A 57-year-old man presents to the emergency department in the middle of the night complaining of chest pain that woke him up three hours ago. He states that he feels tightness and a burning sensation across both sides of his chest, with intermittent sharp pains that he rates as an 8/10. He also reports that both of his arms are numb and tingling, and the right side of his face has been twitching. He has not been able to go back to sleep because he is so uncomfortable…
Read More
Mr. S is a 68 year old man who presents to the emergency department with maroon stools and weakness for one day. He appears diffusely weak, diaphoretic, and pale. The tech is struggling to get vital signs while the nurse is working on placing two large bore IVs. After a minute the tech gives up - “I can’t get a heart rate or a blood pressure, doc.” With another quick glance at the (obviously still living) patient, you notice a battery pack at his side. This is followed quickly by the realization that the patient has a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)…
Read More