Case 1:
A 55 yr old male presented to a clinic associated with Harza Hospital complaining of severe headaches, sweating and abdominal pain. His blood pressure was 180/99 mmHg. He did not have any history of hypertension medications nor did he have the classic symptoms of cardiac disease such hyperlipidemia, diabetes ect. ECG revealed tachycardia however his blood metanephrine levels were elevated. He was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. This is a condition where there is excess catecholamines from chromaffin cells (a rare tumor). He was taken into surgery and given phenoxybenzamine along with propranolol beforehand.
Case 2:Military Trauma Unit
A 33 yr old soldier was taken in from a blast site where he had sustained crush injuries to his left leg proximal and distal to his knee along with ribs 3-5 fractured on the left. He also had multiple contusions all over his body. In this particular case, along with the usual ABCDE of Trauma care there should be focus on hyperkalemia as potassium spills from stressed or damaged cells in large quantities. The Military Medic Corp (MMC) has assigned Potassium Kits and procedures. Initially calcium gluconate is given to stabilize the cardiac cell membrane from the effects of the high potassium levels and prevent progression into ventricular fibrillation. Then Insulin + glucose is given to push potassium back into cells and finally dialysis or Kayexelate is given to get rid of excess potassium from the body.
Case 3:
Lead intoxication occurs when patients work on houses or stay at houses older than 1970 (eating paint chips in the case of children), work in shipyards, battery factors or drink moonshine. The government has made it illegal to sell moonshine. Symptoms are abdominal pain, wrist or foot drop and eventual encephalopathy. The therapy is EDTA, succimer or dimercaprol.