A Contemporary Review of Blood Transfusion in Critically Ill Patients.

Blood transfusion is a common therapeutic intervention in hospitalized patients. There are numerous indications for transfusion, including anemia and coagulopathy with deficiency of single or multiple coagulation components such as platelets or coagulation factors. Nevertheless, the practice of transfusion in critically ill patients has been controversial mainly due to a lack of evidence and the need to consider the appropriate clinical context for transfusion.

Fever As the Exclusive Presenting Symptom in a Case of Colon Cancer.

The definition of fever of unknown origin (FUO) has evolved overtime. Most recently, FUO is recognized as fever with uncertain diagnosis despite three days of hospital admission or three or more outpatient visits. Despite diagnostic medical advancements, FUO remains quite a challenge.

Coronary Artery Dissection and Myocarditis Caused by Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA): A Case Report.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) also referred to as Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare vasculitis of the small to medium vessels. We present a rare case of acute coronary artery dissection brought on by EGPA, which generally has a poor prognosis. A 41-year-old male with history of bronchial asthma presented to the emergency room with a 2-week history of dyspnea, cough with clear phlegm, and fever.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor-associated euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in COVID-19-infected patients: A systematic review of case reports.

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) manifests as hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and ketosis. However, euglycemic DKA (eu-DKA) conceals severe DKA with glucose levels below 200 mg/dL. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can induce eu-DKA in diabetic patients.

A Case of Herpes Simplex Virus Meningitis in an Immunocompromised Individual: Avoiding Common Diagnostic Pitfalls.

Herpes simplex virus meningoencephalitis (HSV ME) is a severe viral infection that affects the brain and surrounding tissues. It is caused primarily by HSV type 1 (HSV-1) virus. This condition requires prompt recognition and treatment due to its potential for significant morbidity and mortality.

COVID-19-associated MRSA infective endocarditis and mitral valve perforation: a case report.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The interplay between COVID-19 and other medical conditions can complicate diagnosis and management, necessitating further exploration.

Case Presentation: This case report presents a patient with COVID-19 who developed infective endocarditis (IE) and mitral valve perforation caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on a native mitral valve.

Conscious and Unconscious Bias: The Hidden Pandemic of Biases in Healthcare Exacerbated by COVID-19.

Background: There are limited data on unconscious bias in healthcare, but there is consistent evidence that it alters clinical decision-making. COVID-19 exacerbated many pre-existing disparities, and this paper seeks to identify, deconstruct, and propose mitigation strategies for a few of them.

Discussion: Five of the largest disparities amplified by the pandemic are discussed in this paper.

Effect of fibrinolytic therapy on ST-elevation myocardial infarction clinical outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the result of transmural ischemia of the myocardium and is associated with a high mortality rate. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the recommended first-line treatment strategy for patients with STEMI. The timely delivery of PPCI became extremely challenging for STEMI patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, leading to a projected steep rise in mortality.

An Unusual Case of Escherichia Coli Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Adult.

Spontaneous meningitis caused by Gram-negative bacilli is rare in adults. It typically occurs after a neurosurgical procedure or head injury but may also be related to the presence of a neurosurgical device, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak syndrome, or seen in immunosuppressed patients.  () is the leading cause of Gram-negative bacilli meningitis.

Perioperative management of emergency and elective surgeries during the pandemic.

The effects of the 2019 novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and its associated pandemic are complex and widespread. It has permeated all aspects of daily life around the world. Unsurprisingly, it also had significant impacts on proceedings within hospitals around the world as well.

Ketosis-prone diabetes mellitus: A phenotype that hospitalists need to understand.

Diabetes has been classified mainly into types 1 and 2. Some type 2 diabetes patients, when developing ketosis, have been labeled as having atypical diabetes. Lately, syndromes of ketosis-prone diabetes, primarily in patients who we previously classified as type 2 diabetics, have emerged, and calls are being made to even reclassify diabetes.

Cardiovascular Complications of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Intensive Care Unit and Beyond.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease with a high degree of association with and possible etiological factor for several cardiovascular diseases. Patients who are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are incredibly sick, have multiple co-morbidities, and are at substantial risk for mortality. A study of cardiovascular manifestations and disease processes in patients with OSA admitted to the ICU is very intriguing, and its impact is likely significant.

A Case of Adult Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Following COVID-19 Vaccine.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a life-threatening condition associated with elevated inflammatory markers and multiple organ injury. A diagnosis of exclusion, it has been reported after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (SARS-CoV-2) in children and adults; recently it has been described in some post-COVID-19 vaccinated individuals. The prognosis with supportive care and immunomodulatory therapy is good, although some individuals may require treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Idiopathic Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Refractory Shock Following Influenza B Infection.

A 68-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with undifferentiated shock. During the three days prior, he experienced a non-specific viral-like illness. On examination his blood pressure was 70/40 mm Hg with cool, clammy, and mottled extremities and flat neck veins.

Role of octreotide in small bowel bleeding.

Gastrointestinal bleeding accounts for a drastic negative impact on the quality of the patients' lives as it requires multiple diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to identify the source of the bleeding. Small bowel bleeding is the least common cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. However, it is responsible for the majority of complaints from patients with persisting or recurring bleeding where the primary source of bleeding cannot be identified despite investigation.

Electronic Cigarettes: Are They Smoking Cessation Aids or Health Hazards?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the marketing of an electronic cigarette (e-cig) brand called Vuse (RJ Reynolds Vapor Company, US) to help aid in smoking cessation for adult smokers. It was believed that the consumption of traditional cigarettes and their harmful effects would be reduced given the availability of newer e-cigarettes. However, adolescent use of tobacco and nicotine products rather increased with the availability of the same e-cigarettes, and the FDA-approved market boom only worsened this problem.

Differential mortality with COVID-19 and invasive mechanical ventilation between high-income and low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

The COVID-19 pandemic has markedly affected the health care of patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but no systematic study to corroborate this effect has been undertaken. In addition, the survival outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) have not been well established. We pooled evidence from all available studies and did a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess and compare mortality outcomes between LMICs and high-income countries (HICs).

Efficacy and Safety of Perioperative Bridging Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Elective Surgical Procedures: A Meta-analysis.

The study objective was to determine if peri-operative bridging anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation is beneficial or harmful. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Inpatient or in-hospital setting.