In medical treatment the intersection of pharmacology and patient safety is a critical area of concern. A particularly alarming scenario arises when patients on Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression are inadvertently treated with certain antibiotics, such as Linezolid, leading to severe complications like hypertension and stroke. This blog explores the mechanisms behind this dangerous interaction, the resulting medical condition known as Serotonin Syndrome, and the implications of such medical errors.

MAOIs are a class of antidepressants that work…

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The prevalence of brain injury in the United States is alarming as it is the second leading cause of disability in the country. Often referred to as the silent epidemic, approximately 3.17- 5.3 million Americans suffer from traumatic brain injuries, another 4.7 million have brain injuries from strokes, and another 500,000 have cerebral palsy (brain injury due to an event of oxygen deprivation). Causes of brain injury that may give rise to a medical malpractice lawsuit are further described below: …

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Hirschsprung’s Disease is a congenital disorder of the large intestine that occurs in about one in five thousand births. Unfortunately, this disease is responsible for twenty-five percent of all intestinal blockages in newborns. Suspected signs and symptoms in a newborn include constipation, abdominal distension, projectile vomiting, poor feeding, and a failure to pass meconium within forty-eight hours after birth. Physiologically, the affected segment of the large intestine narrows because of the absence of local ganglion nerve cells which function to…

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Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix.  If left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually rupture.  When this happens intestinal contents (stool and bacteria) spill into the abdominal cavity causing infectious peritonitis, a serious and toxic inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s lining (the peritoneum).  This condition can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with surgery and strong antibiotics.

SYMPTOMS: Usually pain is the first symptom, starting in the mid abdomen around…

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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is continually produced and stored in ventricles, which are cavities of the brain. CSF cushions the brain, supplies the brain with nutrients, and removes wastes.  Excess fluid drained from the brain is absorbed by other tissues.

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is an abundance of CSF in the ventricles due to interference in proper drainage and absorption. To accommodate the extra fluid…

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Epidural block has become a popular method of pain management during labor. However, questions persist regarding its safety and effects on mother and baby. Epidural anesthesia is a regional anesthesia, which means it blocks pain from a specific region in the body. The goal of a labor epidural is to block pain impulses from lower spinal segments that can result in decreased feeling in the abdominal and pelvic area. Optimally, this decreases the pain experienced during contractions and labor; however…

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Breast cancer affects millions of women in America and some studies indicate up to one out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. The survival rate of breast cancer that is detected and treated early is much better than when a malignant tumor is found after it has already spread to lymph nodes or surrounding tissue.  Therefore, it is important that every effort be made to diagnose and treat breast lesions…

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Lumbar puncture is a procedure performed in the lower back area, where a needle is inserted between two vertebrae to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The patient flexes his/her back to widen the spaces between the vertebrae so it is easier for the physician to access the region. The back is washed with antiseptic soap or iodine and covered with a sterile sheet. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area and then a thin hollow needle…

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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 born, the baby inflates its lungs with its first breaths. Then, a series of changes take place to decrease resistance to blood flowing through the newborn’s lungs. This allows the…

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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 anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen), methotrexate, sedatives, and gout drugs (such as allopurinal). 

Symptoms of SJS may include:

-skin blisters, rash, or red splotches of the mouth, ears, and nose…

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