Got called up to the CCU the other night to run a code. The patient sure looked dead when I got there, blue, mottled, CPR in progress, PEA on the monitor, and we had an arterial line in so we knew the pressure was zero.
Went through the usually worthless PEA/Asystole protocol and brought in the ultrasound machine. The heart really wasn't moving. Tried pacing and what the hell, I threw in some Calcium Chloride just in case she was hyperkalemic. Whammo! Pulse, and pressure return. Wow. Three of her doctors were at the bedside and we all went, ''Wow.'' She was in acute renal failure.
Two hours later, code in the CCU. Same patient, different result. The other doctors had absconded the facility which left me to talk with the family. Lovely.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
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That sounds like it must be the worst part of the job by far.
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