Comments on: What’s with all the dead guys? http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/ A Respiratory Therapist explains the view from the head of the bed Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:00:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: totsu http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1287 totsu Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:20:56 +0000 http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1287 I had an old lady in the ICU this week, six weeks post aortic aneurysm, TRALI, being proned for ARDS, becoming anuric because her kidneys were failing... and they were going to start dialysis at the bedside! And nobody from the family had been there IN A WEEK; the kid with POA couldn't come in because he "had a cold." Finally my preceptor (i'm new) called the family and laid it out plain that mom was dying, organs were failing, and maybe it was time to let go. The docs finally wrote comfort care orders and they took her off the vent that night. From what i've seen, it's often not the primary decision-makers-- docs or family members-- but those of us who witness the hour-by-hour agony who have to lead the way in letting people have a good death. I had an old lady in the ICU this week, six weeks post aortic aneurysm, TRALI, being proned for ARDS, becoming anuric because her kidneys were failing… and they were going to start dialysis at the bedside! And nobody from the family had been there IN A WEEK; the kid with POA couldn’t come in because he “had a cold.” Finally my preceptor (i’m new) called the family and laid it out plain that mom was dying, organs were failing, and maybe it was time to let go. The docs finally wrote comfort care orders and they took her off the vent that night.

From what i’ve seen, it’s often not the primary decision-makers– docs or family members– but those of us who witness the hour-by-hour agony who have to lead the way in letting people have a good death.

]]> By: Freadom http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1252 Freadom Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:55:36 +0000 http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1252 There are two ways to look at this. Yes, even though I'm a traditinalist, I cringe when someone finds that heartbeat. I usually keep my mouth shut, though, as we work up the patient another hour and, possibly, even hook up a ventilator. Sometimes, however, I think using a ventilator on these patients is Gods way of allowing certain families time to say goodbye. Or, when its not a code situation, time to think. There are two ways to look at this. Yes, even though I’m a traditinalist, I cringe when someone finds that heartbeat. I usually keep my mouth shut, though, as we work up the patient another hour and, possibly, even hook up a ventilator.

Sometimes, however, I think using a ventilator on these patients is Gods way of allowing certain families time to say goodbye. Or, when its not a code situation, time to think.

]]> By: mielikki http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1242 mielikki Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:27:40 +0000 http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1242 Well, this is all I have been doing this week, as well. Every room in my ICU that had a patient in it the other day was wanting a "celestial discharge". There is something in the air, I think. . . Well, this is all I have been doing this week, as well. Every room in my ICU that had a patient in it the other day was wanting a “celestial discharge”. There is something in the air, I think. . .

]]> By: MonkeyGirl http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1239 MonkeyGirl Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:11:20 +0000 http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1239 CPR "saves" are the one of the most depressing parts of my job. I cringe every time we get a rhythm and circulation back in someone that I know will never have a decent quality of life, or likely even leave the building. When they're merely meat on a machine, how have we helped them? CPR “saves” are the one of the most depressing parts of my job.

I cringe every time we get a rhythm and circulation back in someone that I know will never have a decent quality of life, or likely even leave the building.

When they’re merely meat on a machine, how have we helped them?

]]> By: Djanvk http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1238 Djanvk Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:42:20 +0000 http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1238 Turning off that Vent is a rough thing to do sometimes but it's a necessary thing to do also, no one really enjoys doing that (unless your really sadistic), but in a way we are setting a person free who would have no quality of life in our world. It's hard to not think that we are ending a life I know it goes through my mind when I do that but it's part of our job. I do get a feeling that the person is floating somewhere in the room looking at us afterwards, just a feeling of course I don't know for sure. Turning off that Vent is a rough thing to do sometimes but it’s a necessary thing to do also, no one really enjoys doing that (unless your really sadistic), but in a way we are setting a person free who would have no quality of life in our world. It’s hard to not think that we are ending a life I know it goes through my mind when I do that but it’s part of our job. I do get a feeling that the person is floating somewhere in the room looking at us afterwards, just a feeling of course I don’t know for sure.

]]> By: Mark http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1237 Mark Mon, 22 Oct 2007 05:34:43 +0000 http://keepbreathing.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/whats-with-all-the-dead-guys/#comment-1237 we need to make it as painless as possible. I know when it is my time I do not want to be in ICU hooked to machines and tubes. I much rather go in my bedroom surrounded by my loving Angel and the rest of my family. I work at a huge teaching hospital in the south. I see way to much is done to animate meat puppets to use for teaching. I think we need to work hard to save the viable patients and let the ones with no chance at all to have a productive life go off to the deep sleep. I know thats what I would want. we need to make it as painless as possible. I know when it is my time I do not want to be in ICU hooked to machines and tubes. I much rather go in my bedroom surrounded by my loving Angel and the rest of my family. I work at a huge teaching hospital in the south. I see way to much is done to animate meat puppets to use for teaching. I think we need to work hard to save the viable patients and let the ones with no chance at all to have a productive life go off to the deep sleep. I know thats what I would want.

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