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EM@3AM: Pediatric Trafficking

A 15-year-old female with no reported past medical history presents with lower abdominal pain and possible STI symptoms. She reports living with a “friend” but cannot provide an address, does not attend school regularly, and is accompanied by an adult male who claims he’s “just a family friend” but refuses to leave her side and answers all questions for her. She is alert and oriented but appears fatigued, with mildly matted hair. She avoids eye contact with the clinician and nurse, and her story has changed multiple times since arrival. What are you concerned about outside of the abdominal pain?

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EM@3AM: Upper Extremity DVT

A 54-year-old woman presents with right arm swelling, heaviness, and dull discomfort. She recently underwent chemotherapy via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placed two weeks ago on her right side for newly diagnosed breast cancer. She denies fever, chest pain, or shortness of breath. On exam, her right upper extremity is visibly swollen from the mid-bicep to the shoulder with mild erythema, increased warmth, and prominent, dilated superficial veins across the upper arm and chest wall. A tender, palpable cord is noted over the medial aspect of the upper arm. Radial and ulnar pulses are intact, and there are no signs of infection or fluctuance around the PICC site. 

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EM@3AM: Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection

A 72-year-old male with BPH and HTN presents from a subacute rehab facility for altered mental status and fever. He has had a Foley catheter in place for the past 10 days following hospitalization for hip fracture repair. Vital signs include BP 92/68, HR 110, T 103F rectally, RR 17, SpO2 98% on RA. Foley catheter is in place with cloudy urine in the Foley bag. Ultrasound demonstrated a non-distended bladder with Foley balloon in good position. UA from old Foley: >10 WBC per HPF. UA + Culture from new Foley: >10 WBC per HPF. What is the likely diagnosis?

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EM@3AM: Hypokalemia

A 55-year-old male with history of recently diagnosed HFrEF, DM, HTN presents with progressive generalized weakness and intermittent palpitations over the past two weeks that worsened over the past two days when he developed non-bloody, non-bilious vomiting and non-bloody diarrhea. He has been taking his daily medications as prescribed which include metformin, metoprolol, and furosemide. EKG reveals NSR with flattened T waves, prominent U waves, and prolonged QTc.

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EM@3AM: Cat-Scratch Disease

A 43-year-old male presents with swelling to the right armpit. He also endorses a small wound to his right forearm, fatigue, mild muscle aches, and low-grade fever. On exam he has right axillary lymphadenopathy and a small, non-tender, slightly raised erythematous lesion to the right forearm with no overt evidence of extensive cellulitis. The patient states that he was playing with the neighborhood cat a little over a week ago. He believes the cat bit him on the arm before running off. What is the diagnosis?

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EM@3AM: Pediatric Non-Accidental Trauma

A 3-month-old previously healthy male is brought to the ED by his parents. His father says he rolled off the couch onto a hardwood floor, started crying immediately, and then seemed sleepy and more fussy than usual. On exam, the patient is minimally consolable with a small bruise on his left forehead. Vitals are stable. There are no palpable skull fractures. Due to the age and mechanism, you obtain a head CT which shows a subdural hematoma without midline shift. You obtain a skeletal survey which shows a healing posterior rib fracture. What is the diagnosis?

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EM@3AM: Genitourinary Trauma

A previously healthy 32-year-old male presents to the ED via EMS following a high-speed motor vehicle collision on the interstate. The lower part of his abdomen hit the steering wheel. He reports significant pain in the perineum and groin. He has the urge to urinate but is unsure if he is able to. Vital Signs on arrival to the ED: HR 110, RR 18, blood pressure of 120/80, temperature (oral) of 99.1F, with an oxygen saturation of 99% on room air. On secondary survey, the patient has mild diffuse lower abdominal tenderness. His pelvis is stable.  There is no testicular swelling or pain; however, you observe blood at the urethral meatus.

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EM@3AM: Tachycardia

A 70-year-old male with presents with 5 days of fever and 3 days of anuria and malaise.  He also notes worsening abdominal distention and shortness of breath. He found and removed a tick 3 weeks ago and another one 1 week ago. Labs reveal WBC 2,200 cells/microL, HGB 11.2 g/dL, Plt 21 × 109/L, BUN 86 mg/dL, Creatinine 6.8 mg/dL, AST 350 U/L, ALT 119 U/L.

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EM@3AM: Ehrlichiosis

A 70-year-old male with presents with 5 days of fever and 3 days of anuria and malaise.  He also notes worsening abdominal distention and shortness of breath. He found and removed a tick 3 weeks ago and another one 1 week ago. Labs reveal WBC 2,200 cells/microL, HGB 11.2 g/dL, Plt 21 × 109/L, BUN 86 mg/dL, Creatinine 6.8 mg/dL, AST 350 U/L, ALT 119 U/L.

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