Code Blue

I think I should clarify some issues from my previous entry entitled "Charge, Clear, Shock".  When I said that we coded this Patient for 2hrs and that brain damage is believed to begin at 4-6minutes without proper oxygenation and tissue perfusion, I should have made it clear that proper CPR can provide these two important elements.  My dismay was that we had conficting stories about how long this guy was down BEFORE CPR was initiated.  One story was that the wife found him face down and didn't know how long he had been lying there and first called a family member who is a nurse, then called 911.  Another story had the family member at the scene performing CPR.  At any rate, CPR was administered upon EMS arrival 6minutes after the 911 call was placed.

Proper CPR and an AED (automated electric defibulator) are lifesaving procedures.  And CPR alone initiated immediately can save more lives than not.  Sometimes all it takes to save a life is to clear someones airway, and that sometimes can be as simple as repositioning.

David is the BEST ER doctor I have worked with, bar none.  And, this opinion was made long before we dated and married.  I continue to hold this opinion after working with well over 50 doctors during my career.  If this man did not have a hope in the world of being saved, David would have called the code way before he did.  We've both seen patients pull through and live when it seemed impossible for this to happen.

When we got this patient and he was in astoyle, we immediately paced and shocked, administered cardiac drugs and got a blood pressure and viable rhythm.  So.....we had to keep trying.  I think this man wanted us to because he had sustained cardiac output for most of the 90minutes we coded him in the ER.  It just wasn't enough probably due to heart damage sustained by a prior MI and the current one that put him in arrest.  But....we always have to try!

I hope this makes everyone feel better.  I know after sitting back a few days I can say I feel better.  Sometimes it just gets to you, though!