What do you think ?

Re: What do you think ?

Heather Christie — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:07:37 GMT

I'm sorry to hear that one of your patients died. Unfortunately that's one of the risks of operating. If you hadn't operated, he prob would've died anyway. At least with you, he had a chance. You weren't to blame for him dying, so please don't beat yourself up. I think you should run yourself a nice hot bath, pour yourself some wine and think over all the animals that wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for you. You're a caring and wonderful person. Hope this makes you feel better xxx

Re: What do you think ?

Maisy — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:49:07 GMT

Hi,

Hope speaking to your Head Nurse helped a little today, I usually find it helps to talk about it when GA deaths happen (that sounds like they happen with me a lot, they don't really!) I also think it helps to think about those really difficult GA's, you know the ones where the vets give the owners poor prognoses, yet the animal makes it through because of what you've done monitoring and nursing wise It's difficult when the animal you lose is young but unfortunately the risk is always there, but there are many more that you save than lose.

Re: What do you think ?

sazzle — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:54:44 GMT

Hi all,

Thanks for all the comments. And no, i wouldnt have done anything different. All of the vets at work that know have said its cos its a big 60kg Gt dane, even tho its only 9mth old and that it does happen especially as it was in dorsal rec for so long (apparently this can have the effect of crushing the aorta!!! )

Im just annoyed at myself. I'd had no dinner and stayed behind at work for 2 1/2 hrs to finish this op and was desperate to get it back to bed. I was busy cleaning the op-site and dressing it and another nurse spotted the 'funny colour'. He had black marking in the mouth tongue so i just said 'he's a dark colour anyway' then checked breathing as i was finishing the dressing to see what the student nurse meant. I am so angry at myself for not seeing it before her....suppose that doesnt help me does it really.

I will get over it, eventually, but will take time. The head nurse was nice. I spoke to her today. Shes very blunt and just said "its a big dog, its a risk" She's so to-the-point!!

But hey-ho. Its another day tomorrow and i'm in charge. Wonder what it will bring............

S x

Re: What do you think ?

Maisy — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:49:52 GMT

Sorry to hear about what happened Anaesthetic deaths are always difficult, if the result of the death can be rectified then you can learn from it, but in your case there was nothing that could have been done.

Chin up, you'd be in the wrong profession if you didn't care.

Re: What do you think ?

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:44:12 GMT

Sazzle,

I am really sorry to hear about that.

Please do not feel you are to blame as you are in no way to blame for this. It is a very very sad and unexpected thing to happen but unfortunately, on occassions it does.

If you were to do it all again would you have done anything different? My guess is NO, as you done everything correct first time around. As well as that, 5 1/2 hours is a very long time to be anaesthetised and with such as big dog also.

As well as all that, once we turn a patient off inhalation anaesthesia and they are on oxygen only, we feel we can relax as they will be starting to waken up. Very sad for you that this dog did not.

Listen and take note of the comments made by everyone else and console yourself with the fact it was out of your hands and there was nothing you nor anyone else could have done about it.

My thoughts are with you xx

Re: What do you think ?

Mrs Dot Dot — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:48:29 GMT

Hi Sazzle!

I think similar things/situations have happened to most of us at some time or another.. hopefully not very often but these things DO happen.... it's why we get a consent form signed, why we talk to the owners, why we are there to monitor the anaesthetetic... I am sure that you know that you did everything correctly and that it wasn't your fault but it doesn't make it any easier.

I think that there is always a higher risk with extra large dogs because just moving them around in theatre.... e.g from sternum to lateral recumbancy, puts extra pressure on the heart and can cause it to twist etc (Not 100% sure if this is a proper veterinary condition but....it's what I've been told by a few vets.....) ... I remember working in a practice where a great dane died during routine xrays, whether this was due to manouvering it around for for positioning i can't say for sure but it happens.

You feel totally responsible but realistically it wouldn't of been your fault and there would of been nothing you could of done about it. Without doing a proper post mortem, you will never know for sure but you know there are always risks and unluckily for you, you were the one doing the g/a.

All you can do is put it down to experience, take time to get over it, try not to put yourself down too much and try to build your confidence up again.'

Also talk to other nurses about this so you know you are not alone x

Re: What do you think ?

sazzle — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:46:09 GMT

Ta Mrs! Felt so crappy. We had a leaving do for one of the nurses, moving to orthopaedic referral surgery (lucky cow!) n i got rather drunk on Sambuca (feeling effects today i must say!) The operating vet didnt really know what to say to me as all men dont when a girl is crying....he just kind of tapped me on the shoulder and stood there looking a bit lost for words. I know it probably had some weird problem, blood clot or something ?!

It still doesnt help...Vet did say the nurse isnt there to keep patient alive but to alert vet to problems...I can help but feel that i didnt see it the 'no-breathing' in time... !!! So annoyed wih myself.

I had a similar one a few weeks ago, RTA cat which just didnt wake up and tried to resus for 2hrs, IPPV and everything but in end got premission from O to just stop and let it go. That wasnt as bad as this cos it was the o's decision but still upsetting.

Re: What do you think ?

Steph Worsley — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:37:50 GMT

Hey sazzle, I'm not gonna say the obvious and that it wasn't your fault cos you know deep down that it wasn't and that there was nothing you could have done to prevent it from happening

It isn't just you believe me, one of our SVN's felt responsible and really upset following a bunny GA death (she did everything right and had one of our anaesthetists there as well!!)

I also feel like it following a ga death no matter how old or sick the patient is you always feel you could do better, you just have to go in on monday thinking that its a brand new day and start all over again (easier said than done I know)