An erratic beeping.
You turn around just in time to see your brother being rolled back into RESUS.
"What happened?" you inquire as you run after them.
Back in RESUS the heart machine is still going crazy and you order another blood gas when Connie comes in.
"Give me an update." she orders.
You can't answer so Lofty does instead.
"Heart rate still increasing, BP's diving." you hear him inform Connie.
Connie comes over and starts to examine Ethan even though you've already done that.
"Have the scans reported back yet?" she asks no one in particular.
You manage to find your voice.
"Uh, no. He went off before they had a chance to do them."
Connie doesn't respond. You then realise there could be a bleed so you ask Connie,
"Do you think it's neutron colonial bleed?'
"It's a bleed, " Connie says, "but it's not from his head."
If it's not a bleed from his head, then where else could it come from? You ask yourself.
And as you ask the question you begin to doubt yourself. You begin to worry you haven't done everything. The doubt begins to grow when your question is answered by Connie,
"He's got a bleed, but it's not from his head."
The doubt grows further when you notice Connie examining Ethan's chest and neck.
"Okay, let's not forget that he has a serious chest trauma. Muffled heart sounds, engorged neck veins. Pulsus paradoxus." You hear Connie diagnose.
You sigh disheartenedly when you realise you've misdiagnosed his condition.
"Beck's triad. He's got a tamponade." You say realising how serious Ethan's condition is.
Sensing your disappointment at not diagnosing the correct condition Connie attempts to reassure you.
"It's fine, I've missed them in the past. It happens."
Sensing your disappointment at not diagnosing the correct condition Connie attempts to reassure you.
"Don't worry, I've missed them in the past too."
Her attempt at reassuring you doesn't work. Informing you and Lofty that a pericardiocentesis needs to be done, Connie instructs you you're going to have to do the procedure. You hesitate for a slight moment but, regain your composure as you know Connie is right. You're the only one who can do it. All the equipment is prepared for the procedure to go ahead. You have the needle in your hand when your steady composure falters and you begin to shake.
Your mind goes blank.