Mr. J.R. is a 73-year-old man, who was admitted to the hospital with clinical manifestations of gastroenteritis and possible renal failure. The patient's chief complaints are fever, nausea with vomiting and diarrhea for 48 hours, weakness, dizziness, and a bothersome metallic taste in the mouth. The patient is pale and sweaty.
He had been well until two days ago, when he began to experience severe nausea several hours after eating two burritos for supper. The burritos had been ordered from a local fast-food restaurant. The nausea persisted and he vomited twice with some relief. As the evening progressed, he continued to feel "very bad" and took some Pepto-Bismol to help settle his stomach. Soon thereafter, he began to feel achy and warm. His temperature at the time was 100.5°F. He has continued to experience nausea, vomiting, and a fever. He has not been able to tolerate any solid foods or liquids. Since yesterday, he has had 5-6 watery bowel movements. He has not noticed any blood in the stools. His wife brought him to the ER because he was becoming weak and dizzy when he tried to stand up. His wife denies any recent travel, use of antibiotics, laxatives, or excessive caffeine, or that her husband has an eating disorder.
- HTN X 14 years
- Post-AMI x 10 years
- Heart failure X 8 years
- No known renal disease or DM
- Osteoarthritis X 5 years
- DVT at age 61, treated with anticoagulants for 1 year
- Father died at age 50 from AMI
- Mother has type 2 DM
- Has two brothers, both living, with no known medical problems
- Has two sons without medical problems
SH
- Retired pharmacy professor who is living at home with his wife of 34 years
- Denies use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs
- Has 2 cups of coffee maximum daily
- Was not performed as patient is acutely ill
Meds
- Digoxin 0.125 mg po QD
- Furosemide 40 mg po QD
- Enalapril 20 mg po QD (recently added to furosemide to manage HTN)
- OTC acetaminophen 500 mg po PRN
ALL
- Sulfa drugs (anaphylaxis)
- Molds (watery eyes and sneezing)
General
The patient is a pale, diaphoretic, elderly Asian male in acute distress. The patient's eyes appear sunken with dark circles around them.
Arterial Blood Gas Results
See Patient Case Table 30.1
Patient Case Table 30.1 Arterial Blood Gas Results pH 7.35 PaO2 87mm Hg PaCO2 29mm Hg SaO2 95%
See Patient Case Table 30.2
Patient Case Table 30.2 Vital Signs BP 92/45 RR 30 WT 185lbs P 115 T 101.3°F HT 5'11" Skin
- Pale
- Poor turgor
- Warm to touch
- Patient denies itching
- PERRLA
- No funduscopic abnormalities
- EOMI
- Conjunctiva pale
- Non-erythematous TMs
- Nose clear w/o exudates or lesions
- Mucous membranes pale and dry
- Tongue rugged
- Slight erythema in throat
- Supple
- No JVD or HJR
- No lymphadenopathy or thyromegaly
- No carotid artery bruits
Heart
- Normal S1 and S2
- Faint S3
- No murmurs or friction rubs
- Normal sinus rhythm
Lungs
No crackles bilaterally
- Diffuse tenderness
- No guarding or rebound
- Soft and no.n-distended with hyperactive bowel sounds
- No HSM
Genit/Red
- Prostate exam normal
- Slightly heme-positive stool in the rectum
- No grossly visible blood
- Normal muscle strength bilaterally
- No CCE
- Peripheral pulses weak at 1 + bilaterally
- Patient denies any muscle tenderness
Neuro
- A & O X 3
- CNs intact
- Motor function-no focal weakness
- Slightly decreased patellar reflex, otherwise normal reflexes
- Normal coordination and gait
See Patient Case Table 30.3
Patient Case Table 30.3 laboratory Blood Test Results Na 144 meq/L Cr 2.6 mg/dL Alb 4.3 g/dL PMNs 29% K 4.7 meq/L Glu, random 155 mg/dL Hb 13.9 g/dL Lymphs 66% Cl 111 meq/L Ca 9.1 mg/dL Hct 48% Monos 3% HC03 19 meq/L Phos 4.1 mg/dL Plt 190,000/mm3 Eos 1% BUN 57 mg/dL Mg 2.8 mg/dL WBC 11,700/mm3 Basos 1%
- Clear, pale yellow urine
- Microscopy was negative for cells, casts, pigments, and crystals
- SG 1.019
- (-) bacteria
- (-) glucose
- (-) protein
- WBC 1/HPF with no eosinophils
- RBC 1/HPF
- Na concentration = 14 meq/L
- Osmolality = 769 mOsm/kg H2O
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Clinical Values for Case Study Problem-Solving
Abbreviations
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Abbreviations
Renal system physiology
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Renal system physiology
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