Comments on: A Broken Heart http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/ A blog from inside the emergency department Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:31:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13430 Brian Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:17:40 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13430 I remember the first patient that I had that actually "died" in the back of my rig. Not dead on arrival, but actually started alive and ended up dead. 93 yo female. We couldn't get the pacer to keep capture. Not far enough down to start ACLS per protocol, but to far up to work as a code. I wondered for a month if there was something I could have done different.... I remember the first patient that I had that actually “died” in the back of my rig. Not dead on arrival, but actually started alive and ended up dead. 93 yo female. We couldn’t get the pacer to keep capture. Not far enough down to start ACLS per protocol, but to far up to work as a code. I wondered for a month if there was something I could have done different….

]]> By: Jane http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13170 Jane Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:52:14 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13170 sending empathy sending empathy

]]> By: Jane http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13169 Jane Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:51:39 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13169 wow. tears. i can imagine the anxiety. wow. tears. i can imagine the anxiety.

]]> By: The Gold Tooth http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13161 The Gold Tooth Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:49:21 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13161 Sad. Reminded me of the death of Arthur "Killer" Kane, of the New York Dolls. From Wikipedia: "On July 13, 2004, just 22 days after the reunion concert, Kane thought he had caught the flu in London, and checked himself in to a Los Angeles emergency room, complaining of fatigue. He was quickly diagnosed with leukemia, and died within two hours." So he walked into the ED and died two hours later of cancer. Memorably covered in the film "New York Doll" (on IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436629/). TGT Sad. Reminded me of the death of Arthur “Killer” Kane, of the New York Dolls. From Wikipedia: “On July 13, 2004, just 22 days after the reunion concert, Kane thought he had caught the flu in London, and checked himself in to a Los Angeles emergency room, complaining of fatigue. He was quickly diagnosed with leukemia, and died within two hours.” So he walked into the ED and died two hours later of cancer. Memorably covered in the film “New York Doll” (on IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436629/).

TGT

]]> By: Fyrdoc http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13155 Fyrdoc Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:13:31 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13155 Careful WC, I'm sure Matt will be by soon to quote you as an expert who disagrees with the care you provided since you wonder "what if". But from another pit doc - there are times medicine just sucks. This is one of those. Sorry that happened to you man. Careful WC, I’m sure Matt will be by soon to quote you as an expert who disagrees with the care you provided since you wonder “what if”.

But from another pit doc – there are times medicine just sucks. This is one of those. Sorry that happened to you man.

]]> By: wkct http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13153 wkct Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:21:36 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13153 wow! that was some story. sad, and compelling. wow! that was some story. sad, and compelling.

]]> By: dmcarls http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13145 dmcarls Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:32:20 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13145 Your comment reminds me of this: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/press/2001pi4/marcus.html Your comment reminds me of this:

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/press/2001pi4/marcus.html

]]> By: scalpel http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13144 scalpel Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:42:27 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13144 You're sure WC was planning on giving heparin or tPA before he even saw the ECG? Really? Personally, I prefer to see the ECG first. You’re sure WC was planning on giving heparin or tPA before he even saw the ECG? Really?

Personally, I prefer to see the ECG first.

]]> By: tyro http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13142 tyro Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:40:32 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13142 The EKG was probably being set up at the time. Rectal exam is actually a great idea if you're planning on giving heparin or tPA, which I'm sure WhiteCoat was. All that stuff happens at the same time, monitors are not instantaneous and neither are EKGs. Only on the l'il test with the l'il boxes is 'the next best step' a) EKG or b) rectal as if it happens one after the other. Well written. The EKG was probably being set up at the time. Rectal exam is actually a great idea if you’re planning on giving heparin or tPA, which I’m sure WhiteCoat was. All that stuff happens at the same time, monitors are not instantaneous and neither are EKGs.

Only on the l’il test with the l’il boxes is ‘the next best step’ a) EKG or b) rectal as if it happens one after the other.

Well written.

]]> By: WhiteCoat http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2009/08/a-broken-heart/#comment-13138 WhiteCoat Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:54:54 +0000 http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/?p=3311#comment-13138 Things like lines, labs, EKG, and physical exam in our shop tend to happen in parallel, not in series, but maybe that's just us. Things like lines, labs, EKG, and physical exam in our shop tend to happen in parallel, not in series, but maybe that’s just us.

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