Nausea, Vomiting, and Weakness for 4 days prompted a 76-year-old woman to seek care at our hospital. She was admitted for possible large bowel obstruction and severe dehydration. Her medical history was significant for a metastatic lung cancer to the mediastinal lymph nodes and to the left hip (for which she underwent a hip replacement 4 months earlier), anemia, and diverticulosis.
On Day 1 of her hospital stay, the patient became hypotensive and developed labored breathing. She also had mottled skin and cool fingertips with poor capillary refill. Her abdomen was distended, firm, and diffusely tympanic with diffuse pain to deep palpation and absent bowel sounds.
Her laboratory values revealed leukocytosis (with a significant left shift), metabolic acidosis, and an elevated lactic acid level. Her upright chest x-ray (FIGURE) is shown. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for further management.
FIGURE
Upright chest x-ray
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