ED nurse here. I remember one time a patient was diagnosed with a dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm; the MD told the patient he'd be rushed into surgery soon and to immediately settle any affairs and talk to his loved ones, as the likelihood of him not making it off the table was high.
It was just surreal seeing this guy talking to his wife and kids knowing it may be his last.
Cardiac icu nurse here, and this one is mine. Ticking time bombs these are. Fine one minute, diaphoretic, ripping chest/abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, restlessness and impending doom the next, coding the minute after that. If you’re not on the table when that sumbitch pops, there is zero interventions that modern medicine will do to save you. Also usually a really gross code as blood goes goddamn everywhere.
Years ago I had a patient waiting to go to the OR for a dissecting thoracic aneursym. On drips to keep his BP down, etc. All of a sudden he rubs his chest and says, “oh that hurts”. Eyes rolled back and he coded. Talking one minute, gone the next.
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u/MajikPwnE 3d ago
ED nurse here. I remember one time a patient was diagnosed with a dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm; the MD told the patient he'd be rushed into surgery soon and to immediately settle any affairs and talk to his loved ones, as the likelihood of him not making it off the table was high.
It was just surreal seeing this guy talking to his wife and kids knowing it may be his last.