Published
We have a cardiologist who absolutely insists that it is impossible for a person to have a distolic blood pressure
I can handle the tirade (he just looks like an idiot), and we've written a policy to have us take one blood pressure by hand q 4 hours if we get a NIBP
My question is about his legal point. I know d**n well that a person can be alive with a diastolic that low (I've seen plenty). What can I say in response to his question, "How would you defend yourself in court?"
kabarnes
28 Posts
Are you sure he isn't referring to the MAP? While it is possible to be alive with a MAP of 45, that is quite low, however, I have seen diastolics below 45 before with a patient awake, alert and coherant.