Greetings! Yesterday, I had a vascular ablation performed on my accident damaged leg at a well known teaching university hospital. After the procedure, my leg was wrapped and I was discharged, advised that I could resume my normal activities. About half way home I needed to make use of the indoor plumbing, and the nearest McDonald's lobby was closed, so my alternate was a department store.
About 35 yards in, I realized that I was bleeding and leaving an easy to track blood trail. The store staff was very helpful, and called an ambulance. Upon arrival, the squad applied a pressure bandage and transported me to the local hospital.
At the hospital, the doctor removed the surgical dressings, cleaned the "wound" (which had stopped bleeding), and then applied a quick clot dressing. I was in the ER about 2-3 hours when the doctor gave me the option to either stay for observation or go home, since he wasn't able to connect with the surgical department. I was confident in his treatment and headed for home.
This morning I contacted my surgeon's office to fill them in. I was advised that the ER doctor had called after hours, that was why he didn't reach anyone in the department. I was asked if I applied pressure, but how do you do that properly when you don't know where the leak is because the leg is covered in post-surgical bandages. The nurse was amazed that I was transported by ambulance, commenting that a little bleeding was typical. Having lost a lot of blood (the ER nurse's assessment), enough that either Ronny Milsap or Ray Charles could have tracked me, she was shocked to hear that I went to the ER!
I specifically chose a teaching hospital because you would expect them to be on the cutting edge. Needless to say, I am a bit disturbed by the reaction to the post-op events. At this point, I am leery of straying too far from my tourniquet and a quick clot bandage!
About 35 yards in, I realized that I was bleeding and leaving an easy to track blood trail. The store staff was very helpful, and called an ambulance. Upon arrival, the squad applied a pressure bandage and transported me to the local hospital.
At the hospital, the doctor removed the surgical dressings, cleaned the "wound" (which had stopped bleeding), and then applied a quick clot dressing. I was in the ER about 2-3 hours when the doctor gave me the option to either stay for observation or go home, since he wasn't able to connect with the surgical department. I was confident in his treatment and headed for home.
This morning I contacted my surgeon's office to fill them in. I was advised that the ER doctor had called after hours, that was why he didn't reach anyone in the department. I was asked if I applied pressure, but how do you do that properly when you don't know where the leak is because the leg is covered in post-surgical bandages. The nurse was amazed that I was transported by ambulance, commenting that a little bleeding was typical. Having lost a lot of blood (the ER nurse's assessment), enough that either Ronny Milsap or Ray Charles could have tracked me, she was shocked to hear that I went to the ER!
I specifically chose a teaching hospital because you would expect them to be on the cutting edge. Needless to say, I am a bit disturbed by the reaction to the post-op events. At this point, I am leery of straying too far from my tourniquet and a quick clot bandage!
Course that procedure is about the worst thing a gun carrying person can go through. You are unarmed,naked, unconscious, tied to a table and all sorts of masked people with lots of sharp knives are surrounding you!
