Death Due to Hemorrhagic Shock After Delayed Rupture of Spleen - Essay Example

Why Was The Death Not Hemorrhagic?

            Although pathologists noted that there was excessive internal bleeding especially in the heart and aorta, I think the exact cause of the death was far from being hemorrhagic. This is because according to the case study it is evident the patient had neither previous history of circulatory shock nor bleeding disorders, which are normally the main symptoms of hemorrhagic complications (Kodikara, 2014).

What Was The Cause Of Death?

            In my opinion, I think the man’s demise emanated from cardiac arrest. This is because even while on transit to the hospital, practitioners were aware that there was a possibility of cardiac arrest evident in varied types of first aid actions carried on him, for instance, initiation of CPR in addition to patient intubation. The most common symptoms of cardiac arrest are normally a loss of consciousness as well as breathing difficulties (Stoppler, 2010). According to the case study, immediately the shooting of the patient, he fell on the ground to the extent of being unconscious besides experiencing breathing difficulties. In addition, while still on transit, the patient had irregular breaths before finally experiencing cardiorespiratory arrest. It is because of this that practitioners opted to intubate the patient besides multiple defibrillations.

            According to studies so far conducted, cardiac arrest normally affects persons having circulatory complications. Therefore, during the autopsy, pathologist stated that the patient suffered from artery diseases and it is because of this that he was vulnerable to cardiac arrest considering the fact that he was shot in the left anterior shoulder, which was close to the heart. Although it is possible to treat a person under cardiac arrest, certain medical requirements ought to be present in order to revive the patient.

            In my opinion, failing to use equipment such as cardiac monitor in advance is one of the reasons why the disease practitioners were unable to identify it early in time. This is because medical practitioners would have been in a position to note breathing difficulties on time by use of the cardiac monitor, hence make appropriate attempts in controlling patient’s breathing. Although while on transit medical practitioners applied the CPR measure, they did not use defibrillation until they reached the hospital. According to Stoppler (2010), these two life-saving measures are effective when applied simultaneously in reviving any person under cardiac arrest. This is because each minute passing without defibrillation, the patients’ chances of survival normally reduce by 7-10 percent (Stoppler, 2010). It is normally impossible to resuscitate a person under cardiac arrest if ten minutes elapse without defibrillation. In my opinion, it is due to a lack of defibrillation that resulted in the patient’s death, hence concluding that he died of cardiac arrest.

Did The Hemorrhage Have Anything To Do With The Patient's Death?

            Despite the person died of cardiac arrest, hemorrhage also played a role. This is because there was massive internal bleeding hence making it difficult for the heart to pump blood. According to the case study, apart from the heart filling with blood, the aorta was also full of blood. Since the aorta plays a major role in the transportation of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the blood, its blockage is fatal and could result in death if there is no medication, this is because, by the aorta clogging, a patient goes into severe cardiac arrest.