Therapeutic dilemma in a case of acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

Abstract

An adult male labourer, a smoker and alcoholic was admitted to our hospital with a short history of fever, myalgia, breathlessness and oliguria. On examination he was icteric and hypotensive. Calf muscle tenderness was present. A provisional diagnosis of leptospirosis was made and he was started on treatment with crystalline penicillin. Blood pressure (BP) did not improve with fluids. Inotropes were started. The patient was taken for Slow Low Efficiency Daily Dialysis (SLEDD) during which he developed chest pain. ECG showed an anterolateral myocardial infarction (MI). He also complained of breathlessness and haemoptysis. Antiplatelets were withheld in view of thrombocytopaenia and haemoptysis; heparin could not be given because of the deranged coagulation parameters. The patient was managed symptomatically with nitrates. After the BP improved SLEDD was restarted. On day 3 of admission the patient became tachypnoeic and hypoxic, bilateral coarse crackles were present on auscultation. He was intubated and mechanically ventilated. Suctioning of endotracheal tube revealed fresh blood, and chest CT revealed alveolar haemorrhage. In spite of aggressive resuscitative measures, mechanical ventilation and antibiotics, the patient expired on the 12th day following admission.