Life-threatening Medical Emergency Research Articles

Evaluation of the Role of Hs-Troponin among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Tertiary Hospital

Introduction: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and management. Traditional cardiac Troponin I has been the gold standard for the diagnosis of ACS, but the development of high-sensitivity cardiac Troponin assays, such as Hs-Troponin, has shown promise in improving the accuracy of diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the role of Hs-Troponin among patients with ACS in a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the prevalence of risk factors for ACS, such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, in this population. The findings of this study may inform clinical decision-making and guide the development of effective prevention and management strategies for ACS in Bangladesh. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, 250 Bedded District Hospital, Jashore, Bangladesh. The study duration was 1 year, from December 2021 to December 2022. Initial sample size was 400 patients, but patients under 18 years of age and those with incomplete data were excluded, resulting in a final sample of 175 non-ACS and 160 ACS patients. Data was collected after obtaining ethical approval. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables such as cardiac troponin and Hs-troponin levels, and compared using independent t-tests. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square tests. Cardiac troponin levels of ≤0.04 ng/mL and Hs-Troponin range of ≤14 pg/mL were considered normal. Result: Mean age was 50.2 (±14.3) in the Non-ACS group and 58.7 (±12.6) in the ACS group (p < 0.001). The gender distribution differed significantly, with 53.14% males in Non-ACS and 66.25% in ACS (p < 0.05). Mean onset of chest pain was 3.1 (±0.21) in Non-ACS and 2.9 (±0.42) in ACS (p > 0.05). Mean systolic blood pressure was higher in ACS (138.19±4.18) than Non-ACS (127.21±5.29) (p < 0.001). Mean BMI was similar in ....

CELLULAR SENESCENCE IMPLICATED IN SEPSIS-INDUCED MUSCLE WEAKNESS AND AMELIORATED WITH METFORMIN.

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency, frequently complicated with intensive care unit-acquired weakness syndrome (ICU-AW). ICU-AW patients display flaccid weakness of the limbs, especially in the proximal limb muscles. However, little is known regarding its pathogenesis. Here, we aimed to identify the potential signaling pathway involved in ICU-AW regulation and identify a potential therapeutic drug for intervention. Methods: Both in vivo and in vitro septic mice were used. For the in vivo septic mice, either cecum ligation and puncture or intraperitoneal injection of LPS was conducted in mice. The body weight and muscle mass were then measured and recorded. Muscle strength was evaluated by limb grip strength test. The expression of proteins extracted from cells and muscles was checked through Western blot analysis. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was carried out to test the transcriptional level of genes. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining and Sirius red for collagen staining were conducted. Metformin, as an antiaging agent, was then tested for any attenuation of sepsis-related symptoms. For in vitro sepsis modeling, myoblasts were treated with LPS, analyzed for senescence-related protein expression, and subsequently retested upon metformin treatment. Results: We found that both the weight and strength of muscle were dramatically reduced in cecum ligation and puncture- or LPS-induced septic mice. RNA-seq analysis revealed that various cellular senescent genes were involved in sepsis. In line with this, expression of senescence-related genes, p53 and p21 were both upregulated. Both SA-β-gal and Sirius red for collagen staining were enhanced in tibialis anterior muscles. Notably, inhibition of p53 expression by siRNA prominently reduced the number of SA-β-gal-positive myoblasts upon LPS treatment. This indicated sepsis-induced cellular senescence to be dependent on p53. Consistent with the function of metformin in antiaging, metformin attenuated cellular senescence in both murine myoblasts and skeletal muscles during sepsis. Muscle strength of septic mice was improved upon metformin treatment. Metformin intervention is therefore proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy for ICU-AW. Conclusion: Taken together, we revealed a previously unappreciated linkage between cellular senescence and sepsis-induced muscle weakness and propose metformin as a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of ICU-AW.

Hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors modulate status epilepticus severity

Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening medical emergency with significant morbidity and mortality. SE is associated with a robust and sustained increase in serum glucocorticoids, reaching concentrations sufficient to activate the dense population of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) expressed among hippocampal excitatory neurons. Glucocorticoid exposure can increase hippocampal neuron excitability; however, whether activation of hippocampal GRs during SE exacerbates seizure severity remains unknown. To test this, a viral strategy was used to delete GRs from a subset of hippocampal excitatory neurons in adult male and female mice, producing hippocampal GR knockdown mice. Two weeks after GR knockdown, mice were challenged with the convulsant drug pilocarpine to induce SE. GR knockdown had opposing effects on early vs late seizure behaviors, with sex influencing responses. For both male and female mice, the onset of mild behavioral seizures was accelerated by GR knockdown. In contrast, GR knockdown delayed the onset of more severe convulsive seizures and death in male mice. Concordantly, GR knockdown also blunted the SE-induced rise in serum corticosterone in male mice. GR knockdown did not alter survival times or serum corticosterone in females. To assess whether loss of GR affected susceptibility to SE-induced cell death, within-animal analyses were conducted comparing local GR knockdown rates to local cell loss. GR knockdown did not affect the degree of localized neuronal loss, suggesting cell-intrinsic GR signaling neither protects nor sensitizes neurons to acute SE-induced death. Overall, the findings reveal that hippocampal GRs exert an anti-convulsant role in both males and females in the early stages of SE, followed by a switch to a pro-convulsive role for males only. Findings reveal an unexpected complexity in the interaction between hippocampal GR activation and the progression of SE.

The Correlation Between the D-Dimer Values and Anatomical Distribution of Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary Embolism (PE) represents a life-threatening medical emergency that, given the serious complications, requires urgent application of anticoagulant therapy. In addition to other factors that are taken into account when choosing a therapy for treatment of PE, the anatomical distribution of thrombi is also considered-whether it is a central, lobar, segmental or subsegmental PE. D-dimer is an intermediate product of degradation of fibrin molecules and its values in the plasma are increased in the case of PE, but also in other diseases. To determine whether there is a difference in D-dimer values in subjects with different anatomical distribution of PE. The study included 100 subjects with diagnosed PE by using MSCT and/or V/P SPECT and with measured values of D-dimer. Out of 100 subjects, PE was not diagnosed in 37 subjects, while 63 subjects PE was diagnosed. All subjects with diagnosed PE were divided into 3 groups regarding the anatomical localization of thrombus: lobar, segmental or subsegmental. Average D-dimer values were calculated for all 3 groups. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in D-dimer values between subjects with different anatomical distribution of PE. There is no significant difference in D-dimer values between subjects with different anatomical distribution od PE-lobar, segmental and subsegmental PE.

Thoraflex Hybrid vs. AMDS: To replace the arch or to stent it in type A aortic dissection?

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires urgent surgical intervention. The mainstay surgical approach to treating ATAAD with aortic arch involvement is total arch replacement (TAR). The frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure involves TAR with hybrid endovascular stenting of the DTA in a single step using a hybrid prosthesis (HP). The prime example of a FET HP is Thoraflex Hybrid Prosthesis (THP). Another treatment option is the novel Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (AMDS) that is deployed as a non-covered stent along with the aortic arch as an adjunct to prior hemi-arch replacement. This comparative review highlights the clinical applications and outcomes of THP and AMDS in the treatment of ATAAD and discusses the main differences between both approaches. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Ovid, Scopus and Embase. TAR with FET can be considered the superior approach to managing ATAAD with arch involvement relative to AMDS with hemi-arch replacement due to more optimal clinical outcomes. Upon comprehensively searching the literature, early mortality was substantially lower with FET ranging from 0-11% compared to 12.5-18.7% using AMDS, with more favourable long-term survival. The incidence of kidney injury and new stroke post-FET ranged from 3-20% and 5-16%, and 11-37.5% and 0-18.8% following AMDS implantation. However, evidence supporting the use of AMDS is extremely limited. Meanwhile, TAR with FET is a well-established and well-described procedure for ATAAD repair. Despite the novel nature of AMDS, its clinical safety and effectiveness are yet to be proven. In conclusion, THP remains the best evidenced-based approach to treat ATAAD in this era.

Heat Illness Requiring Emergency Care for People Experiencing Homelessness: A Case Study Series

Extreme heat and hot weather has a negative impact on human health and society. Global warming has resulted in an increase in the frequency and duration of heatwaves. Heat-related illnesses are a significant negative consequence of high temperatures and can be life-threatening medical emergencies. The severity of the symptoms can depend on the pre-existing medical conditions and vary from mild headaches to severe cases that can lead to coma and death. The risk of heat-related illness may be higher for people experiencing homelessness due to a lack of access to cool places and water, and the complex interactions between mental illness, medications and substance use disorder. This paper presents two cases of people experiencing homelessness who were admitted to the emergency department of a hospital in Sydney, Australia during a heatwave in November 2020. Both cases were adult males with known risk factors for heat-related illness including hypertension and schizophrenia (Case One) and hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and alcohol use disorder (Case Two). These cases show that severe weather can not only be detrimental to homeless people's health but can also cause a significant economic toll, evident by the $70,184 AUD expenditure on the care for these two cases. This case report highlights the requirement to determine the risk of heat-related illness to people experiencing homelessness and need to protect this vulnerable population from weather-related illness and death.

Tumor-associated neutrophils and macrophages exacerbate antidrug IgG-mediated anaphylactic reaction against an immune checkpoint inhibitor

BackgroundWith the increased use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), side effects and toxicity are a great concern. Anaphylaxis has been identified as a potential adverse event induced by ICIs. Anaphylaxis...

Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: Optimal Strategies for Drug Therapy.

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a life-threatening medical emergency with considerable morbidity (30% to 40%). Patients with ASUC require hospitalization for prompt medical treatment, and colectomy is considered if medical therapy fails. Corticosteroids remain the primary initial therapy, although one-third of patients do not respond to treatment. Clinical data have indicated that cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and infliximab can be used to treat patients with ASUC who do not respond to intravenous corticosteroids. The effectiveness and safety of sequential therapy have recently been reported; however, the data are not convincing. Importantly, timely decision-making with rescue therapy or surgical treatment is critical to manage ASUC without compromising the health or safety of the patients. In addition, risk stratification and the use of predictive clinical parameters have improved the clinical outcome.of ASUC. Multidisciplinary teams that include inflammatory bowel disease experts, colorectal surgeons, and other medical staff contribute to the better management of patients with ASUC. In this review, we introduce current evidence and present a clinical approach to manage ASUC.

Pharmacist Involvement in Sepsis Response and Time to Antibiotics: A Systematic Review.

Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Reductions in time to antibiotics in patients presenting with sepsis or septic shock are associated with reduced mortality, and Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend antibiotics within one hour of recognition. Pharmacists are well-equipped to help navigate the therapeutic and operational challenges associated with achieving this goal. To assess the association of pharmacist involvement in sepsis response with time to antibiotics in hospitalized patients with sepsis and septic shock. A systematic review of the following databases was conducted: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science. Studies must have included a designated role of an individual pharmacist in the management of sepsis or septic shock and not be considered an operational change. The primary outcome of interest was time to antibiotic administration, with secondary outcomes including intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay as well as in-hospital mortality. We identified 10 studies including 1772 patients with sepsis or septic shock that evaluated a sepsis response in which a pharmacist was included. Studies included patients in the ICU, emergency department, and hospital ward setting. Seven studies demonstrated a significant reduction in time to antibiotics, with two other studies supporting this conclusion in extrapolation or sensitivity analysis. There was not a consistent reduction in ICU or hospital length of stay nor in-hospital mortality between those interventions involving a pharmacist compared with their defined control groups. Pharmacist involvement in sepsis response, often as part of a multi-professional team-based approach to sepsis care, is associated with a reduced time to antibiotic administration for hospitalized patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Superhuman performance on sepsis MIMIC-III data by distributional reinforcement learning.

We present a novel setup for treating sepsis using distributional reinforcement learning (RL). Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency. Its treatment is considered to be a challenging high-stakes decision-making problem, which has to procedurally account for risk. Treating sepsis by machine learning algorithms is difficult due to a couple of reasons: There is limited and error-afflicted initial data in a highly complex biological system combined with the need to make robust, transparent and safe decisions. We demonstrate a suitable method that combines data imputation by a kNN model using a custom distance with state representation by discretization using clustering, and that enables superhuman decision-making using speedy Q-learning in the framework of distributional RL. Compared to clinicians, the recovery rate is increased by more than 3% on the test data set. Our results illustrate how risk-aware RL agents can play a decisive role in critical situations such as the treatment of sepsis patients, a situation acerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Martineau 2020). In addition, we emphasize the tractability of the methodology and the learning behavior while addressing some criticisms of the previous work (Komorowski et al. 2018) on this topic.

ODP523 Thyroid Storm in a Patient With Alemtuzumab Induced Graves’ Disease

Abstract Background Thyroid storm (TS) is a rare and life-threatening medical emergency, most commonly caused by Graves’ disease (GD). GD can beinduced by immune reconstitution therapy (IRT) such as Alemtuzumab (ALZ), a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD52, which is shown to be effective in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Evidence shows that ALZ induced GD may be less aggressive than conventional GD. Below we present a rare case of thyroid storm developing in a patient with ALZ induced GD. Clinical Case A 39 year-old female non-smoker, known to have RRMS, wasstarted on ALZ. Presented to our emergency room13months later with palpitation, diarrhea and oligomenorrhea. Found to have TSH of 0. 007 mIU/L (0.250-5), T4 50 pmol/L (11.5- 22.7), thyroid scan demonstrated diffusely enlarged thyroid gland with increased tracer uptake compatible withGD. Our impression was ALZ- induced GD (not in thyroid storm),she wasstarted on carbimazole and propranolol and discharged home. Neurology team gave hera second cycle of ALZas she was euthyroid on carbimazole. One month later, the patient presented to our emergency room with nausea and vomiting. On examination, she was febrile 38.2°C, tachycardic reaching 140 beats/min (regular). Her blood pressure was 138/87 mmhg. The patient was agitated, anxious, alert and oriented. She was diaphoretic with mild peripheral oedema and had pulmonary crackles. The thyroid was diffusely enlarged with no signs of graves’ ophthalmopathy, or pretibial myxedema. On the Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale for thyroid storm, she scored 60. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), with endocrinology and neurology consultation. Laboratory investigation revealed TSH of 0. 009 mIU/L, T3 26.5 pmol/L (3.39-5.82) T4 65 pmol/L, positive thyroid peroxidase antibody 183 units (>100 positive). Despite treatment with maximum dose of carbimazole, B-blocker, hydrocortisone, and potassium iodide her T4 was not improving, and her liver function was deteriorating. Finally, she underwent total thyroidectomy. Three days post total thyroidectomy, the patient clinically improved. Steroids were stopped and the B-blocker dose was gradually tapered. She was then maintained on Levothyroxine. Conclusion It is thought that ALZ- induced GD behaves less aggressive than the conventional GD as spontaneous and/or drug-induced remission may be more likely. However, physicians should be aware that severe thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm can happen which required prompt recognition and aggressive therapy. Presentation: No date and time listed

Cost Analysis of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in Type B Aortic Dissection: How Much Does Quality Cost?

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening medical emergency that affects an estimated 3-4 people per 100,000 annually, with 40% of cases classified as type B AD (TBAD). TBAD can be further classified as being complicated (co-TBAD) or uncomplicated (un-TBAD) based on the presence or absence of certain features such as malperfusion and rupture. TBAD can be managed conservatively with optimal medical therapy (OMT), or invasively with open surgical repair (OSR) or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), depending on several factors such as type of TBAD and its clinical acuity. The cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit profile, of these strategies must be given equal consideration. However, TBAD studies featuring cost analyses are limited within the literature. This narrative review aims to address the gap in the literature on cost-effectiveness of TBAD treatments by providing an overview of cost analyses comparing OMT with TEVAR in un-TBAD and TEVAR with OSR in co-TBAD. Another aim is to provide a market analysis of the commercially available TEVAR devices. A comprehensive literature search was performed using several search engines including PubMed, Ovid, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase to identify and extract relevant studies. Several TEVAR devices are available commercially on the global market costing $12,000-19,495. Nevertheless, the Terumo Aortic RELAY® stent graft seems to be the most cost-effective, yielding highly favourable clinical outcomes. Despite the higher initial cost of TEVAR, evidence in the literature strongly suggest that it is superior to OMT for un-TBAD on the long-term. In addition, TEVAR is well established in the literature as being gold-standard repair technique for co-TBAD, replacing OSR by offering a more optimal cost-benefit profile through lower costs and improved results. The introduction of TEVAR has revolutionized the field of aortovascular surgery by offering a highly efficacious and long-term cost-effective treatment for TBAD.

Venous air embolism after blunt thoracic trauma without additional pathology

Air embolism is a rarely encountered but potentially life-threatening medical emergency and may occur as a result of many underlying reasons, such as trauma, surgery, catheterization, iatrogenic, and misapplication. Iatrogenic causes should be kept in mind, particularly if no other pathology is detected to explain the radiological findings in the patient after invasive procedures. In this case report, we present a 28-year-old male patient with a venous air embolism after a blunt trauma without an additional pathology and the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up period.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome secondary to olanzapine, a presentation with severe acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis: a case report

BackgroundWe present this case to draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis in terms of life-saving, noting that greater awareness is important among healthcare professionals. Our patient developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) after his neuroleptic drug dosage was increased. His condition was complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI) which required hemodialysis. The uniqueness of this case is that the causative agent of NMS is an atypical antipsychotic, and atypical antipsychotics are generally considered to be safer than typical antipsychotics.Case presentationA 31-year-old Chinese man with underlying schizophrenia presented to our hospital with aggressive behavior. He was admitted to the psychiatric hospital and started on his regular medications, with an increase in the dose of olanzapine tablet from 5 to 10 mg daily. After 5 days in the ward, the patient was noted to have high fever, restlessness, confusion, increased muscle rigidity, tachycardia and tachypnoea. Antipsychotic therapy was stopped in view of suspected NMS. The first laboratory test for serum creatine kinase (CK) showed a markedly high level of this molecule. His renal profile showed raised serum creatinine in comparison to 2 months prior when the baseline serum creatinine was within the normal range. A diagnosis of NMS with AKI was made. Although the patient was given adequate intravenous fluid hydration with close monitoring of urine output, his renal function did not show improvement but continued to show a worsening trend. In view of this, he was started on urgent hemodialysis. The patient was dependent on intermittent hemodialysis before his AKI showed complete recovery. After 2 weeks, his blood test results returned to normal. He was discharged well.ConclusionNeuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening iatrogenic medical emergency in which high index of clinical suspicion is required for diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patient with Severe Uncontrolled Hyperthyroidism Complicated by Thyroid Storm

Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction is a life-threatening medical emergency that needs to be recognized early and treated properly to prevent deleterious complications, including death. A thyroid storm (TS) is a rare but severe manifestation of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism that might present with serious cardiovascular or neurological problems. We described a case of a 40-year-old male patient, known to have uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, who presented with acute onset of central chest pain, agitation, tachycardia, and pulmonary congestion. Fast atrial fibrillation with ST-segment elevation in anterior leads was detected on electrocardiogram. Thyroxin level (T4) was very high with undetectable thyroid stimulating hormone. Initially, the patient refused any type of coronary revascularization; therefore, he was admitted to the cardiology intensive care unit, and medical treatment was commenced for both TS and acute coronary syndrome. High-risk coronary angiography was done 2 h later because he had worsening persistent chest pain and started to develop signs of heart failure. It showed embolic occlusion of the distal left anterior descending artery that was treated medically with anti-coagulation. There were no complications. Chest pain and thyroid function tests settled down during his hospital stay with close cardiology and endocrinology follow-up.

Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A Review of Contemporary Diagnosis, Risk Stratification and Management.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can have a wide range of hemodynamic effects, from asymptomatic to a life-threatening medical emergency. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with high mortality and requires careful risk stratification for individualized management. PE is divided into three risk categories: low risk, intermediate-risk, and high risk. In terms of initial therapeutic choice and long-term management, intermediate-risk (or submassive) PE remains the most challenging subtype. The definitions, classifications, risk stratification, and management options of intermediate-risk PE are discussed in this review.

Catheter-directed therapies for the treatment of high risk (massive) and intermediate risk (submassive) acute pulmonary embolism.

Catheter-directed therapies for the treatment of high risk (massive) and intermediate risk (submassive) acute pulmonary embolism.

An immunodetection assay developed using cobra cytotoxin-specific antibodies: Potential diagnostics for cobra envenoming

Cobra (Naja spp.) envenoming is a life-threatening medical emergency, and a correct diagnosis is crucial to initiating timely and appropriate antivenom treatment. However, snakebite diagnostics remain unavailable in Southeast Asia. This study, therefore, developed an immunodetection assay with a potential diagnostic application for cobra envenoming. The cytotoxin of Naja kaouthia (Thai Monocled Cobra) (Nk-CTX) was purified from its venom to produce CTX-specific antibodies in rabbits and chickens. A double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed using the purified anti-Nk-CTX antibodies (immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin Y), and its selectivity, specificity, and sensitivity for the venoms of five major cobra species in Southeast Asia (N. kaouthia, Naja sumatrana, Naja sputatrix, Naja siamensis, and Naja philippinensis) were studied. The results showed the immunoassay discriminates cobra venoms from other species commonly implicated in snakebites in Southeast Asia, i.e., the Malayan Krait, Many-banded Krait, King Cobra, Eastern Russell's Viper, Malayan Pit Viper and White-lipped Pit Viper. The immunoassay has a high sensitivity for the five cobra venoms, with detection limits (LoD) ranging from 0.6 to 2.6 ng/ml. Together, the findings suggest the potential diagnostic application of the cytotoxin immunoassay for cobra envenoming. The immunoassay was found to exhibit high immunoreactivity toward ten Asiatic cobra venoms (absorbance > 1.5), in contrast to African cobra venoms with low immunoreactivity (absorbance < 0.9). Considering the varying CTX antigenicity between Asiatic and African cobras, the immunoassay for African cobras should utilize antibodies produced specifically from the cytotoxins of African cobra venoms.

Adrenal hemorrhage following direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy: two case reports and literature review

BackgroundAdrenal hemorrhage (AH) is a rare condition that can result in a life-threatening medical emergency. This medical condition could be caused by several underlying factors, one of which is the use of anticoagulants. As far as we are aware, direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) agents are a rare but possible cause of AH.Case presentationHerein, we described two cases of AH due to DOACs. The first case was a 35-year-old Iranian woman with a past medical history of Hashimoto thyroiditis who was being treated with apixaban due to the previous thrombosis. Her first symptoms of AH (November 2021) were strangely similar to symptoms of autoimmune Addison disease (AAD) which led to a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 2 (APS-2). An abdominal MRI revealed an oval shape well-encapsulated cystic mass with a diameter of 20 × 14 mm with a thick and low signal intensity rim in the left adrenal gland, highly suggestive of sub-acute left-sided AH. Our second case was an 89-year-old Iranian woman who had been admitted to the hospital (August 2021) with low blood pressure and disorientation. At the beginning of her admission, the evaluation showed hyponatremia, and further evaluations confirmed adrenal insufficiency (AI). The patient reported rivaroxaban usage for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis after femur fixation surgery. Her abdominal CT scans showed bilateral adrenal masses highly suggestive of AH. Her follow-up examination showed persistent AI after three months.ConclusionGiven the history of our cases, physicians should be aware of AH in patients receiving DOACs, particularly in elderly patients who are at high risk of bleeding. It is also worth noting that AH can occur in any patient with any medical history and history of DOAC use, which is why patients must be closely monitored.

Editorial 2022

The prevention, diagnosis, and management of medical emergencies are of utmost importance in the practice of dentistry. Dental students and dental surgeons must be well trained and prepared to manage all possible medical emergencies in their daily professional practices. The team must be competent and confident in handling the initial basic emergency treatment with quality. Proper management of life-threatening medical emergencies may lead to the prevention of possible death and complications. This may also avert the psychological trauma that the healthcare professional may go through and the stigma attached to the hospital or clinic. Besides that, the ethical and legal implications of medical emergencies related to the obligations of the healthcare practitioner cannot be overlooked. The teaching of medical emergencies in our dental schools starts at the pre-clinical undergraduate level. However, the program is not well structured. Despite the consensus on the importance of training in medical emergencies, several international studies show unsatisfactory results by demonstrating low knowledge and confidence of professionals in managing medical emergencies and first aid. As a result of these international research findings, there has been aparadigm shift in teaching undergraduate students in most developed countries. The fundamental change in the approach now is emphasizing on a more competency-based curriculum and more hands-on teaching. Hence the need for a revision and inclusion of medical emergencies in our curricula in Ghana.