Chest
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Case Reports
Echocardiographic identification of intrapericardial fibrous strands in acute pericarditis with pericardial effusion.
In three cases of acute pericarditis with pericardial effusion, the presence of fibrous strands within the fluid-filled pericardial cavity was demonstrated by M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography. Pericardiocentesis proved difficult in all three. No patient progressed to constrictive pericarditis.
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A 20-year-old woman developed acute group B streptococcal endocarditis following saline-induced abortion. In the pre-antibiotic era, most cases of group B streptococcal endocarditis occurred in parturient or postabortal women. Currently, this disease is rarely described in obstetrical patients, and no previous cases following saline-induced abortion have been reported. Purulent pericarditis and a perivalvular abscess were present in our patient and represent only the second instance in which these findings have been documented in this disease.
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Terms used to describe lung sounds in published case reports were tabulated, including qualifying adjectives. Seven journals were reviewed, and a total of 663 case reports were included. ⋯ Some authors distinguish between "rhonchus" and "wheeze," but the terms, for most, appear to mean the same thing. It is evident that current usage varies widely, even in the terminology of the basic categories of sounds.
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A 50-year old man was evaluated for pleuritic pain.. Chest roentgenogram showed diffuse parenchymal infiltrates and bilateral effusion that, on thoracocentesis, was found to be a bloody fluid. ⋯ Prednisone therapy resulted in rapid disappearance of the pleural effusion, progressive clearing of parenchymal infiltrates, and marked improvement of pulmonary function tests. Sarcoidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of bloody pleural effusion.