August 2014 Pulmonary Case of the Month: A Physician's Job is Never Done

Elijah Poulos, MD^*

Kristine Saunders, MD^†

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine*

Department of Pathology^†

Phoenix VA Medical Center

Phoenix, AZ

History of Present Illness

A 75-year-old man presented with recurrent minimally productive cough, dyspnea, fatigue, low-grade fevers, and weight loss in November 2013. The patient had been treated twice as an outpatient with antibiotics in the previous 6 weeks for pneumonia.

PMH, FH, SH

The patient has a history of obstructive sleep apnea but is not compliant with his prescribed continuous positive airway pressure. He also as a history of obesity, dyslipidemia, and peripheral vascular disease.

There is no significant family history.  

He is a retired brick layer with a 50 pack-year smoking history but quit a few weeks prior to admission.  He drinks a case of beer/week.

Physical Examination

VS stable. There were no significant findings on physical examination.

Radiography

A chest radiograph (Figure 1) was performed.

Figure 1. Admission PA (Panel A) and lateral (Panel B) chest radiograph.

What should be done next? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the next panel)

1. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage
2. Bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy
3. Needle biopsy
4. Thoracentesis
5. Video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS)

Reference as: Poulos E, Saunders K. August 2014 pulmonary case of the month: a physician's job is never done. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2014;9(2):59-67. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc098-14 PDF

July 2013 Pulmonary Case of the Month: Swan Song

Bridgett Ronan, MD

Lewis J. Wesselius, MD

Department of Pulmonary Medicine

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Scottsdale, AZ

History of Present Illness

A 53 year old man presented to the emergency department with a 2 week history of progressive dyspnea. He thought it was anxiety due to quitting drinking just before the onset of his symptoms. He also had fatigue and malaise.

PMH, SH, FH

He had no significant past medical history or family history. He did not smoke but drank 2-6 beers/day until 2 weeks prior to presentation.

Physical Examination

BP 110/60 mm Hg, P 110 beats/min, R 32 breaths/min, T 37.6° C, SpO2 81%

He is pale and appears mildly dyspneic otherwise his physical exam is unremarkable.

Chest Radiography

His chest x-ray is shown in figure 1.

Figure 1. Initial PA (Panel A) and lateral (Panel B) chest x-ray. 

Which of the following laboratory tests is/are not indicated?

1. Arterial blood gases
2. Complete blood count
3. Spiral thoracic CT angiography
4. Urinanalysis
5. All of the above

Reference as: Ronan B, Wesselius LJ. July 2013 pulmonary case of the month: swan song. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013;7(1):1-9.  doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc081-13. PDF