Submassive (intermediate risk) pulmonary embolism (PE) continues to be a significantly morbid disease process that remains unrecognized, inadequately risk stratified and suboptimally treated. Appropriate early clinical and imaging-based risk stratification represents the cornerstone for adequate therapeutic decision making, particularly for the selection of candidates who may benefit the most from systemic thrombolysis. The relevance of estimating clinical prognostic scores, in combination with imaging data, for accurate assessment of right ventricular function and laboratory biomarkers, indicative of myocardial injury for identification of normotensive patients at intermediate risk for an adverse short-term outcome are emphasized in this review. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated improvement in hemodynamics and mortality with the use of systemic thrombolysis among intermediate risk patients; however, it came at the cost of a significantly increased risk of major bleeding. Catheter-based therapies have garnered considerable clinical interest in recent years; of particular note is the ultrasound accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis which has emerged as a novel and attractive alternative therapeutic modality with an increasing number of single center studies and ongoing randomized trials. Our review focuses on the major trials and studies involved in submassive PE in the recent literature including the role of thrombolytic therapy. We include major trials with reasonable sample size and extensive review of the potential side effects, such as major bleeding.
Patient: Male, 29Final Diagnosis: MyopericarditisSymptoms: Chest painMedication: IbuprofenClinical Procedure: —Specialty: CardiologyObjective:Unusual clinical courseBackground:Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal substance worldwide and its consumption portends significant side effects. Nowadays, in order to increase its psychotropic effect, various substances are being added constantly to it to promote its potency that might hold toxic effects to different organs including the heart and might lead to other unreported complications such as myopericarditis. Herein, we are presenting a unique case of recurrent myopericarditis after the consumption of contaminated marijuana, an association that has not been reported in literature before.Case Report:A 29-year-old man presented to our institution with pressure-like left-sided chest pain that is aggravated by cough and deep inspiration and relieved by sitting and leaning forward. Examination revealed pericardial rub and workup showed elevated white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and troponin I level of 2.99 ng/ml. ECG upon admission showed ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads with PR-segment depression. Echocardiogram revealed only concentric hypertrophy. Patient was admitted to another institution with similar symptoms 2 months earlier. Patient admitted to using adulterated Marijuana on both occasions prior to hospitalization. Review of medical records from the outside hospital revealed similar ECG and laboratory findings. Treatment with Ibuprofen resulted in resolution of patient’s symptoms and ECG abnormalities.Conclusions:Recurrent myopericarditis in our patient is likely the result of consumption of contaminated Marijuana. Careful history taking in patients presenting with myopericarditis is crucial as it might be the causal link.
Patient: Male, 22Final Diagnosis: Lemierre’s syndromeSymptoms: Dyspnea • chest pain • swellingMedication: —Clinical Procedure: ThoracentesisSpecialty: Infectious DiseasesObjective:Rare co-existance of disease or pathologyBackground:Lemierre’s syndrome (LS) is a rare syndrome caused by an acute oropharyngeal infection with metastatic spreading. It was described in 1939 as jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis associated with retropharyngeal infection. Different organisms can cause LS, such as Fusobacterium species, Peptostreptococcus, group B and C, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Enterococcus species, but the most commonly isolated pathogen is Fusobacterium necrophorum, a common oral flora. Management depends on the initial presentation, type of pathogen isolated, and proper selection of antibiotics.Case Report:We report a case of a 22-year-old man with no past medical history, who presented with left jaw pain and progressive left facial area swelling associated with dyspnea. A final diagnosis of LS was made based on criteria of computed tomography (CT) of the neck and the clinical symptoms. The patient was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Subsequent imaging of the chest showed pleural effusion with septic emboli. He underwent thoracentesis and chest tube placement. Final blood cultures were remarkable for gram-negative rods – Prevotella anaerobes – which supported the diagnosis of LS. His condition improved, including the dyspnea, and he was discharged on the proper antibiotics coverage with outpatient follow-up.Conclusions:LS is a rare condition associated with metastatic infection spreading. This syndrome can be associated with further complications, such as pleural effusions and/or empyemas. Early recognition is important to prevent fatal complications and provide adequate antibiotics coverage. We report only the third case in the medical literature of Prevotella-induced LS with a secondary complication of pleural effusion.
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