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Elderly male with end stage cancer presents with respiratory failure part 5

Disposition

• Deceased

Authors:

• Elliot Williams, Paramedic Woodburn Ambulance

Editors:

• David Tauber, EMT Editorial Board

Diagnosis

• Respiratory failure

Differential Diagnosis

  • Pulmonary edema
  • Hypoventilation due to medications.
  • CNS event such as CVA
  • PneumothoraxEditor’s Notes I might have reduced the “invasiveness” with the pt and calmed/quieted the scene a little more but the team was great. I would also like to see a little talking to the pt before grabbing his head to open the airway, as he still seemed conscious. A lot of great discussion points about what to do next and transport vs no transport and what to do if he codes and after. Teaching point: consider calling hospice on call person ~ David Tauber, Director of Paramedic Education, Yale New Haven Sponsored Hospital
  • Aspi

Editor’s Notes

I might have reduced the “invasiveness” with the pt and calmed/quieted the scene a little more but the team was great. I would also like to see a little talking to the pt before grabbing his head to open the airway, as he still seemed conscious. A lot of great discussion points about what to do next and transport vs no transport and what to do if he codes and after. Teaching point: consider calling hospice on call person

~ David Tauber, Director of Paramedic Education, Yale New Haven Sponsored Hospital

Suggested References

Further reading

The Near Death Patient

Patient

• Gender: Male

• Age: 85 years

• Height: Not Available

Signs and Symptoms

Agonal respirations; nonresponsive

History Medical

• PMH: Cancer; high blood pressure; atrial fibrillation

Social

• Lives with his wife

Medications

• Aspirin

• Was on hypertension meds but taken off after cancer diagnosis.

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