October 1, 2011

• Woman on a Mission.

  Overnight, one of my patients went encephalopathic.

   

  When you have liver disease, you dont break down certain metabolites as well as a normal person, and toxins like ammonia build up in your body. These can get carried through your bloodstream into your brain and make you act crazy and irrational. Liver patients, or rather patients with liver disease can decompensate quickly and for a variety of reasons.

   

  So.

   

  One of my patients became encephalopathic and during the night when nursing staff wasnt watching, slipped out of her room, walked clear across the hospital and climbed into bed with another patient. When he awoke, he was understandably disturbed at the stranger in his bed. He was even more disturbed when she promptly shat upon his sheets, got up and returned to her room.

   

  And that is why you always read nursing notes.

  • 1:42 am
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