Emerald Banas

A new facial expression to botox

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection into the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has been used for the treatment of achlasia cardia since the 1990s. Currently it is indicated for patients who are not candidates for definitive therapy like Hellers myotomy or pneumatic dilation and in those who have recurrence of symptoms after definitive treatments. We present a case of severe anaphylaxix due to Botox. The purpose of this case is to highlight one of the under-reported adverse effects of Botox. Anaphylactic reactions to Botox are very rare with only one other case being reported and have not been emphasized enough to be widely known in clinical practice.

Standard anticoagulation for mesenteric vein thrombosis, revealing a ‘zebra’ diagnosis: hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia—the dripping truth!

A 60-year-old man was treated in the hospital for mesenteric vein thrombosis and discharged home on anticoagulation. On warfarin the patient started to bleed profusely from the nose and tongue. He was evaluated by ENT (ears, nose and throat); a nasal endoscopy revealed several vascular ectasias. Subsequent detailed history and general physical examination established the diagnosis of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. On further evaluation, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations were diagnosed on imaging and treated by intervention radiology. In hindsight, the diagnosis could have been made in the general practitioners office with just a routine thorough history and a physical examination at a new patient visit. We report this case to stress upon the importance of vigilant clinical, medical and family history and a thorough examination to establish an early diagnosis of this not-so-rare entity.