Code Blue

So at this point in the year a code blue doesn't get the adrenaline rushing like it used to. Don't get me wrong, it still pumps pretty strong, but its a different feeling with the adrenaline rushing and not knowing what to do versus having the adrenaline rush and the competence to know how to proceed.

I'm still on my cardiology off-service month, and the other day during rounds the code blue alert sounded. The entire team knew immediately it was one of our patients as we had been expecting it at any time. Me, the other intern, and the senior resident all rushed to the room. Along with a handful of nurses, two respiratory therapist and a pharmacist, I was the only ED doc in the room. I walked to the head of the bed and started bagging as the patient was found to be in P.E.A. I requested fentanyl and versed and immediately began preparing to intubate. All we had for access was two peripheral IVs and I heard the senior resident (who was running the code) request a triple lumen kit. I looked at him and politely suggested we put in a triple lumen. He agreed. While waiting on the medications I requested I observed the other medicine intern preparing for the central line placement. I've seen people put together jig-saw puzzles quicker. After I secured the airway, I went over and took over the line placement. First attempt, got it.

Don't get me wrong, my medicine colleagues are very competent when it comes to practicing medicine. I'm definitely not trying to suggest otherwise, but when it comes to procedures, especially in the emergent setting, that is when we ED docs shine. The patient survived the code, and we all felt pretty good about ourselves.

Whenever I'm on an off-service rotation, the other docs are never at a loss of words when it comes to expressing their opinion about the ED. But what it boils down to is, in the acute setting, no one is better in saving lives, and the above situation is just further proof. I didn't run the code, I just did all the work.