Patient comes in because her heart rate dropped to 30 beats per minute causing her to faint (called syncope episode), (average normal heart rate is between 60-100). Now when your heart rate drops, than there is less blood being pumped into your vital organs. The organs that require consistent blood flow and are most important is the heart and the brain. In her case the heart rate decreased, so the heart pumped less blood to the brain, causing her to lose consciousness for a bit. The cause, we were not sure, she was admitted to us for higher level of care. After a strategic assessment, and some diagnostic exams we still didnt find out the cause. The patient is a sweet 57 years old hispanic mother of 3 siblings. Medical history consist of family history of high blood pressure. Now in her case she was spanish speaking and I was called in to translate. The look in her face, scared, fearful, nobody speaking her language or being compassionate. Not because they dont want to be but more because everyone was fearful of the situation and trying to analyaze possible thoeries that can be the cause and if it were to drop again what would we do next and be prepared for.
The crash cart was wheeled in, respiratory therapist at the bedside giving her oxygen, a lap tech at the bedside drawing labs, six nurses at the bedside, and four doctors. I communicated with the patient, I cannot forget the look of her face of how frighten she was. We than told her in spanish what was going on and that we are going to do everything possible to get everything back to normal. She felt more reassured. I know saying those words sound easy, but body language, tone of voice, sincerity, and being positive has allot to do with it and it comes with passion.
After anaylzing we had to try to stimulate this action again to have more data. We had an external pacemaker attached to her at all times and medication just in case we needed to give her electronic shocks to stimulate her heart. After a week, no symptomes arised, we than decided to implant an internal pacemaker inside her just in case her heart drops again to keep her heart rate above 60 beats per min.
The only thing that really shocked me about this patient care was the look of her face when she saw all these people taking care of her and her not knowing whats going on because nobody speaked her language. The face of fear, not knowing if your life is at jeopardy, at steak, or if there is any hope for survival.
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