listeria.
The patient is known to have had severe anaphylactic reactions to penicillin
What is the drug of choice for this patient?
A) TMP-SMX
B) Clindamycin
C) Vancomycin
D) Ciprofloxacin
Answer:
A) TMP-SMX
In immunocompromised patients, including pregnant women, listeriosis can present as life-threatening sepsis and/or central nervous system (CNS) infection (invasive infection).
In this clinical setting, the mean incubation period is 11 days.
The manifestations of CNS infection include
meningoencephalitis,
cerebritis,
rhombencephalitis (infection and inflammation of the brain stem),
brain abscess, and
spinal cord abscess
●The first line of drugs in severe Listeriosis is ampicillin (or penicillin).
●Some experts add gentamicin, it is not advisable due to its potential toxicity.
●Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), is the drug of choice if a pati
nt is PCN allergic.
●Unfortunately, this should be avoided in the first trimester and the last month of pregnancy.
●In the first trimester, this affects folic acid metabolism, and in the last month, it may cause kernicterus in the fetus.
●In those periods, meropenem can be used.
●This patient is way out of those risk periods for the drug, so the answer is A.
●Vancomycin has been proposed, but the failure rate is very high.
65 year old female on day 7 post colectomy with primary anastomosis.
Dysponea ?infective changes.
Decreased breath sounds at both bases.
Findings?
Cause?
Answer
Subdiaphragmatic free gas secondary to anastomotic leak
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Radiograph
Large volume of free subdiaphragmatic gas with air-fluid levels under both hemidiaphragms.
Bil pleural effusions and bibasal collapse/consolidation.
Cardiomediastinal contour is within normal limits.
Surgical clips project over the LUQ.
CT Abdomen/Pelvis performed approximately 4 hours after the x-ray
●Marked amounts of free fluid and gas within the abdomen.
●Surgical sutures in keeping with a recent subtotal colectomy are noted
●The rectal contrast falls short of the site of anastomosis.
●Free gas locules are predominantly centered within the left upper quadrant corresponding to the region of anastomosis suggesting this is likely the site of perforation.
●The segment of bowel opacified by the rectal contrast demonstrates no extraluminal extravasation.
●The small and large bowel loops are dilated without evidence of mechanical obstruction in keeping with an ileus.
●Bil pleural effusions are associated with almost complete bibasal collapse.