Onceamedic
Forum Asst. Chief
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Part of our clinicals included 4 shifts in the ACU. This was my second. The first turn I did was at night and it was dull as dishwater. I studied telemetry strips till I thought I would puke. Today was a totally different experience. My clinical partner and I went to the OR to observe a mitral valve replacement. It was so cool I can't believe it. I never understood before why a patient has to be strong enough for heart surgery. To be able to watch the physiological reactions to different interventions was eye opening. Watching the doc crack the chest and then sew in the canulas to bypass the heart and lungs was out of this world. When the blood was diverted and that heart was stopped it was amazing. The patient was asystole for over an hour. We were able to see the patient's valve after it was removed and saw them size the replacement and sew it into place. Watching the ETCO2 wave when the patient was on the heart/lung bypass was really great too. Every once in while, they would vent the CO2. If you didn't understand that the only way to get rid of CO2 is to blow it off, this very much reinforced that concept.
It took 3 shocks to return the heart to an organized rhythm. I couldn't tell from the monitor whether it was sinus or not, but it was narrow complex and at at good, regular rate.
I was gratified to see all the drugs, recognize them, and understand why they were being used. I am grateful that I had this opportunity and I wanted to share it with you guys.
It took 3 shocks to return the heart to an organized rhythm. I couldn't tell from the monitor whether it was sinus or not, but it was narrow complex and at at good, regular rate.
I was gratified to see all the drugs, recognize them, and understand why they were being used. I am grateful that I had this opportunity and I wanted to share it with you guys.
