Introduction: Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) is an uncommon neurologic complication of vitamin B12 deficiency characterized by demyelination of the dorsal and lateral columns of the spinal cord, resulting in weakness, paresthesias, sensory deficits, and gait ataxia. Recreational nitrous oxide inhalation has emerged as an important cause of functional vitamin B12 deficiency and may...
Paradoxical vocal cord motion (PVCM) is a primarily neuropsychiatric condition that causes inappropriate adduction of the vocal cords during respiration. This condition is commonly misdiagnosed and treated as refractory asthma or upper airway obstruction requiring intensive care unit-level of care. Recent expert opinion suggests that ketamine administration may promote PVCM symptom resolution;...
Medical and nonmedical ketamine use is increasing in the United States. This will likely lead to an increase in emergency department (ED) visits in individuals experiencing associated side effects. Physicians will need to be able to effectively recognize and manage ketamine-related complications. A 31-year-old male with a three-year history of inhalational, intramuscular, and intravenous...
The popularity of recreational synthetic drug use has increased within the past several years. Emergency physicians, along with prehospital providers, are often the first to interact with patients who use these new drugs. We report the case of a 27-year-old male with two emergency department visits with confirmed ingestion of a relatively new synthetic drug of abuse. We discuss symptom...