Background The objective of this study was to assess the accessibility and content of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited general cardiology fellowship websites. Methods Using the online information provided by the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS), we compiled a list of ACGME-accredited cardiac fellowship programs. The program links on ERAS were evaluated followed by a standard Google search of the program name + “cardiology fellowship”. Each program website was evaluated on the basis of program content, applying/recruiting and education. Results At the time of this study, we reviewed 231 general cardiology fellowship programs provided through ERAS. Of the 231 programs, 12 were excluded due to broken links, repeated links on ERAS, and websites with a general lack of content. We analyzed the data collected from the remaining 219 programs to assess the availability and general content of those websites. Data collected revealed a general lack of information regarding application processing and educational services but were sufficient in providing program descriptions and contact information. Conclusions ERAS can be used to locate general cardiology fellowships participating in the current match; however, the links provided by the program websites on ERAS are lacking in general content and accessibility. Although most websites did contain enough information about their program, there was a distinct lack of key information provided typically in the education services and application process.
Abdominal pain is a very common presentation in the emergency department (ED). The pain is often wellcharacterized and leads to the diagnosis, but often, the presentation is vague and nonspecific. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection is a rare cause of abdominal pain that presents with nonspecific epigastric pain and is common in males, middle age, and patients of Asian descent. A high index of suspicion is usually helpful with imaging modalities such as computer tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography in experienced hands. A prompt diagnosis is vital to managing this disease which may range from non-surgical intervention with supportive therapy to invasive endovascular procedures and surgery. Here, we report a case of an isolated SMA dissection presenting with vague abdominal symptoms and highlight the need to explore the vascular etiology of abdominal pain as their diagnosis is often difficult and may result in irreversible bowel injury when missed.
BackgroundThe objective of this study was to assess the accessibility and content of the critical care fellowship websites provided on the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) website. MethodsUsing the online information provided by ERAS, we compiled a list of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited critical care fellowship programs. Each of the links provided by ERAS was evaluated by a standard search on Google as follows: the program name + "critical care fellowship". After assembling the working links, those websites were subsequently evaluated based on the program description, application process, and educational content. ResultsWe reviewed 59 critical care fellowship programs that were obtained from ERAS. Of the 59 programs, one retracted its participation and was not included in the study, and six other programs were excluded due to repeated links on ERAS, nonworking links, and websites without any content. We analyzed the data collected from the remaining 52 programs. Our data shows a general lack of information being provided to prospective critical care candidates. ConclusionsERAS is a major source of information for prospective fellows looking for critical care fellowships in the current match. Unfortunately, the majority of the programs evaluated lack substantial information for prospective candidates. Despite many websites containing adequate information regarding program descriptions, there was a lack of information regarding the application process and educational activities.
Baclofen is a commonly used medication for managing muscle spasticity with the potential of causing lifethreatening adverse effects, including encephalopathy as well as withdrawal symptoms including confusion and hallucinations following abrupt discontinuation. Severe toxicity with baclofen is common in patients with kidney disease, hence the importance of dose reduction and monitoring in patients with renal impairment. This article reports a case of encephalopathy with low-dose baclofen in an otherwise healthy young adult concurrently taking ibuprofen and baclofen and aims to underscore the importance of potential drug interaction and patient education when initiating baclofen.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis (TA), is a systemic autoimmune inflammation of medium and large arteries. It is the most common vasculitis affecting adults older than 50, with an incidence of 20/100,000 and an average age of onset of 70. Typically, patients initially present with new-onset headaches, visual changes and disturbances, jaw claudication, arthralgias, and tender or swollen temporal or occipital arteries. Our patient is a 73-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with 10 days of bilateral headache radiating to the occipital area associated with fevers, persistent chills, generalized weakness, and a headache described as constant, dull, 9 out of 10 pain, and minor pain with neck flexion. Lab work revealed an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The patient had tender palpation to his temples and due to a high suspicion of giant cell arteritis, he was started on high-dose steroids with rapid relief of his symptoms. Biopsy showed evidence of active nongranulomatous vasculitis and confirmed bilateral temporal arteritis within the context of the clinical setting. GCA patients are more likely to be women and typically present with unilateral headache (66% of GCA), jaw claudication (50%), fevers (50%), and transient visual loss (16-54%). Here, we describe a 73-year-old male with a past medical history of cerebral vascular accident (CVA), diabetes, and cancer that presented with 10 days of bilateral headaches and fevers. Unlike the usual presentation, our patient denied any vision and joint pain changes, and the temporal arteries were not stiff to palpation. This patient presentation is unique to previous reports in the limited display of symptoms and absence of the most commonly associated manifestations. Although his presentation supported GCA, the features of elevated ESR and CRP, headache, and fever were too general to diagnose GCA exclusively, and his additional symptoms of rhinorrhea and sinus pain more likely supported infection. Our case indicates the importance of maintaining a high index of clinical suspicion for GCA in the elderly population presenting with headaches and elevated ESR and CRP. GCA, also known as temporal arteritis (TA), is a systemic autoimmune inflammation of medium and large arteries. Typically, patients initially present with new-onset headaches, visual changes and disturbances, jaw claudication, arthralgias, and tender or swollen temporal or occipital arteries. Diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion, and treatment revolves around high doses of steroids.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.