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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Ventolin now indicated for low heart rate

There are some things in healthcare that are too awkward to believe, but impossible to make up.  Such was the case when a patient was shown to have a heart rate of 50.

The doctor turned to the nurse and said, "Call respiratory for a stat albuterol treatment.  We need to get this guys heart rate up."

Fancy how such a thing can result in the ire of the respiratory therapist, who had better things to do.

Needless to say, after the treatment the RT sat down to chart.  His pre and post assessment was as follows:

Pt presented in no respiratory distress; hr = 50; rr = 20; ls clear with normal aeration... post treatment.... no difference observed upon assessment nor noted by patient; hr =48, rr = 21

Go figure.

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