Starting "Case of the Week" Series in Response to Reader Requests

In most cases, your blog readers will tell what they need if you just listen to them. For example:

Anonymous said (partially edited for grammar):

"It's wonderful the effort you make in making doctors to be up-to-date with the technology, the suggestion I have for you though is, since a good number of your readers could be either residents or medical students like me, please could you also post some clinical scenarios that are dedicated towards solving clinical problems on a weekly basis, this is just my suggestion. Thank you"

My response was:

"Great idea. Will implement it -- "Case of the Week" should be available as a regular feature next month. Thank you for the suggestion."

The first case in the Case of the Week series is linked below:

Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response due to central line placement

A young female with DM type 1 was admitted to the hospital with an infected right diabetic foot ulcer. She needed IV access and failed several peripheral line attempts. A right internal jugular central line was and she immediately complained of shortness of breath and palpitations.

What is the most likely diagnosis?


Triple lumen catheter (TLC) at the right atrio-ventricular (AV) junction on CXR.


Atrial fibrillation (AFib) with rapid ventricular response (RVR) due to a TLC at the right atrio-ventricular (AV) junction.

See what happened next in Atrial fibrillation (AFib) with rapid ventricular response (RVR) due to central line placement at Clinical Cases and Images.

What happened to the medical abbreviations?

We appreciate your feedback about using medical abbreviations. In the first edition of ClinicalCases.org, the goal was to make the cases as authentic as possible, therefore, we used abbreviations liberally throughout the text, for example, "55 yo AAF w PMH of CHF, COPD, CAD s/p MI is here for a c-scope." However, some abbreviations were confusing to many readers especially those based outside the U.S. For example, "GERD" (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is actually called "GORD" in some countries. We still feel there is a value in providing as many abbreviations as possible to acquaint the reader with what "the real medicine looks like." In response to readers, the new and revised cases at ClinicalCases.org (updated gradually) will explain the abbreviations in full text whenever they are used.

Keep the feedback coming -- we are listening to you

You can use any comment section under any post or article to submit feedback. All comments are emailed to the editor immediately after you hit the "submit" button. Keep the feedback coming. We are listening to you and our goal is to make the Clinical Cases and Images as useful as possible to all readers around the world.

Submit your own case

Do not forget to use the online form to submit your own case for consideration and inclusion in this collaborative resource which has become the most popular free online case-based curriculum of clinical medicine. The website will stay free and you are credited as an author with each case you submit.

References:
Clinical Cases and Images: About Us.
Complete List of Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms.