Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a commonly utilized method for coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis, and it provides important long-term prognostic information. We report a case of a 53-year-old female with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who underwent DSE for evaluation of underlying CAD. The examination was complicated by wide complex tachycardia and promoted administration of esmolol, which shortly led to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Coronary angiography showed complete absence of CAD. Coronary vasospasm was a possible suggested mechanism due to the pharmacologic interaction between beta-blockers and dobutamine on alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors.
Hemicorporectomy, or translumbar amputation, is a radical surgery involving the dissection of the body at the waist and is usually reserved for complex medical conditions including locally invasive malignancy and terminal pelvic osteomyelitis. Only 71 cases have previously been reported. We present a rare case of hemicorporectomy in a 53-year-old patient with terminal pelvic osteomyelitis which occurred after he suffered a gunshot wound at T6 causing paraplegia at the age of 31. Unfortunately, this patient continued to suffer recurrent hospitalisations and sepsis events secondary to chronic, non-healing advanced pressure ulcers and complicated urinary tract infections despite repeated courses of broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and surgical debridements. In light of his diminished quality of life and poor prognosis, the patient's family chose to manage his condition conservatively with home hospice. This case illustrates the significant challenges in the medical and surgical management of hemicorporectomy patients.
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