Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

A 22 year-old female with a medical history of migraines and obesity who presents to the Emergency Department with a headache. Her headache was gradual in onset, but has progressively worsened and has not been relieved with NSAIDs. She describes the headache as dull and pounding with photophobia and phonophobia. She also notes associated nausea but no vomiting, and no associated neurologic complaints. She does note that she thinks during a previous ED visit at an outside hospital she was told she may have “high pressure in her head” but she does not remember the details and is not on any medication for it…

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Take My Breath Away

A 31 year old female with no significant PMH presents to the Emergency Department with left-sided chest pain that started suddenly 3 hours ago while sitting in a lecture hall. She describes the pain as a constant stabbing sensation in her left anterior chest that radiates to her left neck. She endorses feeling short of breath and lightheaded. She has never had a sensation like this before. The patient denies smoking, fevers, chills, and trauma. Her vital signs are unremarkable, and her physical exam is notable for decreased breath sounds in the left upper lung field…

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