Background and Relevance of the Patient
The 14-year-old patient was admitted to the Emergency Area of the Hospital General de La Paz, Baja California Sur, which is part of the Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), under the leadership of Director General Martí Batres Guadarrama. The patient’s case highlights the hospital’s commitment to providing comprehensive care for its beneficiaries.
Initial Diagnosis and Treatment
- Upon admission to the hospital’s Emergency Area in February of this year, medical staff immediately conducted an echocardiogram, which revealed pericarditis—inflammation and swelling of the thin tissue sac surrounding the heart.
- Given the complexity of the case, a decision was made to transfer the patient via air ambulance to the Centro Médico Nacional (CMN) “20 de Noviembre” in Mexico City for specialized care.
To stabilize the patient’s condition, a pericardiocentesis was performed by Dr. Raúl Mar Chavira, the surgeon on duty. This procedure alleviated pressure on the heart caused by excess fluid, ensuring her safety.
Specialized Care and Continued Treatment
The patient was diagnosed with lupus erythematosus systemic, a chronic autoimmune disease that affected multiple organs and necessitated ongoing specialized care. The multidisciplinary medical team, including Dr. Luis Mauricio Padilla (pediatric cardiologist), Dr. Emmanuel Torres Arnaut (head of Pediatrics), Helga Olachea (Pediatrics area coordinator), and Dr. Raúl Mar Chavira, collaborated to provide the best possible treatment.
The patient was transferred to the CMN “20 de Noviembre” in Mexico City on March 14, where she received care from specialists in rheumatology and infectology for 36 days until her discharge on June 2.
Current Status and Gratitude
The teenager is now under medical follow-up from her home and has recently graduated from high school. Her family expressed gratitude to the ISSSTE and the dedicated medical and nursing staff for their exceptional care throughout her journey.
“We are thankful to this noble institution, which undoubtedly has many success stories, and to the committed medical and nursing personnel who accompanied us on this path,” said the patient’s mother.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was the patient? A 14-year-old girl with severe tachycardia and pericarditis.
- What was the initial diagnosis? Pericarditis, an inflammation and swelling of the thin tissue sac surrounding the heart.
- What procedures were performed? An immediate echocardiogram and a pericardiocentesis to alleviate pressure on the heart.
- What specialized care was provided? Ongoing treatment at the Centro Médico Nacional “20 de Noviembre” in Mexico City, with specialists in rheumatology and infectology.
- What is the current status of the patient? The teenager is under medical follow-up from home and has graduated from high school.
