A 65-year-old man arrives at the emergency department via ambulance complaining of chest pain. He reports that the pain started suddenly a few minutes ago and describes it as a sharp sensation that extends to his back.
The patient has a history of uncontrolled hypertension.
A CT scan reveals an enlarged mediastinum.
What is the most likely cause of the diagnosis?
Ella, a 69-year-old female, arrives at the emergency department with abrupt tearing abdominal pain that radiates to her back.
Ella has a medical history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Her body mass index is 31 kg/m². She smokes 10 cigarettes a day.
The emergency physician orders an ECG and MRI, which confirm the diagnosis of an aortic dissection.
Which layer or layers of the aorta are impacted?
A 75-year-old man presents to the emergency department with sudden onset chest pain that started 3 hours ago and is radiating to his left shoulder. He reports feeling a heavy pressure over his sternum. The patient has a 40-year history of smoking one pack of cigarettes per day and was diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia 25 years ago. An initial ECG reveals ST elevation in V3 and V4. Despite resuscitative efforts, the patient passes away. Upon autopsy, a section of the left anterior descending artery stained with haematoxylin and eosin shows atheroma formation.
What is the final step in the pathogenesis of the autopsy finding in this case?
A mother brings her 8-year-old son to the GP with a history of intermittent fevers, severe joint pain and feeling fatigued. Other than a recent absence from school for a sore throat, he has been well with no other past medical history of note.
On examination, there is a pansystolic murmur heard over the left 5th intercostal space.
Which organism is the most probable cause for the aforementioned symptoms?
An 68-year-old patient visits the GP complaining of a cough that produces green sputum, fever and shortness of breath. After being treated with antibiotics, her symptoms improve. However, three weeks later, she experiences painful joints, chest pain, fever and an erythema marginatum rash. What is the probable causative organism responsible for the initial infection?
A patient in their 60s is diagnosed with first-degree heart block which is shown on their ECG by an elongated PR interval. The PR interval relates to a particular period in the electrical conductance of the heart.
What factors could lead to a decrease in the PR interval?
A 40-year-old man is stabbed in the abdomen and the inferior vena cava is injured. What is the typical number of functional valves found in this vessel?
A patient in their 50s experiences hypotension, wheezing, and shortness of breath after undergoing head and neck surgery. The possibility of a significant air embolism is being considered.
What factors may have contributed to the occurrence of this event?
What is the mechanism of action of dipyridamole when prescribed alongside aspirin for a 70-year-old man who has had an ischaemic stroke?
A 50-year-old man is brought to the hospital after a head-on collision. Upon initial resuscitation, a chest X-ray reveals a widened mediastinum. An urgent CT aortogram confirms a traumatic aortic rupture.
Where is the most probable location for a traumatic aortic rupture to occur?