QOTD: CCB, CPR, and Osler


"No data support using any antidote for cardiac arrest from calcium channel blockers. This is a heinous overdose that, when fully developed, would defy resuscitation by Osler himself."
James R. Roberts MD. Dissecting the ACLS Guidelines on Cardiac Arrest from Toxic Ingestions. Emergency Medicine News. October 2011.


I usually enjoy Dr. Roberts' literature reviews but I'm going to poke a little bit of fun here. Osler died in 1919, not a guy known for his skills at resuscitating cardiac arrest as CPR really didn't even come around until the 1960s. He is now best known for his appearances on powerpoint slides.

His recommendations for treating arrhythmia are actually pretty fun to read though:
"...at least ten hours of the 24 should be spent in the recumbent posture. A tepid bath may be taken in the morning, or, if the patient is weakly and nervous, in the evening followed by a vigorous rubbing... articles of food known to cause flatulency should be avoided. Sexual excitement is particularly pernicious, and the patient should be warned specially on this point."
Sir William Osler. The principles and practice of medicine. 1909. Googlebooks (free).

Comments

  1. high-dose insulin euglycemia therapy. osler would love it.

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