Wednesday, August 22, 2007

I'm being a very slack medic recently

So I have been productive in some aspects of my job and so slacking in others. To be quite honest, my day to day responsibilities, like washing the truck and making sure that we have all six tires I'm slacking. Because who really care how many transfer needles there are in the IV tray. All I really care about is if there is plenty of oxygen tanks to get my through a shift and if the narcotics and RSI drugs are safely under lock and key and tucked away in the fridge. Is the CPAP machine sitting on the actionary and the laptop plugged in in the back...then I'm going to go take a nap. Those 15 reports sitting in my EMSpro box can sit for a few more hours. I haven't worn civilan clothes in a month and a half. I haven't put on lipstick and masacara for two. I Pay rent for an aparentment I haven't slept at since I moved in three months ago. So forgive me if I don't count the 4x4s(If I you are grabbing more than say 6 4x4 for one wound, you need something other than a 4x4 I might add) nor I'm I going to polish my boots...so there.

But what I have been productive in is reasearching Versed as an alternative for Ativan for contolling Seizures. I recently got an order of IM versed for a 3 year old Status Seizure. This is an order I cannot follow becausse per our state I cannot giver Versed to Pediatric patients. After the call I spoke to the doc, some RNs and other medics and most will agree that Versed is becoming the drug of choice for seizures management. Works faster, higher serum levels for longer (meaning it's longer lasting) and ICU admissions post arrival to hospital are shorter. So if it works better, lets change it. I wouldn't mind hearing from fellow medics who use Versed as first line...what are your thoughts...are the studies true? or are they just blowing smoke up my ass.

2 comments:

RevMedic said...

We use Versed as our first line (and only) anticonvulsant. Our dose is 0.3mg/kg, titrated to effect. Huge, I know. I've never used Ativan, so I can't compare. One thing about IM Versed - it can take up to 15-20 minutes to take effect, so you should really try to give it IV. Intranasaly is another option.
Here's the research that we used to determine our dosing:
http://www.aemj.org/cgi/content/abstract/10/4/329
Right now I'm unable to find anything on line with regards to onset of action IM, but the paper stuff I have in front of me backs up the 15-20 min. potential onset times.

Anonymous said...

Or a slacking blocker?