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Dr. Westrol: THESE ARE THE REAL STORIES OF THE E.R.
THAT DOCTORS NEVER TALK ABOUT.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE OPEN-HEART BYPASS SURGERY.
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN POSTPONE THE SURGERY?
THAT'S SUCH A BIZARRE QUESTION.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHY I HAD A HEART ATTACK.
IT WAS ABOUT SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER
AND ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG.
[ Laughing ] OH, MY...
YOU FOUND IT.
HOW AM I GONNA GET THIS OUT?
WHAT HAPPENED?!
I WISH YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THE BAND.
I'VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT NOT ONLY MY PATIENT
BUT THE FAMILY, AS WELL.
IF YOU FEEL BETTER, WE COULD GO BACK TO THE PARTY.
THE FAMILY'S NOT ACTING THE WAY I EXPECT THEM TO.
YOU MIGHT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
WAITING OUTSIDE WHILE WE DO THIS.
NO, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THAT ADDS TO MY WORKLOAD.
I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED THAT PARTY FOR LAST WEEK.
[ GROANS ]
OOH!
IT'S MY BOYFRIEND!
WHERE IS HE?
I CAN'T WAKE HIM UP!
HE'S IN HERE!
WHY'S THE WINDOW OPEN?
I DON'T KNOW!
B.P. 70 OVER 40.
BODY COLD TO THE TOUCH.
ALMOST LIKE HE HAD BEEN IN A FREEZER.
Dr. Westrol: IF A BODY'S LESS THAN 86 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
THAT'S THE TEMPERATURE OF DEATH.
Woman: WAKE UP!
Narrator: THESE ARE THE...
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
WHEN IT COMES TO HIS FAMILY LIFE AND HIS WORK IN THE E.R.,
DR. RICHARD BRADLEY ALWAYS TRIES TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE.
SO, THAT'S OUR SHIP.
WOW.
THAT'S AMAZING.
AND HERE WE ARE IN THE SOUTH PART OF ENGLAND.
IT MUST BE SO HARD TO COME BACK HERE AFTER BEING THERE.
Dr. Bradley: I DO LIKE TO TRAVEL.
I TRAVEL WITH MY FAMILY WHENEVER I CAN.
YEAH, IT'S GOOD TO GET AWAY, BUT...
BUT WHAT?
WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS AND YOU START TO TRAVEL WITH THEM,
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NICE
TO GET BACK TO WORK.
I DON'T KNOW. A VACATION IS A VACATION.
Cheryl: HELP!
PLEASE, MY HUSBAND!
WHEELCHAIR?
Dr. Bradley: AND THE NEXT PATIENT CAME IN,
A WELL-DRESSED MAN AND HIS WIFE,
AND ONCE GLANCE AND YOU COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY,
DOORWAY DIAGNOSIS, THIS GUY WAS PRETTY SICK.
SIR, I'M DR. BRADLEY.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
CHERYL?
I'M CHERYL!
HE'S HENRY.
LET'S GET HIM TO BAY TWO.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID
WAS JUST PUT MY FINGER ON HIS PULSE,
AND I COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY HIS PULSE WAS RAPID AND WEAK.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER... NOT...
[ MUMBLING ]
VITALS.
BLOOD PRESSURE IS 102 OVER 54.
HEART RATE 125.
PULSE OX 96, AND HIS TEMPERATURE IS 102.
DOCTOR, PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
THIS PATIENT WASN'T ABLE TO GIVE ME MUCH INFORMATION,
SO I WENT TO THE WIFE TO TRY TO GET SOME INFORMATION FROM HER.
WHEN DID THIS ALL BEGIN?
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ] UM...
HE STARTED TO GET... REALLY BAD ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
HER STORY WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT
BECAUSE I COULD TELL THAT SHE'D BEEN DRINKING.
WE WERE AT OUR ANNIVERSARY PARTY.
IT'S OUR 25th, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN GET BACK THERE SOON.
WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
MARLA, LET'S CALL THE LAB
AND GET THAT BLOOD WORK STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
OKAY.
DOES HE HAVE ANY CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS --
DIABETES, LIVER DISEASE?
NO. HE'S HEALTHY.
WE WERE AT OUR PARTY, AND HE STARTED TO FEEL SICK,
AND THEN HE STARTED TO GET WORSE,
AND WE HOPPED IN A CAB AND CAME STRAIGHT HERE.
[ MUMBLING ]
...SEAFOODS...
BLOOD PRESSURE'S GOING DOWN AND HIS HEART RATE IS GOING UP.
WHY IS HE BREATHING SO HEAVY?
Dr. Bradley: HIS VITAL SIGNS SHOWED A RAPID HEART RATE,
A RAPID RESPIRATORY RATE, AND A LOW BLOOD PRESSURE.
UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE, THIS PATIENT IS IN SHOCK.
MY JOB NOW IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THE SHOCK --
WHETHER IT'S CARDIOGENIC SHOCK, HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK,
OBSTRUCTIVE SHOCK, OR SEPTIC SHOCK.
HE'S NOT RESPONDING TO PAIN. LET'S GET HIM TO TRAUMA.
CAN WE GET SOME HELP IN HERE, PLEASE?
Narrator: IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER,
AND NURSE E.M.T. MATTHEW MOCARSKY
IS RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY CALL.
IT'S REALLY COMING DOWN OUT THERE.
IT WAS A COLD DAY, JANUARY, TOWARDS THE END OF OUR SHIFT.
GOT A CALL FOR "UNRESPONSIVE MALE."
THAT'S ALL WE HAD GOTTEN ON THE RADIO.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
OH, MY GOD. IT'S MY BOYFRIEND!
WHERE IS HE?
I CAN'T WAKE HIM UP!
HE'S IN HERE!
WE LOOK IN THE ROOM AND SEE A YOUNG MALE,
MAYBE IN HIS 20s, ON THE BED, UNRESPONSIVE.
WAKE UP.
WE'VE GOT A PULSE, BUT VERY WEAK -- IN THE 30s.
HIS CHEST WAS COLD. HIS ARMS WERE COLD.
EVERYTHING WAS COLD.
ALMOST LIKE HE HAD BEEN IN A FREEZER.
WHY'S THE WINDOW OPEN?
I DON'T KNOW!
I MEAN, HE SLEEPS HOT, AND HE THREW OUT HIS BACK,
AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS GONNA TAKE A MUSCLE RELAXANT
AND TAKE A NAP, AND...
HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN LIKE THIS?
I'VE BEEN GONE FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS,
AND WHEN I CAME BACK, HE WAS LIKE THIS!
I'M GONNA CALL IT IN.
HOLD ON. DR. WESTROL?
OKAY. DR. WESTROL.
GO AHEAD WITH REPORT.
Dr. Westrol: THEY TOLD ME THAT HE WAS IN HIS BEDROOM
BUT THAT THE WINDOW WAS OPEN.
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS INSIDE,
THE ROOM THAT HE WAS IN WAS EXTREMELY COLD.
IS HE BREATHING?
AROUND FOUR BREATHS A MINUTE.
PULSE IS 30.
B.P. 70 OVER 40.
BODY COLD TO THE TOUCH.
I KNEW THAT THEY DIDN'T CARRY THERMOMETERS ON THE TRUCK,
BUT I JUST HAD TO ASK THEM, "WHAT DID HE FEEL LIKE TO YOU?"
HOW COLD?
WOULD YOU SAY COLDER THAN LIKE 85?
OH, I THINK SO.
Okay.
Well, then, be very careful with him.
IF A BODY'S LESS THAN 86 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
THE CELLS IN THE HEART GET VERY IRRITABLE.
THE SLIGHTEST BUMP, JOSTLE, MOVEMENT OF THE PATIENT
CAN CAUSE THEM TO GO INTO CARDIAC ARREST.
Mocarsky: WE GET HIM TO THE AMBULANCE,
THE FIRST THING WE DO IS WE PUT HIM ON THE HEART MONITOR.
HE'S ON A VERY SLOW HEART RHYTHM --
MAYBE IN THE -- HEART RATE'S IN THE 30s.
HE'S ON OXYGEN AT THIS POINT.
IS THE HEAT ALL THE WAY UP?
[ CHUCKLES ] ANY HIGHER, WE'D BE IN FLAMES.
WE PUT AN ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE IN HIS AIRWAY TO HELP HIM BREATHE.
THIS ROAD IS THE WORST I'VE SEEN ALL WINTER.
SO, WE'RE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FROM THE HOSPITAL.
DAMN!
WE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE,
AND I LOOK BACK OVER AT THE MONITOR, 'CAUSE IT'S ALARMING...
[ FLATLINE ]
HE'S IN V-FIB.
PREPARING TO SHOCK.
CHARGING.
[ PADDLES WHINE ]
SHOCKING.
EPI'S GOING IN.
ALL THESE THINGS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH EFFECT ON HIM.
SHOCKING.
WE GAVE HIM THE DRUGS, WE SHOCKED HIM,
BUT HIS HEART WAS NOT RESPONDING TO ANYTHING THAT WE DID FOR HIM.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
Narrator: DR. JASON JOHNSON IS ON HIS WAY HOME
AFTER A LONG DAY.
HEY, BABY DOLL.
I AM A GENERAL AND BARIATRIC SURGEON.
I HAD BEEN UP MOST OF THE NIGHT OPERATING.
I WAS ACTUALLY JUST WALKING THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ROOM
TO HIT THE ROAD.
THEY'VE GOT SOME GOOD COFFEE THAT'S NICE AND STRONG,
AND MY PARKING PLACE IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE E.R.
HEY, ABBY. WHAT'S UP?
HEY!
BUSY NIGHT?
YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES HERE.
[ Panting ] CAN YOU HELP ME?
MY CHEST -- IT'S KILLING ME.
OKAY, VICKI, PETE, A LITTLE HELP, PLEASE.
A PATIENT THAT PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY CENTER
WITH CHEST PAIN NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
QUICK, QUICK, QUICK. THANKS.
SO SORRY.
OUR E.R. ATTENDING IS RUNNING A CODE RIGHT NOW.
DO YOU MIND GIVING A LITTLE HELP?
SURE, I'LL BE HAPPY TO.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THE E.R. STAFF CALLED UPON ME TO HELP ASSIST HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS IN OBVIOUS DISTRESS.
HEY, PARTNER. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
DONALD.
DONALD, I'M DR. JOHNSON.
WHAT BRINGS YOU INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TONIGHT?
I WAS HOME WATCHING TV BY MYSELF,
AND THIS PAIN CAME ON ME.
I TRIED TO IGNORE IT, BUT IT GOT WORSE,
SO I DROVE MYSELF DOWN HERE.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PAIN A LITTLE BIT FOR ME?
UH, IN MY CHEST, IT'S, LIKE, CRUSHING.
IS IT JUST IN YOUR CHEST, OR DOES IT GO OTHER PLACES AS --
DOWN MY ARM, MY NECK, AND CHIN.
HEAR RATE'S 48, DOCTOR.
Dr. Johnson: HE HAD QUITE A BIT OF CHEST PAIN.
HE HAD A VERY LOW HEART RATE, WHICH DISTURBED ME.
[ DONALD GROANS ]
VICKI, CAN WE GO AHEAD
AND GET A 12-LEAD EKG, AS WELL, PLEASE?
HE WAS A LITTLE BIT ON THE HEAVIER SIDE,
AND JUST HIS OVERALL PICTURE
LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE WHO WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
HEART ATTACKS OCCUR BECAUSE OF A BLOCKAGE OF THE ARTERIES
THAT ARE SUPPLYING THE OXYGENATED BLOOD TO THE HEART.
THEN THE HEART CAN'T PUMP ENOUGH BLOOD FLOW
TO SUPPLY THE DEMAND OF THE HEART.
CELLS START TO DIE OFF
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH OXYGENATED BLOOD.
DONALD, IT DOES LOOK LIKE
YOU'RE HAVING A PRETTY MASSIVE HEART ATTACK.
AM I GONNA DIE?
DONALD, YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE NOW.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE GET YOU
TO THE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB,
WHICH IS WHERE THEY LOOK FOR THE BLOCKAGES,
AND OFTENTIMES THEY CAN GET THOSE BLOCKAGES OPEN
AND MAYBE KEEP YOU FROM HAVING TO HAVE
AN OPEN-HEART SURGERY.
OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WE CAN CALL FOR YOU?
YEAH, MY WIFE.
SHE'S OUT WITH FRIENDS.
ABBY, CAN YOU GET HER PHONE NUMBER AND GIVE HER A CALL?
Dr. Johnson: WE SEND HIM FOR A CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION,
OR A CORONARY ANGIOGRAM,
WHERE DYE IS INJECTED INTO THE ARTERIES
AND WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE HEART
AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY BLOCKAGES.
MAYBE I CAN GET ME SOME COFFEE HERE.
HEY, THERE.
WHAT'S UP?
ANGIOGRAM RESULTS.
WOW.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO NEED
TO HAVE A CARDIAC BYPASS.
SO WHAT'S UP?
WELL, WE GOT TO TALK.
THE BLOCKAGES IN THE ARTERIES OF YOUR HEART WERE SO SEVERE,
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO PUT STENTS IN AND OPEN THEM UP,
AND THIS MEANS THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED
TO HAVE OPEN-HEART BYPASS SURGERY.
[ GROANS ]
I FELT SORRY FOR THE PATIENT.
HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK,
HE'S GONNA NEED TO HAVE OPEN-HEART SURGERY,
AND HE'S ALL ALONE.
WE'RE GONNA GET YOU UP THERE
SO THEY CAN GET STARTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
DOC, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN POSTPONE THE SURGERY FOR A BIT?
I'M...NOT SURE THAT I'M FOLLOWING YOU.
THE FACT THAT HE WANTED TO PUT OFF SURGERY,
THAT'S SUCH A BIZARRE QUESTION TO BE ASKED.
HERE A GUY IS WITH A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS,
AND HE WANTS TO POSTPONE SURGERY.
WE NEED TO LET THEM START WORKING
AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN
SO THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SAVING YOUR LIFE.
I THINK IT'S GONNA HAVE TO WAIT A BIT.
FOR SOME REASON, HIS BODY'S SHUTTING DOWN.
WE'D BETTER GET ANTIBIOTICS STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
YOU CAN STAND, HOLD HIS HAND,
BUT MAKE SURE YOU STAY OUT OF MY WAY.
Narrator: DOCTOR RICHARD BRADLEY IS PERFORMING
A RUSH ULTRASOUND EXAM ON A PATIENT WHO IS GOING INTO SHOCK.
OKAY, I'M GONNA DO A QUICK ULTRASOUND.
Dr. Bradley: SO, THE RUSH EXAM IS AN ULTRASOUND
LOOKING FOR A CAUSE FOR THE SHOCK.
OKAY, FIRST, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT HIS CARDIAC FUNCTION.
I BASICALLY LOOK AT THREE THINGS.
I LOOK AT THE HEART ITSELF
TO SEE HOW WELL THE HEART IS SQUEEZING.
OKAY, HEART'S FINE.
THEN, THE NEXT, I LOOK FOR FREE BLOOD IN THE ABDOMEN.
NO BLOOD IN THE ABDOMEN.
[ WHIMPERS ]
I LOOK AT THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA,
WHICH IS THE BIG VEIN
THAT RETURNS BLOOD TO THE HEART FROM BELOW.
IF IT COLLAPSES WHEN HE BREATHES IN,
THAT TELLS ME HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH BLOOD
GOING INTO THE HEART, OR SIGN OF SEPSIS.
HIS INFERIOR VENA CAVA IS COLLAPSING.
DOCTOR, WHAT IS IT?!
WELL, MA'AM, HE'S IN SHOCK.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SEPTIC SHOCK.
SEPSIS IS PART OF THE CASCADE
OF THE BODY'S RESPONSE TO AN INFECTION.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
BLOOD FLOW TO ALL OF THE ORGANS IN THE BODY
BEGINS TO DROP SO LOW
THAT THEY CAN'T DO THEIR NORMAL METABOLISM.
FOR SOME REASON, HIS BODY'S SHUTTING DOWN.
WE'D BETTER GET ANTIBIOTICS STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
THE PH IN THE BLOOD WILL DROP.
THAT CAUSES THE RESPIRATORY RATE TO INCREASE,
AND THE PATIENT BECOMES MUCH SICKER VERY RAPIDLY.
I THINK WE'D BETTER GET HIM INTUBATED.
AND PART OF WHAT'S MAKING IT WORSE
IS THAT HIS BODY IS WORKING SO HARD TO TRY TO RECOVER,
AND THAT'S PUTTING HIM DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO SHOCK.
MA'AM, I'M GONNA PUT A BREATHING TUBE
THROUGH HIS MOUTH AND DOWN INTO HIS THROAT.
I'M GONNA TAKE OVER THE WORK OF BREATHING FOR HIM.
IT'LL BE OKAY. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM.
BUT YOU MIGHT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE
WAITING OUTSIDE WHILE WE DO THIS.
[ SOBS ]
NO, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
OKAY.
25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU WANT TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT HIM.
YOU CAN STAND, HOLD HIS HAND,
BUT MAKE SURE YOU STAY OUT OF MY WAY.
DEAR, I WISH YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THE BAND THAT I HIRED.
YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED THEM.
MAYBE IF YOU FEEL BETTER, WE COULD GO BACK TO THE PARTY.
HE'S DOWN TO 93 OVER 41.
LET'S GET A CENTRAL LINE INTO HIM.
Dr. Bradley: MY PATIENT'S GONNA NEED A CENTRAL LINE
FOR A COUPLE REASONS.
ONE IS I NEED A BETTER SOURCE OF INTRAVENOUS ACCESS.
I NEED TO GIVE HIM A LOT OF FLUIDS,
AND I'M GONNA NEED TO GIVE HIM --
POTENTIALLY GIVE HIM SOME MEDICATIONS
WE CALL "PRESSORS" TO MAKE THE BLOOD PRESSURE GO UP.
MA'AM, I NEED YOU TO STAND OVER TO THE SIDE, PLEASE.
YOU MIGHT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WAITING OUT IN THE LOUNGE.
REALLY, MA'AM.
YOU MIGHT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WAITING OUTSIDE.
REMEMBER...25 YEARS.
EXCUSE ME, LET'S GET HER A CHAIR, PLEASE.
LET'S DO THIS WITH ULTRASOUND.
I PUT IN THE CENTRAL LINE,
AND I DO IT UNDER ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO COLLAPSE THE LUNG.
THE NEEDLE THAT GOES INTO THE CHEST
FOR THE CENTRAL LINE
GOES VERY CLOSE TO THE LINING OF THE LUNGS.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IN SOMEONE WHO'S THIS SICK
IS POP THE LUNGS.
AND I ACTUALLY WATCH ON ULTRASOUND
AS THE NEEDLE GOES RIGHT INTO THE VEIN
TO MAKE SURE I GET IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
THE CENTRAL LINE WILL HELP ME EVALUATE,
MINUTE BY MINUTE,
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CENTRAL VENOUS PRESSURE.
B.P.'s STILL DROPPING.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT TO TURN AROUND.
LET'S START PRESSORS.
NOREPI, 10 MICS PER MINUTE TITRATE TO A SYSTOLIC.
DOCTOR, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHAT ARE YOU GIVING HIM NOW?
I'M GIVING HIM SOME MEDICATION TO BRING HIS BLOOD PRESSURE UP.
IS HE GETTING BETTER?
WILL HE BE OKAY?
CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TO THE PARTY.
MA'AM, I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING FOR SURE.
HE WON'T BE GOING BACK TO THAT PARTY.
I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED THAT PARTY FOR LAST WEEK.
Norman: [ Slurred ] HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
WHERE'S MY FAVORITE COUPLE?
OH, HIM.
I THOUGHT THINGS COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE, AND THEY DID.
Narrator: DOCTOR JASON JOHNSON IS BAFFLED
BY HIS PATIENT'S SUDDEN REQUEST
TO POSTPONE THE HEART SURGERY THAT WILL SAVE HIS LIFE.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE AN OPEN-HEART TRIPLE-BYPASS.
LISTEN, DOC.
THERE'S SOMETHING I GOT TO TELL YOU.
DOCTOR? PATIENT'S WIFE IS HERE.
CAN SHE COME IN?
UH, I GUESS SO.
DONALD!
WHAT HAPPENED?!
HI, MA'AM. I'M DR. JOHNSON.
OH, I'M SHEILA.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
DONALD IS HAVING A HEART ATTACK RIGHT NOW.
HE'S GOING TO NEED
TO HAVE OPEN-HEART TRIPLE-BYPASS SURGERY.
WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME?
AW, I DIDN'T WANT TO BUG YOU.
YOU'RE OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
I KNEW YOUR DIET WAS GONNA KILL YOU ONE DAY!
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT BIZARRE.
ONE MOMENT, SHE WAS SHOWING GENUINE CONCERN FOR HIM,
AND THEN, THE NEXT MOMENT, SHE'S GETTING ONTO HIM
ABOUT WHAT HE'S EATING AND NOT EXERCISING.
AND IT WOULDN'T HURT YOU TO HIT THE GYM WITH ME
ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, EITHER.
OKAY, TIME OUT, GUYS. TIME OUT.
WE NEED TO GET FOCUSED HERE.
THEN WE NEED TO GET HIM UPSTAIRS TO THE OPERATING ROOM.
VICKI, WOULD YOU MIND TAKING SHEILA
AND START GETTING PAPERWORK FILLED OUT
FOR THE OPERATING ROOM?
DONALD, I'M GONNA GO OUT
AND SEE WHEN THEY'RE READY FOR YOU UPSTAIRS
IN THE OPERATING ROOM, OKAY?
LISTEN, DOC.
YEAH?
SOMETHING I GOT TO TELL YOU.
OKAY, WHAT IS IT?
I KNOW EXACTLY WHY I HAD A HEART ATTACK, AND IT WASN'T MY DIET.
IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
Narrator: E.R. DOCTOR MICHAEL WESTROL
PREPARES FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A SEVERELY HYPOTHERMIC PATIENT.
24-YEAR-OLD MALE, HYPOTHERMIC.
WHEN INTO V-FIB FIVE MINUTES AGO.
GAVE HIM AN AMP OF EPI.
SHOCK TWICE.
NO RESULTS. CONTINUING CPR.
Dr. Westrol: YOU KNEW THAT HE WAS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.
FINGERS WERE BLUE.
TIFFANY, CAN YOU GET ME A *** TEMP, PLEASE?
AS SOON AS THEY PUT THE THERMOMETER IN THE PATIENT,
IT READ, "ERROR," AND I KNEW THAT WAS BAD
BECAUSE OUR THERMOMETERS ONLY GO DOWN TO 80 DEGREES
IN OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
AND HELEN, CAN YOU DROP AN O.G. TUBE?
WE'RE GONNA NEED WARM GASTRIC LAVAGE.
SO, THE NURSE AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD --
HER JOB WAS TO TAKE WARM SALINE
AND USE A BIG SYRINGE TO PUT IT INTO THE STOMACH.
SHE'D LET IT SIT THERE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE
AND THEN PULL IT BACK OUT.
ANY ADDITIONAL HEAT THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO THE BODY,
EVEN IF IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY,
IS GONNA HELP TO ADJUST THE PATIENT'S BODY TEMPERATURE.
Mocarsky: AT THAT POINT, I LEFT THE ROOM
THINKING THAT HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T SURVIVE THIS EVENT.
Dr. Westrol: WE HAD ONE OF THE NURSES
PLACE A TUBE INTO THE PATIENT'S BLADDER,
AND ON THAT TUBE THERE WAS A TEMPERATURE PROBE,
AND WHEN THE READING FINALLY CAME UP,
74 DEGREES WAS WHAT THE PATIENT WAS.
THAT'S ROOM TEMPERATURE. THAT'S THE TEMPERATURE OF DEATH.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HIM!
OH, YOU FILLED HIM UP WITH YOUR CRAZY IDEAS.
AND NO WONDER HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL!
DOC, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
Narrator: MORE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP AT THE E.R.
TO VISIT DR. BRADLEY'S SEPTIC PATIENT.
Norman: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. PBHT!
Dr. Bradley: WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT,
I'VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT NOT ONLY MY PATIENT
BUT THEIR FAMILY, AS WELL.
THEY'RE ALL REALLY MY PATIENTS.
HIM.
JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THIS NIGHT COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE,
IT JUST DID.
I LOVE YOU, ADELE.
YOU'RE THE ONLY GOOD THING
THAT'S COME OUT OF YOUR PARENTS' MARRIAGE.
Adele: THAT'S NOT TRUE, GRANDPA,
SO DON'T SAY SOMETHING YOU'RE GONNA REGRET TOMORROW.
I WON'T REGRET IT.
I'D LOVE YOUR MOTHER, TOO, YOU KNOW,
IF SHE HADN'T TURNED YOUR FATHER INTO AN EMPTY SHELL OF A MAN.
GRANDPA.
SHE CAN BE SUCH A SOUL-SUCKER.
[ SCOFFS ]
THAT'S MY DAUGHTER AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW.
NOW THAT THE FAMILY'S HERE, I'M HOPING I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT MY PATIENT'S PAST MEDICAL HISTORY IS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE GOT SO ILL SO QUICKLY.
DAD!
DOCTOR, WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?
HE'S VERY SICK.
WE'VE INTUBATED HIM
TO HELP CONSERVE THE ENERGY THAT HE WAS USING BREATHING.
HIS BLOOD PRESSURE'S LOW, AND HIS HEART RATE IS HIGH.
HE LOOKS SO SICK.
WE THINK HE MIGHT BE IN SEPTIC SHOCK.
DOES HE HAVE A HISTORY OF LIVER DISEASE OR DIABETES?
YOU JUST ASKED ME THOSE QUESTIONS, AND I ANSWERED NO!
Dr. Bradley: I COULDN'T GET INFORMATION FROM THE PATIENT,
SO I ASKED THE SPOUSE.
THE SPOUSE DIDN'T GIVE ME MUCH INFORMATION,
SO NOW I'M GOING TO THE DAUGHTER.
DOCTOR, THE BLOOD WORK'S BACK.
Dr. Bradley: THE WHITE COUNT IS ELEVATED.
HMM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE LACTIC ACID LEVEL IS VERY HIGH.
THIS IS A STRONG INDICATION THAT I'M DEALING WITH SEPTIC SHOCK.
DID YOU SETTLE EVERYTHING WITH THE CATERER?
YES, MOM.
GEEZ.
THE LAB WORK CONFIRMS THAT HE'S SEPTIC.
SEPTIC? WHAT YOU MEAN?
LIKE A TANK?
OHH.
[ CHERYL SCOFFS ]
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
UGH.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator: A PATIENT HAS A BODY TEMPERATURE
OF JUST 74 DEGREES,
AND DR. WESTROL HAS TO WARM HIM UP
BEFORE HE CAN DETERMINE IF THE MAN CAN EVEN BE SAVED.
Dr. Westrol: IN CASES LIKE THIS WHERE SOMEBODY'S HYPOTHERMIC
AND THEY COME IN IN CARDIAC ARREST,
YOU CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT THEY'RE DEAD
UNTIL THEY'RE WARM AND DEAD.
SO WHEN THE PATIENT FIRST CAME IN,
THERE WERE NO FAMILY MEMBERS WITH HIM.
Dr. Westrol: I'M SORRY, WHO ARE YOU?
I'M HIS GIRLFRIEND. IS HE GONNA MAKE IT?
HE'S VERY SICK RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR HIM.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO STAY HERE,
OR DO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO GO WAIT IN THE WAITING ROOM?
NO, NO. I-I WANT TO BE HERE.
Dr. Westrol: SO AS WE'RE ALL WORKING
TO TRY AND GET HIS HEART RESTARTED
AND WARM HIM UP, THE BROTHER ARRIVED.
AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE BROTHER
AND THE GIRLFRIEND DID NOT GET ALONG.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?
AS SOON AS HE REACHED THE ROOM, HE WAS ARGUING.
YOU FILLED HIM UP WITH YOUR CRAZY IDEAS
AND YOUR CRAZY PILLS.
NO WONDER HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL!
IT WAS ALREADY A VERY HIGH-STRESS ATMOSPHERE.
AND NOW I'VE GOT TWO FAMILY MEMBERS HERE
WHO ARE ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER.
I TOLD THEM THEY JUST GOT TO LEAVE.
THERE'S ENOUGH GOING ON HERE.
COME ON. LET'S GO GET SOME COFFEE.
COME ON.
DOC, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
WE'RE OUT OF WARM SALINE.
THERE'S NONE LEFT.
Narrator: DR. JOHNSON'S PATIENT IS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE CAUSE
OF HIS HEART ATTACK.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED MY HEART ATTACK,
AND IT WASN'T MY DIET.
IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
THEN WHAT EXACTLY CAUSED YOUR HEART ATTACK?
A SEX TOY.
WHAT?
I GOT THIS HOBBY.
A HOBBY?
I MAKE SEX TOYS.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A BIT OF AN ARTISAN.
AND, UH...YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE THE ONES THAT YOU GET IN THE STORE --
THEY JUST AREN'T THE SAME.
DONALD, I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
BUT I GOT TO HEAR HOW THIS HAS CAUSED YOUR HEART ATTACK.
ALL RIGHT, MY WIFE WENT OUT,
AND SO I DECIDED TO TRY OUT MY LATEST CREATION,
AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS WERE GOING GREAT UNTIL...
IT GOT STUCK UP THERE AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT.
I STARTED TO PANIC, AND, YOU KNOW,
I THEN SUDDENLY GOT HOT ALL OVER.
I STARTED SWEATING LIKE CRAZY,
AND THAT'S WHEN THE CHEST PAINS STARTED.
I SUSPECT THAT HE HAD SOME UNDERLYING CARDIAC DISEASE
PRIOR TO THIS BECAUSE HIS AGE, HIS WEIGHT,
HIS DIET ARE ALL RISK FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO A HEART ATTACK.
DID YOU TRY ANYTHING ELSE TO GET THIS THING OUT?
YEAH. I TRIED EVERYTHING.
NOTHING WORKED.
IT BECAME VERY APPARENT WHY HE WAS HESITANT
TO GO THROUGH WITH CARDIAC SURGERY
WITH THIS FOREIGN BODY LODGED IN HIS ***.
I KNEW, AS A SURGEON, THAT IF IT SAT THERE FOR TOO LONG,
IT COULD CAUSE ISCHEMIA
OR IT COULD CAUSE DEATH OF HIS COLON.
AND THAT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
I WANTED TO GET AN ABDOMINAL XRAY
TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE THIS THING WAS LOCATED
AND GET BETTER IDEA OF THE SHAPE AND SIZE.
[ XRAY WHIRRING ]
OKAY, DONALD, LET'S, UH, GO AHEAD AND DOWNLOAD THAT XRAY.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
OH, MY.
AH, YOU FOUND IT.
YEAH.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY I FOUND IT.
THIS THING WAS GINORMOUS.
IT WAS ABOUT SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER
AND ABOUT 10 INCHES LONG.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE
THAT HE HAD GOTTEN THAT STUCK UP IN HIS ***.
I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY,
HOW AM I GONNA GET THIS OUT?
I LOVE MY MOM.
SHE MEANS WELL, BUT SHE'S DELUSIONAL.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN?
MY DAD HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM.
ALL HE NEEDS IS TO SLEEP IT OFF.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
UGH.
[ GROANS ]
LET'S GET HIM INTO A CHAIR. HELP ME GET HIM UP.
Narrator: DR. RICHARD BRADLEY IS TREATING A PATIENT
IN SEPTIC SHOCK WHEN THE PATIENT'S FATHER PASSES OUT.
OKAY. WHAT'S HIS NAME?
NORMAN.
NORMAN, NORMAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT?
YOU TOOK A SPILL, GRANDPA.
TAKE A LOOK AT ME. OPEN YOUR EYES.
Dr. Bradley: QUICKLY SEE THAT HE'S BREATHING, HE'S WAKING UP.
AND I NOTICE THAT HE'S GOT A PRETTY STRONG ODOR OF ALCOHOL.
AND I GET AN IDEA.
I THINK I KNOW WHY THIS MAN'S GONE DOWN.
HE LOOKS PRETTY INTOXICATED.
DOES HE HAVE ANY OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS?
I'M SO SORRY, DOCTOR.
OCCASIONALLY, MY GRANDFATHER CELEBRATES A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
ALL HE NEEDS IS TO SLEEP IT OFF.
DOES HENRY DRINK, AS WELL?
HE ENJOYS HIS BEERS.
HOW MANY A DAY WOULD YOU SAY?
NO MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN DURING THE WEEK,
MAYBE SOME MORE ON THE WEEKENDS.
HARDLY ANYTHING.
I ALMOST NEVER BELIEVE ANYBODY
WHEN THEY TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY DRINK.
IN FACT, THE RULE IS WHATEVER ANYBODY TELLS ME,
MULTIPLY BY THREE.
HE'S BEEN THIS WAY SINCE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER.
HALF A DOZEN DRINKS A DAY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME
CAN REALLY DAMAGE YOUR LIVER.
SOMEONE WITH LIVE DAMAGE HAS A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS,
AND AMONG THOSE
IS IT REDUCES YOUR ABILITY TO FIGHT INFECTIONS.
AND YOU'RE SURE HE DOESN'T HAVE LIVER DISEASE?
I TOLD YOU, HE'S PERFECTLY HEALTHY.
Adele: MOM, I'M GONNA GRAB SOME COFFEE.
DID YOU WANT ANYTHING?
NO. THANK YOU, DEAR.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE THE COFFEE IS.
MARLA, I'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.
WILL YOU STAY WITH HIM?
SURE.
Adele: I DON'T REALLY WANT A COFFEE.
I FIGURED AS MUCH.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE A SEAT IN HERE?
I LOVE MY MOM.
SHE MEANS WELL, BUT SHE'S DELUSIONAL.
IF YOU HADN'T NOTICED ALREADY,
HER PRIORITIES ARE A LITTLE OUT OF WHACK.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY?
MY DAD HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM.
SHE'S JUST IN DENIAL.
DO YOU KNOW IF HE HAS LIVER DISEASE?
I DON'T KNOW.
HE NEVER GOES TO THE DOCTOR FOR ANY CHECKUPS.
CAN YOU TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OTHER MEDICAL
OR PHYSICAL ISSUES YOUR FATHER MIGHT HAVE?
HE GETS HEADACHES.
THE DAUGHTER TELLS ME THAT HE'S TAKING ACETAMINOPHEN.
TAKEN IN SMALL DOSES, THE DRUG'S VERY SAFE,
BUT TAKEN REGULARLY, IT'S POISON TO THE LIVER.
YOU MIX HEAVY ALCOHOL USE WITH FREQUENT ACETAMINOPHEN USE,
AND YOU'RE GONNA LOOK AT SOME MAJOR LIVER DAMAGE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN TELL ME
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT?
DID HE EAT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AT THE PARTY?
NOTHING EVERYONE DIDN'T EAT, AS WELL.
UH, WE HAD ALL OF HIS FAVORITE FOODS --
CHARCUTERIE PLATTER, SEARED SCALLOPS,
FRESH FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PROSCIUTTO,
OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL.
OYSTERS?
WE NEED TO GET BACK.
HOW MANY OYSTERS DID HE HAVE TODAY?
YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS THE OYSTERS?
HOW COULD THAT BE?
I HAD AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN, AND I'M FINE.
Narrator: DR. JOHNSON HAS JUST DISCOVERED
THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF HIS PATIENT'S HEART ATTACK.
OH, MY.
YOU FOUND IT?
YEAH.
YEAH, YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD! DONALD!
IS THAT WHERE I THINK IT IS?!
Dr. Johnson: WHEN HIS WIFE WALKED IN
AND SAW THE XRAY, SHE WAS IN SHOCK.
YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT, DONALD!
I TOLD YOU NOT TO USE THOSE THINGS ANYMORE.
I KEEP TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW DANGEROUS THEY ARE.
THAT WAS NOT THE REACTION I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE.
LOOK, HONEY, I TOLD YOU DOZENS OF TIMES,
WHEN YOU MAKE SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH,
IT'S NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE PERFECT.
YEAH, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED NOW.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
NOW YOU'VE HAD A HEART ATTACK,
AND YOU KEEP DOING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
I FEEL LIKE I'M BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.
Dr. Johnson: IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THIS COUPLE
HAD SOME SORT OF UNDERSTANDING
ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIVES.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ONE TO JUDGE
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,
BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY OBLIGATION
TO GET EVERYTHING BACK ON TRACK.
OKAY, YOU GUYS CAN DEBATE THIS LATER.
RIGHT NOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT
IS I GET THIS LATEX BULLET OUT OF THE CHAMBER
BEFORE HE GOES UP FOR HIS OPEN-HEART SURGERY.
NOW, DO YOU WANT TO WAIT OUT
FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES WHILE WE --
NO NEED, DOCTOR.
IT'S OKAY, DOC.
Donald: I WOULD LIKE HER TO STAY.
Dr. Johnson: WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK THEN.
I CALLED THE CARDIAC SURGEON AND LET HIM KNOW
THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF DELAY IN SURGERY
AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THE SITUATION.
THEN I GAVE THE PATIENT A LITTLE BIT OF SEDATION,
AND WE GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS.
FIRST SED IS IN, DOCTOR.
THANK YOU.
DONALD, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE PREGNANT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU READY?
READY AS I'M GONNA BE.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, JUST RELAX.
DO LIKE YOUR WIFE SAID AND JUST RELAX, OKAY?
Dr. Johnson: I BEGAN TO MANUALLY DISLODGE THE TOY.
JUST RELAX.
AND I KIND OF WANTED THE WIFE IN THE ROOM
BECAUSE SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN THE TRENCHES,
SO TO SPEAK, WITH HIM.
'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE
THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
YOU'LL FEEL A LITTLE PRESSURE.
RELAX.
I CAN'T EVEN FEEL IT.
LET ME, UH, TRY THESE FORCEPS HERE.
YOU THINK THAT'LL WORK?
I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
MNH-MNH. I CAN'T EVEN FEEL IT.
[ SIGHS ]
Dr. Johnson: I THINK THE FORCEPS WERE THE RIGHT IDEA,
BUT THIS WAS TOO FAR UP IN HIS ***.
AND I KNEW THEN THAT IF I COULDN'T GET IT OUT,
THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO THE OPERATING ROOM
AND CUT IT OUT OF HIS COLON,
WHICH MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE RESULTED
IN HIM HAVING A COLOSTOMY.
OOH. TWO OPERATIONS.
DONALD. [ SIGHS ]
I KNOW YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ARTISAN.
YOU'VE GOT TO STOP MAKING THESE THINGS.
WAIT A MINUTE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
I HAVE AN IDEA.
WHAT IS IT, DOC?
Narrator: A HYPOTHERMIC PATIENT NEEDS WARM FLUIDS,
BUT DR. WESTROL'S STAFF
HAS USED UP ALL THE WARM FLUIDS IN THE E.R.
Dr. Westrol: THE I.V. FLUIDS -- WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF THEM.
I ASKED SOME OF THE NURSES AND THE TECHS,
"GO TRY THE PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT,"
SEE IF THEY HAD ANY.
Nurse: THIS IS IT.
THIS IS ALL THE WARM FLUIDS PEDIATRICS HAS LEFT.
THAT'S IT?
AND THEY CAME RUNNING BACK WITH JUST ARMS FULL
OF BOTTLES OF THE STERILE SALINE.
WE NEED TO GET THEM WARM SOMEHOW.
MICROWAVE?
IT'S WORTH A SHOT.
[ INDISTINCT ARGUING ]
HE'S NOT 15 ANYMORE, TONY.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, KEEP IT UP.
I'LL BE BACK.
OUT IN THE HALLWAY, I HEARD SOME COMMOTION.
AND THERE'S THE BROTHER AND THE GIRLFRIEND.
THEY'RE JUST GOING AT IT.
YOU HATED ME FROM THE START.
WHAT I HATED WAS YOUR INFLUENCE ON HIM.
HE'S NOT 15 ANYMORE, TONY,
AND QUITE FRANKLY, NEITHER ARE YOU.
WHAT'S THE STORY WITH THOSE TWO?
AH, THE PATIENT USED TO BE OVERWEIGHT,
SO HE HIRED HIMSELF A PERSONAL TRAINER -- HER.
TURNS OUT THEY FELL IN LOVE,
AND NOW THE BROTHER'S JEALOUS BECAUSE HE LOST HIS BEST BUDDY.
THE BROTHER'S BLAMING THE GIRLFRIEND.
THE GIRLFRIEND'S BLAMING THE BROTHER.
ANDY IS THE HEALTHIEST HE HAS EVER BEEN.
GO LOOK IN THERE AND YOU TELL ME HOW "HEALTHY" HE IS.
DOCTOR.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
HOW IS HE DOING?
IT'S GOING A LOT SLOWER THAN WE'D LIKE.
AND WE CAN'T GET HIS HEART RESTARTED
UNTIL WE GET THE TEMPERATURE UP.
WE'LL BE BACK AS SOON AS WE HAVE UPDATES FOR YOU.
OKAY, PLEASE. TAKE CARE OF HIM, PLEASE.
ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
SO I GET BACK IN THE ROOM AND I LOOK AT THE MONITOR.
OKAY, TEAM, WHERE ARE WE AT?
BEEN DOING CPR FOR 45 MINUTES.
78. IT'S NOT GONNA CUT IT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
IT'S STILL NOWHERE NEAR THE 86 TO 88 DEGREES
THAT WE NEED HIM TO BE
BEFORE WE CAN REALLY GET HIS HEART RESTARTED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT IN CHEST TUBES.
CAN YOU GET THE TRAY, PLEASE?
ON THREE, WE'RE GONNA STOP COMPRESSIONS.
1, 2, 3.
SO ON EACH SIDE OF HIS CHEST, WE'RE GONNA PUT IN TWO TUBES.
ONE HAS WARM FLUID GOING IN CONSTANTLY
AND THE SECOND ONE
HAS WARM FLUID DRAINING FROM IT CONSTANTLY.
TEMP'S 81 DEGREES, DOC.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON HIM FOR OVER AN HOUR.
WE NEED TO GET HIM UP TO THE O.R.
THERE ARE MACHINES IN THE OPERATING ROOM
THAT TAKE THE BLOOD OUT OF THE BODY, OXYGENATE IT,
WARM IT, AND THEN PLACE IT BACK IN THE BODY.
CAN YOU PAGE CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY FOR ME?
[ Ringing ]
NO ANSWER.
WHAT TIME DO THEY GO HOME?
15 MINUTES AGO.
WHERE'S YOUR COFFEE?
THAT'S THE LAST THING
YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT NOW, MOM.
HOW MANY OYSTERS DID HENRY EAT TONIGHT?
OH, I DON'T KNOW.
A DOZEN?
Narrator: TO SAVE HIS HYPOTHERMIC PATIENT,
DR. MICHAEL WESTROL NEEDS THE HELP
OF A CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON, BUT SO FAR,
EFFORTS TO LOCATE ONE IN THE HOSPITAL HAVE FAILED.
JUST PAGE HIM AGAIN.
IF WE CAN'T GET AHOLD OF HIM, WE NEED TO GET THE ON-CALL TEAM,
AND THAT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME.
HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT.
[ Ringing ]
[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]
Dr. Westrol: I KNEW THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE
TO CATCH THE CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON
WHILE HE WAS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL.
[ RINGING CONTINUES ]
CARDIO.
LUCKILY, THE THORACIC SURGEON HAD JUST COME BACK
BECAUSE HE HAD FORGOTTEN SOMETHING,
AND HE HEARD THE PHONE RINGING.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF HIM.
GOT HIM.
OH, GREAT.
Hello, this is Dr. Westrol.
I GOT A 24-YEAR-OLD MALE
DOWN HERE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
HE'S HYPOTHERMIC.
HE'S BEEN IN V-FIB FOR OVER AN HOUR NOW.
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING
IS JUST NOT WARMING HIM UP FAST ENOUGH.
I REALLY NEED TO GET HIM UP TO THE O.R.
OH, GOOD TIMING.
I JUST CAME IN TO GRAB MY JACKET.
YEAH, SEND HIM UP.
We'll get him ready.
THE PATIENT'S HEART WAS FINE.
HE DIDN'T NEED A CORONARY BYPASS PROCEDURE.
HE JUST NEEDED THAT MACHINE THAT COULD TAKE HIS BLOOD OUT,
WARM IT AT A MUCH FASTER RATE, AND PUT IT BACK IN HIS BODY.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, LET'S GET HIM UP TO THE O.R.
SO I ASKED ONE OF THE NURSES,
WHO WAS ACTUALLY DOING CPR AT THE TIME,
IF SHE COULD GET ON THE STRETCHER
AND CONTINUE DOING CPR ALL THE WAY TO THE O.R.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE HAD JUST DONE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SAVE THE BRAIN
AND SAVE THE REST OF THE BODY, TOO.
OYSTERS.
WE NEED TO GET BACK.
Narrator: DR. BRADLEY HAS JUST DISCOVERED
AN IMPORTANT NEW PIECE OF INFORMATION
ABOUT HIS SEPTIC PATIENT.
HOW MANY OYSTERS DID HENRY EAT TONIGHT?
OH, I DON'T KNOW. A DOZEN?
GIVE OR TAKE A FEW.
YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS THE OYSTERS?
HOW COULD THAT BE?
I HAD AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN, AND I'M FINE.
OYSTERS ARE FILTER FEEDERS,
SO THEY ARE CONSTANTLY DRAWING WATER THROUGH THEIR BODIES
AND GETTING THE NUTRIENTS FROM THE WATER
THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.
IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER,
THE BACTERIA COUNTS IN THE WATER RISE TO HIGH LEVELS.
WHAT WE'RE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT
IS A TYPE OF BACTERIA CALLED VIBRIO VULNIFICUS.
AND IT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE WHO EAT IT
AND HAVE BAD LIVERS.
WE'RE ALL FINE.
WELL, GRANDPA DOESN'T COUNT.
YOU'RE FINE BECAUSE YOUR LIVER'S FINE.
HENRY'S ISN'T?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING.
HIS DRINKING HAS COMPROMISED HIS LIVER.
BUT --
NO "BUT"s, MOM.
THAT'S WHY DAD'S IN THIS CONDITION.
IF DAD MAKES IT --
"IF"? NO "IF"s.
ADELE, YOUR DAD IS GONNA MAKE IT.
RIGHT, DOCTOR?
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
Dr. Bradley: SINCE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE OYSTERS,
I CAN START A DIFFERENT ANTIBIOTIC.
MARLA, LET'S START DOXY.
GIVE HIM 100 MILLIGRAMS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO TREAT SEPTIC SHOCK QUICKLY
BECAUSE SEPTIC SHOCK KILLS, AND IT CAN KILL FAST.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
ONCE GRANDFATHER'S ABLE TO GET UP,
LET'S GET HIM IN A WHEELCHAIR,
AND YOU CAN TAKE HIM OUT TO THE WAITING ROOM
OR TO THE CAFETERIA WHERE YOU'LL BE MORE COMFORTABLE.
EVEN THOUGH I'M AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN
AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT MY JOB IS TO DO LIFE-SAVING THERAPY,
IN REALITY, I ALSO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THE PATIENT'S LONG-TERM NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY.
DOCTOR. HOW'S HE DOING?
HE'S IMPROVING.
WE'RE MOVING HIM UP TO THE ICU FOR FURTHER MONITORING,
BUT I THINK HE'S GONNA MAKE IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
YOU CAN BEGIN BY MAKING ME A PROMISE.
ALL OF YOU, AS A FAMILY,
NEED TO WORK ON ADDRESSING HENRY'S DRINKING.
I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT HE QUITS.
HIS LIVER CAN'T TAKE IT.
I PROMISE.
WE'LL DO IT TOGETHER.
WHY AM I IN A WHEELCHAIR?
MUST'VE BEEN SOME PARTY.
YOU'RE FINE, GRANDPA.
AND YOU COULD WALK WHEN WE GOT HERE,
SO I'M SURE YOU CAN WALK NOW.
[ SIGHS ]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
Cheryl: SERIOUSLY, NORMAN?
ZIP IT.
Dr. Bradley: THE ICU's ON THE FIFTH FLOOR.
YOU CAN ASK FOR HIM WHEN YOU GET TO THE DESK.
Cheryl: THANK YOU.
OKAY. YOU'RE WELCOME.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE DAD'S DRINKING?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE --
TODAY WAS DEFINITELY A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THAT FAMILY.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE
GOING ON A VACATION WITH THAT FAMILY?
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH.
I THINK I'LL STICK WITH MY OWN FAMILY, THANKS.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
YEAH.
IS HE GONNA MAKE IT?
WE GOT HIM ON THE CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS MACHINE.
HOPEFULLY THE HEART WILL GET RESTARTED
ONCE THE TEMPERATURE'S HIGH ENOUGH.
Narrator: DR. WESTROL HAS SENT HIS HYPOTHERMIC PATIENT
UP TO THE O.R. AND NOW MUST FACE THE FAMILY.
SO I ENCOUNTERED THE GIRLFRIEND AND THE BROTHER
IN THE WAITING ROOM.
AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE VERY DISTRAUGHT.
IS HE GONNA MAKE IT?
WE GOT HIM ON THE CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS MACHINE.
HOPEFULLY THE HEART WILL GET RESTARTED
ONCE THE TEMPERATURE'S HIGH ENOUGH.
BUT HIS BRAIN'S BEEN WITHOUT OXYGEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW,
AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW THE EFFECTS OF THAT.
HE DOES HAVE TWO THINGS GOING FOR HIM, THOUGH --
HE'S YOUNG AND HE'S FIT,
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL.
THANK YOU.
Tony: THANK YOU.
[ CRYING ]
[ MACHINE BEEPING ]
Dr. Westrol: WE HAD A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT,
BUT WE ALSO HAD A REAL SENSE OF FEAR.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE HAD JUST DONE.
MAYBE HE WAS GOING TO DIE ANYWAY,
AND MAYBE WE JUST PROLONGED THAT PROCESS.
I WENT UPSTAIRS TO THE ICU TO SEE HOW HE WAS DOING.
I FEEL LIKE I GOT A SECOND CHANCE, YOU KNOW?
ANDY?
OH, HEY.
HELLO.
DOCTOR.
THIS IS ONE THE GUYS WHO SAVED YOUR LIFE, BROTHER.
THANKS, DOC.
THANK YOU.
I FEEL SO STUPID.
ALONE IN THE HOUSE, MUSCLE RELAXANTS,
OPEN WINDOW, FREEZING DAY.
JUST ONE BAD THING AFTER ANOTHER, YOU KNOW?
JUST BE THANKFUL YOU'RE ALIVE
AND THAT YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR GIRLFRIEND
DIDN'T KILL EACH OTHER IN THE PROCESS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.
TELL YOU ABOUT IT LATER.
GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE DOING BETTER.
MUSCLE RELAXANTS MAKE YOU VERY DROWSY.
AS A RESULT, HIS MEDICINE CAUSED HIM
TO SLEEP THROUGH
THE INITIAL WARNING SIGNS OF THE HYPOTHERMIA.
TAKE CARE, ALL OF YOU.
[ SIGHS ] THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND STAY WARM, RIGHT?
Dr. Westrol: THE EFFECTS OF THE HYPOTHERMIA ON HIS BRAIN
MADE HIM BECOME EVEN LESS AND LESS RESPONSIVE.
I'M KEEPING HIM WARM, DOCTOR.
SEE?
[ CHUCKLES ]
BYE.
BYE.
I LOVE YOU, BROTHER.
Narrator: A HEART-ATTACK PATIENT HAS A SEX TOY IN HIS ***,
AND DR. JOHNSON IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO GET IT OUT.
WHAT IS THAT THING?
THAT'S CALLED A VENTOUSE.
Dr. Johnson: IT DAWNED ON ME THAT MY OBSTETRICIAN FRIENDS
USE A VACUUM-ASSIST DEVICE TO PUT ON THE TOP OF A BABY'S HEAD
AND PULL IT OUT OF THE BIRTH CANAL.
AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE IT A TRY.
WHAT THAT DEVICE IS
IS IT HELPS THE OBSTETRICIANS DELIVER BABIES.
GO AHEAD AND PUMP DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
OKAY, I JUST FELT IT ENGAGE.
RELAX. SLOW YOUR BREATHING DOWN.
YOU'RE GONNA FEEL A LITTLE PRESSURE.
YOU'RE OKAY, DON.
WE'RE GONNA PULL IT DOWN VERY SLOWLY.
I PUT THE SUCTION PIECE UP INTO THE ***,
AND I FELT IT ENGAGE WITH THE OBJECT.
IS IT WORKING?
OKAY.
RELAX, DON. RELAX.
ALMOST GOT MY HANDS AROUND IT.
Dr. Johnson: SLOWLY BUT SURELY, I WAS MAKING PROGRESS.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PULL TOO FAST AND RISK LOSING MY SUCTION.
SLOW, GENTLE PUSHES NOW.
PUSH. YOU CAN DO IT.
OKAY.
IT'S COMING.
YOU CAN DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE IT IS.
[ GASPS ]
GOOD JOB, HONEY.
HERE YOU GO.
Donald: THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
HEY, DO YOU THINK I COULD TAKE THAT BACK HOME WITH ME?
SERIOUSLY, DONALD!
THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN TAKE THAT HOME WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA SEND IT OFF TO PATHOLOGY.
DR. JOHNSON, THE O.R. STAFF IS JUST CALLING.
THEY'RE WONDERING HOW LONG FOR YOUR PATIENT.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE HIM UP NOW.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
IT'S THE MOST UNSUSPECTING SOULS THAT YOU SEE
THAT WANT TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT *** PLEASURES.
WHEN THESE CASES COME INTO THE E.R.,
YOU OFTENTIMES HAVE TO BE VERY CREATIVE IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
MY WIFE IS GOING TO KILL ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
I AM RUNNING SO LATE.
ONE AND TWO.
DR. JOHNSON.
HEY.
I'M DR. PATTERSON.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THANKS FOR FILLING IN TONIGHT.
GLAD I COULD LEND A HAND.
HEY, ABBY, NEXT TIME I WANT SOME COFFEE,
I'M GONNA BUY IT IN THE CAFETERIA.
[ CHUCKLES ] YEAH, I BET YOU WILL.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
BYE, GUYS.