Discovery CPC: What a Headache!

In this Discovery Clinical Pathological Conference (CPC), Drs. Nico Herrera and Jefferson Triozzi, Residents, Department of Medicine,  discuss the case of a 47-year old male patient with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease on emergent dialysis who presented with three months of severe headaches, blurry vision, and a recent onset of fever. The patient was negative for HIV and hepatitis. However, his catheter did not show signs of infection. The patient was anemic and had elevated BUN. CT scan of the head without contrast was unremarkable. Dr. Marc Robinson, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, serves as the faculty discussant. Dr. Robinson outlines the additional laboratory and imaging data that he would request and the clinical problem solving strategies that he would use to arrive at a differential diagnosis in this case. He highlights those items in the patient’s history, symptoms, and test results that are important, and those that can be excluded. He also explains how literature can contribute when making a differential diagnosis.

Expert comments on emergent dialysis, particularly in undocumented immigrants, are given by Dr. Rajeev Raghavan, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology at Baylor College of Medicine. 

Target Audience

This CME/CE activity is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, residents, fellows, and community providers.

Faculty and trainees within the Department of Medicine who are involved in the care of patients need to be regularly updated with the recent advances and guidelines in the fields of internal medicine and quality improvement to increase clinical knowledge, and to implement the advances and guidelines in clinical practice to enhance the quality of patient care and outcomes.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

  • List important aspects of the history and physical exam in the workup of a patient with fever and headache.

  • Identify a differential diagnosis for a patient with fever and headache.

  • Discuss diagnostic reasoning in the use of laboratory findings for patients with fever and headache.

  • Identify diagnostic challenges unique to patients on emergent dialysis.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
08/01/2019
Course expires: 
08/31/2021
Rating: 
0

Richard J. Hamill, M.D., Planning Committee Member 
Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Erica Lescinskas, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Zaven Sargsyan, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chirayu Shah, M.D., M.Ed., Planning Committee Member
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stephanie Sherman, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jefferson Triozzi, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Internal Medicine Resident
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Participation
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