March 21st 2023
Constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain worsening over 1 week bring a woman in her mid-70s to the ED. Labs are normal. What do you see on the CT scan?
Ecchymoses and Erosion on Fragile Skin
September 18th 2013These wounds occurred when this 77-year-old woman fell when chasing her dog. Such wounds-a combination of ecchymoses and erosion caused by blunt and sheering forces on fragile skin-are common in the elderly, even after relatively mild trauma. Simple interventions will promote healing.
Elderly Woman With Simultaneous Deep Venous and Arterial Thrombosis
January 8th 2013This patient had unilateral petechiae on the dorsum of the left foot. If the petechiae were symmetric, the first condition on the differential diagnosis would be thrombocytopenia. Here, though, the platelet count was normal. The patient also had a duplex of both the arterial and venous systems that showed complete thrombosis of both the arterial AND venous systems.
Pressure Sore on an Elderly Patient’s Heel
January 8th 2013The patient has a stage 1 decubitus ulcer on her left heel. Both feet are cool but are the same temperature. Distal pulses are palpable but weak on the good foot; they are not palpable on the left and can only be heard faintly with a handheld Doppler. You note unilateral petechiae on the dorsum of the left foot.
Post-traumatic Subcutaneous Hematoma
November 9th 2012This large bruise developed after the patient had an accident in her yard. Post-traumatic subcutaneous hematomas are common in elderly women, especially those who are anticoagulated. Untreated, the hematoma can eventuate into an abscess and even sepsis.
Diabetes Quiz: A 79-Year-Old With Elevated AlC Who Has Had a Stroke: How Would You Treat?
May 1st 2012The elderly patient has had type 2 diabetes for 15 years is now home bound after a stroke. Her HbA1c is 9.6 and she takes only metformin. Review the rest of her laboratory results and propose a management plan.