Browsing by Author "Taylor, Gregory M."

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    Chest pain while gardening: a Stanford type A dissection involving the aortic root extending into the iliac arteries-an uncommon and potentially catastrophic disease process
    (BioMed Central, 2019-08-30) Taylor, Gregory M.; Barney, Michael W.; McDowell, Eric L.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    BACKGROUND: An aortic dissection is an uncommon and potentially catastrophic disease process that carries with it a high morbidity and mortality. The inciting event is a tear in the intimal lining of the aorta. This allows passage of blood through the tear and into the aortic media, resulting in the creation of a false lumen. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 71-year-old male with a history of hypertension that suffered a Stanford type A dissection with an intimal flap beginning at the level of the aortic root and extending into the bilateral iliac arteries. His clinical presentation was further complicated by shock, cardiac tamponade, severe coagulopathy, an ischemic right lower extremity, infarction of his thoracic spinal cord, and subacute infarcts secondary to malperfusion and embolic disease. Despite maximal intervention, the patient continued to clinically decline and ultimately died on day 5. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of an acute aortic dissection is often atypical and mimics other common disease processes. The signs and symptoms largely depend on the extent of the aortic dissection and the presence or absence of malperfusion. With a mortality increasing by 1-2% for every hour until definitive treatment, early recognition and prompt operative intervention are crucial for patient survival.
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    Functional testicular torsion secondary to an incarcerated inguinal hernia in a 4-month old: complete recovery at 18-hours
    (Oxford University Press, 2021-02-16) Taylor, Gregory M.; Strachan, Christian C.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    One of the most common urological emergencies encountered in pediatric patients in the emergency department (ED) is the acute scrotum. We present the case of a 4-month-old male that presented to our community ED with scrotal swelling and vomiting of 16-hours duration. He was diagnosed with a functional testicular torsion from an incarcerated inguinal hernia, transferred to a hospital with pediatric urological capabilities and was taken to the operating room ~2 hours later. His hospital course was unremarkable, and he was discharged on day 3, having made a full recovery without any loss of bowel or testicle. There have only been a handful of cases in the literature of a pediatric patient presenting with a functional testicular torsion as a result of spermatic cord compression from an indirect inguinal hernia, with no reported cases of complete salvage at nearly 18 hours since symptom onset.
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    Painless loss of vision: rapid diagnosis of a central retinal artery occlusion utilizing point-of-care ultrasound
    (Oxford University Press, 2021-06-18) Taylor, Gregory M.; Evans, Daniel; Doggette, Robert P.; Wallace, Ryan C.; Flack, Andrew T.; Kennedy, Sarah K.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an essential part of the evaluation of vision loss among emergency physicians in the emergency department (ED). It is frequently used to evaluate for vitreous hemorrhage, foreign bodies, retinal detachment, optic neuritis and posterior vitreous detachment; however, it can also be used to evaluate for a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). A POCUS can reveal a hyperechoic density in the optic nerve sheath just proximal to the retinal surface, and this is referred to as a retrobulbar 'spot sign' (RBSS). We present the case of an 88-year-old male that presented to our community ED with a painless loss of vision to his right eye. A POCUS revealed an RBSS of the central retinal artery and he was subsequently diagnosed with a CRAO. At his 1-month follow-up, he has regained light perception and 15% of his vision, however, remains with significant visual impairment.
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    Perforated Small Intestine: A Case of a Delayed Presentation of an Intra-Abdominal Injury in a Pediatric Patient With a Seatbelt Sign
    (SAGE, 2019-09-23) Taylor, Gregory M.; Zygowiec, Jonathan P.; Wallace, Laurie C.; Zelenka-Joshowitz, Dawn C.; Chudler, Angel F.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    With the use of seatbelts comes a unique injury profile that has been called "the seatbelt syndrome." The classically described "seatbelt sign" has become a pattern of injury, describing potential underlying damage. As a clinician, clues to the underlying damage follow a thorough physical examination including the removal of all clothing to locate abrasions and bruises to the skin that potentially follow a seatbelt pattern. Delayed presentation of an intra-abdominal injury in the setting of a seatbelt sign has been well documented; however, the question is how long to observe these patients. We present the case of a 17-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle collision who presented to the emergency department (ED) hemodynamically stable with a lower abdominal wall seatbelt sign. Her initial imaging revealed only an abdominal wall contusion. She was admitted for observation. Approximately 12 h later she started developing abdominal pain, and by 14 h abdominal distention, with repeat imaging showing free fluid and free air. She was taken to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy and was ultimately discharged back home on day 7.
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    Severe methemoglobinemia secondary to isobutyl nitrite toxicity: the case of the ‘Gold Rush’
    (Oxford University Press, 2021-02-15) Taylor, Gregory M.; Avera, Robert S.; Strachan, Christian C.; Briggs, Christian M.; Medler, Jason P.; Pafford, Carl M.; Gant, Timothy B.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    Isobutyl nitrite is one of the popular recreational drugs with high abuse potential that is known to cause methemoglobinemia. While inhaling this recreational drug, often referred to as a 'popper', is the typical route of administration, oral ingestion can produce a more rapid and fulminant course of methemoglobinemia. We present the case of a 69-year-old male that presented to our emergency department in extreme, life-threatening methemoglobinemia due to the ingestion of isobutyl nitrite that he obtained from an adult novelty store. The patient had a methemoglobin level above our lab cut-off of 28% and was subsequently treated with two doses of intravenous methylene blue. His hospital course was unremarkable, and he was discharged on Day 2. Methemoglobinemia is a medical emergency that requires a high index of clinical suspicion, prompt recognition, and rapid treatment.