Wanted to ask you neuro nurses (& Canadian nurses) to maybe shed some light on the matter?
1) Does anyone know the treatment she received in Montreal? such as emergency surgery?
2) Her condition upon arrival? Did she arrive in time for emergency intervention or had she herniated at that point?
3) How does one go from walking off a bunny slope to brain dead in 24hrs or less? I could understand if there were circumstances that delayed her arrival to a hospital but it seems she got there in decent time?
Fair question. I was walking out of the aid room on my way to close the hill. The gutters just above the door leaked and there was always a big patch of boilerplate ice just in front of the door. I was carrying my equipment and trying to get out the door before it hit my skis. Before I knew it my feet went out from under me and the next thing I remember is waking up to all of the rest of the ski patrol standing around me. Given my propensity to hit my head on things (like cabinet doors) I probably should wear a helmet at all times.:lol_hitti
Speaking of repeated hits to the head there is some thought that people who have had multiple hits to their heads (like football players and well...me) have a higher incidence of a serious head injury with a minor mechanism of injury. Interesting isn't it?
havent they also linked repeated head trauma to an increase in Alzheimer's?
i've been knocked cold at least twice, and seen "stars" at least twice......where did you get that helmet? lol
I had a brain injury following a serious car wreck and have been informed that I am much more likely to suffer from Alzheimers in later life
If it makes you feel any better my uncle suffered a brain injury requiring intensive rehab probably 30 years ago. He is in his early 80s and just recently has developed minimal forgetfulness. I'd say that even if he starts seriously declining now he is a shining example of a positive outcome.
I think a good question is what would you have done?
You are skiing on a winter's day...fall on a bunny hill. You don't lose conciousness, in fact, you feel fine. Ski patrol rushes over, drags you over to the paramedics who say you should go to the hospital. You feel fine, not even a headache. You joke with the paramedics and decide you should just call it a day. Would you give up your vacation and go to the hospital for what seems to be a little bump on the noggin or would you just go sleep/drink it off.
Personally, I would have refused transport too, and I know the risks...but what are the odds that a small bump on the noggin is going to result in a life threatening bleed?
If the severity of the fall is being accuratley protrayed by the media, it was probably just a matter of time before a little bump (cabinet door for instance) broke the fragile vessel.
Mortality rates from epidural hemorrhage range from 5-43% (US data, 2008). There are a number of blogs discussing this case and the consensus is that this tragedy could just as easily have happened anywhere. Reasons? Malpractice costs reduce the number of neurosurgeons willing to even take emergency call, never mind perform delicate surgeries in small community hospitals. Time is of the essence with epidural hemorrhage because even a small amount of bleeding will tip over the Monroe-Kellie applecart, and any time a person with epidural bleeding refuses medical care, they're risking their lives. Would the availability of a helicopter have made a difference? Maybe, but unless the helicopter was based close to the site of the accident, there would have been dispatch time added to the actual transport time, so that is perhaps a red herring. It's scary to think that there but for the grace of God, go I.
Mortality rates from epidural hemorrhage range from 5-43% (US data, 2008). There are a number of blogs discussing this case and the consensus is that this tragedy could just as easily have happened anywhere. Reasons? Malpractice costs reduce the number of neurosurgeons willing to even take emergency call, never mind perform delicate surgeries in small community hospitals. Time is of the essence with epidural hemorrhage because even a small amount of bleeding will tip over the Monroe-Kellie applecart, and any time a person with epidural bleeding refuses medical care, they're risking their lives. Would the availability of a helicopter have made a difference? Maybe, but unless the helicopter was based close to the site of the accident, there would have been dispatch time added to the actual transport time, so that is perhaps a red herring. It's scary to think that there but for the grace of God, go I.
I think a good question is what would you have done?
You are skiing on a winter's day...fall on a bunny hill. You don't lose conciousness, in fact, you feel fine. Ski patrol rushes over, drags you over to the paramedics who say you should go to the hospital. You feel fine, not even a headache. You joke with the paramedics and decide you should just call it a day. Would you give up your vacation and go to the hospital for what seems to be a little bump on the noggin or would you just go sleep/drink it off.
Personally, I would have refused transport too, and I know the risks...but what are the odds that a small bump on the noggin is going to result in a life threatening bleed?
If the severity of the fall is being accuratley protrayed by the media, it was probably just a matter of time before a little bump (cabinet door for instance) broke the fragile vessel.
Just my thoughts.
I have never thought it was a good question to ask, no one really knows until they are in a situation.
I *have*had a concussion before in which I kept finding myself in different places not knowing how I got there. In my father's car I ask him how I got there, he told me to stop asking the same questions over and over. Thats when I started to notice my head hurt. No one knew I had fallen, all we knew is that I missed the bus for some reason.
So what Im saying here, dont trust the brain-injury's word on it that they are 'fine'.
So what Im saying here, dont trust the brain-injury's word on it that they are 'fine'.
The problem is that in the US an adult who is awake, alert and oriented has the right to refuse care regardless of the risk to themselves. All we can do is explain to them the risks in a manner that they can understand, verify that they understand, tell them what to do if they change their mind and document like nobody's business. This applies to everybody from first responders to neurosurgeons.
The problem is that in the US an adult who is awake, alert and oriented has the right to refuse care regardless of the risk to themselves. All we can do is explain to them the risks in a manner that they can understand, verify that they understand, tell them what to do if they change their mind and document like nobody's business. This applies to everybody from first responders to neurosurgeons.
That has been painfully clear, we all know people can refuse care, we are all nurses here. What I have a hard time getting across to those who keep reminding me of that-- is did the paramedics do that, explain as you described above? No! They didnt even go assess her for themselves. Just "Oh, dont need us now, okay see ya later." They should have done JUST what you described above.
Wasn't there a paramedic ON SCENE though. Doesn't the ski resort emplyoe a Ski Paramedic.
In some places those paramedics hold the same authority as the county paramedics.
I'm just thinking I read somewhere there WAS a paramedic on scene.
Yes, you are right about that. Ski Patrol requires paramedic license. It just seems to me, that if you have an inferior EMS system, (no air EMS) that the ground EMS would be more assertive as a compensation. I see your point, if Ski Patrol told the arriving paramedics they are not needed, they would say ok and leave without seeing her.
morte, LPN, LVN
7,015 Posts
havent they also linked repeated head trauma to an increase in Alzheimer's?
i've been knocked cold at least twice, and seen "stars" at least twice......where did you get that helmet? lol