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6 days ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
33 Eye-Opening Confessions From An ER Doctor
Recently, on Reddit, an emergency room doctor hosted an AMA, inviting users to "ask me anything" about their profession. Here are some of the best questions and answers from the AMA: Q: What led you to become an ER doctor, and what part of your job could drive you away from wanting to continue to be one? A: I was drawn to emergency medicine because I loved the variety, every rotation in med school had me thinking, "I want to do this," and the ER let me do a bit of everything. I also really like the shift work. When my shift ends, I'm done. A full-time schedule is around 120 hours a month, so most days I still get to enjoy life outside the hospital.I don't really know what would make me leave. A lot of ER docs do burn out eventually, but so far, I still really love it. Q: How much money do you make? Q: What would you keep at home if you really wanted to not die from anything that's sometimes immediately fatal (ie, stroke, pulmonary embolism)? Q: One health tip for the general public given your position and experience? A: If I had to give one health tip based on what I see every day: wear a seatbelt, don't drive drunk, and stay off motorcycles. I've seen too many lives changed — or ended —because of those exact things. Simple choices, but they make a huge difference. Q: I imagine you must have lost a patient at some point. How do you handle informing the family, and how do you make sure it doesn't affect you personally? Q: Recently, a wonderful younger doctor took care of us in the ER, and I would like to give him something to show our appreciation, but I'm not sure what. Any suggestions? Thanks for helping other humans survive! Q: What's the craziest case you saw? A: One of the craziest cases I've seen was a young patient who had a massive pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs) and was bleeding heavily into her abdomen at the same time. She was literally dying from clotting too much and bleeding too much at once. Treating one made the other worse — it was an incredibly tough balance and a real challenge medically. She had a thrombectomy, then emergency surgery, and was placed on ECMO. Amazingly, she walked out of the hospital a few weeks later. Q: What was the most surreal/bizarre situation you experienced during a shift? Q: Have you seen The Pitt? If so, what does it get right and what does it get wrong? Q: How often do you think people in extreme pain, perhaps not from an obvious source, are denied pain medication by doctors suspicious of their claims? A: The only times I hold off on giving pain meds are when someone is so sick that the pain might actually be helping keep them alive, or when we need to address something more urgent first, like stabilizing them or protecting their I take pain seriously, even if the source isn't obvious right away. Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not real. Q: Why do emergency doctors tell you what is wrong with you and to follow up with your doctor for further testing, instead of doing the testing while you're in the hospital? Q: When people come through and they have health anxiety and they are talking way too much because that's how they cope, does it annoy you? Q: What are common issues that are right on the border of needing to go to the ER vs Urgent Care and vice versa? Like, where you say, 'Yeah, I can see why you thought to go to urgent care vs. the ER, but you really should have come to the ER,' and vice versa. A: That's a tough one; there's no perfect line between urgent care and the ER. Minor things like small cuts, sprains, or basic infections are usually fine for urgent care. But anything more serious, like chest pain, trouble breathing, bad abdominal pain, high fevers in neonates, or anything that could be life-threatening, you should head to the ER. Q: Have you ever seen signs of obvious terminal cancer that were a complete surprise to the patient being seen? Q: As someone who gets panic attacks, what do you think when someone shows up with one? Q: Your answers have been very empathetic and thoughtful—do you think most of your colleagues have a similar attitude toward patient care, tolerance, etc? A: Thanks. Everyone's a little different, but in general, I do think most people in this line of work, like doctors, nurses, techs, etc., choose it because we genuinely want to help. Q: My 17-year-old just graduated from high school and got through an EMT program in her senior year. She is going to college in the fall, doing pre-med. Her end goal is to be an ER physician. I want my kid to reach her potential, and she is for sure cut out for it, personality-wise, but would you actually recommend the profession to others? If you had a chance to do over and pick a different career (or specialty), would you? Q: I'm extremely phobic about needles and blood. If I came in in distress, what would your staff be able to do to make things less traumatic for me? I'm really afraid that if I thought I was having a heart attack or something, I would genuinely think twice about going in for help. Q: Knowing what you know and having seen what you've seen, what advice would you give us? A: If there's one thing I've learned, it's that family is the most important thing. At the end of someone's life, no one talks about the news, politics, or work. It's all about the people they love — holding hands, saying goodbye, being surrounded by family. Those moments make everything else fade into the background. Q: What is the FUNNIEST thing that has happened? Q: Is there any particuliar kind of accidents you prefer not to see? Q: Are there days or times of year when the ER is a lot busier? A: Mondays are usually the busiest, and we also see spikes right after big storms or bad weather clears. Q: Does work provide any resources to help you recover from any trauma you experience as a result of being exposed to intense scenarios? Q: What's the funniest story behind an injury you've treated? Q: Do you enjoy working with paramedics or do they bother you? A: I really enjoy working with paramedics, especially the ones who are engaged and curious, and I always try to follow up with them when I can so they know how their patient did. We're all part of the same team. The only thing that can be a turn-off is when someone's overconfident to the point that they miss something important, like a STEMI, or ignore a patient's pain. There's no room for ego in this work; we all need to stay sharp and humble because lives depend on it. Q: I went to the ER recently for upper GI pain (it was bad). Turns out I was severely dehydrated and needed to pass some good ole material. I was kinda embarrassed about it. How many people come to the ER because they are backed up? Q: I had a severe injury a couple of months ago and was scared of going to the ER due to the costs. Is that a genuine fear? I fear that if my life is in danger, I'd be too scared to call an ambulance or go to the ER because of costs. Q: What's the common thing you see children under 10 come in for? The most severe cases and the less severe cases? A: Most common reason kids under 10 come in? Definitely fever or upper respiratory infections — especially in the winter. We see tons of those. On the more severe end, things like allergic reactions, accidental ingestions, and trouble breathing. Q: How often do patients not believe your diagnosis? Got some fun examples? Q: Whats the craziest thing someone has put in their butt? Q: Do all the staff sleep with each other like in movies, or is that, like, just in movies? A: That's mostly just in the movies, but every hospital definitely has its fair share of drama. When you work long hours in a high-stress environment, relationships and gossip happen. It's not like Grey's Anatomy, but yeah, things go on. Q: Whats the worst thing you have seen someone (mostly) recover from? Q: What is the best way to advocate for yourself if you think the doctor or nurse has it wrong? Do you work in an ER or a similar medical setting? Tell us about your experiences in the comments or via the anonymous form below:
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Resident doc dies after alleged suicide attempt
Jaipur: A resident doctor at SN Medical College, Jodhpur Dr Rakesh Vishnoi (30), died during treatment at SMS Hospital Saturday night after allegedly attempting suicide Friday. He was under stress due to departmental issues, colleagues said. Vishnoi was shifted via green corridor and put on ECMO, but despite efforts, doctors couldn't save him. "Despite all medical efforts, we lost a dedicated resident, a kind soul, and a true fighter," a resident doctor said in Jaipur. Vishnoi was a PG student of the 2022 batch, and his PG was about to be completed in Sept. TNN Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Print
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Print
65-year-old woman beats end-stage disease by successful lung transplant in Delhi
The woman was suffering from end-stage interstitial lung disease (ILD) caused by scleroderma, a rare autoimmune condition, said a statement from the hospital. The patient had been oxygen-dependent for over a year and faced progressive respiratory failure, it added. The surgery was carried out by doctors at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in the national capital. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) A 65-year-old woman battling an end-stage lung disease got a new lease of life due to a successful bilateral lung transplant at a private hospital, officials said on Wednesday. She was admitted to the hospital on May 14, after years of battling connective tissue disease-related ILD, requiring continuous oxygen support of 4-5 litres per minute and unable to perform basic activities independently. Her oxygen saturation would fall to 70 per cent without external oxygen. Despite being on long-term immunosuppressive therapy, her lung function had severely declined, it said. A team of doctors examined her and confirmed that she was a fit candidate for a bilateral lung transplant, one of the most advanced and high-risk procedures in thoracic surgery. On May 15, a matching donor lung became available from a brain-dead patient at Fortis Hospital, Noida, the statement added. The transplant team at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital retrieved the lungs late at night and initiating the transplant surgery around 3 am. The procedure lasted nearly seven hours and was conducted while the patient was on ECMO support — a critical intervention to maintain oxygenation and circulation during the operation, the statement added. Post-transplant, she required ventilatory support and underwent a tracheostomy due to a poor cough reflex. Over the following weeks, she underwent more than 15 bronchoscopies to manage airway secretions, until her natural respiratory reflexes were restored, it said. The patient was gradually taken off all external supports, shifted to oral immunosuppressive medication, and started on a structured rehabilitation programme to support recovery and improve lung function. PTI SLB SKY SKY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Elderly woman receives lifesaving lung transplant after organ donation
New Delhi: A 65-year-old woman suffering from end-stage interstitial lung disease (ILD), caused by scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disorder, got a fresh lease of life after undergoing a complex bilateral lung transplant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The critical surgery became possible through the benevolent organ donation by the family of a 48-year-old brain-dead patient in Noida. For over a year, the patient was oxygen-dependent 24/7, requiring 4–5 litres of supplemental oxygen per minute to survive. Her lung condition had deteriorated to such an extent that even routine tasks like walking across a room or speaking for a few minutes became difficult. Without oxygen support, her saturation would drop to as low as 70%, putting her life at constant risk. Despite aggressive treatment and extended immunosuppressive therapy, her condition continued to decline, leading doctors to evaluate her for a lung transplant — a complex procedure with significant risks, particularly for elderly patients with autoimmune complications. "Her lungs were failing fast. We knew time was not on our side," said Dr Avdhesh Bansal, senior consultant in respiratory medicine. "She was barely able to function and had reached the end stage of her disease." On May 14, the patient was admitted to the hospital. The following day, a compatible donor became available — a 48-year-old patient declared brain-dead at Fortis Hospital, Noida. The transplant proceeded thanks to his family's noble decision to donate his organs. The seven-hour operation was performed with the patient on ECMO support — an essential measure to maintain oxygenation and circulation during the procedure. Discussing the transplant's success, Dr Mukesh Goel, senior consultant for cardiothoracic surgery, said: "In this case, the patient had extensive lung fibrosis and reduced pulmonary reserve, making the surgery extremely high-risk. Post-transplant, she required ventilatory support and underwent a tracheostomy due to a poor cough reflex. Over the following weeks, she underwent more than 15 bronchoscopies to manage airway secretions until her natural respiratory reflexes were restored. The patient was gradually taken off all external support, shifted to oral immunosuppressive medication, and started on a structured rehabilitation programme to support recovery and improve lung function." He noted that their team managed the retrieval and transplant within strict time constraints to maintain graft viability. Dr Bansal added, "Rehabilitation has been as important as the surgery itself. Structured physiotherapy, nutritional support, and emotional counselling have all played a role in her recovery."
The Star
07-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Born halfway to help kickstart baby's breathing
When the anaesthetist put Angelica Vance under for her caesarean section, she had no way of knowing what she'd encounter when she woke. If everything went perfectly, the baby would be on a ventilator and the doctors would have a plan to remove the growth that was impairing her daughter's breathing. If things went wrong, Vance might be recovering from severe bleeding, while a machine pump-ed blood through her daughter Chloe's body. 'If ECMO didn't work, she wouldn't make it,' Vance said of the blood-pumping machine called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. 'That morning was intense.' A dangerous growth Vance, of Fort Collins, Colorado, United States, said her third pregnancy had progressed relatively normally until the final trimester. That was when pain and a jump in the circumference of her belly pointed to an excessive build-up of amniotic fluid. Her doctor removed two litres of fluid and kept her for further testing, because an increase that fast usually points to a bigger problem, she said. An ultrasound and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) found a growth in the baby's chest and neck. This growth was keeping her from swallowing amniotic fluid and would also prevent Chloe from taking her first breath after being born. While a baby is inside and supported by the placenta, breathing isn't a concern, because the mother supplies oxygen through the umbilical cord, said Children's Hospital Colorado paediatric and fetal surgeon Dr Chris Derderian, who treated Vance and Chloe. Once the placenta detaches from the uterine wall, the baby needs to breathe on their own, giving a relatively tight window to open the airway, he said. He offered Vance an ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure. During this procedure, he would partially deliver Chloe via caesarean section, and a team would work to open her airway while she remained attached to her mother. The procedure is relatively risky because the anaesthetist has to give medication to relax the uterus, preventing the placenta from tearing loose, but increasing the odds of serious bleeding. The hospital only performs about one EXIT procedure each year. These are in cases where the baby has no other options, but has a good enough chance of survival that the hospital can give the family a choice whether to accept the risks, he said. A smooth delivery After Vance went under general anaesthesia on Oct 15 (2024), Dr Derderian and his team delivered Chloe's head and shoulders by caesarean section. That started a clock of about 90 minutes that the placenta could act as life support. About 40 people from various specialities crowded into the room in case they needed to handle possible complications, including a cardiac surgeon who could open the baby's chest if the growth put too much pressure on her lungs. The airway was about the width of the tip of a pen, so the emergency medical technicians inserting the breathing tube had to use one that would push back against the pressure from the growth, Dr Derderian said. At that point, they had no way of knowing whether the airway was open, however slightly, through its full length or was completely closed at some point. If it was closed, they'd have to cut a hole in her neck to insert the tube. And then, in about 15 minutes, the worst was over. The tube went down and Chloe turned pink as the ventilator pushed oxygen into her body. Some of the specialists dispersed, while others took Chloe to the neonatal intensive care unit or sewed up Vance and prepared for her to wake. 'I don't think we have got a better scenario,' Dr Derderian said. A progressive recovery When Vance woke up, she learned that the hospital had planned another surgery to remove the growth once Chloe was three days old. That also went better than she feared, taking about two hours instead of the six that the doctors projected, she said. The growth wasn't cancerous, and it hadn't wrapped too tightly around her daughter's airway, making removal easier. Chloe spent about 10 days on a ventilator before transitioning to less-invasive oxygen support, Vance said. After six weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, Chloe went home without oxygen, though she did need a feeding tube because of difficulty swallowing, said Vance. Fetuses essentially practise breathing and swallowing during the third trimester, and the mass around her neck limited that preparation. Now, Chloe is relatively healthy, though she still receives therapy every day to work on her swallowing and to build up her neck muscles, Vance said. Vance explained that she wanted to speak about her experience because she'd never heard of a mother who went through the same thing, and at the beginning, their family's future looked bleak. 'It feels like playing a lot of catch-up, but she has come a long way,' Vance said. 'It helps you to see something positive.' – By Meg Wingerter/The Denver Post/Tribune News Service
