020508

Went to work today and it was no more busy than usual. I was expecting to do a partial foot amputation when we got a call to do and emergency ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm instead. The OR I work in is a pretty standard neighborhood, community OR. We don't actually get a lot of life threatening emergencies. This is the kind of case I used to do in the level 1 trauma center. Everyone was a little panicky. They called from the ER and we immediately started getting ready. Five minutes later, the patient was being wheeled into the OR. Thank God there were a bunch of people still at work. I believe we got the call at 5pm, the patient came into the room at 5:10pm and incision was made at 5:25pm. The patient arrived in the trendelenberg position, which is head down and feet up, because the blood pressure was low. It's not a great sign. I sighed to the Lord. When the surgeon couldn't get the cross clamp around the aorta, I had a sinking feeling things weren't going to turn out well. Anesthesia was giving blood as fast as possible, but it wasn't fast enough. I asked God to heal the patient if it was His will. I have absolutely no doubt God can heal anyone if it is His will, I've seen miraculous stuff in my business. Slowly but surely the patient died right in front of our eyes. It's sad to think when he got up today, he went about his business not realizing today would be the day he died. I pray he was ready. Pray for his children who have to make a trip here to say goodbye.

Psalm 103

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.