Pediatric Code Blue!

6/7/07 | 60Gunner

[60Gunner]

ER Nurse Stories ping. Been awhile.

[Kozak]

I cracked the RSI medication box and pulled out the Etomidate (very fast-acting knock-out drug), Succinylcholine (longer-acting knock-out drug), and Vecuronium (paralyzing drug).

Might want to go back and check your pharmacology here. Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent. A fast onset short duration paralytic.

That said, I crap my pants at pediatric codes too and I've been an ER doc for more then 20 years.

[wastedyears]

Nice story

[wastedyears]

In all honesty, I think I could use a knock out drug.

[ecomcon]

Wow. Thanks.

[60Gunner]

You’re right of course. I didn’t know how else to describe it in layman’s terms. Thanks and hat tip, Doc.

[Andonius_99]

Been a while, but maybe that’s a good thing, you know? I always enjoy these stories, keep up the good work, 60G!

[patton]

Man, that one made me cry.

Excellent writing.

[AnAmericanMother]

You guys are way above my pay grade.

Thanks for all you do. We're counting on your knowledge and your cool heads to stand in the breach when things get ugly!

[OpusatFR]

Great job!

My youngest had acute epiglotitis as a toddler. Thank God we have dedicated doctors and nurses, medicine and hospitals.

[Fairview]

We went through something similar with my son last December. Thank you for telling me your side of it as a nurse. Everyone in the ER seemed so calm (including me) and it’s good to know that they were probably deeply affected too.

Your stories are wonderful, you have a perfect sense of rhythm and timing. Keep ‘em coming.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

You have a way with words, my friend. What caused the girl to be in this condition? Did you ever find out?

[CholeraJoe]

Good job, gunner. I’ve been a critical care doc for over 30 years. Codes or near codes never become routine. It still quickens the pulse. Remember “Nothing can be made totally foolproof because fools are so damned ingenious.”

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I am a student nurse and this is my biggest fear....the little ones.

[redlocks322]

That is such a great story. Did you ever find out what was wrong with the little girl - what caused the swelling?

[r9etb]

Man, that one made me cry.

Me, too.

[Gay State Conservative]

I worked 20+ years in the ER of a large University hospital.Given that there was a major pediatric hospital about 100 feet from our front door our ER (in fact,the entire hospital) was just adults.

I became famous in our ER for saying,as we were cleaning up after a fatal GSW,MI,CVA,MVA,etc....."thank God that we don't work at Children's" (the hospital next door).IMO,as bad as it is to see a dead 20 year old...or 80 year old...I (thankfully) can't imagine what it's like to see a dead 6 year old.

Pediatrics is a job that's gotta be done but I'm glad that I never had to do it.

[Teacher317]

It's a crime that good stories like this are never broadcast on the news.
Just one per week (without the talking heads smiling over it as if they were part of the team) would be great.

[Oberon]

Sounds like an allergic reaction. What was the cause?