Hi all

I just have to share this with the sensible people on this board.  A few days ago I anaesthatised a patient.  Obviously I can't go into much detail but it was a healthy 2 year old dog in for a totally routine procedure.  Of course I always give patients 100% concentration and while this op was just like hundreds of others I've done I just had a weird feeling.  Anyway, I was focussed on the dog probably even more than usual.  Everything was going fine, his reflexes were exactly what one would expect, his vital signs were normal, when suddenly his heart just stopped.  There was absolutely no warning; his pulse hadn't slowed, he wasn't arrhythmic; he simply went into cardiac arrest.

I started chest compression and oxygen ventilation while the other nurse got the emergency box (which is about 3ft away).  The vet administered intracardial adrenaline and on the second dose the heartbeat returned.  We stitched him up really quickly and woke him up as soon as possible; after all that adrenaline his pulse was all over the place so we didn't continue with the surgery.  It was the first time I'd been in a crash situation with the other nurse and he was brilliant; obviously we'd been over the theory a thousand times but nothing really prepares you for that sort of complication.  I was totally calm until the dog was actually responsive in a kennel, but when the other nurse asked if I was OK I had to sit on the floor and honestly, I thought I was going to vomit.  I felt completely in control during the actual crisis but once I knew it was going to be OK I could hardly speak.

I just keep thinking "What if I'd lost concentration?  What if I hadn't noticed in time?  What if I'd been distracted for a second?"  Rationally, I know that I did nothing wrong and that there are occasional anaesthetic complications but I can't stop thinking about it and replaying it in my head.  In six years I've never lost a healthy patient under anaesthetic.  The only patient I've lost was a guinea pig, which was about 7 and while it was a huge anaesthetic risk it was still incredibly upsetting.  I've had a few patients arrest on the table though we've always brought them back, but they were all old, or very ill; not like this case.

I made myself go straight back into theatre the following day as I thought the best thing was just to get on with things.  The patient was a 10yo GSD with a heart murmur, having a mammary strip.  That's no walk in the park at any time but I just felt sick the whole way through the procedure (though she's fine).  I've had such a scare and it doesn't matter how much I tell myself I did everything right, a tiny part of me questions my competence.

The dog is absolutely fine now and the owners have been fantastic; we told them exactly what had happened and they trusted us enough to let us put him under (using a different anaesthetic) to complete the procedure.  I'm so grateful for that faith, though I've never been more relieved to get an animal off the table!  The dog came in today and was bouncing around, getting on my lap and looking for treats, and I did think "Well, I'm glad you feel OK mate, you've taken 10 years off me!"

Anyway, sorry for rambling, I just feel so frightened.  I suppose it's helpful to have a scare once in a while and it does ward off complacency; far, far better safe than sorry.

You'll be fine. It's just pure shock that makes you feel this way. Honestly :) After a few times in surgery you will stop asking yourself these silly questions. You did nothing wrong, but you obviously had a premonition that something just wasn't quite right. Trust your feelings.

Slightly differently, but when my son was 3 he was hit in the face by a swing. It didn't break his nose, but did make a huge gash on the bridge of his nose. It needed stitching by the local GP. I had to hold him down whilst 2 doctors worked on him. I was fine until everything was over and done with, then I collapsed to the floor. My legs just gave way. It was shock. It took a while before I would let him near a swing again but I couldn't wrap him in cotton wool, could I :D Shock makes you stop and question things. It's normal. :)

If my dog was to be in need of an operation it would be somebody like you whom I would wish to carry it out. The fact that you were so worried about this complication is what makes you an ideal person to be doing this sort of work. To me it says that not only do you care for animals in a professional manner but you care for them in a human manner as well :)

When the need arose you switched into top gear, listened to your instincts and did all that you could. I am sure all vets would do the same but some have that extra something which makes such a difference to pet owners - we put our faith in vets to do the best they can for our animals and it is an added bonus when you find one whom you feel you can trust to care for your pet as you would yourself. There are some people whom you just feel that extra bit more comfortable with.

Your reaction after the event was due to you being in shock - at the time of the problem you just had to get on and do what needed to be done but afterwards there was time for shock to kick in and that's exactly what happened.

I am so pleased that there was a happy outcome for the dog, his owners and yourself. :)

Ditto, Harley.  Mary Caroline, i wish you were my vet, after reading your post i know my dogs would be in the very best of hands. Care & compassion, things you only hope your own vet feels. Shock is a strange old thing, believe in yourself. Cheryl.

If my dog was to be in need of an operation it would be somebody like you whom I would wish to carry it out. The fact that you were so worried about this complication is what makes you an ideal person to be doing this sort of work. To me it says that not only do you care for animals in a professional manner but you care for them in a human manner as well

Exactly  - in fact it's very reassuring  to read your post :) although I'm so sorry you had to go through this.

Lindsay
x

Mary-Caroline, as already said, you are the type of person I would always trust my dogs health with you are caring and obviously very knowledgable and you did sense a problem before it even happened that doesn't happen over night you are very good at what you do.

Now stop doing the classic thing that we all do when things work out right in the end and go over and over the what if's.  Forget the what if's they never happened!!!:rolleyes:

You saved him, he's fine, give yourself a pat on the back and stop letting your mind wander to things that never even happened, you can spend your whole life feeling like that.

You should be smiling and happy, you saved him, you did a great job, gosh that is what happened. :-)

Ahhh good on you for being so caring!! 

Could I ask what breed??  Even if in a PM!

Thanks everyone for the support, and kind comments.

Could I ask what breed?? 

Good question!  Officially a Staffie but he's absolutely huge and I'm pretty sure there's a few other breeds in there.  The owners think the same and asked what I thought he might be?  I said there's no way to know but if I were to guess, I'd say Staffie, Rottie and perhaps a bit of Boxer!  His build is Staffie but with long legs and the most magnificent tail, which always wags so frantically he practically destroys the surgery!  He has a lovely temperament though is as daft as a brush and has obviously forgiven me; he races into the surgery and jumps on my lap, which is lovely though a bit overwhelming with a 35kg dog!