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Show 148 "Dr. Jessop is out of town and, since I'm the new neurologist on the block, I have been assigned to cover for him until he returns," he is saying. "Hopefully, we can get you out of here long before then," he continues. He is cheerful but I am not. He has obviously never read my chart. If he had, he would know that I stay here much longer than most European vacations. I am hearing my own cynicism in my head and try to curb it. After all, this poor man has had nothing to do with previous admissions. "Have you ever heard of the protocol to troubleshoot the pump?" I am asking, flatly. I might as well get the important question out of the way right away, I am thinking. Of course he has never heard of it and he will never want to hear of it. Why should I think otherwise? "No," he is saying, and I am contenting myself sarcastically with his anticipated answer when he adds, "Can you tell me what it is?" I am stunned. I begin by explaining the pump itself, which has two ports. One port accesses the chamber that holds the Baclofen. The second port on top of the pump directly accesses the catheter and it is this port from which a doctor withdraws the Baclofen and then shoots a special dye, under fluoroscopy. The dye can be seen escaping a leaking catheter. A broken catheter is also obvious. |