ejaska@msd.gatech.edu (Esko A. Jaska) (01/05/91)
In another newsgroup far away, somebody posted a medical story. Would
somebody who has relevant experience email me their opinion on whether
or not the story sounds true? Here's a summary:
?The episode began on Christmas day...My 37 year old nephew...
?all he did was mutter or answer in one-word responses. He seemed very
?distant... My wife was getting alarmed at his behaviour and spoke to his
?mother. She said that he had stopped talking several days before.
?It seemed to her that he was trying to talk but couldn't. My wife and
?I urged his mother to see a doctor as soon as possible.
?
?His mother...getting her son to the doctor on Thursday. He was
?admitted to a major Ney York hospital and tests were begun.
?Cat scan, spinal tap, MRI, etc. The results of the tests were
?ready on Saturday.
?
?Full blown, second level AIDS.
?
?My nephew is currently in the hospital suffering from an infection
?in the left brain. There are lesions and tumors apparent in the
?cat scans. He probably will never talk again. They give him
?7 months to live.
When I get a simple blood test done, the results are never back in two days.
Are spinal taps that much faster? Are spinal taps regularly administered
to people who have sudden trouble talking? What about MRI? Is MRI equipment
generally scheduled ahead? Does AIDS really cause brain tumors?
Please email responses. Thank you for your time.
__ Peace, Esko. _-^-_ __
/..\ / O O \ /..\
--mm--mm---------((((---'---U---`---))))------------mm--mm--
Esko Jaska
Internet: ejaska@msd.gatech.edu
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--Rob.Carr@f53.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Rob Carr) (01/08/91)
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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