Pulseless.
He was rushed into Trauma room 1, with a throng of people from the trauma/arrest team. CPR was commenced immediately while he got hooked onto the cardiac monitor, was intubated and had IV access established.
Ventricular fibrillation (VF). Shockable.
The team "defib-ed" him at 150.
CPR recommenced.
Femoral pulse detected. CPR stopped.
Cardiac monitor showed ventricular tachycardia (VT). Patient regained consciousness - was confused and very frightened initially. Endotracheal tube removed, some blood in the mouth (post-intubation) suctioned, amiodarone given shortly.
Mr. N was promptly transferred to a resuscitation cubicle for close-monitoring. Further management then planned.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the above happened within 7-10 minutes. I could not describe exactly how I felt as I watched the event unfold. It was fast. Dramatic. And downright scary.
Apart from a sore chest, the elderly gentleman felt alright when I had a little chat with him and his family. As expected, he could not recall much of the "funny turn" he just had.
His family members, naturally still in shock, were relieved nevertheless that he survived thus far.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chungy was the teamleader. He later told me how Mr. N has been complaining of chest pains over the past two days. He sought help from his local GP, but instead of calling the ambulance and sending him straight off to RMH, the aforementioned GP told Mr. N to self-present at ED....
Big mistake.
Mr. N was lucky. He could have collapsed anywhere between his GP's office and ED, and not survive the attack. All because of this one GP who did not foresee the potential implications of Mr. N's chest pains (which unfortunately happened, but thankfully at ED).
Chungy said his GP could be sued for negligence.
Couldn't agree more, because I would sue my GP, should this happen to me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellow medics - don't make the same mistake.
Labels: Medicine/Hospitals/Medics
