Dyspnea approach

Cystic lymphangioma (CL) is an uncommon congenital malformation of the lymphatic system, often occurring in the head, neck, or mediastinum, potentially causing compression symptoms like dysphagia or dyspnea, and in rare cases, neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS). This report details a case of a 38-year-old male with a four-year history of a left lower neck mass, experiencing tingling in his left forearm over the last six months. The examination revealed a left supraclavicular cystic mass, with imaging suggesting CL compressing neurovascular structures...

Cherubism, a rare autosomal dominant disorder, presents with symmetrical, painless jaw extension due to fibrous tissue ossification, often referred to as hereditary fibrous dysplasia of the jaw. It typically manifests with progressive mandibular and maxillary swelling from childhood to adolescence, with exacerbation over time. A 20-year-old male presented with facial and jaw swelling, causing restricted jaw movements. Computed tomography confirmed the cherubism diagnosis. Subsequently, the patient underwent oral surgery for bone shaving and shaping...

This study addresses the imperative need for reliable assessment protocols in guiding rehabilitation interventions for individuals post-COVID-19, considering the enduring physiological effects of the virus. A cohort of 40 post-COVID-19 individuals underwent assessments using the Londrina ADL protocol, Glittre ADL test, and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Physiological parameters were recorded during and after each test, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. The post hoc comparisons between the pre-test and post-test cardiopulmonary response of the three tests showed significant differences, except diastolic blood pressure (6MWT vs...

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was considered a major public health burden worldwide. Multiple studies have shown that susceptibility to severe infections and the development of long-term symptoms is significantly influenced by viral and host factors. These findings have highlighted the potential of host genetic markers to identify high-risk individuals and develop target interventions to reduce morbimortality. Despite its importance, genetic host factors remain largely understudied in Latin-American populations...

Atrial myxoma, though the most common primary cardiac tumor, often presents with nonspecific symptoms that can obscure its diagnosis. This case report details an unusual presentation of dyspnea on exertion (DOE) in a patient initially considered to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common pulmonary etiology of DOE. The diagnostic journey underscores the critical importance of considering atrial myxoma in patients with DOE, especially when symptoms are not fully explained by apparent pulmonary conditions...

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is considered to be the dominant cause of dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in elderly patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function and cardiovascular comorbidities. However, it is important to keep in mind that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is not the only possible cause of PH in cases of late-onset clinical manifestation. A multiparametric approach is essential for accurate diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making. A 74-year-old patient was admitted due to progressive dyspnea and suspicion of PH...

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome occurs due to obstructed blood flow through the SVC. It can present clinically on a spectrum, between asymptomatic and life-threatening emergency. Patients commonly report a feeling of fullness in the head, facial, neck and upper extremity edema, and dyspnea. On imaging, patients commonly have superior mediastinal widening and pleural effusion. The majority of cases are due to malignant causes, with non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, and lymphoma the most commonly associated malignancies...

PURPOSE: Due to improved survival of esophageal cancer patients, long-term quality of life (QoL) is increasingly gaining importance. The aim of this study is to compare QoL outcomes between open Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (Open-E) and a hybrid approach including laparotomy and a robot-assisted thoracic phase (hRob-E). Additionally, a standard group of healthy individuals serves as reference. METHODS: With a median follow-up of 36 months after hRob-E (n = 28) and 40 months after Open-E (n = 43), patients' QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QoL Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the EORTC Esophagus specific QoL questionnaire 18 (QLQ-OES18)...

INTRODUCTION: Endotracheal intubation is a common procedure to maintain an open airway with risks for traumatic injury. Pathological changes resulting from intubation can cause upper airway complications, including vocal fold scarring, laryngotracheal stenosis, and granulomas and present with symptoms such as dysphonia, dysphagia, and dyspnea. Current intubation-related laryngotracheal injury treatment approaches lack standardized guidelines, relying on individual clinician experience, and surgical and medical interventions have limitations and carry risks...

BACKGROUND: Cardiac myxomas (CM) are the most prevalent type of primary cardiac tumour. The majority of primary cardiac tumours, including CM, are found to be benign. In the context of this study, the objective was to investigate and analyse the experience of CM over a period of 10 years, specifically in Bahrain. By examining this particular subset of cardiac tumours, valuable insights can be gained regarding their prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment approaches, and outcomes in the Bahraini population...

BACKGROUND: Tracheal injury is a rare but potentially serious acute complication of endotracheal intubation. Very few cases of tracheal injury associated with coagulation abnormalities have been reported in the literature. We present a rare case of a patient presenting with tracheal injury in combination with coagulation abnormalities following thyroidectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old woman with a history of postoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer, gastric polyps, multiple colonic polyps, esophageal papillary adenomas, and thyroid adenomas presented with dyspnea following 10 ml hemoptysis on the third day after thyroidectomy; she was admitted to the intensive care unit and underwent tracheal intubation for maintaining the airway...

PURPOSE: LVAD outflow graft stenosis continues to remain prevalent with a high complication rate. We sought to pool the existing evidence on indications, utilization patterns, and outcomes of transcatheter interventions for outflow graft stenosis in the HeartMate 3 LVAD. METHODS: An electronic search was performed to identify all studies in the English literature reporting on HeartMate 3 LVAD outflow graft stenting. Patient-level data were extracted for analysis...

BACKGROUND: Morbidity for liver resection has decreased and frail patients are undergoing surgery. The impact of the minimally invasive approach (MILR) is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the impact of approach on outcomes in frail patients. METHODS: Elective hepatectomies from the 2014-2020 ACS-NSQIP Hepatectomy-specific PUF were reviewed. The five-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) was used. It includes diabetes, hypertension, functional status, heart failure and dyspnea...

INTRODUCTION: Over the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors such as antibodies against cytotoxicity T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) have become an important armamentarium against a broad spectrum of malignancies. However, these specific inhibitors can cause adverse autoimmune reactions by impairing self-tolerance. Hematologic side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), are rare but can be life-threatening...

We present the case of a lung transplant candidate under veno-venous membrane oxygenation assistance (VV ECMO) whose diagnosis of emphysema of undetermined etiology was redefined as Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) due to a scalp skin biopsy performed years after the beginning of his respiratory symptoms. A 20-year-old patient started three years before his admission with progressive dyspnea leading to a diagnosis of bullous emphysema of undetermined cause, which evolved into respiratory failure and evaluation for bilateral lung transplant...

RATIONALE: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) occurring in the context of hypertension presents a unique clinical challenge. This case contributes to the medical literature by highlighting the complexities of managing heart failure in postpartum women with pre-existing hypertensive disorders, particularly when complicated by a history of preeclampsia. PATIENT CONCERNS: Mrs. O.O., a 34-year-old hypertensive woman, presented with progressive dyspnea, bilateral leg swelling, and orthopnea...

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticopleural fistula is a rare complication of pancreatitis and poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This case report sheds light on the unique challenges posed by pancreaticopleural fistula as a rare complication of pancreatitis. The aim is to contribute valuable insights to the scientific literature by presenting a case involving a middle-aged man with acute necrotizing pancreatitis and associated pleural effusion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old Asian male with a history of pancreatitis and chronic alcohol use presented with severe dyspnea, chest pain, and left-sided pleural effusion...

BACKGROUND: Visits to Emergency Departments (ED) can be traumatic for Nursing Home (NH) residents. In Italy, the rate of ED visits by NH residents was recently calculated as 3.3%. The reduction of inappropriate ED visits represents a priority for National Healthcare Systems worldwide. Nevertheless, research on factors associated with ED visits is still under-studied in the Italian setting. This study has two main aims: (i) to describe the baseline characteristics of NH residents visiting ED at regional level; (ii) to assess the characteristics, trends, and factors associated with these visits...

Background : Dyspnea commonly stems from combined myocardial and pulmonary dysfunction, posing challenges for accurate pre-hospital diagnosis. Limited diagnostic capabilities hinder the differentiation of cardiac and pulmonary issues. This study assesses the efficacy of combined cardiac and pulmonary ultrasound using the BLUE, eFAST, and FATE protocols. Methods : Participants were consecutively enrolled from dyspnea-related emergency calls in Warsaw, Poland, from 4 April 2022, to 15 June 2023. Patients with pleural effusion were identified through pre-hospital and in-hospital radiological assessments...

INTRODUCTION: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occasionally involves the inferior vena cava (IVC), but intra-atrial extension is very rare, with the most dreaded complication being thrombi migration into pulmonary arteries. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis and a smoking history presented with dyspnea, weight loss, and a previous episode of hematuria. Echocardiography revealed an intra-atrial thrombus with signs of pulmonary embolism (PE)...