Faculty Bibliography

Adverse drug reactions and issues related to noncompliance in older persons result in many emergency department visits and hospital admissions every year. Depression, a common condition among elders, may result in poor medication compliance, possibly leading to worsening illness and death. The authors report the case of an elderly man who presented to the emergency department, admitting that feelings of sadness and anxiety made it difficult for him to remember taking his medications. As the patient's compliance improved with therapy that included support of a psychiatrist and his family, this case report highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment in noncompliant older adults, especially those with depression. It also underscores the active role that physicians can take in treating patients who are noncompliant or are at risk of being noncompliant

The patient was a 48-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with complaints of a left-sided painful neck mass, which changed in size relative to ingestion of meals. He denied voice change, fever, chills, weight loss, dysphagia and hoarseness. Physical examination was unremarkable. CT scan demonstrated a 3.9 mm calculus of the submandibular gland duct. Therapeutic sialendocopy was successfully performed.