Tragedy

[Guest]

We had a patient who a very friendly guy that everybody liked. He seemed in good health about two months ago. He had a mechanical mitral valve. He went into a hospital to have all of his teeth extracted. He developed an infection and was treated with big-gun antibiotics but didn't make a good recovery. He went back to the hospital at least once because he could not get his gums to stop bleeding. Last week he died from the bacterial infection that got into his valve.

 

[Shawn S.]

Need Advice

Need Advice

Al,

I'm so sorry to hear about your patient. That is truly sad. I've been reading the boards and have seen many posts by you and visited your web page. I'm writing on behalf of my husband. He had 4 wisdom teeth and one other tooth extracted on Friday. The bleeding stopped, but resumed again on Sunday. He was told by the coumadin clinic to go back to his oral surgeon. We went back today, and the oral surgeon repacked the bleeding teeth (two of the five, I think). In any case, the bleeding has still not stopped. We will go back again tomorrow, but how long can this go on. The therapy prior to the surgery was to drop his coumadin on Wednesday, surgery on Friday, and start back with coumadin and Lovenox shots on Saturday. Is there anything topical that the surgeon could apply to stop the bleeding. I'm very frightened!

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[geebee]

Al,

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and the family of your patient. As someone with crummy teeth, I am always concerned about such infections. I have tried to keep all my teeth with multiple root canals, crowns, etc. I think it is safer than having teeth pulled. I could be wrong but, when I hear such stories, I can't help but feel I am doing the right thing.

Take care.

 

[Ross]

Al,

I'm so sorry to hear about your patient. That is truly sad. I've been reading the boards and have seen many posts by you and visited your web page. I'm writing on behalf of my husband. He had 4 wisdom teeth and one other tooth extracted on Friday. The bleeding stopped, but resumed again on Sunday. He was told by the coumadin clinic to go back to his oral surgeon. We went back today, and the oral surgeon repacked the bleeding teeth (two of the five, I think). In any case, the bleeding has still not stopped. We will go back again tomorrow, but how long can this go on. The therapy prior to the surgery was to drop his coumadin on Wednesday, surgery on Friday, and start back with coumadin and Lovenox shots on Saturday. Is there anything topical that the surgeon could apply to stop the bleeding. I'm very frightened!

Thanks,
Shawn

If you feel he's lost a dangerous amount of blood, go to the ER at once. They have something they use to stop the bleeding.

 

[Marge]

That is a horrible story. My thoughts go out to your client & his family.

But, if I understand correctly, it was not the bleeding that killed him, it was the bacterial infection? Did the tragic outcome relate to the coumadin at all?

 

[Shawn S.]

Marge,

I'm sure you are right about the bacterial infection being the cause. I'm worried about this, too. It was originally a bacterial infection that caused the need for my husband to have an aortic valve replacement. I'm hoping that the bleeding stops so there is less of a chance for infection. I imagine that the longer it takes for them to heal, the greater chance for infection to set in. He is on an antibiotic.

Shawn

 

[Nancy]

That is a real tragedy. I can feel your sadness about his loss. Seems like a senseless thing to have happened. It makes me realize how very fragile life can be.

 

[Guest]

Shawn,
It is not likely that your husband will lose enough blood to cause a problem. He could lose 2 pints before getting into trouble. Imagine spilling a quart of milk on the floor. Now imagine mopping it up with gauze pads. Not likely, huh. It looks like a lot and tastes like a lot but not likely to surpass a gunshot in blood loss.

Thanks everyone for your nice comments and condolences. He was just a little older than me. We all said that we saw it in yesterday's paper and each one of said that our first thought was - there must be someone else with the same name.

 

[John & Joann]

Al,

We understand your feelings for the patient with the infection. Patients and caregivers get to know each other fairly well. When you see a patient monthly for years, the relationship grows.

Cleveland Clinic has always warned Joann about the risks of infection. We were never told about the risk from 1971 to 1980. It fell through the cracks. Fortunately, we did not have a problem. Now, the antibiotic treatment is massive via shots or drip bags.

 

[Yaps]

Oh that poor family,its sad to hear this.

 

[KMB]

Al, I am also sorry to hear about this. I have also learned that even the simplest infections can lead to death - my father passed away when I was three from an infection that traveled to his heart - he also had MVP.
Just remember that the patient is in a better place now.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

My condolences, Al. Sometimes things like this really hit home.

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone.

AL