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From: Rob.Carr@f53.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Rob Carr)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: Fact or Fiction Medical Story?
Message-ID: <1991Jan8.215034.19808@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 8 Jan 91 14:05:47 GMT
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 EA> When I get a simple blood test done, the results are never back
 EA> in two days. Are spinal taps that much faster?  Are spinal taps
 EA> regularly administered to people who have sudden trouble
 EA> talking?  What about MRI?  Is MRI equipment generally scheduled
 EA> ahead? Does AIDS really cause brain tumors?

I'm not sure I believe the story, but if it's made up, someone did get the
medical facts relatively straight.

In a person presenting with an altered level of conciousness of unknown
origin, all sorts of tests would be administered, including MRI and spinal
taps.  This is of course assuming that glucose levels were checked and
narcan was administered.

In this case, with an infection on one side of the brain, the indications
to the doctors (right-side facial droop, lack of muscle tone on right side,
etc.) would have made the doctors go for the MRI real quick.  MRI and CT
can be and are done on an emergency basis in Pittsburgh, and I know New York
is overcrowded but....

ABGs, hematocrits, and normal labs can be done in minutes.  I'm not sure
about the spinal tap, but I imagine that if the infection in the brain was
as bad as you said, it would show up rapidly.  I'm not sure how long a STAT
HIV test would take, but it can't be long if the organ donor program can test
a brain-dead pt. for HIV.

What sounds unbelievable but isn't is the poor guy being unable to speak for
a couple days and no one taking him to the hospital.  If folks called 911
a lot sooner, there'd be lots less stupid deaths.

... Subscribe to The Journal of Disasters in Emergency Medicine: $8.00/yr

--  
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