Calling a code while agonal breaths continue?

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

I have seen this twice. Both times felt that the code had dragged on too long as it is, Tonight. the code actually ended, and she was called and then a few minutes later she took a breath and we had to re-call the code (ever had that one before??) and begin acls all over again.

The doc running the show asked us to stop, and an intern argued with him saying it was unethical because there was an agonal breath. We continued, got her to CCU where she did finally die ten minutes later.

The rhythm was asystole.

Anything like this happen to anyone and what did you guys see/do?

[TazziRN, RN]

If the rhthym is asystolic there is nothing wrong with calling it, because the breaths will indeed be agonal. I have been in a code that was called and we had to start bagging again because the pulse came back because of all the epi and atropine we had given. RT and we stood there taking turns for over an hour, bagging, until the heart stopped for good.

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

If the rhthym is asystolic there is nothing wrong with calling it, because the breaths will indeed be agonal. I have been in a code that was called and we had to start bagging again because the pulse came back because of all the epi and atropine we had given. RT and we stood there taking turns for over an hour, bagging, until the heart stopped for good.

An hour? good lord!

Have you ever seen an intern get upset about this kind of thing? It was uncomfortable being in the room at the time.

[Dinith88]

I have seen this twice. Both times felt that the code had dragged on too long as it is, Tonight. the code actually ended, and she was called and then a few minutes later she took a breath and we had to re-call the code (ever had that one before??) and begin acls all over again.

The doc running the show asked us to stop, and an intern argued with him saying it was unethical because there was an agonal breath. We continued, got her to CCU where she did finally die ten minutes later.

The rhythm was asystole.

Anything like this happen to anyone and what did you guys see/do?

The doc that said it was unethical to cease coding an asystolic patient...'a few minutes after it was stopped' (after a drawn out down-time to boot!)...needs paddled on his intern-buttcheeks. He is an unethical boob in my opinion(hopefully he'll become wise to this eventually))...and i would have attempted to explain that brutalizing a (through doing cpr), by now brain-dead person is dumb.

[TazziRN, RN]

Interns would be the ones who would have a problem letting go. Experience is everything, and interns ain't got that.

[danfif]

Awh, life at TruMed, ain't it grand! Heard about this one, but I heard that 2 people still had pulses when they wanted to call it the first time. Any truth to that? I just got the story second hand, and you know how that goes. Any way, doesn't sound good anyway you look at it, that's why I am thinking of having DNR tatooed on my chest!

Later,

Dan

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

DNR tatooed on your chest? hmmmm sounds like a good idea! :)