Code Cool Actually Works!

[Tapout 42]

We received a post- arrest the other night in the local ER. She (a dialysis pt who missed her rx due to the winter storm) called 911 saying she couldn't breathe and "was probably having a heart attack." 2 minutes later PD broke down her door and found her asystolic-- started CPR. 2 more minutes later ALS arrived and loaded a few rounds of Epi and Atropine into her. Got a pulse. Gave 1 more of Epi and 1 more of Atropine. Scrambled her to me in the local ER with a pulse of 40 (mostly ectopic, med-based beats). We immediatley began the hypothermia protocol (AKA Code Cool).

Fast forward: 2 days.

She was warmed back up in our ICU from 93 degrees to 98 degrees and was extubated the day after. 2 days later she was extubated and asked ME, the one who received her and wrote her off as non-viable, ""What the Hell was I thinking bothering you people with my medical problems??? I'm so sorry I bothered you all!"

WE broke her ribs, tore her lip tubing her, and jammed lines and tubes all over the place in her tiny body, and she's apologizing to ME. This is why I do this. Beyond words. Seriously. There's so rarely a save post-arrest, and if the person survives, he/she rarely comes out of it as much more than a plant on a window sill. And she thanked ME.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all. NEVER forget why you do what you do and NEVER assume your efforts are fruitless. This woman was proof to me to always the assume the outcome is going to be a GOOD ONE.

[JetPhoto 626]

Good job by all! Never give up hope

Edited December 31, 2010 by JetPhoto

[Goose 188]

Yes, it does work.

Edited December 31, 2010 by Goose

[20y2 43]

Nothing better than knowing you literally saved a life.

[ex-commish 490]

Great job Tapout!!!

[PEMO3 523]

Congratulations. You should feel great that you made a positive difference in someones life - you gave it back to them. Enjoy the feeling you deserve it. Hopefully there will be many more in 2011 !!

[ny10570 745]

The positive literature is out there, success stories are piling up, the equipment is cheap, so when is Westchester jumping onboard with pre-hospital hypothermia induction?

[Neri 1]

Great Job! and thank you for sharing. A win for the good guys! I think we can all take something from this post. One successful effort like this helps remind us all why we do what we do.