Totall gutted!!

Re: Totall gutted!!

dinkyd — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:24:25 GMT

Really feel for you.This happened to one of our nurses a few months ago.Routine ortho op, had PGA bloods,ivft etc he crashed while in xray.Was fine one moment and not the next.Its really difficult for everyone as its only natural to think 'what if I had done this or that' when he outcome probably would have been the same - but you always feel as if you havent done enough.

It really doesnt matter what anyone says to you - it wont make you feel any better but we can give you support.You did all you could to save the poor wee guy and the care was gold standard-but please dont blame yourself- he may well and quite likely had something else going on that was undectable from routine examination.

Chin up , have a good cry, tomorrow is another day.xx

Re: Totall gutted!!

Nicola Smith — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:25:16 GMT

I feel for you. GA deaths are horrid and like others have said bacuse we see so few of them we do underestimate the risks sometimes. My grandad died in hospital for a routine procedure - so it happens with people too. Dont feel bad - it happens and there is nothing we can do. Sounds like its care was tip top with cannula, fluids etc.

Re: Totall gutted!!

Jeniflower — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:09:46 GMT

Chanel, it happens to the best of us. Despite everything, you can't help the fact that general anaesthesia is risky business & freak incidents are bound to occur. You can carry out every blood test available and still not fully understand every single physiological detail of a patient. The fact that your feeling so bad, just shows how much you care... which indicates that your a good nurse! Try not to let it get you down, you did everything correctly & unfortunately its the age-old 'these things just happen'. Chin-up! x

Re: Totall gutted!!

chanel clydesdale — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:08:19 GMT

God fiona i just feel so awful he was such a great little dog and the thing is he was absolutely fine!! Then suddenly he just crashed. I feel so bad for the owners because i know we always explain that its a risk but anaesthetic deaths are so few and far between that you almost underestimate how risky they can be sometimes when its for a routine ortho op. Its just when its something so routine, seeing him going from a lucky go happy chap to crashing, Such a horrible thing :( Thanks for your support, x

Re: Totall gutted!!

Fiona Leathers — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:01:18 GMT

Chanel - don't worry too much about it - these things can happen but I understand how you're feeling. We referred him to you and was devasted to hear about what happened! The owners are lovely people and they will understand. Call me if you need to talk. xx

RIP little man!

Re: Totall gutted!!

Mac Feather — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:59:26 GMT

Sorry to hear about your day. We all have cruddy days thats for sure and I dont think it gets any easier and I guess taking the positive out of that it means that you care and want the best for your patients,which you obviously do.

Its always easy to beat yourself up but sometimes things happen despite your best efforts.

Take care.

Re: Totall gutted!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:57:18 GMT

I find it can definately affect you more when you have been involved in a case especially when you are closley nursing it and it unfortunately it does not improve...I always get emotionally involved especially when its my fave animals.......

Re: Totall gutted!!

chanel clydesdale — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:54:41 GMT

The dog had preop bloods which were all completely normal, we canulate every patient including small furries as routine, the dog had an oesophageal steth, pulse ox and i.v fluids attached for support. We gave iv adrenaline and intracardia along with compressions. Its just it always seems to be the healthy ones that go, its so unfair.

Re: Totall gutted!!

wobbliebob — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:54:17 GMT

had the same thing happen with a perfectly healthy 10m old shi-tzu pup. dont beat yourself up

Re: Totall gutted!!

Pippa Louise — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:51:19 GMT

I have this yet to come :( Though a day old kitten had to be euthanased a few weeks back due to a horrific injury to its sckin around the scapula as the mother had gone to pick it up. Strangely though this didn't seem to have any effect on me. May be because it was only just brought in but one of the other nurses who spent the same time with it as me was affected a lot and had to leave for ten minutes as she was quite upset.

I guess it affects us all in different ways! It sounds as though you did your best though, that's all any of us can do in this job, it just has it's unfortunate turns sometimes! Though as I say - everything happens for a reason x x

Re: Totall gutted!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:48:12 GMT

Oh bless you we have all been there and you do feel bad and blame yourself....but dont beat yourself up. You know you did everything right, it always seems to be the healthy ones that catches us out.......did the dog have pre op bloods? We are doing these more and more now and its amazing what looks healthy on the outside actually has underlying problems. Putting cannulas in should be routine too so you always have a patent vein for emergency drugs if needed........I try to get all my nurses to use an oesophageal stethocope in immediately post induction so can use that whilst prepping etc.

You are obviously going to be upset because thats what makes us great VNs cos we are sooooo caring for our patients.....but please do not beat yourself up.....discuss it with your vet or head nurse........always best to discuss these cases........