Stroke

Subscribe to Stroke via RSS

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…

Continue Reading Linezolid, Serotonin Syndrome, and Medical Malpractice
iStock_000013877415XSmall-1-thumb-285x177-14594

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: …

Continue Reading Brain Injury and Medical Malpractice

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…

Continue Reading Lumbar Puncture – Indications and Usage

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. During heart formation, when the heart begins life as a hollow tube, it begins to partition, forming a septa. If this does not occur properly it can lead to an…

Continue Reading Ventricular Septal Defect in the Newborn

iStock_000012053156XSmall-thumb-285x160-15441

Deep venous thrombosis is the development of a blood clot in the large, deep veins of the lower leg and thigh. Thrombi can cause tissue injury due to vascular occlusion or distal embolization. However, venous obstruction can be offset by collateral blood vessels. Thrombi can also cause local pain and edema due to the blockage of blood flow. If the clot breaks off and travels through the blood, it is referred to as an embolism. An embolism can become trapped…

Continue Reading Deep Venous Thrombosis and Medical Malpractice
iStock_000000113655XSmall-thumb-325x324-14599

One of the first steps in evaluating brain injury is diagnostic imaging. Imaging refers to various methods of viewing the structures and processes residing in the brain. Some of the more familiar modalities are CT (or CAT) scans, which use X-rays to evaluate intracranial structures. MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses magnetic fields to illustrate the brain. However, in cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI), more advanced methods may be needed for proper diagnosis.

An MRI machine can use special software…

Continue Reading Advanced Diagnostic Imaging for Acquired Brain Injury

Child neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment in the US. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), approximately 899,000 children in the US who were victims of abuse and neglect in 2005, 62.8% suffered from neglect alone. Child neglect is a failure by parents or caregivers to provide for a child’s basic physical, educational, and emotional needs. It is difficult to define because it varies with the age and development of the child…

Continue Reading Child Abuse and Neglect