Rare Case of Ischaemic Stroke Following Cervical Transforaminal Injection

We report a case of brainstem infarction following a C5–C6 cervical transforaminal injection, a rare and serious neurological complication of this procedure. Cervical transforaminal steroid injection is a common therapy for patients with persistent cervical radiculopathy not relieved by conservative treatment, and is effective in 65–70% of cases. Unfortunately, this procedure may lead to serious complications such as neurological damage. These complications are rare but potentially fatal, as reported in our case. Complications could be due to three mechanisms: the technique itself, the cervical vascular anatomy and the properties of the product (corticoids). The neurological complications can be diagnosed through brain MRI. This case report focuses on the importance of a risk/benefit evaluation when performing this medical procedure

Hearing Loss and Sixth Cranial Nerve Paresis after COVID-19

An 80-year-old patient was admitted to the internal medicine department for binocular diplopia and hearing loss with sudden onset. The patient had presented with SARS-CoV-2 infection 3 weeks previously and had been admitted to hospital. Complete work-up including autoimmunity, serum and LCR viral serology and MRI did not allow a diagnosis to be established. The hypothesis of a microvascular origin or the previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was considered. The latter was retained in light of the temporal relationship, the absence of other pathologies after exhaustive work-up, and the clinical evolution

Cutaneous Complications Secondary to Haemostasis Abnormalities in COVID-19 Infection

We describe the case of a patient hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure in a standard medical ward. During hospitalization, he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and transferred to a special unit. The clinical course was marked by worsening of the respiratory disease, the development of right parotiditis and thrombosis of the left internal jugular vein. Therapeutic anticoagulation was initiated and 2 days later, the minimal dermatoporosis lesions previously present in the upper extremities evolved to haemorrhagic bullae with intra-bullae blood clots and dissecting haematomas. Surgical management of the dissecting haematomas was difficult in the context of haemostasis abnormalities. The patient died 29 days after hospital admission

Syndrome coronarien aigu chez une jeune patiente: au-delà des lésions coronaires

Nous exposons le cas d’une patiente de 47 ans qui présente un syndrome coronarien aigu et une probable embolie artérielle du membre inférieur droit dans l’étude duquel nous détectons la présence de la mutation du gène de la prothrombine G201210A associée à la présence de facteur anticoagulant lupique. La patiente a bénéficié d’une transplantation cardiaque avec bonne évolution clinique

Abrupt Severe Chest Pain and Vomiting: Remember to Think of a Ruptured Oesophagus (Boerhaave Syndrome)

Boerhaave syndrome or spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus is a severe condition commonly misdiagnosed or unrecognized. Prognosis is poor even if the diagnosis is made promptly. We describe a case of Boerhaave syndrome diagnosed after the development of pneumomediastinum and cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, the patient died 48 hours after admission to the Intensive Care Unit. This entity requires a multidisciplinary management approach which may include conservative, surgical or endoscopic procedures

Tuberculosis as a Cause of Rapid Salivary Gland Swelling in the Elderly – A Case Report

A 77-year-old man was admitted to the internal medicine department for a 5-day history of progressive preauricular swelling. Two lines of antibiotic treatment failed to achieve any improvement. Fine needle aspiration cytology was conducted and smear staining with the Ziehl-Neelsen stain as well as a PCR test were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These results were confirmed with culture of the sample. A diagnosis of tuberculosis parotitis was made and anti-tuberculous drugs were initiated

Pathological changes of renal biopsy in Sjögren Syndrome

We are presenting the case of a 53-year-old woman with a history of Sjögren syndrome and a secondary antiphospholipid syndrome admitted at the Nephrology department for the evaluation of renal failure. The patient was initially diagnosed with tubulointerstitial nephritis and subsequently a membranoproliferative type I glomerulonephritis, secondary to cryoglobulins during the course of the disease. Repeated renal biopsies were required to confirm the diagnosis

Symptomatic postoperative compressive pneumocephalus after cholecystectomy

A 75-year-old woman with a history of chronic hydrocephalus due to stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius was examined at the emergency department for altered mental status. There was placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in 1970 complicated by meningitis, leading to removal of the material and ventriculociternostomy as definitive treatment in 2004. About one month previously, she had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy complicated by an intra-abdominal collection. Clinical examination at the emergency department revealed a Glasgow score of 8 (E3 V1 M4). In the emergency department the patient presented a tonic-clonic seizure before a cerebral CT scan was performed showing a massive compressive pneumocephalus, then a second seizure. The patient was finally admitted to the neurosurgery department and underwent surgery

Uveitis and Acute Interstitial Nephritis: What to Expect

A 46-year-old female patient presenting with acute interstitial nephritis and anterior uveitis was admitted. The renal biopsy disclosed the presence of interstitial nephritis, confirming the clinical diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome. Treatment with oral steroids was started, with prompt improvement of symptoms and laboratory abnormalities

Acute Q Fever Presenting with Multi-Organ Failure: Re-Evaluation of the Initial Diagnosis

We present the case of a 48-year-old man admitted to the critical care unit with atrial fibrillation, and acute heart and kidney failure accompanied by coagulopathy and an abnormal liver test. Initially diagnosed as a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, re-evaluation of the case led to the consideration of severe sepsis. Q fever and leptospirosis were the most probable causes and empiric treatment was initiated. A complete recovery was achieved following treatment