The Wicked Doctor

7: Shock (Revised)

Shock is a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow through the body. The circulatory system fails to maintain adequate blood flow, sharply curtailing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs.

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Nageenjoy na ako sa pagbabasa ng Fifty Shades Freed while sitting on the ER bed when the receiver's speaker rang loudly. At dahil auto-answer ito.

"Vehicular accident on Marcos Highway, naipit ang kaliwang kamay ng pasyente sa ilalim ng carriage part ng natumbang truck. Signs of pallor, with weak pulse on the left extremity. Patient is lethargic. Hindi namin siya maalis dito, matagal pa bago dumating ang rescue. Heavily bleeding, approximately 1.5 liters, possible shock status. No danger on the scene since dry goods lang ang kargamento. 68 bpm, 32 brpm, 80/60 mmHg. Please respond."

Lahat kami nakatingin lang sa phone hanggang matapos ang tawag. I ran to the phone and said..

"Roger that. We will dispatch a second ambulance now."

Lumingon ako sa kanila.

"Time for work, people. You, get two adult resuscitation kits, 3 bags O neg, infusion kit, sterile clear bags and lots of ice in a small cooler.", utos ko sa ilang attendant at nurse.

"I need one nurse, one new intern and one first year resident. Oh, and get me everything I need for possible on scene amputation." 

Nanlaki ang mata ng junior resident. "Ano?", sagot niya.

"I said, get everything I may need for on scene amputation. If he's in shock his heart might stop kung hindi natin puputulin ang kamay niya at hahayaan lang na nakakabit at nagdudugo. Got me?"

Tumango lang siya at nakikinig lamang ang mga tao sa ER.

I was hastily removing my coat when I felt a pair of hands combing my hair and tying it into a bun. Alam ko na kung sino yun kaya pinagsawalang bahala ko na lang. Sunod niyang itinaas ang bangs ko at nilagyan ng clip. Habang ginagawa niya ito, nagbigay ako ng instructions sa staff.

"Call the OR, book OR 4 for emergency surgery. Get someone from neuro and vascular surgery for possible left arm reattachment. I'm going to make sure na masasalvage ko pa ang kamay na yun."

I wore my nerd glasses and turned towards him. Iniabot ko ang coat ko sa kanya at hinalikan ang pisngi niya without looking at him. He patted my head and said, "Go".

I ran to the waiting ambulance as I checked on my equipment. Pagkasarang pagkasara ko pa lang ng pinto, sinalubong na nila ako ng nakakalokong ngiti at mga naniningkit na mata.

Nainis ako kaya nagsalita na ako. "Spill, you idiots."

Nagsitawanan sila sa sinabi ko habang ako nakasandal lang at nagtitipa sa screen ng phone ko.