Winded : Part 2
Respiratory System
Step 1: View Clinicals
A 6 year old refugee presented 1 day ago with impending type 2 respiratory failure, and was managed with intubation and mechanical ventilation.
During suction, active, fresh bleeding into the endotracheal tube was noted, even though intubation was non-traumatic; the bleeding subsided over time.
He has experienced multiple episodes of cough, wheezing, epistaxis, and cyanosis for the last 2 years. Detailed medical records are not available.
A complete blood count reveals microcytic anemia with a Hb of 10.9 and normal platelet counts, while a chest x-ray shows reticular-nodular opacification in the perihilar and basal regions
Blood and endotracheal aspirate cultures showed no growth, while a urinalysis, renal functions, liver functions, ECG, and echocardiogram were normal.
A 6 year old refugee presented 1 day ago with impending type 2 respiratory failure, and was managed with intubation and mechanical ventilation.
During suction, active, fresh bleeding into the endotracheal tube was noted, even though intubation was non-traumatic; the bleeding subsided over time.
He has experienced multiple episodes of cough, wheezing, epistaxis, and cyanosis for the last 2 years. Detailed medical records are not available.
A complete blood count reveals microcytic anemia with a Hb of 10.9 and normal platelet counts, while a chest x-ray shows reticular-nodular opacification in the perihilar and basal regions
Blood and endotracheal aspirate cultures showed no growth, while a urinalysis, renal functions, liver functions, ECG, and echocardiogram were normal.
Step 2: Order Relevant Investigations
1. Coagulation Profile
aPTT: 29 sec (control: 30 sec)
PT: 15 sec (control:17 sec)
INR: 1.0 (0.9 - 1.1)
Bleeding time: 6 min (1-13)
2. Open Lung Biopsy
Macroscopy: Areas of hemorrhage are noted in the specimen.
Microscopy: The alveolar spaces are filled with red blood cells and macrophages containing hemosiderin. There is an interstitial chronic pneumonitis with diffuse fibrosis, muscularization, and hemosiderosis of the elastic lamina of the arteries, indicating recent alveolar hemorrhage.
3. ANA + ANCA + anti-GBM Abs
Circulating anti-GBM antibodies: negative
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (C-ANCA): negative
Anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies (p-ANCA): negative
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-DNA antibodies: negative
4. Precipitins to Casein
Titers of serum precipitins to casein and lactalbumin: negative
aPTT: 29 sec (control: 30 sec)
PT: 15 sec (control:17 sec)
INR: 1.0 (0.9 - 1.1)
Bleeding time: 6 min (1-13)
Macroscopy: Areas of hemorrhage are noted in the specimen.
Microscopy: The alveolar spaces are filled with red blood cells and macrophages containing hemosiderin. There is an interstitial chronic pneumonitis with diffuse fibrosis, muscularization, and hemosiderosis of the elastic lamina of the arteries, indicating recent alveolar hemorrhage.
Circulating anti-GBM antibodies: negative
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (C-ANCA): negative
Anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies (p-ANCA): negative
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-DNA antibodies: negative
Titers of serum precipitins to casein and lactalbumin: negative