Case of the Week – “Evolving Pain”

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Emergency Department Case

A 60 year old female presents to your Emergency Department (ED) by ambulance with inter-scapular pain. She described the pain as dull and throbbing.

The patient has associated tingling in right hand. Each episode of pain is intermittent, occurring every 5 minutes and lasting 30 seconds each time.

The patient reports starting cephalexin 3 days ago for cellulitis associated with acute on chronic diabetic foot ulcer.

From a social point of view the patient reports she is an independent non-smoker.

Past Medical History

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) – reliant on insulin for several years
- DM is associated nephropathy and ulcers, but no other known ‘complications’
Atrial Fibrillation (treated with anticoagulants and beta blocker)
Permanent Pacemaker for Sick Sinus Syndrome
Parathyroidectomy
Chronic gastritis on recent endocscopy

Medication History

Clinical Examination

Temperature – afebrile
Vital Signs Recorded – normal
Blood Pressure = in both arms.
No radial-radial or radial-femoral delay
Chest clear with no abnormalities appreciated
HS I+II+ no added murmurs,
Abdomen Soft, non tender
Ulcer on left leg – noted and appropriately dressed (chronic venous insufficiency noted in both legs)

Investigations

Bedside Tests
- Blood Sugar 10.8 mmol/L
- U/A – protein +, glucose +ve (otherwise normal)
- 12 lead ECG – normally appearing paced rhythm (image credit):

Initial Emergency Department Plan

Given history of diabetes, hypertension and sudden onset of pain the patient was admitted for serial troponin. Despite the x-ray and clinical examination there was concern about aortic pathology and the ED team requested a ‘CT aortogram’

Progress

While waiting for CT scanning the patient developed a sore throat and dysphagia
Further neck clinical examination:
- diffusely tender anterior neck bilaerally
- feeling of fullness but no lymphadenopathy appreciated on examination
At this time the patient reported worsening dysphagia
The vital signs remained normal but there was profound drooling and concerns about the status of the airway in view of the neck swelling

Management

The anaesthetics team were consulted. They shared the teams concerns about the airway. Early intervention was considered pertinent in order to protect the airway – an awake fiberoptic intubation was completed in the Operating Room
The patient was commenced on intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone and a CT ‘soft tissue neck’ was requested
This CT demonstrated extensive swelling throughout neck deep space planes “consistent with haematoma“

Actions

The patient’s NOAC (Apixaban) was withheld and ceased on the medication chart
The patient was continued on their broad spectrum IV Antibiotics
The treating team made the decision to refer for ‘exploration of neck’ in the operating theatre
Later the follow up of microbiology results ‘grew Streptococcus’ from local cultures

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Some Key Learning Points

Initial Emergency Department (ED) presentations may be atypical in patients with chronic disease.
In this case inter-scapular pain focussed the initial ED assessment to rule out cardiac, pulmonary and aortic pathology.
A pearl from this case is it is pertinent to “continue to observe patients” with on-going symptoms
In the Emergency Department setting we should have low threshold for investigation of new or progressive symptoms (such as severe neck pain)
Patients on ‘NOACs are at high risk’ of uncontrolled non-compressible bleeding
Where there are concerns about neck swelling consider early interventions to protect the airway – whilst starting treatment (e.g. antibiotics, steroids, nebulisers)
Make referrals to Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons and anaesthetics using an “ISBAR” handover and with an appropriate sense of urgency (neck swelling can be a time-dependent emergency)

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