SAEM Clinical Images Series: My Eye is Swollen

eye

A 56-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department with a chief complaint of painful eyelid swelling and itching upon waking up. He reported no history of trauma or fever. He had one similar episode in the past which was self-limiting. The patient denied vision loss, diplopia, pain with extraocular movement, and ophthalmoplegia.

Additional Images

Physical Exam

Vitals: T 37.4°C; BP 129/73; HR 91; RR 16

General: A/O x 3; well nourished in NAD

HEENT: Extraocular movements intact in both eyes. Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation bilaterally. Visual Acuity: OD 20/20, OS 20/25.

Left eye: Diffuse swelling and erythema to the left upper and medial lower eyelids with minimal purulent discharge from the lacrimal puncta. Tenderness localized to the medial canthal region.

Right eye: Normal.

Laboratory Data

Complete blood count (CBC): within normal limits

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): within normal limits

Case Question: What is the diagnosis?

Acute dacryocystitis. Dacryocystitis is defined by inflammation or infection of the nasolacrimal sac. Whether acute or chronic, acquired or congenital, inflammation is caused by obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct usually from infection, trauma, or a space-occupying lesion. The most common infectious organisms are Staphylococcus and beta-hemolytic streptococcus species. The classic clinical presentation is a sudden onset of swelling, erythema, and tenderness in the medial part of the orbit. Conjunctival injection and swelling around the entire orbit can suggest the development of preseptal cellulitis. Complications of dacryocystitis include orbital abscess, orbital cellulitis, vision loss, ophthalmoplegia, and eyelid necrosis. The differential diagnosis includes dacryoadenitis, lacrimal sac or sinonasal tumor, ethmoid sinusitis, and infected sebaceous or dermoid cyst.

Case Question: What is the treatment?

Treatment for dacryocystitis depends on the severity and clinical manifestations of the disease. In mild cases, symptoms will resolve with the application of warm compresses, lacrimal sac massage (Crigler technique), and topical antibiotics if indicated. Severe cases may require oral or parenteral antibiotics and surgical decompression.

Case Discussion

Take-Home Points

Dacryocystitis is inflammation of the medial nasolacrimal sac preceded by obstruction and may be acute or chronic, congenital or acquired.
Dacryocystitis exhibits a bimodal age distribution. The common congenital form is found in infancy, and in adulthood at age of 40 years older.
Dacryocystitis is occasionally mistaken for dacryoadenitis (inflammation of the nasolacrimal gland with superolateral eyelid edema). Far less common, dacryoadenitis is associated with systemic inflammatory conditions such as malignancy, Sjogren syndrome, sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease, and other autoimmune diseases.
Proper recognition and prompt treatment may prevent serious complications including orbital cellulitis, vision loss, and sepsis.

References

Alsalamah AK, Alkatan HM, Al-Faky YH. Acute dacryocystitis complicated by orbital cellulitis and loss of vision: A case report and review of the literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2018;50:130-134. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2018.07.045. Epub 2018 Aug 9. PMID: 30118963; PMCID: PMC6098209.

Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J. Differential Diagnosis of the Swollen Red Eyelid. Am Fam Physician. 2015 Jul 15;92(2):106-12. PMID: 26176369.

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Images and cases from the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Clinical Images Exhibit at the 2021 SAEM Annual Meeting | Copyrighted by SAEM 2021 – all rights reserved. View other cases from this Clinical Image Series on ALiEM.

By Ifeoluwa Akisanya|2022-09-11T10:08:30-07:00Sep 19, 2022|HEENT, SAEM Clinical Images|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Unilateral Facial Pain

swelling

A 78-year-old male with a past medical history of Lewy body dementia, hypertension on bisoprolol, hypothyroidism, COPD, chronic lower extremity edema on furosemide, and overactive bladder on oxybutynin presented to the emergency department for evaluation of three days of progressively worsening left-sided neck and facial swelling. Associated symptoms included poor oral intake, a nonproductive cough, and one week of sore throat.

Additional Images

The black arrow represents the left parotid gland.

Physical Exam

Vitals: Afebrile; normal room air saturation

HEENT: Firm, tender, warm and erythematous swelling over the left mandibular ramus that extended to the cheek, left neck, and spread caudally into the supraclavicular region and anterior chest. There were no identifiable hard masses or areas of fluctuance. Further inspection of the oral cavity revealed dry mucous membranes, poor dental hygiene without identifiable dental abscess, tonsils were normal size and equal bilaterally, and uvula was midline. Direct pressure externally over the area of concern revealed purulent discharge from Stenson’s duct.

Laboratory Data

White blood cell (WBC) count: 22.15

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): Na 131; BUN 39; Cr 3.3

Lactic acid: 2.9

Case Question: What is the diagnosis based on the clinical images?

Acute suppurative parotitis (ASP) is a serious bacterial infection of the parotid gland that occurs in patients with diminished salivary flow, increased susceptibility to infection, and poor oral hygiene. Our patient had multiple risk factors for this disease which can include dehydration, advanced age, sialolithiasis, medications (diuretics, beta-blockers, antihistamines, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, anticholinergics), and certain disorders including diabetes, HIV, hypothyroidism, Sjogren’s syndrome. The most common organisms responsible for ASP are Staphylococcus aureus and oral flora anaerobes.

Case Question: What are the potential feared complications of this disease process?

The most feared complications include supraglottitis, cervical necrotizing fasciitis, and other deep neck space infections which can be surgical emergencies and rarely cause impending airway obstruction. Further central and vascular complications include brain abscess, central venous thrombosis, and Lemierre’s syndrome

Case Discussion

Take-Home Points

The role of bedside ultrasound in acute suppurative parotitis can help to rule out a superficial abscess or sialolithiasis. CT scan is beneficial in ruling out deep space infections as a complication from this disease process or other causes of head and neck swelling.
ASP-associated complications are rare but can lead to significant morbidity and mortality secondary to the parotid gland’s proximity to vital structures and ability to spread to adjacent deep spaces.
Emergency medicine physicians will manage acute suppurative parotitis and must be aware of the potential complications when determining safe disposition and appropriate treatment.

References

Markovich A, Ronen O. Factors predicting length of stay in patients hospitalized for acute parotitis. J Investig Med. 2021 Feb;69(2):388-392. doi: 10.1136/jim-2020-001506. Epub 2020 Oct 21. PMID: 33087427.

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By Charles Johnson, DO|2022-09-11T10:03:16-07:00Sep 12, 2022|HEENT, SAEM Clinical Images|

Sankoff J, et al. WJEM (2008)

Imagine yourself caring for a patient that needs urgent vascular access, but several attempts at peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation have been unsuccessful. You aren’t quite at the point where emergent intraosseous or central venous access is indicated. Maybe those options aren’t even available where you’re working. From across the room, though, you can see a very prominent external jugular (EJ) vein. Sadly, you remember the last EJ line you placed falling out almost immediately.

Patients with challenging peripheral intravenous access in the extremities may require and benefit from cannulation of the EJ. Often done in the setting of resuscitation, securing these angiocatheters on the neck can be difficult. Tape and dressings may not stick due to sweat and anatomical limitations. Rotation, flexion, and extension of the neck can displace the catheter.

Trick of the Trade

If available, modify a winged angiocatheter to allow suturing to the skin of the neck.

angiocatheter

Create two small holes, one on each wing of the angiocatheter, using a sharp instrument such as scissors, scalpel, or needle.
Place EJ line and secure to the skin using sutures, similar to stabilization of central or arterial line.

Winged angiocatheters may not be available in all clinical institutions. International readers of ALiEM may be more familiar with their use.

However, this trick introduces the idea of finding creative modifications of available catheters to allow for suturing and securing of alternative IV lines. Modifications similar to this Trick of the Trade can be considered when placing “deep” peripheral IVs or pseudo-midline IVs such as when using extended-length angiocatheters or repurposed arterial catheters where suture can be wrapped around the hub. This approach may also be useful in peripheral cannulation of the internal jugular vein.

Tip: Be careful not to pierce the catheter or compress it down when suturing.

Interest in other tricks?

Read more articles in the Tricks of the Trade series.

By Mohamed Elhadi Abdelhameed, MD|2022-09-08T15:18:30-07:00Sep 9, 2022|Tricks of the Trade|

Welcome to the AIR Neurology Module! After carefully reviewing all relevant posts from the top 50 sites of the Social Media Index, the ALiEM AIR Team is proud to present the highest quality online content related to neurological emergencies in the Emergency Department. 5 blog posts met our standard of online excellence and were curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. We identified 2 AIR and 3 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 3 hours (about 30 minutes per article) of III credit for this module.

AIR Stamp of Approval and Honorable Mentions

In an effort to truly emphasize the highest quality posts, we have 2 subsets of recommended resources. The AIR stamp of approval is awarded only to posts scoring above a strict scoring cut-off of ≥30 points (out of 35 total), based on our scoring instrument. The other subset is for “Honorable Mention” posts. These posts have been flagged by and agreed upon by AIR Board members as worthwhile, accurate, unbiased, and appropriately referenced despite an average score.

Take the AIR Neurology Quiz at ALiEMU

Interested in taking the AIR quiz for fun or asynchronous (Individualized Interactive Instruction) credit? Please go to the above link. You will need to create a free, 1-time login account.

Highlighted Quality Posts: Neurological Emergencies

Site	Article	Author	Date	Label
EMDocs	Cauda Equina Syndrome: Why do we miss it? How to improve?	John H. Priester, MD and Mark Bisanzo, MD	13 Jun 2021	AIR
EMCrit	Spinal Epidural Abscess	Josh Farkas, MD	25 Feb 2022	AIR
Clinical Monster	Must Be Blood on the Brain	Molly Piccione, DO	3 June 2021	HM
EMCrit	Neuro emergencies in pregnancy	Josh Farkas, MD	23 Feb 2022	HM
EMCrit	Neuro-onc emergencies	Josh Farkas, MD	2 June 2022	HM

(AIR = Approved Instructional Resource; HM = Honorable Mention)

If you have any questions or comments on the AIR series, or this AIR module, please contact us! More in-depth information regarding the Social Media Index.

Thank you to the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) and the Council of EM Residency Directors (CORD) for jointly sponsoring the AIR Series! We are thrilled to partner with both on shaping the future of medical education.

By Chris Belcher, MD|2022-08-21T14:22:55-07:00Sep 2, 2022|Approved Instructional Resources (AIR series)|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Breast Swelling

A female in her 50s with a past medical history of coronary artery disease, pacemaker placement, hypertension, and ESRD presented to the emergency department with the chief complaint of missed dialysis, breast engorgement, and an increase in vascularity in her chest and abdomen. The patient reported an increase in breast swelling and increased vascularity in her belly over the past three months. Additionally, she woke up short of breath on the morning of presentation and reported dyspnea at rest. She denied chest pain, diaphoresis, breast pain, fever, rash, trauma to the breasts, or drainage.

Additional Images

Physical Exam

Vitals: T 36.9°C; HR 105; BP 109/74; RR 20; O2 sat 97% on nasal canula @ 3L

Neck: JVD

Lungs: Bilateral crackles

Chest and abdomen: Increased vascularity

Breast: Bilateral breast swelling and redness

Lower extremity: Bilateral pitting edema and varicose veins

Laboratory Data

Basic metabolic panel (BMP): K 6.9; Cr 9.53

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP): >35,000

Troponin I: 0.1

Case Question: What is the differential diagnosis for bilateral breast swelling?

DDX: Inflammatory carcinoma, mastitis, superior vena cava syndrome, portal hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism.

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome results from any condition that leads to obstruction of blood flow through the SVC. Our case was caused by complete occlusion from a thrombus and the patient presented with bilateral breast swelling, skin changes (peau d’orange), and an increase in vascularity in the abdomen and chest (caput medusa). Breast tissue largely drains into the axillary veins, and more proximally into the subclavian veins. Due to occlusion of the SVC, a complete backup of venous flow occurs, resulting in all of the noted collateral hypervascularity. Often SVC occlusion is caused by malignancy obstructing the superior vena cava or invading the vein.

Case Question: What does this patient's CTA chest show?

The CTA demonstrates occlusion of the superior vena cava. There are multiple varices in the chest wall and the imaged upper abdominal wall. There is also diffuse subcutaneous edema with diffuse soft tissue swelling and skin thickening of the bilateral breasts.

Case Discussion

Take-Home Points

Consider superior vena cava occlusion in patients undergoing hemodialysis who present with the above physical exam findings.
Consider occult malignancy as the source or cause of thrombosis.
Be sure to fully expose your patient when appropriate and keep your differential broad.

References

Corduff N, Rozen WM, Taylor GI. The superficial venous drainage of the breast: a clinical study and implications for breast reduction surgery. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2010 May;63(5):809-13. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2009.02.055. Epub 2009 Apr 3. PMID: 19345164.
Friedman T, Quencer KB, Kishore SA, Winokur RS, Madoff DC. Malignant Venous Obstruction: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Beyond. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2017 Dec;34(4):398-408. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1608863. Epub 2017 Dec 14. PMID: 29249864; PMCID: PMC5730434.

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By Martin Morales Cruz, MD|2022-08-28T22:47:29-07:00Aug 29, 2022|Heme-Oncology, Radiology, SAEM Clinical Images|

Welcome to the AIR CVA Module! After carefully reviewing all relevant posts from the top 50 sites of the Social Media Index, the ALiEM AIR Team is proud to present the highest quality online content related to CVA emergencies in the Emergency Department. 7 blog posts met our standard of online excellence and were curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. We identified 2 AIR and 5 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 4 hours (about 30 minutes per article) of III credit for this module.

AIR Stamp of Approval and Honorable Mentions

Take the AIR CVA Quiz at ALiEMU

Interested in taking the AIR quiz for fun or asynchronous (Individualized Interactive Instruction) credit? Please go to the above link. You will need to create a free, 1-time login account.

Highlighted Quality Posts: CVA Emergencies

Site	Article	Author	Date	Label
EMCrit	Time is Brain – AIS part 1	Casey Albin, MD and Neha Dangayach, MD	15 Feb 2022	AIR
EMCrit	Time is Brain- AIS part 2	Casey Albin, MD and Neha Dangayach, MD	30 Mar 2022	AIR
EMDocs	Diagnosis and Neurointerventional Management of Large Vessel Occlusion Acute Ischemic Stroke	Zack Brady, MD and Maggie Moran, MD	28 Mar 2022	HM
EMdocs	Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Diagnosis, Emergency Management, and Prognosis	Daniel Bak, MD and Matthew Siket, MD, MSc, FACEP	11 Oct 2021	HM
EMCrit	IBCC – SAH	Josh Farkas, MD	8 Jun 2021	HM
EMCrit	IBCC – AIS	Josh Farkas, MD	12 Jun 2021	HM
ALiEM	Are Thrombolytics Safe for Acute Ischemic Strokes in Patients on DOACs?	Bryan D. Hayes, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT, FASHP and Mike O’Brien, PharmD	2 Apr 2022	HM

(AIR = Approved Instructional Resource; HM = Honorable Mention)

If you have any questions or comments on the AIR series, or this AIR module, please contact us! More in-depth information regarding the Social Media Index.

By Chris Belcher, MD|2022-08-30T14:02:01-07:00Aug 26, 2022|Approved Instructional Resources (AIR series)|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Localized Weakness

sturge-weber

A 69-year-old Caucasian female with a past medical history of seizures, cerebral vascular accident, and Parkinson’s disease presents by EMS for evaluation of a 30-minute episode of left upper and lower extremity weakness and left facial drooping. The patient complains of a right-sided “migraine-type” headache similar to that experienced with her prior stroke.

Physical Exam

Vitals: Temp 36.5°C; BP 186/74; P 74; RR 18; O2 Sat 95%

General: Alert; no acute distress

Skin: Warm; dry; dark red discoloration localized to the left side of face, neck, chest, and upper extremity

HEENT: Normocephalic; left-sided facial droop; pupils are equal round and reactive to light

Cardiovascular: Regular rate and rhythm; no murmurs or gallops

Neurological: Alert and oriented x 4; CN II-XII grossly intact; slow and sluggish speech with left-sided facial droop; motor strength 4/5 LUE and LLE; tremor consistent with Parkinson’s disease

Laboratory Data

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) and Complete Blood Count (CBC) are within normal limits.

Brain Computed Tomography demonstrates chronic atrophy, subcortical calcification, and microvascular ischemia.

Case Question: What is the cutaneous finding shown in the image?

Port-wine stain birthmark. This birthmark typically occurs on the forehead, scalp, or around the eye, and is unilateral. It is a manifestation of an overabundance of capillaries near the surface of the skin and exhibits a classic light pink to dark red discoloration.

Case Question: What medical conditions are associated with this finding?

When located around the eye, port wine stains have been associated with an increased incidence of glaucoma. Large port wine stains on the arm or leg have been associated with extra growth in that limb known as Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. Port wine staining of the face, forehead, and scalp, when associated with cerebral leptomeningeal angiomas that elicit migraine headaches, seizures, strokes, and intellectual impairment as in this patient, are the classic findings of Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Case Discussion

Take-Home Points

Sturge-Weber syndrome is the third most prevalent neurocutaneous disorder impacting 1 in 20,000 live births. It is a sporadic congenital neurocutaneous disorder that is caused by somatic activating mutations in the GNAQ gene.
Sturge-Weber syndrome is characterized by a facial port-wine stain, leptomeningeal angiomatosis, and glaucoma. Brain involvement can begin early in infancy, and manifests as seizures, strokes, stroke-like episodes, and a variety of neurological impairments.
Anticonvulsants, low-dose aspirin, and glaucoma medications are often employed in the management of Sturge-Weber syndrome as well as skin pulse dye laser therapy as desired for cosmesis. The prognosis of this condition depends on the extent of leptomeningeal involvement and the severity of glaucoma.

References

Comi AM. Sturge-Weber syndrome. Handb Clin Neurol. 2015;132:157-68. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-62702-5.00011-1. PMID: 26564078.
Higueros E, Roe E, Granell E, Baselga E. Sturge-Weber Syndrome: A Review. ActasDermosifiliogr. 2017 Jun;108(5):407-417. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2016.09.022. Epub2017 Jan 23. PMID: 28126187.

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By Payal Patel|2022-08-18T21:54:43-07:00Aug 22, 2022|Dermatology, Neurology, SAEM Clinical Images|

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Trick of the Trade

More from ALiEM on EJ cannulation:

Interest in other tricks?

AIR Stamp of Approval and Honorable Mentions

Highlighted Quality Posts: Neurological Emergencies

Take-Home Points

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AIR Stamp of Approval and Honorable Mentions

Highlighted Quality Posts: CVA Emergencies

Take-Home Points

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