Comments on: One of Many http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html Ramblings of an Emergency Physician in Texas Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:48:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dr. Val http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9731 Dr. Val Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:48:54 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9731 Such a sad story. Thanks for sharing it... :( Such a sad story. Thanks for sharing it… :(

]]> By: Jake http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9728 Jake Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:11:58 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9728 First time poster, long time reader. Love the site. I'm not a Dr., nor have I ever played one on TV. Which keeps me from commenting on 99% of these entries, as I have absolutely nothing to offer. Until now. In '01 I was on a chopper in one of the 'stans when it went down. The pilot did a hella awesome job trying to autorotate it in, but it still tilted enough that the main rotors tore loose and then cracked the fuselage like a can opener. Introduce both a bunch of fuel and a bunch of flames, and you have a recipe for bad stuff. All of us got out OK, but a few of us got burned. I got lucky. Even though there were plenty of burnt holes in my BDU's, the tissue under these holes was mostly small 1st and 2nd degree burns. But some of the fuel splashed onto my left boot and caught on fire. One of the guys got to me pretty quickly with the extinguisher, but it was still long enough that the cuff of the boot just completely melted onto my ankle. Our medic did what he could, but they got me back to the rear most ric tic. The surgeon tried to be gentle, but prying that melted leather off my ankle sucked. Even with a copious amount of morphine, it still sucked. I was screaming and twitching all over the place. They say that if it’s a 3rd degree burn you’re not supposed to be able to feel anything because all of the nerves are burned/ dead. I call shenanigans, because it HURT. But the worst thing was I no longer had blood getting through. If they didn’t do a skin graft, I could lose my foot. It was my left foot, which, you know, I never really use, but I decided to do the graft anyways. In some ways the graft hurt as much as the burn. Here are some wonderful before and post-graft pictures: Before graft: http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721694 http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721695 http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721689 After graft: http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721693 http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721692 http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721691 http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721690 First time poster, long time reader. Love the site.

I’m not a Dr., nor have I ever played one on TV. Which keeps me from commenting on 99% of these entries, as I have absolutely nothing to offer. Until now.

In ’01 I was on a chopper in one of the ‘stans when it went down. The pilot did a hella awesome job trying to autorotate it in, but it still tilted enough that the main rotors tore loose and then cracked the fuselage like a can opener. Introduce both a bunch of fuel and a bunch of flames, and you have a recipe for bad stuff.

All of us got out OK, but a few of us got burned. I got lucky. Even though there were plenty of burnt holes in my BDU’s, the tissue under these holes was mostly small 1st and 2nd degree burns.

But some of the fuel splashed onto my left boot and caught on fire. One of the guys got to me pretty quickly with the extinguisher, but it was still long enough that the cuff of the boot just completely melted onto my ankle. Our medic did what he could, but they got me back to the rear most ric tic.

The surgeon tried to be gentle, but prying that melted leather off my ankle sucked. Even with a copious amount of morphine, it still sucked. I was screaming and twitching all over the place. They say that if it’s a 3rd degree burn you’re not supposed to be able to feel anything because all of the nerves are burned/ dead. I call shenanigans, because it HURT.

But the worst thing was I no longer had blood getting through. If they didn’t do a skin graft, I could lose my foot. It was my left foot, which, you know, I never really use, but I decided to do the graft anyways.

In some ways the graft hurt as much as the burn.

Here are some wonderful before and post-graft pictures:

Before graft:

http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721694
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721695
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721689

After graft:

http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721693
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721692
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721691
http://www.putfile.com/pic/7721690

]]> By: ER Scribe http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9678 ER Scribe Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:29:52 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9678 As someone who works directly with ER docs (as a scribe), I've caught myself becoming increasingly cynical and less sensitive. I know that it's a coping mechanism that helps us all get past the difficult or manipulative patients, but your post has reminded me of why I want to become a doctor and help relieve suffering. Thank you for this and all of your on and off-line guidance. As someone who works directly with ER docs (as a scribe), I’ve caught myself becoming increasingly cynical and less sensitive. I know that it’s a coping mechanism that helps us all get past the difficult or manipulative patients, but your post has reminded me of why I want to become a doctor and help relieve suffering. Thank you for this and all of your on and off-line guidance.

]]> By: The Laundress http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9677 The Laundress Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:31:31 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9677 Oh crumbs. And who thinks, if your 18-year-old kid decides to get an hourly job as a carpet installer/remover, something like this might happen? You ER doctors and ALL ER personnel -- huge kudos for being there. Somebody has to be, when these things that should never happen to people who should never expect them... do. sorry this ended so badly. Sorry he wasn't some tough leather guy, with at least 3/4th of his torso protected. What? little shirt cuffs? That just so weeps. Man, I am wishing you and your colleagues all kinds of good vibes and strength... tl Oh crumbs.

And who thinks, if your 18-year-old kid decides to get an hourly job as a carpet installer/remover, something like this might happen?

You ER doctors and ALL ER personnel — huge kudos for being there. Somebody has to be, when these things that should never happen to people who should never expect them… do.

sorry this ended so badly. Sorry he wasn’t some tough leather guy, with at least 3/4th of his torso protected. What? little shirt cuffs? That just so weeps.

Man, I am wishing you and your colleagues all kinds of good vibes and strength…

tl

]]> By: Dr Thunder http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9666 Dr Thunder Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:26:44 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9666 I remember the many severe burns patients I saw when doing ER in South Africa before I went into paeds. It's horrible cannulating a charred arm. Good work, my man. btw, did you feel the destressing debrief worked? Dr Thunder www.twoweeksonatrolley.blogspot.com I remember the many severe burns patients I saw when doing ER in South Africa before I went into paeds. It’s horrible cannulating a charred arm. Good work, my man.

btw, did you feel the destressing debrief worked?

Dr Thunder
http://www.twoweeksonatrolley.blogspot.com

]]> By: TheNewGuy http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9663 TheNewGuy Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:47:07 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9663 The ones I have the most difficulty with are the parents who lose a child. I never have the words... and that's probably OK... they wouldn't hear or remember them anyway. I lost two infants in two days last month... one barely 2 weeks old, and one 2 months old. There are days when you question why you do it. The ones I have the most difficulty with are the parents who lose a child. I never have the words… and that’s probably OK… they wouldn’t hear or remember them anyway.

I lost two infants in two days last month… one barely 2 weeks old, and one 2 months old.

There are days when you question why you do it.

]]> By: cj http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9662 cj Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:10:43 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9662 I helped out on a similar case, except this individual accidentally spilled lighter fluid on their clothes while burning some garbage. Nothing quite like that - that's one that I won't ever forget. I helped out on a similar case, except this individual accidentally spilled lighter fluid on their clothes while burning some garbage. Nothing quite like that – that’s one that I won’t ever forget.

]]> By: EE http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9660 EE Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:08:55 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9660 Awesome post, thank you for sharing the story. Awesome post, thank you for sharing the story.

]]> By: Gunner http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9659 Gunner Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:34:12 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9659 Excellent post Excellent post

]]> By: rlbates http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html/comment-page-1#comment-9658 rlbates Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:04:12 +0000 http://gruntdoc.com/2008/02/one-of-many.html#comment-9658 Very nice post, GruntDoc. And nice comments. Very nice post, GruntDoc. And nice comments.

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