Yew Broke My Heart

Resident: Joshua Pettengill MD, PGY-1 Emergency Medicine Faculty: Alexis L Cates DO, Emergency Medicine / Medical Toxicology The case… A 20 year-old female with a complicated psychiatric history of anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, and self-injurious behavior presents to the emergency department with a friend after a reported suicide attempt. The patient discloses that she had …

Valproic Acid Accident

Author: Grei Shele, DO, Emergency Medicine Resident, PGY1 Faculty:  Alexis Cates, DO, Medical Toxicology/Emergency Medicine Attending The Case… A 51-year-old woman with a past medical history of bipolar affective disorder presents to the emergency department for evaluation after ingesting 120 tablets of valproic acid approximately 30 minutes prior to her arrival. Each tablet was 500 …

Cheap Highs and Organ Damage

Author:  David Rusev, PA-C, Emergency Medicine PA ResidentFaculty:  Alexis Cates, DO, Medical Toxicology/Emergency Medicine Attending Case #1: There is a 27-year old male with no significant past medical history who has presented to the emergency department with a complaint of abdominal pain. The pain is localized to the right upper quadrant, is non-radiating, and has …

Pinky and the Rash

Author: Kelly MacKenzie, MD, Emergency Medicine Resident, PGY1Faculty:  Alexis Cates, DO, Medical Toxicology/Emergency Medicine Attending  The Case: A 3 year old boy with no medical problems presents to the emergency department for cough, fever, and rash. The patient is otherwise healthy, up to date on vaccinations, and was born full-term. Parents report that the patient …