January 10th, 2010 by GruntDoc in Better Health Network, True Stories
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A patient comes in with the entirely understandable complaint of “I have a fishbone lodged in my throat”. Came straight from dinner to the ED. When I ask a stupid question I’m given a stupid answer: “It feels like…a fishbone…”. Duh on me.
Now, I went to a pretty good EM residency, and while there I learned two things: the books say fishbones don’t show up on x-rays of the neck, and, fishbones sometimes show up on x-rays. I’m about 70% positive in my career…
So, I got an xray. See if you can spot the fishbone (hint: there’s an arrow pointing at it…)
So, it’s there… Now what… There are very few wrong answers. Call ENT, etc. My answer: go get it. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc*
December 15th, 2009 by Shadowfax in Better Health Network, Humor, True Stories
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They’re not allowed to actually write “Hey Dummy, look here” on the x-ray report, but this is what the radiologists do when they want to make sure the idiots in the ER won’t miss the key finding on a film (in this case, a bit of glass from an automobile window):
The wonders of digital radiography allow this to appear on my computer screen. In the old days they did it with a grease pencil and a post-it note.
*This blog post was originally published at Movin' Meat*
October 3rd, 2009 by Bongi in Better Health Network, True Stories
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Some things make me feel so powerless (yes, even i can be powerless in the face of incompetence).
I have previously mentioned a thing or two about my opinion of where medical training is going in this country. Basically the powers that be are not-so-gradually degrading the degree. To them somehow it seems like a good idea. Ideas I suppose can easily seem good when you are safely hidden away in your nice air conditioned office far from the reality of the consequences of essentially negligent doctors released into the community. Well I get to see the consequences up close.
He was referred from an outlying hospital on a Friday. The peripheral hospitals so like to empty their wards for the weekend. After all there is some good fishing in these parts. Thank goodness for good fishing. Otherwise many more would die unnecessarily. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at other things amanzi*
June 5th, 2009 by KevinMD in Better Health Network
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A bizarrely morbid slide show of radiology images showing various patients impaled by foreign objects.
If you need more reasons to be wary of nail guns, fishing spears, keys, or knives, look no further.
*This blog post was originally published at KevinMD.com*
