[log in to unmask] wrote:
> Couldn't agree more, Rowley.
>
> Recently saw consultant anaesthetist insist on multiple attempts at =
> central
> line insertion on a cot death who had been brought in clearly dead
> (asystolic, no CPR, dependent livedo etc.) Supported at time by senior
> colleague leading the resuscitation.
>
> I walked out of the resuscitation room to prevent myself saying
> something I shouldn't
>
I don't want to defend the indefensible ... but was a parent or carer present?
I could see how if a parent was actually present (one asked to be while I was a paed SHO, and was allowed) - that it might be correct to do more than one might otherwise, not for the child, but for the parent to see that "everything possible was done".
Of course, the counter-argument to that is that it exposes the parent to the trauma of seeing multiple attempts at central access that won't alter the outcome, when perhaps what should be said is "I'm sorry, your child is dead. To attempt any further intervention won't alter that and may mark their skin, so we're not going to do so"
>
> Bruce Martin
> SpR in Emergency Medicine
>
Barry Salkin.
SpR Microbiology, and Dr within the St John Ambulance.
(Written in a personal capacity, I don't speak for the St John, nor they for me).
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