May 2024
Carrie M
Prescott
,
RN
R3
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland
Portland
,
ME
United States
Samantha and Carrie quickly obtained control with direct pressure and summoned additional help, in addition to contacting the surgical team to come to the bedside immediately.
I would like to recognize the tremendous teamwork that clearly saved a patient's life. During a routine vac change, the left femoral vein was ruptured due to erosion from the vac dressing with a massive amount of bleeding. Samantha and Carrie quickly obtained control with direct pressure and summoned additional help, in addition to contacting the surgical team to come to the bedside immediately. With the assistance of the nursing team and despite less-than-ideal conditions, the doctor and I were able to control the hemorrhage temporarily by whip-stitching the defect. All of this occurred within about 10 minutes and with complete calm and efficient confidence. Kristan then hopped onto the bed and held pressure on the way down to the OR. The vessel was ligated in the OR, and the patient recovered. I am tremendously proud of the R3 nursing crew for their ability to perform under pressure. This could have turned out very different without their excellent and exceptional care.