I put together these medical challenges. The cases are hypothetical and do not necessarily represent actual or typical presentations of medical diseases. Disclaimer is at the bottom of this page.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Blender
This is an incidental finding in a patient with a ball-cage prosthetic valve for a remote history of refractory endocarditis.
Challenge: Why this finding?
Related Questions: 1. What do you see on the smear?
The smear shows schistocytes. Hemolytic anemia from mechanical damage can be seen with leaky prosthetic heart valves due to rapid acceleration and deceleration of the regurgitant jet and/or high peak shear rates. Hemolysis is most often mild and subclinical. Treatment is oral iron, blood transfusion, or reoperation.
This is an incidental finding in a patient with a ball-cage prosthetic valve for a remote history of refractory endocarditis.
hemolytic anemia, schistocytes
ReplyDeleteschistocytes 2/2 the valve. sort of like MAHA
ReplyDeleteyes sort of like mahahaha :)
ReplyDelete-
Blender
The smear shows schistocytes. Hemolytic anemia from mechanical damage can be seen with leaky prosthetic heart valves due to rapid acceleration and deceleration of the regurgitant jet and/or high peak shear rates. Hemolysis is most often mild and subclinical. Treatment is oral iron, blood transfusion, or reoperation.
Sources: UpToDate; picasaweb.google.com/mcmumbi.