A Difficult Case
On our last day in Kalukembe, we made our rounds through the hospital once more. We arrived in the intensive care unit to find a 19 year old woman suffering terribly with ecclampsia. To make matters worse, she was extermely tachycardic at 140 beats per minute, and she semed to be experiencing congestive heart failure as well. Dr. Bently-Taylor adjusted her medication and began some treatment measures. We returned later that afternoon to check up on her before taking off for Cavango. Unfortunately we found that her condition had not improved. Now there was some speculation as to whether or not her ecclampsia was being complicated by pneumonia or even tuberculosis.
Here, Dr Bently-Taylor considers his options as the young woman lies before him semi-conscious asking for her baby. One of our medical students kindly brings the baby closer.
Finally, it was decided that we would perform an ultrasound and ECG to determine if the root of her complications was in fact cardiac or respiratory in nature. Then a course of treatment could be determined.
LOCATION:
Kalukembe Hospital, Kalukembe, Huila, Angola, Africa
A Difficult Case
On our last day in Kalukembe, we made our rounds through the hospital once more. We arrived in the intensive care unit to find a 19 year old woman suffering terribly with ecclampsia. To make matters worse, she was extermely tachycardic at 140 beats per minute, and she semed to be experiencing congestive heart failure as well. Dr. Bently-Taylor adjusted her medication and began some treatment measures. We returned later that afternoon to check up on her before taking off for Cavango. Unfortunately we found that her condition had not improved. Now there was some speculation as to whether or not her ecclampsia was being complicated by pneumonia or even tuberculosis.
Here, Dr Bently-Taylor considers his options as the young woman lies before him semi-conscious asking for her baby. One of our medical students kindly brings the baby closer.
Finally, it was decided that we would perform an ultrasound and ECG to determine if the root of her complications was in fact cardiac or respiratory in nature. Then a course of treatment could be determined.
LOCATION:
Kalukembe Hospital, Kalukembe, Huila, Angola, Africa