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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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19 comments:

  1. Nurse KOctober 14, 2009 at 5:44 PM

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

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  2. AnonymousOctober 14, 2009 at 5:56 PM

    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

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  3. Dr. PhilOctober 14, 2009 at 6:48 PM

    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."

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  4. MDBOctober 14, 2009 at 7:30 PM

    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.

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  5. AaronOctober 14, 2009 at 9:00 PM

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

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

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  6. JenLOctober 14, 2009 at 9:03 PM

    please, tell us you said NO!!

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  7. BarbOctober 14, 2009 at 9:22 PM

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

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  8. Grumpy, M.D.October 14, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    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.

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  9. ChrisOctober 14, 2009 at 9:37 PM

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

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  10. AnonymousOctober 14, 2009 at 10:14 PM

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

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  11. Sarah AnneOctober 14, 2009 at 10:19 PM

    What the stupid. Lol!

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  12. pAulaOctober 14, 2009 at 11:11 PM

    Our hard tax dollars at work no doubt.

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  13. AnonymousOctober 15, 2009 at 1:51 AM

    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

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  14. The Good CookOctober 15, 2009 at 7:58 AM

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

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  15. AnonymousOctober 15, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    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"

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  16. ndenunzOctober 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM

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

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  17. ERPOctober 15, 2009 at 1:06 PM

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

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  18. LisaOctober 15, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    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?

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  19. Waltsense.comOctober 16, 2009 at 9:55 AM

    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"

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?