DPHJS – watch out for this fashionable new syndrome!

​A few months ago I saw a young female patient who presented with chest pain.  All her numbers were completely normal, including an ABG.  The striking finding on examination were her hands, which were dusky blue.  Could she have cyanotic congenital heart disease, PE, methemoglobinemia?

I was reminded of this case a few days ago when I was asked to come and review a toddler urgently in the Paeds area.  Mum had brought him in as both his legs had mysteriously turned blue during the day.  I was met by the lad, running around the waiting area, blissfully unaware of the distress he was causing his parents and the nurses.
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You are allowed to ask both these patients one question!

Have you been wearing new jeans today?

Don t get caught out by DPHJS (dead persons hands jeans syndrome) as it has been labelled by The Metro paper.  The cure is to wash your jeans with a bottle of white vinegar before you wear them. 

Suzy Connor