Military medicine
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Over the last decade, the published literature investigating the association between thyroid function and recurrent or persistent vertigo has become more robust. We present an interesting case of persistent vertigo in a healthy 31-year-old active duty Navy pilot who was restricted from operating single-pilot rotary aircraft because of the severity of her symptoms. During her work-up, she was newly diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease and started on thyroid hormone supplementation. ⋯ This case highlights the importance of autoimmune thyroid disease as a less common but important diagnosis to consider in the broad differential for vertigo. This is especially relevant to the military population since dizziness contributes to spatial disorientation for aviators and can be highly debilitating for warfighters. Astutely diagnosing and treating underlying causes of dizziness may allow service members to return to physically demanding and mentally arduous duties, improving overall military readiness.
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Military medical readiness, particularly in surgical specialties, remains a significant concern within the Military Health System (MHS). While initiatives like the U. S. ⋯ Challenges such as maintaining partnerships, addressing billing issues, and navigating local-level politics are identified, with proposed solutions, including establishing a centralized interagency office to monitor and manage specialty care partnerships. A comprehensive approach to enhancing military medical provider readiness through VA-MHS partnerships is crucial. By addressing readiness gaps and optimizing resource utilization, such collaboration would likely improve the overall readiness of the medical force, benefiting both military and veteran patient populations.
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Leishmaniasis is a protozoal infection with an increased risk of transmission to those serving in the U. S. Military due to theaters of operation in endemic regions. ⋯ The second case involved a 30-year-old active duty male with a history of travel to French Guiana who had a cutaneous lesion on his left hand that was identified as L. guyanensis, a causative species for mucosal leishmaniasis. Neither had evidence of any further mucosal involvement on otolaryngologic evaluation, and both subsequently received systemic therapy with a good clinical response. Although only 2 cases were identified over an 11-year period, this disease remains an important medical consideration when conducting military operations within Central and South America, as both cases had recent military-specific travel to areas endemic for leishmaniasis.
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The 5th Army Medical Corps Caribbean campaigns provided valuable lessons on the noncombat hazards to troops and the challenges to the provision of care in a tropical theater of operations. The Army quickly adapted the lessons learnt for the invasion in Puerto Rico and future overseas expeditions.
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Bronchial artery pseudoaneurysms (BAPs) are rare but potentially fatal vascular anomalies. We present a case of a 21-year-old male soldier who developed a BAP following a fall sustained during a suicide attempt. The BAP was identified on computed tomography angiography (CTA) and successfully treated with trans-arterial glue embolization. ⋯ Due to the risk of significant morbidity and mortality associated with BAP rupture, prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Endovascular embolization is a safe and effective treatment option for BAPs. This case highlights the effectiveness of glue embolization as a treatment modality for BAPs.