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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In a medical emergency, when rapid diagnosis is essential, a thorough examination of the skin often provides clues to the underlying illness. Dermatologic lesions may suggest the etiology of common medical emergencies, such as coma, seizure, shock, chest pain, hemorrhage, respiratory distress, acute abdomen and acute psychosis. Since examination of the skin is rapidly and easily performed, it should be included in the evaluation of a patient with a medical emergency.
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PMID:Skin clues to medical emergencies. 240 77

A 31-year-old pregnant woman who was an active cocaine abuser presented to our emergency department five times in 1 week for abdominal pain and vomiting. She continued to use cocaine regularly despite having abdominal pain. Her fifth admission was for seizures. There were no objective signs of peritoneal inflammation and the rectal guiac examination was repeatedly negative. The patient progressed to severe septic shock. Intraabdominal sepsis and/or bowel perforation was suspected. Exploratory laporatomy revealed gangrene and perforation of the small intestine and fecal peritonitis. She rapidly developed multiorgan failure and died. Gastrointestinal complications resulting from cocaine use are uncommon. Our case is unique in that the patient was pregnant, used cocaine by the intranasal route, and lacked objective signs of acute abdomen. Emergency physicians should be aware of the morbidity associated with the use of cocaine.
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PMID:Cocaine-associated intestinal gangrene in a pregnant woman. 927 Mar 93

The syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder caused by mitochondrial dysfunctions that result in headaches, seizures, and progressive dementia. The authors describe a clinical case study of gastrointestinal manifestations in a pedigree with MELAS, in which all three children, ages 11, 8, and 6, demonstrated acute onset of intestinal obstruction. They unexpectedly showed severe abdominal distension and vomiting. Their parents had no clinical manifestation. The first female sibling underwent an emergent laparotomy because she was diagnosed to have intestinal strangulation. She had postoperative complications caused by progressive lactic acidosis and died the next day. The second and third sisters had similar onsets of the disease and were treated with gastrointestinal decompression and intravenous administration of lactate-free fluid and coenzyme Q10. Genetic testing using blood samples showed an A-to-G point mutation at nucleotide position 3243 in the tRNALeu(UUR) region in the mitochondrial DNA. In MELAS children who demonstrate acute onset of gastrointestinal manifestations, a careful review of family history and an elevation of serum lactate and pyruvate levels may enable a differential diagnosis to be made of acute abdomen to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.
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PMID:Familial occurrence of intestinal obstruction in children with the syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). 986 67

Tuberous sclerosis (Bourneville-Pringle-disease, TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by seizures, mental retardation and hamartomatous tumours in multiple organs, including subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, cardiac rhabdomyomas and renal angiomyolipomas. Recent population-based studies suggest a prevalence of 1 case per 25,000 individuals. Renal angiomyolipomas, which may be found sporadically or associated with TSC, become evident as an acute retroperitoneal haemorrhage or by symptoms of a flank mass. Ultrasound and computed tomography provide clear evidence of lipomatous formation while, in rare instances, angiography can demonstrate the existence of multiple vascular tumour compartments. In view of two cases which were admitted with the clinical picture of an acute abdomen on the basis of retroperitoneal haemorrhage, the therapeutic strategies for TSC patients with renal angiomyolipomas are discussed, paying regard to the literature in this field.
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PMID:[Angiomyolipoma of the kidneys as a rare cause of retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Two case reports with tuberous sclerosis Bourneville-Pringle]. 1275 Aug 5

In the past 6 years, 11 children on valproic acid have developed pancreatitis in our children's hospital. Valproic acid has been used as one of the primary anticonvulsants for generalized seizures in children for the past 25 years. A literature review reveals mostly singular reports of pancreatitis over the past decade. The charts of the 11 patients with valproic acid-induced pancreatitis were reviewed. Dosage, valproic acid serum levels, duration of therapy, and concomitant medications were examined. Families were contacted by telephone to determine the formulation (brand name vs generic) of valproic acid at the time of diagnosis. Six girls and five boys were studied. The ages ranged from 4 to 16 years. Eight of 11 children presented with an acute abdomen. Unexpectedly, three children presented with a flulike illness. Serum lipase values ranged from 341 to 5576 U/L (normal range < 190 U/L). The dose of valproic acid ranged from 20 to 50 mg/kg. Serum levels ranged from 334 to 884 micromol/L (therapeutic range 350-800 micromol/L). Six of the patients were on monotherapy. Seven children were on brand-name drugs. Four of the children had an abnormal neurologic syndromic diagnosis (West syndrome, Rett syndrome, Lowe syndrome, and Angelman's syndrome). Six of the children had a history of drug allergies with a skin rash. Valproic acid was reintroduced in one child and resulted in a second episode of pancreatitis. Resolution of symptoms usually took several weeks following discontinuation of the drug. No association was found with valproic acid dosage, type of preparation, serum levels, duration of therapy, or presence of concomitant medications. Pancreatitis is a severe adverse effect of valproic acid use in children. Dose, duration of treatment, serum valproic acid levels, generic preparation, and the presence of concomitant antiepileptic drugs do not appear to be risk factors. Children with known drug sensitivity might be at risk. Lipase levels at the time of an acute abdomen or a flulike illness in epileptic children taking valproic acid can reveal early stages of pancreatitis and are recommended.
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PMID:Valproic acid-induced pancreatitis in childhood epilepsy: case series and review. 1552 53

Acute intermittent porphyria is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by acute attacks of neuropsychiatric and neurovisceral dysfunction. In pregnancy, exacerbation of attacks in the form of seizures and acute abdomen occur due to hormonal changes. We report the case of a young woman presenting at 8 weeks of gestation requesting pregnancy termination. The patient suffered several episodes of acute abdomen and seizures in a prior pregnancy before the diagnosis was clinched. This case is reported because of its rarity and the limited obstetric experience of this disorder. Proper management depends on avoidance of precipitating factors. Anaesthetic drug safety in porphyria is reviewed and the choice of regional anaesthesia discussed.
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PMID:Medical termination of pregnancy in acute intermittent porphyria. 1651 40

The authors report a case of atherosclerotic stroke in a 46-year-old recreational bodybuilder with a 20 year history of anabolic-adrenergic steroid (AAS) abuse. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurred during his third week of hospital admission for an acute abdomen and on day 8, postemergency laparotomy. CVA presented with collapse, generalised seizures, reduced Glasgow Coma Score and severe hypertension. He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where initial investigations did not illustrate an underlying diagnosis. By day 4 in ICU, there had been no significant clinical improvement and radiological investigations were repeated, identifying a left frontal lobe infarct in the middle cerebral artery territory. The authors propose CVA was secondary to AAS. After a prolonged and complicated period of rehabilitation, he has been discharged home; he requires carers due to dyspraxia and is mobilising independently.
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PMID:Delayed diagnosis of a cerebrovascular accident associated with anabolic steroid use. 2820 81

Lassa fever, an endemic zoonotic viral infection in West Africa, presents with varied symptoms including fever, vomiting, retrosternal pain, abdominal pain, sore-throat, mucosal bleeding, seizures and coma. When fever and abdominal pain are the main presenting symptoms, and a diagnosis of acute abdomen is entertained, Lassa fever is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis, even in endemic areas. Rather the diagnosis of Lassa fever is suspected only after surgical intervention. Therefore, such patients often undergo unnecessary surgery with resultant delay in the commencement of ribavirin therapy. This increases morbidity and mortality and the risk of nosocomial transmission to hospital staff. We report 7 patients aged between 17 months and 40 years who had operative intervention for suspected appendicitis, perforated typhoid ileitis, intussuception and ruptured ectopic pregnancy after routine investigations. All seven were post-operatively confirmed as Lassa fever cases. Four patients died postoperatively, most before commencement of ribavirin, while the other three patients eventually recovered with appropriate antibiotic treatment including intravenous ribavirin. Surgeons working in West Africa should include Lassa fever in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen, especially appendicitis. The presence of high grade fever, proteinuria and thrombocytopenia in patients with acute abdomen should heighten the suspicion of Lassa fever. Prolonged intra-operative bleeding should not only raise suspicion of the disease but also serve to initiate precautions to prevent nosocomial transmission.
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PMID:Lassa fever presenting as acute abdomen: a case series. 2359 24

Porphyrias are metabolic disorders related to heme biosynthesis pathway enzyme dysfunctions. The heme pathway is fundamental for the formation of a number of molecules, and such defects cause noxious precursors (porphyrins) to build up. Porphyrias are heterogeneously manifested by symptoms that can either be neurovisceral, cutaneous, or both, usually during outburst episodes called porphyric crises. This article presents a literature review and reports on a case of porphyric crisis initially diagnosed as acute abdomen and treated with an inconclusive exploratory laparotomy During the postoperative period, the patient progressed with tetraparesis, tetraplegia and respiratory distress, suggesting Guillain-Barre syndrome, which was precluded after cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed no albumin-cytological dissociation. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit due to her neurological disorders, which required ventilation support. After admission, she progressed with choluria and seizures. A porphyric crisis was suspected and confirmed upon a 24 hour urine porphyrins test. Supportive therapy was initiated, but due to unavailability in our hospital, heme derivatives were not given. The patient progressed with nosocomial infection, organ dysfunctions and eventually died. Porphyria should be considered as a differential diagnosis in acute abdomen cases of unknown origin and associated with neurological disorders such as paresis, hydroelectrolytic and psychiatric disorders, especially in patients with triggering factors, with a history of recurring crises and a family history of porphyria.
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PMID:Acute intermittent porphyria, an important and rare differential diagnosis of acute abdomen: case report and literature review. 2394 67

Sodium valproate is one of the most common first-line antiepileptics prescribed for primary and secondary generalised seizures. However, serious complications associated with sodium valproate, such as acute pancreatitis, need to be considered when choosing this medication for treating epilepsy in certain populations such as children and persons with intellectual disability. We report a case of a 21-year-old man with intellectual disability who presented to the emergency department with an acute abdomen, vomiting and diarrhoea. He had to undergo an emergency exploratory laparotomy during which acute necrotising pancreatitis was diagnosed intra-operatively. We believe that the recent increase in sodium valproate dosage for his epilepsy was the cause of the pancreatitis. Carers of such persons should be adequately informed regarding possible life-threatening complications of medications prescribed to avoid delay in diagnosis and unwanted incidents.
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PMID:Sodium valproate induced necrotising pancreatitis: A case report. 2589 54


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