I got a new job as an EMT-B, but this time on a ILS unit, manned by an EMT-B and a critical care nurse. The other day we were dispatched to a 43 y/o male, was playing soccer with his friends, he felt a pain in the chest and fell on the ground, unresponsive.
When we arrived, the patient had no pulse or breathing. The 3-lead ECG showed ventricular fibrillation. We insert an OPA and I started CPR while the nurse prepared the manual defibrillator. After the first shock, he still in v-fib, then the nurse started an IV, gave 1 mg of epinephrine. After 3 shocks without changing heart rythm, the nurse gave 300 mg of amiodarone and gave another shock, and the patient regained spontaneous circulation and ventilation, and his vital signs were:
Pulse: 110 bpm weak and irregular
RR: 9 bpm
B.P: 80/50
temp: 35.5 ° C / 95.9 ºF
SpO2: 79 on R.A.
Capillary refill: about 5 seconds
He is unconscious but responds to pain. We gave him O2, 15lpm by non-rebreathing mask, and the nurse decided to start an drip of saline and an infusion of amiodarone (I don't know exactly what was the dose). We load the patient into the ambulance and reassess vital signs and attached 12-lead ecg:
Pulse: 108 bpm weak and irregular
RR: 10 bpm
B.P: 85/63
Temp: 35.9 ºC / 96.62 ºF
SpO2: 82 with 15 lpm of O2
Capillary refiil time was about 5 seconds and his skin is a little bit cyanotic.
Breath sounds are normal.
According to the nurse, the ECG showed sinus tachycardia and PVC's, and during transport to the hospital, there were no changes in vital signs or in their condition.
When we arrived at the hospital, e.r. doctor began to call into question our treatment, and said that it was unacceptable a specialist nurse in emergency care have done that sh*t, that does not justify the amiodarone infusion, and why she did not have performed an RSI, and she said: despite our protocols do not include amiodarone in these situations, several international studies show that giving amiodarone in post cardiac arrest care, improves the survival rate of patients, and I do not intubate because the nurses can only perform an RSI in very specific situations , or in life-threatening situations, and I did not think that was one of those situations.
What is your opinion? What would be your treatment?
When we arrived, the patient had no pulse or breathing. The 3-lead ECG showed ventricular fibrillation. We insert an OPA and I started CPR while the nurse prepared the manual defibrillator. After the first shock, he still in v-fib, then the nurse started an IV, gave 1 mg of epinephrine. After 3 shocks without changing heart rythm, the nurse gave 300 mg of amiodarone and gave another shock, and the patient regained spontaneous circulation and ventilation, and his vital signs were:
Pulse: 110 bpm weak and irregular
RR: 9 bpm
B.P: 80/50
temp: 35.5 ° C / 95.9 ºF
SpO2: 79 on R.A.
Capillary refill: about 5 seconds
He is unconscious but responds to pain. We gave him O2, 15lpm by non-rebreathing mask, and the nurse decided to start an drip of saline and an infusion of amiodarone (I don't know exactly what was the dose). We load the patient into the ambulance and reassess vital signs and attached 12-lead ecg:
Pulse: 108 bpm weak and irregular
RR: 10 bpm
B.P: 85/63
Temp: 35.9 ºC / 96.62 ºF
SpO2: 82 with 15 lpm of O2
Capillary refiil time was about 5 seconds and his skin is a little bit cyanotic.
Breath sounds are normal.
According to the nurse, the ECG showed sinus tachycardia and PVC's, and during transport to the hospital, there were no changes in vital signs or in their condition.
When we arrived at the hospital, e.r. doctor began to call into question our treatment, and said that it was unacceptable a specialist nurse in emergency care have done that sh*t, that does not justify the amiodarone infusion, and why she did not have performed an RSI, and she said: despite our protocols do not include amiodarone in these situations, several international studies show that giving amiodarone in post cardiac arrest care, improves the survival rate of patients, and I do not intubate because the nurses can only perform an RSI in very specific situations , or in life-threatening situations, and I did not think that was one of those situations.
What is your opinion? What would be your treatment?