Critical Care
The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care publishes articles directed to those who treat patients in the ICU, CCU and SICU including chest physicians, surgeons, pediatricians, pharmacists/pharmacologists, anesthesiologists, critical care nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Manuscripts may be either basic or clinical original investigations or review articles. Potential authors of review articles are encouraged to contact the editors before submission, however, unsolicited review articles will be considered.
December 2017 Critical Care Case of the Month
Michael B. Gotway, MD
Department of Radiology
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale AZ USA
Clinical History: A 57-year-old man with no known previous medical history was brought to the emergency room via ambulance and admitted to the intensive care unit with a compliant of severe chest pain in the substernal region and epigastrium. The patient was awake and alert and did not complain of shortness of breath.
Physical examination was largely unremarkable and the patient’s oxygen saturation was 98% on room air. The patient’s vital signs revealed tachycardia (105 bpm) and his blood pressure was 108 mmHg / 60 mmHg.
Laboratory evaluation showed a slightly elevated white blood cell count (13 x 109 cells/L), but his hemoglobin and hematocrit values were with within normal limits, as was his platelet count.
Which of the following diagnoses are appropriate considerations for this patient’s condition? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the second of nine pages)
- Acute pericarditis
- Aortic dissection
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Myocardial infarction
- All of the above
Cite as: Gotway MB. December 2017 critical care case of the month. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2017;15(6):241-52. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc145-17 PDF