Kikuchi Disease: Recognizing a Common Presentation of an Uncommon Condition

INTRODUCTION Kikuchi disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, is a rare condition that typically presents with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy in previously healthy young women. First described by Dr. Kikuchi and independently by Dr. Fujimoto in Japan in 1972, the disease is benign and usually self-limited. However, because it can present dramatically and mimic more serious conditions such as lymphoma and tuberculous adenitis, recognizing Kikuchi disease is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This case describes a patient who presented with severe manifestations of Kikuchi disease that generated an extensive workup and differential diagnosis prior to its identification

Does A Short, Thick Neck Predict Obstructive Sleep Apnea?: The Role of Physical Examination in OSA Screening

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a short neck, alone or together with a thick neck, can predict obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The laryngeal heights of 169 new adult patients presenting to a sleep medicine physician were measured over a period of 5 months. Neck circumference, Mallampati score, and body-mass index (BMI) were also determined, together with medical history, smoking status, and serum bicarbonate. Lastly, patients’ polysomnograms were obtained in order to ascertain the presence or absence of OSA as indicated by the apnea-hypopnea index, as well as other sleep study parameters. Results: No association was found between laryngeal height and presence of OSA, bicarbonate concentration or oxygen saturation. Of interest, neck circumference was also not significantly associated with any of the aforementioned parameters, although there was a trend towards significance in its association with OSA (p=0.055). Still, a combined short laryngeal height and large neck circumference was associated with lower nadir SaO2 (p=0.018). Of all clinical parameters we measured, only higher BMI, older age and male sex were positively associated with OSA (p\u3c0.05). Conclusion: This study challenges the popular notion that short necks predict OSA

Taking the e out of Night MARe Rotation: Uncloaking Ghost Admissions via Teletracking and Reducing Paper Fatigue

Goal: To improve communication at admission for patients admitted from non-ED locations so that patient care delays are minimized and provider frustration decreases.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/patientsafetyposters/1015/thumbnail.jp

Utility of the STOP-BANG Questionnaire for Identifying Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Introduction Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA has been associated with an increased risk of perioperative complications, but is under-recognized and underdiagnosed in the bariatric population. It is currently recommended that all patients considering bariatric surgery for obesity should be evaluated for OSA. In the general pre-surgical population, the STOP-BANG questionnaire is a validated screening tool for identifying OSA. We hypothesize that in bariatric patients the STOP-BANG questionnaire plus other clinical variables can predict OSA