Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Tricky Case

I just got interrupted for a call from the ER.

68 year old male.

Family noticed he's staggering today, and has slurred speech. They brought him to ER.

Head CT, EKG, all labs normal EXCEPT for a blood alcohol level of 0.277 (which is more than 3 times the legal limit).

AND HIS INTERNIST WANTS ME TO COME ADMIT HIM FOR A STROKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19 comments:

Nurse K said...

Typical Dr. Bloody Gloves admit. Next you'll be admitting all the meth addicts with "the shakes" for r/o Parkinsons.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Internist...look up what a neurologist does. And what your job description is!! Any questions?

Now Dr G., he/she wants you to do their job? I don't think so.

mm

Dr. Phil said...

Sounds like the time the cardiology fellow moonlighting in the VA ER called me to admit a guy with "chest pain" to rule him out. My first question, "where does your chest hurt?" was answered with "right here, where the car door hit me."

MDB said...

Never seen them try and admit someone like the guy you saw but I have seen for detox/sucidide risk with a BAL of 0.430 while on high dose klonapin. Guy checked out AMA the next night from the hospital.

Aaron said...

Once had an attending who made us consult neuro on every one of these...

He said it only takes one stroked out drunk...

JenL said...

please, tell us you said NO!!

Barb said...

Maybe he thought a BAC that high would cause a stroke.

Grumpy, M.D. said...

I told him he could admit the patient himself, and consult me if he still felt my services were needed after the patient had dried out.

Chris said...

The only stroke there is maybe a rum and stroke. Or something.

Anonymous said...

3 times? You guys let some dangerously drunk people drive over there... that's well over 5 times the limit hereabouts :P

Sarah Anne said...

What the stupid. Lol!

pAula said...

Our hard tax dollars at work no doubt.

Anonymous said...

What a light weight. I'm only impressed with the idiots who have BAL greater than O.4 and drive themselves to the ER. Then walk in on their own power.

Neuro consults on all those in our ER too..

LD50 Rat

The Good Cook said...

This is the first time the family witnessed this behavior? Sounds like the guys been practicing for awhile....

Anonymous said...

reminds me of the VA emergency call to evaluate stroke in a fellow who couldn't move his left arm. I got there to find an angry veteran, holding his left arm at a funny angle, in obvious pain. I asked him what happened and he said "Broke my g--d-m arm, d-mmit, you docs are all g-d-m idiots"

ndenunz said...

If he was driving drunk maybe he had a cerebrovascular "accident" on the way over.

ERP said...

I am shocked he would ask you to admit. Pathetic.

Lisa said...

Hmm, so did you then have to consult on the internist for the closed head injury he sustained when you smacked his head against the wall?

Waltsense.com said...

Man - I wish my intern would give me a stroke. This a GREAT BLOG. First time here and loving it. You had me at the word "stupidity"

 
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