Vagal Manuevers

[HotelCo]

Anyone ever try vagal manuevers on a patient before? Any success with it?

 

[medic417]

Yes and yes. It should only be used by a Paramedic or above when prepared for more advanced produres. It can go terribly wrong so should not be played around with.

 

[piranah]

ive used it a few times.....sometimes it works....sometimes not....my instructor told me he once walked into the ed and the nurse freaked, do to the pt in SVT....he said hand me a cold soda from the fridge, she did,the pt chugged it and it broke the rythm...pretty funny cuz he said her mouth was wide open..

 

[VentMedic]

ive used it a few times.....sometimes it works....sometimes not....my instructor told me he once walked into the ed and the nurse freaked, do to the pt in SVT....he said hand me a cold soda from the fridge, she did,the pt chugged it and it broke the rythm...pretty funny cuz he said her mouth was wide open..

I can imagine those that might have had to intubate the patient would have had the same expression knowing the patient just chugged a full can of soda. Even if it worked, it may not have been the smartest way to break the rhythm. That was probably the reason for the expression on the nurse's face and the fact that the patient may now get an NG tube placed due to this stunt.

 

[medic417]

I can imagine those that might have had to intubate the patient would have had the same expression knowing the patient just chugged a full can of soda. Even if it worked, it may not have been the smartest way to break the rhythm.

Well I agree with you. Never add more oral intake. Just have them blow on their thumb. Does same thing but if goes wrong they will not have a full stomach.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

Anyone ever try vagal manuevers on a patient before? Any success with it?

BLS before ALS. Vagals can work. While you're prepping for ALS, have the pt perform some vagals. If it doesn't work, you haven't lost any time. If it does work, then kudos for you.

 

[medic417]

BLS before ALS. Vagals can work. While you're prepping for ALS, have the pt perform some vagals. If it doesn't work, you haven't lost any time. If it does work, then kudos for you.

W/O ALS on scene and ready vagals should not be performed. I hope you are not seriously encouraging a basic to use this in the field?

 

[Summit]

So what does go wrong with vagals? They pass out?

 

[Sasha]

So what does go wrong with vagals? They pass out?

I've been told you can vagal someone down dangerously low. After all, that's how Elvis died!

 

[VentMedic]

So what does go wrong with vagals? They pass out?

Dysrhythmias
Asystole
Stroke from dislodged carotid artery thrombus in persons with
atherosclerotic disease.
Brain ischemia from occlusion of carotid artery or compromise of
marginally perfused areas of brain.​

These are just a few of the more serious ones.​

 

[medic417]

So what does go wrong with vagals? They pass out?

They die. nuff said.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

W/O ALS on scene and ready vagals should not be performed. I hope you are not seriously encouraging a basic to use this in the field?

What I meant by "prepping for ALS" was having pt on O2, starting IV, placing on CM with pads, and drawing up Adenosine. In other words, gettin' ready to do the voodoo that you do so well.

 

[medic417]

Dysrhythmias
Asystole
Stroke from dislodged carotid artery thrombus in persons with
atherosclerotic disease.
Brain ischemia from occlusion of carotid artery or compromise of
marginally perfused areas of brain.​

These are just a few of the more serious ones.​

Much more detailed answer thank you. A basic can do nothing for those.

 

[medic417]

What I meant by "prepping for ALS" was having pt on O2, starting IV, placing on CM with pads, and drawing up Adenosine. In other words, gettin' ready to do the voodoo that you do so well.

I thought you must but I was afraid the basics would take it they should start using vagals on patients w/o ALS there and ready.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

BTW, the only vagals I have ever done was to have the pt bare down like they were having a bowel movement. That won't kill 'em. In the almost 20 years seeing/doing it, it hasn't even come close once. Not sure of the any national statistics, but that is my anecdotal history. If that don't work, push the meds, if they have the BP of course.

If they don't have BP, punt vagals. Punt meds. Go straight to electrical therapy. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to shock.

Remember, we were being asked by a medic student.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

I've been told you can vagal someone down dangerously low. After all, that's how Elvis died!

True. He didn't die from baring down like he was taking a dump. He was actually taking said dump. I also doubt that the king was the picture of sobriety while this occured as well.

 

[VentMedic]

True. He didn't die from baring down like he was taking a dump. He was actually taking said dump. I also doubt that the king was the picture of sobriety while this occured as well.

I had you pegged as an Elvis fan!B)

Only a true fan would have the inside poop on his alleged demise.

 

[medic417]

I had you pegged as an Elvis fan!B)

Only a true fan would have the inside poop on his alleged demise.

Now that is just a crappy play on words.

 

[PapaBear434]

Now that is just a crappy play on words.

No joke, during a vagal maneuver a few months back, a patient bore down a little bit too much and... Well, let's just leave it to say that I had to clean the stretcher and spray out the rig EXTRA well that night.

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

I had you pegged as an Elvis fan!B)

Only a true fan would have the inside poop on his alleged demise.

Uh-huh. Thank you very much.B)

In all honesty, I'm a fan of every legend coming out of the great state of Mississippi:

Elvis Presley
Robert Johnson
B.B. King
Muddy Waters
Jimmy Buffet
Bret Favre
Faith Hill
Morgan Freeman

Just to name a few.