I have been watching House reruns diligently, no wonder I can't sleep at nite! Used to watch ER a long time ago, watched it last week again (ok, because of Clooney, I'll admit : ) Maybe I'll watch it again tonite. About Grey's Anatomy, I noticed that their heart patients are awake and talking by the end of the day, which was encouraging although suspicious. But after watching that show I am now very suspicious of who is actually doing the surgery. You remember how that heart surgeon let his girlfriend (who was an intern) do all those complicated surgical procedures when he had a tremor? I don't want any interns scrubbing in on my surgery, no matter what they have done to win the surgeon's favor!
On to-night's episode of ER a patient on warfarin was given a spinal tap and blood oozed out. One doctor commented his INR was less than 2 and that was safe.
ER is usually factual. Would this happen in real-life?
patient has a-fib.....skipping his meds....drinking.....
Not unless this person was now fully coagulated. Meaning no trace of Warfarin in his system whatsoever.[/Q
Hi Ross,
I didn't explain the situation very well. Before they inserted the needle for the spinal tap patient's INR was below 2. When the needle was inserted blood flowed out. Then the patient had a turn for the worse.
So I'm wonder if the tap should have been performed while there was any warfarin in his system. Maybe only in an emergency--just wondering. As that patient now has a hole where the needled was inserted couldn't the blood running down his back have run into spine causing paralysis?
and
Two years ago surgeon wanted to do a spinal for a surgeryand I refused. Good thing too.
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I have been watching House reruns diligently, no wonder I can't sleep at nite!
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