July 24, 2009

Tough week.

Death count for my PICU rotation: 4 and climbing...

Worst by far was the mother who found her 15 year old daughter down in her room. EMS resuscitated but her pupils became fixed during transport and she was brain dead by the time she got to the PICU. Her cerebral perfusion scan was eerie for the complete and total absence of all blood flow. It was like someone went in and performed a total lobectomy, the cutoff was so precise. Tox screen negative, all lab work negative, no signs of trauma, asphyxiation, etc. We have no idea why this perfectly healthy girl was suddenly found essentially dead.

There are true tragedies in this world.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So you don't know exactly why she died...In any case, that truly is a tragedy. A mother should never have to find her child's body.

Anonymous said...

You are a very caring and compassionate med student, thereby,you will be a great doctor. Ped's needs doctors like you.