.:a sUdDeN sLiP:.

It started with an ordinary day for us…when suddenly Panin (our arse-hot surgical resident) called us to gather at the ICU.

and he did mention seconds before that, we are going to witness THIS for the first time, and the last time in our life…that prove to get my adrenaline pumping higher than it suppose to be (I recalled feeling a prick of sweat in my forehead).

and there he is…

laying on the ICU BED, with sedative + analgesic IV drop, was a 52 year old man, with multiple wide blue spots on his abdomen, lower extremities, and an ulcer-gangrenous area on his left toe.

He was having the dreadful Cheyne-Stoke disease (In Malay they called it Nafas Nazak), you know those kind of rare, deep inspiration. HE was obviously unconscious to his surrounding,though at certain times he lift his fingers, (which I cant confirm whether it is a reflex, or if he try to say something)

Since it is the ICU, we weren’t allowed to stay there much longer . And after a brief explanation, our resident asked us to guess what the hell is it?

various terms splurred out from us, from the simple eczema, psoriasis, and even septic embolism (I recall someone suggest neurotonic disorder..which I cant really imagine what the hell is it)

the closest we get (and yeay!! I guessed that) is a deep vein thrombosis…and Panin, quite surprised, asked us for details, like..where the hell is the thrombosis located..
and we stayed quiet. Since DVT is not even RARE…it is soooo common that people called it "The economy-class disease".

It turned out his thrombus is located in the INFERIOR VENA CAVA ( one of the widest vein human body has), Indeed it is rare, since thrombus dont usually form in those wide vein..

on our way back, I took the opportunity to ask for the treatment. Shaking his head, our resident said the only probable way to save him is perhaps via balloon thrombectomy ..but then again, in such difficult situation, they really dont have the expertise..

**********************************************
the next day, I was expecting to see him again, but as I had guessed earlier, the patient had passed away after 12 hours being admitted into the ICU….

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 31st, 2007 at 8:33 am and is filed under slipped out from my mind. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.