06-07-2008, 12:05 PM
22.) A 42-year-old man with alcoholism is brought to the emergency department by a
friend because of fever and progressive shortness of breath for 12 hours. His
friend reports that they were eating leftover chicken and drinking beer earlier in
the day when the patient suddenly choked and vomited. Six hours later, he
developed sweating, chills, and shortness of breath. He has not had any
subsequent nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, or abdominal pain. He has smoked
Two packs of cigarettes daily for 22 years and drinks 12 to 18 beers daily. He is in
moderate respiratory distress. His temperature is 39.3 C (102.8 F), blood pressure
is 90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 120/min, and respirations are 24/min. Examination
shows no jugular venous distention. Breath sounds are decreased halfway up the
left lung with increased dullness. Cardiac examination shows a normal S1 and S2;
no murmurs are heard. There is no abdominal tenderness. Bowel sounds are
hypoactive. X-ray films of the chest show a left pleural effusion and air in the
mediastinum. Thoracentesis is performed.
Laboratory studies show:
Leukocyte count 18,000/mm3
Segmented neutrophils 85%
Bands 10%
Lymphocytes 5%
Serum Protein 6 g/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase 200 U/L
Pleural fluid Leukocyte count 8000/mm3
Segmented neutrophils 98%
Monocytes 2%
Protein 4.2 g/dL
Amylase 140 U/L
Lactate dehydrogenase 180 U/L
Gram's stain
WBC present
Organisms none
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Congestive heart failure
B) Esophageal rupture
C) Pancreatitis
D) Pericarditis
E) Tuberculosis
friend because of fever and progressive shortness of breath for 12 hours. His
friend reports that they were eating leftover chicken and drinking beer earlier in
the day when the patient suddenly choked and vomited. Six hours later, he
developed sweating, chills, and shortness of breath. He has not had any
subsequent nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, or abdominal pain. He has smoked
Two packs of cigarettes daily for 22 years and drinks 12 to 18 beers daily. He is in
moderate respiratory distress. His temperature is 39.3 C (102.8 F), blood pressure
is 90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 120/min, and respirations are 24/min. Examination
shows no jugular venous distention. Breath sounds are decreased halfway up the
left lung with increased dullness. Cardiac examination shows a normal S1 and S2;
no murmurs are heard. There is no abdominal tenderness. Bowel sounds are
hypoactive. X-ray films of the chest show a left pleural effusion and air in the
mediastinum. Thoracentesis is performed.
Laboratory studies show:
Leukocyte count 18,000/mm3
Segmented neutrophils 85%
Bands 10%
Lymphocytes 5%
Serum Protein 6 g/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase 200 U/L
Pleural fluid Leukocyte count 8000/mm3
Segmented neutrophils 98%
Monocytes 2%
Protein 4.2 g/dL
Amylase 140 U/L
Lactate dehydrogenase 180 U/L
Gram's stain
WBC present
Organisms none
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Congestive heart failure
B) Esophageal rupture
C) Pancreatitis
D) Pericarditis
E) Tuberculosis