Air Methods Prehospital EDucation Podcast Ep. 60: No Pulse, No Problem
Jan 21, 2026
Our crew was dispatched to a high energy, rollover MVC
with a patient ejection, which usually demands aggressive trauma
protocols. But what happens when the patient is equipped with a
HeartMate II, a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) that pumps
blood for failing hearts. The irony is that this extremely
sophisticated medical device that keeps our patient alive, also
precludes our team from gathering regular vital signs, like a
palpable pulse or traditional blood pressure measurements. How does
the team manage a trauma resuscitation when the patient's
circulation is a continuous flow rather than a beat? The trick is
going to back to the basics of trauma care. Listen in and find out
how this case unfurled.
Interested
in obtaining CE credit for this episode? Visit
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individual episode credits or subscribe to the Critical
Care Review Bundle and gain access to all episode CE
Credits.
We are
joined by:
Chelsea Putman, FP-C
Robert Steele, RN
Click here to download this episode today!
As always thanks for listening and fly safe!
Hawnwan Moy MD FACEP FAEMS
John Wilmas MD FACEP FAEMS
Nyssa Hattaway, BA, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN