Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2014 - (Page 7)

We're AlWAys reAdy for An emergency. Are you? Be prepared with our free emergency app, which puts vital information right at your fingertips. Visit umstjoeemergencyplan.com. Recognizing the Unusual Fast diagnosis and treatment prevent life-threatening situation W blue." But even more unexpected were his vital signs-his blood pressure and respiratory rate were normal. "As we drew blood, we got the next clue," Dr. Vanlandingham says. "I've never seen chocolate-colored blood before. It is one of the rare events that ED physicians are trained to recognize. It's associated with methemoglobinemia, a rare hen Lewis Kaufman woke up from his endos- reaction to the topical medicine lidocaine or benzocaine copy, his doctor and several nurses were gath- used to numb a patient's throat before an endoscopy." ered around his bed looking very worried. "The Methemoglobinemia reduces the red blood cells' ability to doctor asked me if my heart was racing, and release oxygen to the body's tissues. Kaufman's blood was the nurses said, 'You're turning blue,' " recalls Kaufman, who sent to the hospital's lab for analysis. A chest X-ray was also was surprised because, "I felt fine," he says. Plus, he'd had done to check for other potential complications. many uneventful endoscopies for a condition for which he is routinely checked. The endoscopy staff gave him oxygen, but Diagnosis ConfirmeD anD treateD when his color got even worse, they called an ambulance. Within 30 minutes, Dr. Vanlandingham had a confirmed diag- The ambulance crew picked him up and alerted University nosis as well as the antidote from the hospital pharmacy. "Met- of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center's Emergency Depart- hemoglobinemia can be life-threatening but is easily corrected ment (ED) that they were on their way. "It sounded very life- by the infusion of methylene blue, which looks like blue ink," he threatening," says board-certified emergency physician Ben says. "Within five minutes, Kaufman's oxygen returned to nor- Vanlandingham, MD. "They thought it was probably a lung mal and his color came back." Although all endoscopy suites problem because he was not getting enough oxygen into his keep methylene blue, Kaufman's color was so alarming that the bloodstream, which would indicate a large blood clot." staff were right to send him to an ED, Dr. Vanlandingham says. PreParing for the Worst having this reaction," he adds. "According to a Mayo Clinic "We prepared for the worst," says Dr. Vanlandingham, who study, only 19 out of 29,000 people develop methemoglo- was waiting at the ED resuscitation bay with a medical team binemia. The reaction is more likely when someone has a upon Kaufman's arrival. "We were surprised that he was so skin infection; and Kaufman had a history of a severe "People who have endoscopies shouldn't be afraid of skin infection on his right foot. Many endoscopy centers above, Lewis Kaufman and Ben Vanlandingham, mD, meet to catch up after Kaufman's recovery. and search "owner's manual" under "healthy insights." never see this happen. I'd never seen it in my 16 years in emergency medicine." stjosephtowson.com | Winter 2014 7 http://www.umstjoeemergencyplan.com http://www.stjosephtowson.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2014

Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2014
Contents
Robotic Revolution
After the Fall
Recognizing the Unusual
Matters of the Heart
Back on the Beat
At a Glance
News and Events

Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Winter 2014