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Randy's Recovery from Respiratory Failure after a Car Accident

When Randy arrived at Cornerstone Hospital, he was reliant on a ventilator. After working with his interdisciplinary care team, he was able to discharge to a Skilled Nursing Facility.

 

Randy was admitted to a short-term acute care hospital after a motor vehicle accident caused multiple injuries, including fractures of his first and second lumbar vertebrae. He also had a buildup of fluid around the left lung (pleural effusion) and acute respiratory failure, which required placement of a breathing tube (intubation). Randy has a history of coronary artery disease and heart bypass surgery.

Due to the pleural effusion, Randy had a chest tube placed to drain fluid from the lung. A complication caused by the mispositioning of the chest tube required life-saving surgery to repair the left ventricle, the placement of bilateral chest tubes, and a pericardial drain. While in this hospital, the removal of Randy’s breathing tube was attempted but failed multiple times.

When he arrived at Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Little Rock, Randy was on a trach and a ventilator. He had a back brace for support while his spinal fractures healed, and was given multiple IV antibiotics. Randy was cared for by Cornerstone’s respiratory, nutrition, therapy, and wound care teams. They helped him decannulate and resume breathing on his own. Once the pleural effusion resolved, his chest tubes were removed.

Randy was eventually able to walk independently out of the specialty hospital. He was discharged to a skilled nursing facility to continue his physical and occupational therapy. He’s excited to progress toward going home and getting back to his hobbies.

Learn more about: Medically Complex Care

 
 

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