Can you help me with this difficult case....? Best answer on the web

January 9, 2009 on 7:32 am | In mybachcars.com |
Can you help me with this difficult case....? Best answer on the web
  • Ms. A.b, 29 years old, female, married, G2P2, Filipino, Roman Catholic, resident of Cebu City, admitted for the 2nd time in Hospital X for abdominal enlargement.

    History:

    Six months prior to admission:
    - non-bloody, watery stools (1-2 episodes/day; 50 cc/episode)
    - no consult done
    - no medications taken

    Five months prior to admission:
    - Persistence of symptoms
    - Abdominal pain (prickling, intermittent without precipitating cause)
    - Gradual increase in abdominal girth
    - Easy fatigability
    - 2-pillow orthopnea
    - Consult was done and nizatidine was given with other unrecalled medications

    Four months prior to admission:
    - increasing severity of easy fatigability
    - enlarge abdomen
    - consult was done at the ER and was subsequently admitted
    - Laboratory done: anemia and hypoalbuminemia
    - Abdominal and pelvic U/S and Barium enema negative findings
    - Spironolactone, furosemide, and essentiale were given and transfusion of 2 units of packed red blood cells
    - Relief of symptoms
    - Patient lost to follow-up

    Three weeks prior to admission:
    - abdominal discomfort
    - abdominal enlargement
    - anorexia
    - Rapid weight loss (about 25%)

    One week prior to admission:
    - persistence of above symptoms
    - increasing abdominal girth
    - progressive episodes of dyspnea
    - episodes of diarrhea (soft stools amounting ½ cup/ episode; 2-3 times daily)
    - tea colored urine
    - no consult done
    - no medications taken

    Few hours prior to admission:
    - Severe progressive dyspnea
    - Consult at ER

    Past Medical History
    (-) Hypertension, DM, asthma, allergies and TB
    Admitted for childbirth and 4 months PTA for same problems

    Family History
    (+) Hypertension both parents; (-) DM, asthma, malignancies

    Personal/Social History
    Non-smoker, non-alcoholic beverage drinker

    OB-GYN History
    G2P2 (2002)
    G1 1990, unremarkable
    G2 March 2003, unremarkable
    No menses for the past 5 months.
    Previously on oral contraceptive pills then shifted to injectable contraceptive.

    Physical Examination
    Conscious, coherent, stretcher-borne
    BP: 100/60 mmHg HR: 89 bpm RR: 22cpm T: 37C
    HEENT: Pale palpebral conjunctivae, anicteric sclerae
    Neck: Supple, (-) neck vein engorgement, (-) cervical lymphadenopathy
    C/L: Symmetrical chest expansion, no retractions, clear breath sounds
    CVS: Adynamic precordium, AB 5th LICS, MCL, regular rate, normal rhythm, no murmur
    Abdomen: Globular, NABS, soft, non-tender, (+) palpable mass at the LUQ, firm, fixed extending to the R paraumbilical area
    Extremity: (+) grade 2 bipedal edema

    Course in the ward

    First hospital day:
    - Spironolactone, aminoleban, ceftriaxone and vit. K were initially given.
    - Initial lab: anemia and leukocytosis with hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia
    - Blood transfusion with 2 units of packed red blood cells.
    - Fecalysis no parasites/ova seen
    - Chest x-ray normal.

    Second hospital day:
    - paracentesis of ascetic fluid leukocytosis with predominance of segementers
    - Repeat abdominal U/S diffuse chronic liver parenchymal disease with normal sized spleen and massive ascites. Gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys and urinary bladder were normal.

    Third hospital stay:
    - Increased abdominal girth accompanied by dyspnea
    - Decrease in breath sounds over the Right lung field
    - Furoseminde was started
    - Repeat CXR pleural effusion over the Right lung field
    - Repeat paracentesis
    - Thoracentesis was contemplated, however, patient could not tolerate an upright position
    - ABG metabolic acidosis with low bicarbonate levels
    - Sodium bicarbonate was started

    Fourth hospital day:
    - patient develop hypotension (BP: 80/60 mmHg)
    - Improved with Dextran

    Fifth hospital day:
    - Again, hypotension developed refractory to dextran
    - Dopamine drip was started
    - Few hours later: progressive episodes of dyspnea prompting intubation
    - Patient went into cardiac arrest and expired!

    LABORATORY RESULTS

    CBC 1st HD 2nd HD 3rd HD 4th HD
    Hgb 8.2 12.1 10.0
    Hct 0.28 0.38 0.31
    RBC 4.6 5.6 4.7
    WBC 13.5 11.2 14.1
    Segs 0.77 0.70 0.85
    Lymph 0.16 0.21 0.09
    Eos 0.02 0.02 0.01
    Mono 0.05 0.07 0.04
    Stabs 0.01
    Platelets 890 749 239
    Retic Count 2.83
    BT (1-5 ) 2 00
    CT(1-5 ) 3 30
    PT (10-13.6) 12.7 secs 19.2 secs
    PTT(31.2-42.2) 39.2 secs 54.0
    % Act (76-114) 84.7% 44.5%
    INR 1.10 1.71





    Blood Chem 1st HD 2nd HD 3rd HD 4th HD
    Na 135 meq/L 118
    K (3.5-5.1) 3.5 meq/L 3.7 3.8
    RBS 129 mg/dL 77.4
    BUN (1.7-8.3) 3.4 mmol/L 6.3
    Crea (53-115) 48 mmol/L 100
    AST (0-31) 30.7 u/L 73
    ALT (0-32) 41.9 u/L 43
    Alk Phos (50-136) 106 ug/L 831
    Total protein (66-87) 62.6 64 63
    Albumin (38-51) 23.7 30 28 21
    A/G ratio (0.5-2.5:1) 0.6:1 0.9:1 0.8:1 0.7:1
    Cholesterol 6.0
    Triglycerides 4.5
    HDL (1.16-1.68) 0.2
    LDL 3.8

    URINALYSIS 1st HD 3rd HD
    Color/Transparency Yellow/Clear
    pH/Sp.Gr. 6.0/1.030
    Protein Negative
    Sugar Negative
    RBC 0-1
    WBC 0-1
    Epith Cells Few
    Uric Acid Occasional
    Bacteria Few

    FECALYSIS
    Color/Consistency Yellow/soft Greenish-b...
    Occult blood Negative
    WBC Occasional
    RBC Few
    Microscopy Negative Negative

    HEPATITIS PROFILE
    HBsAg Non-reactive
    Anti-HBs Non-reactive
    HBeAg Non-reactive
    Anti-HBe Non-reactive
    Anti-HBc IgM Non-reactive
    Anti-HBc IgG Reactive
    Anti-HAV IgM Non-reactive
    Anti-HAV IgG Reactive
    Anti-HCV Non-reactive
    Peripheral Blood Smear:
    RBC: mild microcytosis, anisocytosis, and hypochromia with polychromasia
    WBC: Moderate shift to the left, no abnormal cells
    Adequate platelets

    Peritoneal Fluid
    Culture: No growth after 2 days
    Cell count
    Color: Yellow Lymph: 40%
    Transparency: turbid Mono: 1%
    Total WBC: 1,728 cells/uL Total cell count: 8,532 cells/uL
    Segs: 59% RBC count: 6,804 cells/uL

    Abdominal ultrasound
    Normal gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys, urinary bladder
    Diffuse chronic parenchymal liver disease, Top normal-sized spleen
    Massive ascities

    Pelvic ultrasound: Normal uterus and adnexa

    Transvaginal ultrasound: Normal-sized uterus and adnexa; normal ovaries; ascites

    Abdomen, Barium enema: Essentially negative findings

    -end-

    Answer the following questions.

    1. based on the history, physical examination on admission

    1. what could be your impression or working diagnosis?
    Support your impression.
    2. What could be two other differential diagnoses?
    Support.
    3. What laboratory tests or procedures would you order?
    Why?

    2. Interpret the course in the ward and he laboratory tests results of the patient.
    Knowing this, would you still stick with your impression or working diagnosis?
    If you do not agree anymore with your first impression, which differential diagnosis would you now consider? Or, would you have other differential diagnoses that were not considered during admission?

    3. Support and discuss your final diagnosis.


  • Heaven help us if your in med school asking a bunch of laymen for help on your homework.
    I'd hate to be admitted to the ER and wait for your diagnosis after you checked the Internet.


  • Seriously man, you'd be better off doing these cases yourself. I learn far better by doing them than just studying. It's more fun too. Don't get too stressed out about med school... there are far more important things in life.


  • i'd say she was sick....think of something weird and rare....parasite,thyphoid,viral
    ,etc.
    something w/liver,infection,lupus,
    ,lymphoma,also,no perods for 5 months is puzzle.


  • a good doctor would consult with other doctors in the hospital not someone on yahoo answers.

    OY!!! get a clue man!!!!


  • Since the pt expired you are better off performing an autopsy and find out the underlying cause of death.