Air Methods Prehospital EDucation Podcast Ep. 60: No Pulse, No Problem

Our crew was dispatched to a high energy, rollover MVC with a patient ejection, which usually demands aggressive trauma protocols. But what happens when the patient is equipped with a HeartMate II, a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) that pumps blood for failing hearts. The irony is that this extremely sophisticated medical device that keeps our patient alive, also precludes our team from gathering regular vital signs, like a palpable pulse or traditional blood pressure measurements. How does the team manage a trauma resuscitation when the patient's circulation is a continuous flow rather than a beat? The trick is going to back to the basics of trauma care. Listen in and find out how this case unfurled. Interested in obtaining CE credit for this episode? Visit OnlineAscend.com to learn more. Listeners can purchase individual episode credits or subscribe to the Critical Care Review Bundle and gain access to all episode CE Credits. We are joined by: Chelsea Putman, FP-C Robert Steele, RN

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As always thanks for listening and fly safe!

Hawnwan Moy MD FACEP FAEMS

John Wilmas MD FACEP FAEMS

Nyssa Hattaway, BA, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN