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Query: UMLS:C0036690 (sepsis)
 59,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A frequently overlooked source of sepsis in the critical care patient is the paranasal sinuses. These patients are typically unable to communicate and, therefore, the usual findings of sinus infection, such as facial pain and complaints of purulent drainage, will be absent. Sepsis may be the first manifestation of such infection. Nasotracheal intubation is the most important predisposing factor to developing sinusitis in these patients. The clinician, therefore, must maintain a high index of suspicion in any patient with fever of unknown origin. Radiologic studies, including plain sinus radiographs, or preferably, a computed tomography scan, will usually show the presence of fluid or inflammation. Lavage of the maxillary sinus is helpful both to verify the presence of infection and to obtain culture material. These infections tend to be polymicrobial, and often display a predominance of Gram-negative organisms, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Treatment includes removal of all nasal tubes and institution of appropriate antibiotics, along with decongestant therapy. In some cases, surgical drainage will be necessary. For patients who are immunocompromised, or requiring intubation for > 7 days, the nasotracheal route is best avoided.
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PMID:Sinusitis in the critical care patient. 752 19

Considerable uncertainty exists regarding the appropriate use and dose limitations for ergotamine tartrate (ET) and dihydroergotamine (DHE) for the treatment of migraine despite more than 50 years of clinical experience. The Quality Standards Subcommittee (QSS) of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) appointed an advisory committee from experts in the Headache and Facial Pain Section. As their initial project, the committee elected to review the clinical literature on the appropriate use of these compounds in the treatment of migraine. Subsequently, clinical practice guidelines were formulated and recently published in Neurology. The Headache and Facial Plan Section and the QSS of the AAN were able to reach consensus on the basis of a thorough literature review and formulated practice parameters that describe and define the limits of ergot use, provide information on the oral and parenteral dosing of ET and DHE, and provide physicians with guidance to avoid ET overuse by patients. Because this project was completed prior to the availability of the intranasal (IN) formulation of DHE, intranasal DHE is not included in the practice parameter. Ergotamine tartrate and DHE were found to be safe and effective for the treatment of migraine as long as recommended dosages are not exceeded and high-risk patients such as those with uncontrolled hypertension, coronary or peripheral artery disease, thyrotoxicosis, or sepsis do not receive these compounds. In addition, the committee recommended restricting the use of ET in some instances because the overuse of ET has been associated with physical and psychological dependence resulting in predictable recurrent and/or rebound headaches, and subsequent severe withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, upon discontinuance of ET. None of these symptoms have been reported for DHE. These guidelines should help physicians provide optimal antimigraine therapy with these drugs.
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PMID:Appropriate use of ergotamine tartrate and dihydroergotamine in the treatment of migraine: current perspectives. 900 73

Acute sinusitis frequently follows upper respiratory tract infections. Patients complain of headache, facial pain, fever and purulent rhinorrhoea. Diagnosis is based upon the symptoms, and treatment comprises symptomatic relief with analgesics, topical or systemic decongestants and steam inhalation. If indicated, antibiotics should be given for an adequate period of time. Patients with chronic sinusitis complain of a combination of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea and postnasal drip associated with intermittent facial pain, with symptoms persisting for 3 months or more. Predisposition to the condition may be caused by rhinitis (allergic or nonallergic) and anatomical variants. Failure of mucociliary transport and sinus ostial obstruction leads to mucosal oedema, mucous hypersecretion and chronic infection. Current treatment aims are to control rhinitis and improve ventilation and function of the sinuses. Rhinitis may be controlled with the long term use of topical corticosteroids, mast cell stabilisers or antihistamines, either alone or in combination. Secretions may be cleared with steam inhalation and/or saline nasal douching. Failure to control chronic sinusitis with medical treatment may indicate surgery. The aim of surgery is to improve ventilation and facilitate drainage of the sinuses, allowing the restoration of normal function. Removal of nasal polyps, reduction of inferior turbinates or septal straightening may be all that is required. Some patients will need endoscopic ethmoidectomy and middle meatal antrostomy. Improved ventilation in the ethmoid infundibulum may help to resolve disease in maxillary and frontal sinuses. Medical treatment of underlying rhinitis will need to be continued postoperatively, often in the long term, while special consideration needs to be paid to sinusitis in children, in relation to dental disease and in the immunosuppressed. Complications of acute and chronic sinusitis include intraorbital and intracranial sepsis. These potentially lethal complications need urgent evaluation with high resolution computerised tomography (CT) scanning, intravenous administration of broad spectrum antibiotics (including anaerobic and microaerophilic cover) and urgent surgical drainage as appropriate.
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PMID:Recognition and management of sinusitis. 966 99

In recent years the immunocompromised population has increased rapidly to include people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), drug abusers, and transplant patients. Accordingly, the incidence of intracranial fungal infection has increased. Our institution experienced 2 cases of internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion due to invasion of the cavernous sinus by an intracranial fungal infection. The first case was a 60-year-old man who presented with headache, eye pain, conjunctival injection, right-sided diplopia, and blurred vision. Infected tissues within the frontal and ethmoid sinuses were removed via bifrontal craniotomy and endoscopic sinus surgery through the Caldwell Luc approach. The second case was a 63-year-old woman who developed right-sided facial pain after a tooth extraction. The infection was not controlled despite continuous use of antifungal agents, resulting in death from sepsis. We believe that when intracranial fungal infection is suspected in a patient with orbital symptoms and a focal neurologic deficit, immediate angiographic investigation of possible ICA occlusion is warranted. Aggressive treatment with antifungal agents is the only way to improve prognosis.
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PMID:Occlusion of the Internal Carotid Artery due to Intracranial Fungal Infection. 2155 42

The authors present the case of a 19-year old man presenting to the emergency department with a 2-day history of left eye pain and ptosis, facial pain around the maxillae, coryza, headaches and fevers. He had a background of autism, mild learning disability, obsessive-compulsive disorder and asthma. Within the last month, his risperidone and sertraline doses had been increased. Basic observations and investigations suggested sepsis: tachypnoea, sinus tachycardia, fever and a raised white cell count and C reactive protein level. A CT head showed sinonasal polyposis and moderate chronic rhinosinusitis, with normal intracranial appearances. An MRI head showed evidence of extension of frontal sinus infection through the posterior wall of the left frontal sinus with subsequent left frontal extradural empyema. Intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage of the left frontal sinus resulted in clinical improvement and discharge to complete the course of antibiotics in the community.
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PMID:Sepsis + ptosis = an unusual diagnosis. 2907 Jun 22