This is a case of a 52 year-old female admitted in the medicine ward of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for drowsiness, fever and jaundice. This paper will illustrate an unusual case of encephalopathy, chronic abdominal pain and jaundice due to disseminated strongyloidiasis. Four months prior to admission (PTA), the patient sought consult for on and off right lower quadrant abdominal pain, easy fatigability, generalized body weakness, and vomiting of previously ingested food. Physical examination revealed pallor, right costovertebral angle and right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness. Work-up done showed a urinary tract infection and hookworm. An ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary bladder did not reveal any renal abscess and showed only a hyperechoic mass confirmed to be angiomyolipoma by abdominal CT scan. Bilateral renal cysts were also noted. Treatment for the urinary tract infection and hookworm were prescribed. She was lost to follow up.
Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; PARASITIC DISEASES ; STRONGYLOIDIASIS ; SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ; ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Heart Failure ; Dwarfism ; Patients ; Electrocardiography ; Asthma

A 50-year-old female presented with rash and multi-organ toxicity after intake of several antibiotics. This unmasked an elderly-onset, non-drug-induced seronegative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)which was confirmed by lupus band test (LBT)and skin biopsy staining. This patient presented with the rare combination of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS)and SLE.

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Humans ; Aged ; Female ; Anti-bacterial Agents ; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome ; Skin ; Exanthema ; Biopsy ; Staining And Labeling

Acquired intraabdominal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare disorder where the communication most commonly occurs between the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. Ilioiliac AVF has been reported previously, but is exceedingly rare. We present a case of acquired arteriovenous fistula of the right common iliac artery and left common iliac vein with extensive collateralization (ilioiliac AVF) in a 36-year-old female who presented with symptoms of high output congestive heart failure 18 years after sustaining an abdominal gunshot wound.

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Cardiac Output, High ; Heart Failure ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Venous Thrombosis ; Wounds, Gunshot ; injuries ; Wounds and Injuries

A 42-year-old male was admitted at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) for a 3-month history of non-healing wound in the medial side of his right leg in spite of multiple antibiotics. The wound worsened with multiple ulcerations and draining sinuses. The wound was shown to have suppurative and granulomatous infiltrates that yielded Mycrobacterium tuberculosis. An algorithm in the approach to a chronic or non-healing wound is discussed.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Hospitals, General ; Anti-bacterial Agents ; Suppuration ; Tuberculosis ; Communicable Diseases ; Lower Extremity

This a case of a 39-year-old Filipino male with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosed in 2006, presenting with a 3-month history of non-healing wound on his right lower leg. This paper will discuss the etiologies of a non-healing wound and present an algorithm to guide the approach to diagnosis and management.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Algorithms

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Hemophilia A ; Neoplasms ; Thigh ; Lower Extremity

Objectives: The celiac trunk (CT) is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta and typically gives rise to the left gastric artery (LGA), common hepatic artery (CHA), and splenic artery (SA), which supply blood to the abdominal viscera. Variations in the branching pattern of the CT exist and knowledge of such is crucial when performing surgical, laparoscopic, and angiographic procedures. The aim of this study is to determine the anatomic variations of the CT in adult Filipino cadavers and to compare the proportions of these with those reported in the foreign literature. Methods: Adult Filipino cadavers from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine Anatomy Laboratory were dissected by first year medical students from 2014-2019. The CT and its branches were identified, drawn on a separate piece of paper, and confirmed to be correct and accurate by an anatomist. The data collected from that period was reviewed. Percentages were calculated for the branching patterns identified. A Z-test of Two Populations was used to compare the results of the current study to that of Pinal-Garcia (2018), Pillay (2020) and Venieratos (2013). Results: A total of 107 drawings based on 107 dissected preserved cadavers were reviewed. Ninety-two specimens (85.98%) showed typical branching into the LGA, CHA, and SA. The CT presented as a true tripod (tripus Halleri) in 75 specimens (70.09%) and as a bifurcation with one of the three arteries arising first along the trunk (false tripod) in 17 specimens (15.89%). Nine cadavers (8.41%) showed additional branches arising from the CT and four (3.74%) showed bifurcation of the CT with the third branch arising from a different artery. Conclusion The most common configuration of the CT among Filipino adult cadavers is a true tripod, followed by a false tripod, additional branching, and bifurcation of the CT with the third branch arising elsewhere. The present study most closely resembles the results of the study of Venieratos.
Cadaver

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of significant morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization worldwide including the Philippines. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (C-TGA) occurs when the right atrium enters the morphological left ventricle which gives rise to the pulmonary artery and the left atrium communicates with the right ventricle which gives rise to the aorta. Heart failure can occur in C-TGA especially if associated with other heart defects. Ideal management is anatomic correction via surgery to prevent or address heart failure. Peritoneal dialysis has been used as a therapeutic intervention for patients with refractory heart failure and kidney injury with or without kidney failure due to its gentler fluid removal compared to conventional ultrafiltration resulting in less myocardial stunning and neurohormonal activation. We present the case of a patient with heart failure who started on peritoneal dialysis (PD) as an adjunct therapy for fluid management after failing to satisfactorily achieve volume control with diuretics. The patient is a 56-year-old man with C-TGA admitted for decompensated heart failure. He was initially treated with intravenous diuretics on the first admission but was readmitted after 3 months for decompensation this time with borderline low blood pressure making diuresis difficult. The patient was given loop diuretics, tolvaptan, and angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) but still with decreasing trends in urine output and inadequate symptom control. PD was initiated before discharge with subsequent improvement in heart failure symptoms. The patient was on regular follow-up for PD maintenance and titration of heart failure medication. In this case report, we have shown how PD can be an effective adjunct to guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with severely symptomatic heart failure who have an unstable hemodynamic status and for which volume management cannot be satisfactorily achieved with diuretics.
peritoneal dialysis ; heart failure ; congenital heart disease ; congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries ; diuresis ; ultrafiltration

Objectives: The celiac trunk (CT) is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta and typically gives rise to the left gastric artery (LGA), common hepatic artery (CHA), and splenic artery (SA), which supply blood to the abdominal viscera. Variations in the branching pattern of the CT exist and knowledge of such is crucial when performing surgical, laparoscopic, and angiographic procedures. The aim of this study is to determine the anatomic variations of the CT in adult Filipino cadavers and to compare the proportions of these with those reported in the foreign literature. Methods: Adult Filipino cadavers from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine Anatomy Laboratory were dissected by first year medical students from 2014-2019. The CT and its branches were identified, drawn on a separate piece of paper, and confirmed to be correct and accurate by an anatomist. The data collected from that period was reviewed. Percentages were calculated for the branching patterns identified. A Z-test of Two Populations was used to compare the results of the current study to that of Pinal-Garcia (2018), Pillay (2020) and Venieratos (2013). Results: A total of 107 drawings based on 107 dissected preserved cadavers were reviewed. Ninety-two specimens (85.98%) showed typical branching into the LGA, CHA, and SA. The CT presented as a true tripod (tripus Halleri) in 75 specimens (70.09%) and as a bifurcation with one of the three arteries arising first along the trunk (false tripod) in 17 specimens (15.89%). Nine cadavers (8.41%) showed additional branches arising from the CT and four (3.74%) showed bifurcation of the CT with the third branch arising from a different artery. Conclusion The most common configuration of the CT among Filipino adult cadavers is a true tripod, followed by a false tripod, additional branching, and bifurcation of the CT with the third branch arising elsewhere. The present study most closely resembles the results of the study of Venieratos.