Case 5-1992

Abstract

Presentation of CaseA 20-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, respiratory failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.The patient was well until 11 months earlier, when a peritonsillar abscess developed, accompanied by an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome, and he was admitted to another hospital. During his hospital stay an episode of amaurosis fugax occurred; ophthalmoscopic examination revealed a cholesterol embolus in the right retinal artery. On physical examination the carotid pulsations were normal, no bruits were heard, and the heart was normal. A cardiac ultrasonographic examination was reported to be negative. Cefazolin and clindamycin were given. . . .