Severe ranitidine-induced anaphylaxis: a case report and literature review

What is known and Objective: Ranitidine is a generally well‐tolerated drug, and serious side effects are rare. However, ranitidine‐induced anaphylaxis has been reported on rare occasions. We report on such a case and review other cases reported in the literature. Case summary: A 36‐year‐old man with no history of other medications, illnesses or allergic diseases, especially to drugs, consulted our emergency department because of renal colic and epigastric discomfort. He was given 50 mg of ranitidine as a slow intravenous bolus and 20 mg of piroxicam intramuscularly. Within the first minute, the patient developed a cold sweat, trembling, dyspnoea and deterioration of his consciousness. The condition was considered as an anaphylactic shock, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and inotropic support were immediately commenced. Two days later, he was weaned off the ventilator as he was haemodynamically stable. He was discharged after 7 days. Four weeks later, skin prick tests to ranitidine and piroxicam were performed on the forearm of the patient. He reacted strongly to ranitidine about 10 min later but not to piroxicam. To assess cross‐reactivity to other H2‐ and H1‐receptor antagonists in our patient, we subsequently performed prick tests to famotidine, cimetidine and desloratadine and all were negative. What is new and Conclusion: We re‐emphasize a potentially serious, albeit very rare, adverse effect of ranitidine and summarize other reported cases. This case demonstrates that commonly used, generally safe drugs may on occasions cause serious adverse effects.     

Severe gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal: a case report and literature review

We report a case of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) withdrawal resulting in severe agitation, mental status changes, elevated blood pressure, and tachycardia hours after stopping chronic use of GHB. The patient admitted to substantial GHB abuse on a daily basis for 2.5 years. Previous attempts at cessation reportedly resulted in diaphoresis, tremors, and agitation. The patient's symptoms, negative polypharmacy history, and negative urine and blood toxicological analysis for alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, or other substances suggested the diagnosis of GHB withdrawal. Later analysis of a patient drug sample confirmed the presence of GHB. The patient required 507 mg of lorazepam and 120 mg of diazepam over 90 h to control agitation. This is one of the few reported cases of GHB withdrawal and one of the most severe. Given the increasing use of GHB, more cases of severe GHB withdrawal should be anticipated.     

Severe hypothyroidism‐induced rhabdomyolysis: A case report

Hypothyroidism causing rhabdomyolysis is a known but an uncommon entity. Hashimoto''s thyroiditis causing rhabdomyolysis in the absence of precipitating factors is even rarer. Here, we report a 42‐year‐old previously healthy man with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto''s thyroiditis complicated by severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury in the absence of precipitating factors. The diagnosis was based on his clinical presentation and laboratory investigations, and he was successfully treated with intravenous fluid therapy and oral levothyroxine.     

Hydrocarbon pneumonitis following fuel siphonage: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: People sometimes siphon fuel to fill their tanks. However, this is a potentially dangerous procedure and may cause hydrocarbon pneumonitis. We present the case of a patient with severe hydrocarbon pneumonitis after siphoning fuel. The patient underwent artificial ventilation and was admitted to hospital for 97 days. METHODS: We review the relevant literature for a better understanding of clinical features and management strategies for hydrocarbon pneumonitis following fuel siphonage.RESULTS: We reviewed 15 articles, which included 3 original articles and 12 case reports that reported the clinical features of fuel siphonage. In addition, we added our presented case for data analysis. A total of 40 cases were included in this review. The literature review found that hydrocarbon pneumonitis caused by fuel siphonage occurs worldwide and that most patients (80%) became symptomatic within 1 day of aspiration. Cough (70%), chest pain (62.5%), dyspnoea (55%), and fever (52.5%) presented in more than half of all patients. The right middle lobe (80%) was the predominantly involved lung field; more than one-third of patients (36.7%) showed the involvement of two lobes. CONCLUSION: Patient history, computed tomographic scans of the chest, and bronchoalveolar lavage are the commonly used diagnostic tools. Supportive care remains the foundation of treatment, whereas antibiotics, steroids, and bronchoalveolar lavage are practical therapies. Patients’ clinical improvement precedes the resolution of lesions on chest X-ray. Most complications arise from pulmonary lesions. The prognosis of patients suffering from hydrocarbon pneumonitis following fuel siphonage might be improved by accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.     

Hypopharyngeal perforation following minor trauma: a case report and literature review

Hypopharyngeal perforation is mainly reported in association with high velocity road traffic accidents, or with low velocity direct blows to the neck. We report a case of hypopharyngeal perforation following a low velocity motorcycle accident where neither of these mechanisms of injury was apparent. A 52 year old man was referred from the emergency department (ED) with a sore throat and dysphagia, following a low speed side impact accident. A gastrograffin swallow demonstrated a posterior pharyngeal wall tear. After 11 days of conservative hospital treatment, he recovered and was discharged. The presumed mechanism of injury in this case was cervical spine hyperextension without cervical compression.     

肺移植术后高钠血症1例并文献复习

选择原发性肺动脉高压并三尖瓣关闭不全、充血性心力衰竭患者1例,在体外循环下行同种异体原位双肺移植术,移植后出现严重的持续性高钠血症合并严重代谢性碱中毒.回顾分析其病理过程及诊疗经过,并复习相关文献.患者移植后第1天血钠升高,达158.2 mmol/L,第4天达167.9 mmol/L,同时合并严重的代谢性碱中毒,最高pH值达7.6.经补充血容量、使用襻利尿剂、控制钠盐摄入综合治疗14 d后,血钠恢复正常至140 mmol/L,碱中毒纠正,并维持酸碱及电解质平衡.提示肺移植后高钠血症的发生有其特殊性和复杂性,需要积极消除各种易感因素,及时对危重症患者进行病因和对症治疗,尽量减少医源性因索的影响.     

Severe community-acquired pneumonia caused by Leptospira interrogans: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Leptospira is an uncommon pathogen for adult severe community-acquired pneumonia and its nonspecific manifestations and limited diagnostic tests make it difficult to identify. Although conventional penicillin remains efficacious to treat leptospirosis, failure in early diagnosis and treatment can lead to progression into a deadly syndrome with multiple organ dysfunction. Next generation sequencing is of great value to understand cases with infection of unknown cause, which could help in the diagnosis of uncertain Leptospira infection.CASE SUMMARYWe recently managed a patient with fever, cough and dyspnea on admission that progressed into persistent adult respiratory distress syndrome, hemoptysis and hematuria after admission. In this case, the rare Leptospira infection was clouded by the positive influenza tests at admission, delaying early Leptospira-targeted antibiotics administration. Next generation sequencing, a novel molecular diagnostic tool, provided a key hint to uncover the crucial pathogen, Leptospira interrogans, further supported by the possible occupational exposure history. Subsequent conventional penicillin and mechanical respiratory support were administrated to cure the patient successfully without any sequela.CONCLUSIONClinicians must pay attention to possible exposure history and keep uncommon Leptospira in mind when managing pneumonia with unknown causes.     

拟诺卡菌感染1例并文献复习

目的 了解拟诺卡菌感染的临床特征及诊治方案.方法 对1例拟诺卡菌所致皮肤感染的患者资料进行分析.以"拟诺卡菌"为主题词检索万方、维普和中国知网数据库,以"Nocardiopsis"为主题词检索PubMed数据库,获取文献报道的拟诺卡菌所致感染的病例,筛选并总结分析病例资料.结果 福建医科大学附属泉州第一医院报道的1例病...     

Pulmonary embolism following the third thoracic tuberculosis surgery: A case report and literature review

BackgroundThe study aimed to analyze the clinical effects of pulmonary embolism succeeding a third surgery conducted for multiple recurrences in thoracic tuberculosis (TB).Case reportA 74‐year‐old female patient developed thoracic tuberculosis and was subsequently treated in our hospital in March 2019, October 2020, and February 2021. The third surgical intervention included anterolateral thoracic lesion resection, internal fixation, posterior spinal tuberculous sinus resection, and debridement with suture. The operative time was 172 min resulting in a substantial intraoperative blood loss (2321 ml). Postoperative re‐examination of chest CTPA indicated a strip filling defect and pulmonary embolism in the external branch of the right middle lobe of the lung. After completing the active treatment, the D‐dimer quantification, WBC, CRP, and ESR values were 1261 ng/ml, 7.71 × 10⁹/L, 74.66 mg/L, and 63 mm, respectively. Chest CTPA re‐examination after the treatment showed no signs of pulmonary embolism.ConclusionPatients with a long‐term history of multiple operations, high BMI, cerebral infarction, diabetes, and older age group were more likely to develop pulmonary embolism after spinal tuberculosis surgery. Thus, the possibility of postoperative pulmonary embolism should be thoroughly analyzed before any subsequent surgical treatment in patients with recurrent spinal tuberculosis.     

Iatrogenic venous pseudoaneurysm following venipuncture: case report and review of the literature

We report the case of a venous pseudoaneurysm that developed after a venipuncture made during a blood donation in an otherwise healthy 43-year-old man. The patient presented 3 years later with a mass in the antecubital fossa that was successfully treated with surgical resection. The clinical features of this exceptionally rare lesion are discussed.     

Coronary artery occlusion following blunt chest trauma: a case report and review of the literature

Blunt chest trauma causing coronary artery occlusion and myocardial infarction is a rare but potentially fatal condition. We present the case of a healthy 29-year-old man who developed a myocardial infarction due to complete occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery following blunt chest trauma. A review of the literature found 63 cases of previously healthy patients under 40 years of age who developed coronary artery occlusion following blunt chest trauma; diagnosis in all cases had been proven by angiography or during autopsy. The presentation, results of electrocardiography and echocardiography and laboratory findings of these patients are described.     

Sciatic nerve injury following intramuscular injection: a case report and review of the literature.

A 25-year-old male patient presented with foot drop indicative of a sciatic nerve injury following gluteal intramuscular (IM) injections. Blood tests and magnetic resonance imaging of his spine were within normal limits, but electrophysiological studies confirmed a partial sciatic nerve lesion. The course of the sciatic nerve in the gluteal region places it at risk for injury from IM injections. Proper technique minimizes the risk of injury.     

Masseteric hernia: A case report and literature review

Mandibular swellings are common, but a hernia of the masseter muscle is a rare condition. This case report describes the case of a young patient presenting a masseter muscle hernia and discusses the management of this condition.     

Intravenous misplacement of the nephrostomy catheter following percutaneous nephrostolithotomy: a case report and literature review

Intravenous misplacement of the nephrostomy catheter following percutaneous nephrostolithotomy (PCNL) is extremely rare, and little information is available about this complication. Because the patient’s prognosis may be poor, sufficient attention should be paid to early identification and treatment of this complication. We present an uncommon case of a patient with intravenous nephrostomy catheter misplacement after PCNL at our hospital. In our patient, the tip of the nephrostomy catheter was located in the inferior vena cava. It was successfully managed using two-step catheter withdrawal under fluoroscopy, and the percutaneous nephrostomy catheter was able to be withdrawn 7 to 8 cm back into the collecting system in stages with the surgical team on standby. There were no severe complications such as deep vein thrombosis that developed during or after the catheter withdrawal. Patients could be managed conservatively using intravenous antibiotics, strict bed rest, and tube withdrawal using computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopy guide in most cases combined with information in the literature. Additionally, open surgery could be used as an alternative treatment.