Brown-Sequard and the orthopedic knife extraction

The case Love is many things, earning the sobriquet “a many-splendored thing” among others. But Cupid's arrows may sometimes be too barbed, as one 32-year-old man learned too late. Lover boy's lover took a steak knife in her right hand and registered her displeasure with events by burying this knife to the hilt, right in the middle of the man's back. Perfect precision was the order of the day, as she created a perfect Brown-Sequard syndrome. The knife is still sticking out of his back, and he's going to the operating room (OR) for removal. He can't lie on his back, and angiography shows the knife inside the aorta, with the perfect position of the knife acting as a tamponade. Patient care Residents must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health. Communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families. Effective communication may not be this gentleman's strong suit (the overwhelming majority of lovers' quarrels fortunately don't end up in a stabbing), but it's our duty to tactfully and efficiently gather as much information about this situation as possible. If the patient is awake and responsive, we can first reassure him that we will do everything we can to help him (he's probably having a pretty rough day as it is) and then get a quick history (allergies, last meal, medical conditions and medications, assess airway, etc.).