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Washington University Experience | VASCULAR | Infarct - Remote | 13A0 Case 13 History
Case 13 History ---- The patient was an 86-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, depression, cerebrovascular accident (> years prior), mild dementia, COPD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, chronic atrial fibrillation, diastolic dysfunction, degenerative joint disease and osteoporosis. She was admitted to BJC for shortness of breath of two day duration. During colonoscopy she sustained a perforation and was treated with partial colectomy and reanastomosis of the ileum to the transverse colon. The patient was intubated during the surgery and was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit with the endotracheal tube in place. Her course in the ICU was complicated by respiratory failure and the inability to wean her off the ventilator. Due to the patient's poor prognosis and multiple comorbid conditions, a decision was made by the family to extubate and provide comfort care measures.
