Combative

Called to 80yr old lady who was fitting.

On arrival at the scene we found the patient on the floor, blood smeared across the kitchen floor from a small head wound sustained from the fall.

She was fitting and this was common with this patient, due to her current medication, explained her husband.

We got her into the back of the Ambulance as quick as possible and the Paramedic put a cannula in her hand, no mean feat as she was very combative and post ictal. She then promptly pulled this out before we could secure it in place. Time to try and stop huge haemotoma developing on the back of her hand then.

Cannulation attempt number 2.

Hand is now useless as a potential site, so the Paramedic tries for the arm but she will not hold still. In steps the local naive Technician and I clamp her hand between my legs, support her elbow with one hand to enable the Para to put the needle in and hold her down with my other hand.

That was, in hindsight a mistake.

I have her wrist clamped between my legs and when the needle is inserted, she grapples with her hand for anything she can grab hold of.

This leads to a few sharp intakes of breath and a huge effort to keep the tears at bay!

Thank Christ for the boxers I have on today, which keep everything mostly out of the way!!