Mysterious Knee Surgery Deaths?

misti_z · Nov 20, 2001

Wow, that is crazy and terrible for the families.

Halting all elective knee surgery in the entire state of Minnesota for at least a week. :eek: Hope they figure out the cause.

WriteStuff · Nov 20, 2001

:rolleyes:

Yes, have been following this one over the past few days, and live only a few miles from both hospitals in question.

Today is Tuesday and "suddenly" there is DEAD silence in the news media about details. ?News blackout in effect?

Heard about the "clostridium" scenario.

The obvious, sudden silence is an indication that the "spin doctors" at both places are working overtime to maintain damage control and find an "appropriate scapegoat."

Rumors are running rampant and the general public is reacting as expected: "foul play at work", "corporate sabotage at work", "homegrown terrorism at work", and on and on.

I work in a LTC facility and admitted a patient last week,(s/p total hip replacement), who was the roommate of the 78 yr. old man who died! When the news hit the headlines the next day, my new admit went into fear-mode big time! He was so frightened he refused to take any of his meds because in his mind.........."are these pills safe to take?"

Looks like we now have a whole new category of "Nursing Diagnosis" with which to deal:

"Impaired mental, emotional and psychological well-being as related to existing threat of potential and real acts of terrorism within the medical community."

Goals and Interventions now being written!

Bonnie Creighton, RN......in Minnesota

mcl4 · Nov 20, 2001

Rumors are running rampant and the general public is reacting as expected: "foul play at work", "corporate sabotage at work", "homegrown terrorism at work", and on and on.

I work in a LTC facility and admitted a patient last week,(s/p total hip replacement), who was the roommate of the 78 yr. old man who died! When the news hit the headlines the next day, my new admit went into fear-mode big time! He was so frightened he refused to take any of his meds because in his mind.........."are these pills safe to take?"

Looks like we now have a whole new category of "Nursing Diagnosis" with which to deal:

"Impaired mental, emotional and psychological well-being as related to existing threat of potential and real acts of terrorism within the medical community."

Goals and Interventions now being written!

Bonnie Creighton, RN......in Minnesota [/b]

I have not seen this public preception that there was foul play in regards to the deaths of these three patients. I work on a surgical floor outside Mpls. and we did cancel three total knees that were scheduled this week. However, the total hips are not being canceled.

kewlnurse · Nov 20, 2001

hmmm, sounds fishy, clostridium is the "C" in c-diff,and it doesnt' usually kill ya.

kids · Nov 20, 2001

Originally posted by kewlnurse
hmmm, sounds fishy, clostridium is the "C" in c-diff,and it doesnt' usually kill ya.

I haven't ever heard of it in a wound but have over the years had 2 debilitated elderly patient die of c-diff sepsis...presumably it preforated the bowel.

--nancy

kids · Nov 20, 2001

And yes, I am watching Nate and Justin with something just short of paranoia.

-nancy

CashewLPN, LPN · Nov 21, 2001

well... I work up on an inpatient rehab unit... we tend to see cellulitis quite a bit in the new hips and knees... tends to be just md x's patients... while most of md y's patients tend not to get infected.... BUT... lately we've been having a bunch of PE's... odd-- no?

--Barbara

oramar · Nov 21, 2001

That a series of cultures will be done and the culpret will turn up. My guess human carrier transfering either directly or indirectly to patients.

jmspeach · Nov 21, 2001

Hi, I'm not a nurse yet, currently in my pre-reqs. I also live in MN. All I have heard is that they are now invetigating. Tends to be a little on the quiet side. Wish I had more for you but nothing yet. But I would love to hear more about this when someone has info.

Thanks

jen :)

mcl4 · Nov 21, 2001

Originally posted by jmspeach
Hi, I'm not a nurse yet, currently in my pre-reqs. I also live in MN. All I have heard is that they are now invetigating. Tends to be a little on the quiet side. Wish I had more for you but nothing yet. But I would love to hear more about this when someone has info.

Thanks
jen :)

I don't feel it has been put on the quite side. It is in all the major papers as well as the news. The fact the health department took the unusual step in requesting that all knee surgeries be canceled is significant.

jmspeach · Nov 21, 2001

I didn't mean it like it sounded, I know that they stopped the surgeires. Sorry if you took such offense to my post, but they have been saying the same thing over and over for a couple of days now, just diffrent wording.