-
Mccullough Waters posted an update 1 year, 4 months ago
Hearing loss is an unusual presenting feature of Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis. Two cases of HIV-negative patients who presented with hearing loss are discussed and a literature review of published cases was conducted. Possible mechanisms for hearing loss with C. gattii infection are explored. This case series aims to raise awareness among clinicians that hearing loss can be a concerning feature in patients with persistent headache necessitating further investigation.A 78-year man with severe aortic stenosis awaiting elective surgical aortic valve replacement presented with worsening New York Heart Association IV shortness of breath. Despite appropriate heart failure treatment, he deteriorated and developed cardiogenic shock and cardiorenal syndrome which progressed despite inotropic support. A non-contrast-gated CT coronary angiogram was arranged in light of acute renal failure which revealed a bicuspid aortic valve. Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography guidance was used to assist annulus sizing. An emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement (eTAVI) was carried out 5 days into admission with a 34 mm Core Valve Evolut Pro valve with a no contrast technique. The patient’s blood pressure and urine output improved and no procedural complications were encountered. He was discharged after 21 days and has remained well subsequently. This case highlights the utility of eTAVI and demonstrates the feasibility of a no contrast approach.Colocutaneous fistula is a rare entity in colorectal disease. We present a case of colocutaneous fistula in a patient whose postoperative course following a laparoscopic anterior resection for sigmoid cancer was complicated by Clostridioides difficile colitis. During the follow-up period, it was found that his bowel contents were preferentially discharging through this fistula which had taken up the role of an ‘autocolostomy’. Given the physiological impact of an additional surgical procedure, a definitive repair of the fistula was deferred and instead the patient was taught to manage it in keeping with general principles of stoma care. Over the subsequent follow-up period, he has now developed a large parastomal hernia and is being considered for definitive repair.Small-cell breast cancer is a very rare and aggressive type of neuroendocrine carcinoma. Histologically, it is indistinguishable from small-cell neuroendocrine lung cancer. Due to that, patients with small-cell neuroendocrine breast cancer should undergo examination of other areas of the body. Small-cell breast cancer may be treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, no standard treatment exists due to the small number of cases. We present a case of a 49-year-old woman with right breast primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an uncommon group of disorders, which can be either localised or systemic, characterised by abnormal proliferation of monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. These disorders represent an aberrant response of myeloid progenitor cells. Bones are the most commonly affected organ but there can be involvement of the skin, lungs, liver and spleen. Renal involvement, however, is rare. LCH is the most commonly seen in children but certain rare forms such as Erdheim-Chester disease can be seen in adults. In this report, we present a case of clear cell renal adenocarcinoma (CCRC) admixed with LCH in a patient with history of smoking and presenting with abdominal pain and heamaturia. Imaging revealed left renal lesion and subsequently left renal nephrectomy was performed with tissue biopsy showing grade 3 clear cell renal cell carcinoma admixed with neoplastic LCH.Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for isolated aortic regurgitation (AR) comprises less then 1.0% of all TAVI procedures performed in the USA. In this manuscript, we review the challenges, evidence and future directions of TAVI for isolated AR. There are no randomised clinical trials or mid-term data evaluating TAVI for isolated AR, and no commercially available devices are approved for this indication. Challenges in performing TAVI for isolated AR as opposed to aortic stenosis (AS) include lack of a calcified anchoring zone for valve deployment, large and dynamic size of the aortic annulus and high stroke volume (during systole) and regurgitant volume (during diastole) across the aortic annulus during each cardiac cycle. Observational studies have shown that outcomes of TAVI for AR are worse than outcomes of TAVI for AS. However, newer generation TAVI devices may perform better than older generation devices in patients with AR. Two emerging valves (the JenaValve and the J-Valve) are designed with mechanisms to anchor in a non-calcified annulus, and these valves have shown promise for AR. Data on these devices are limited, and clinical investigation is ongoing. Randomised clinical trials are needed to establish TAVI as a safe and effective treatment for isolated AR.Approximately 2% of people between the ages of 70 and 83 suffer from moderate or greater aortic regurgitation (AR) in the United States. Left untreated, this disease is progressive and fatal; however, up to 8% of patients with AR, who meet the criteria for surgical intervention, do not receive treatment. As such, there is a pressing need to address the lack of treatment options for the thousands of patients with AR who meet a class I indication for aortic valve replacement but who still do not receive surgery. The advent of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has significantly altered the paradigm of treatment for valvular heart disease and is now a well-established therapeutic option for patients with severe aortic stenosis. While transcatheter devices dedicated for the treatment of AR are under investigation, they are not commercially available at this time. read more Nevertheless, there is a growing body of data that demonstrate acceptable safety and efficacy for the off-label use of current TAVI devices for the treatment of severe AR. Given the dearth of treatment options for inoperable patients with severe AR, available TAVI devices should be considered for this patient population.