Pericardial effusion occurs when there is an abnormal amount of fluid around the heart. The heart is normally surrounded by a thin membranous sac called the pericardium. The space between the pericardium and the muscle that is the heart is referred to as the pericardial space. Normal levels of pericardial Continue Reading
An infant’s skull is comprised of boney plates separated by sutures. Cranial sutures are strong, fibrous tissues that hold the bones together and they intersect in large soft spots known as fontanelles. The infant’s skull does not completely fuse until the age of two thereby granting the brain time to Continue Reading
Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It is commonly caused by infection, but other causes include chemical irritants, drug allergies, fungi, and tumors. Based on the clinical evolution of the illness and the type of inflammatory exudate present in the cerebral Continue Reading
Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a severe blistering condition of the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, ears, nose, and eyes. It is usually the result of an allergic reaction to certain medications including, but not limited to, antibiotics (penicillin), anti-epileptics (such as Dilantin and Depakote), sulfa drugs, non-steroidal Continue Reading
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) can occur in babies when the circulatory system does not adapt to conditions outside the mother’s uterus. Before birth, the baby’s oxygen needs are met through the placenta in the mother’s uterus. After birth, the baby’s lungs take over this function. After being Continue Reading
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition that affects over 600,000 people per year in the United States. Through the use of modern diagnostic tools such as multislice spiral CT and advancements in treatment, the mortality rate of PE has been reduced in recent years. PE involves a blockage of Continue Reading
Wilson’s disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, where copper accumulates in the body’s tissues and organs, specifically the liver, brain, and eyes. The body acquires and stores too much copper. Copper deposition causes damage, death, and scarring of tissues leading to dysfunction of organs. The incidence of Wilson’s disease Continue Reading
In the typical birth of an infant, the baby arrives head first, followed by the shoulders and the rest of the body. However, in certain circumstances, the head delivers but the shoulders cannot fit through easily. This is called “shoulder dystocia” and can be an obstetrical emergency. The umbilical cord Continue Reading
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) refers to a hole in the ventricular septum, the wall dividing the left and right ventricles of the heart. VSDs are the most common congenital cardiac anomalies. They are found in30-60% of all newborns with a congenital heart defect, or about 2-6 per 1000 births. Continue Reading
A pituitary adenoma is generally a benign, slow-growing tumor that occurs in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small, bean-shaped structure that lies at the base of the brain. It has a central role in the regulation of hormones that affect the body such as Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), Growth Continue Reading
