Ultrasound For Critical Care Physicians: Neutropenic Patient With Fever and Shortness of Breath

Erik Kraai MD

Michel Boivin MD

Division of Pulmonary / Critical Care and Sleep

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM

A 63 year old female with a history of acute myelogenous leukemia presents with shortness of breath, fever and hypotension to the ICU. She is in septic shock on norepinephrine, and has been treated on the oncology unit with vancomycin, cefepime, acyclovir and voriconazole. She has been neutropenic for 1 month. The patient develops a progressive right lower chest opacity. This opacity has progressed in spite of antibiotics and antifungals. The portable AP chest radiograph is presented below (Figure 1). 

Figure 1. Portable AP of chest.

An ultrasound of the right chest was performed for further evaluation of the opacity (figure 2). 

Figure 2. Ultrasound of right hemithorax.

Question: What pathology does the ultrasound reveal in the right hemithorax? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the next panel)

1. Air filled cavity
2. Chest wall abscess
3. Fractured ribs
4. Pleural effusion and suspected empyema
5. Simple consolidation

Refernece as: Kraai E, Boivin M. Ultrasound for critical care physicians: neutropenic patient with fever snd shortness of breath. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2014;8(6):330-3. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc073-14 PDF

September 2013 Critical Care Case of the Month: Revenge of the Pharaohs

Robert A. Raschke, MD

Elijah Poulos, MD

Banner Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center

Phoenix, AZ

History of Present Illness

The patient was a 68 year-old man, admitted to our ICU through the emergency room (ER) in July 2013 with suspected urinary tract origin sepsis.

The patient was evaluated in ER by the ICU team. He was in his usual state of general good health until he visited his primary care physician for what he felt was a left inguinal hernia, and underwent a prostate examination, four days previously. The patient associated this prostate examination with the onset of fevers and chills that began the next morning. He was seen in an urgent care center where he was told his urinalysis was normal, and antibiotics were not prescribed. Over the intervening 3 days, he suffered recurrent fevers, had vomited three times, and had one diarrheal bowel movement. Earlier on the day of presentation, he had been mowing his lawn (in >100° F environment) and had become a little dizzy. His wife, a retired nurse, finally convinced him to report to the ER.

He denied dysuria, urinary frequency or urgency, headache, sore throat, cough, or abdominal pain.

PMH, SH, FH

He had a prior history of hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux, gout and hypercholesterolemia. He drank alcohol about twice a month and did not smoke.

There was no family history of illnesses.

Medications

• Atorvastatin
• Allopurinol
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Lisinopril
• Temazepam

Physical Exam

On ER triage, his temperature was 41.2° C, but vitals at the time of our initial examination were temp 38.2° C, HR 93 beats/min, BP 103/48 mm Hg, and respiratory rate 20 breaths/min. He was awake and alert, but made a few errors while relating his history – for instance, he initially answered yes when asked if he had a headache, then corrected himself and said no – he meant he had a fever. He was actively rigoring. HEENT exam was unrevealing. He had no lymphadenopathy. His lungs were clear. His abdomen was soft and nontender. He had a sliding left inguinal hernia that was not tender. None of his joints were acutely inflamed. His prostate was not enlarged or tender to palpation. He had no focal neurological deficits.

Laboratory

Pertinent laboratory values in the ER:

• WBC: 7.7 x10⁹/L
• Hematocrit: 38.4%
• Sodium: 131 me/L
• Potassium: 3.1 me/L
• BUN:28 g/dL
• Creatinine: 1.3 mg/dL
• Lactate: 2.1 mMol/L.

The rest of his admission labs and urinalysis were unremarkable.

Chest Radiography

His initial portable chest x-ray is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Initial portable chest x-ray.

Which of the following is the likely cause of his fever?

1. Prostatitis exacerbated by digital rectal exam
2. Right middle lobe pneumonia
3. Urinary tract infection
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Reference as: Raschke RA, Poulos E. September 2013 critical care case of the month: revenge of the pharaohs. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013;7(3):142-50. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc104-13 PDF