Priming My Own Pump

Most patients are unaware of who Perfusionists are and what their role in the surgical process is. But imagine if the Perfusionist on-call suddenly becomes the patient? This recently happened to one of our own CCS Perfusionists, David Oetting, and he shared his experience with us:

There are times when an individual’s perspective on life and career can change in a moment.

For me, my outlook on both my life and my career changed in significant ways and gave me a deeper appreciation of how special each day truly is. I went from apprehension of dying to being physically healthier and stronger than I ever have. The understanding and respect for our profession and the role we play as health care providers to our patients couldn’t be deeper. It has been a personal experience of mine. These changes happened to me when I went from the Perfusionist on call, to the patient on the table. I had emergent coronary artery bypass surgery while I was on first call.

Looking at my experience retrospectively, there were multiple moments when I can now recognize God’s hand in my successful outcome. I will share only a few of those moments with you. First, I need to recognize my dear wife Julia and some of the moments leading up to my emergent surgery. We are blessed to live near several beautiful beaches here in Sarasota, Florida. We frequently go on early morning weekend walks on some of those beaches. A couple of weeks before my surgery, I was starting to experience a burning in my chest about a mile and a half into our walks. At first, I ignored them and thought maybe I was experiencing some sort of common cold symptoms. After a couple of times, I started to pay more attention to them as the burning was not a normal burning. My wife’s background is that she is a CRNA and does cardiac anesthesia where I work. I thought to myself, Julia is very smart. I’d better tell her what I’m experiencing because if the unthinkable happens and I haven’t told her, I’m in big trouble with her if I survive what I think is happening. So, I shared with her my symptoms of chest burning and left shoulder pain. We both agreed that I should go see a Cardiologist.

The Friday evening before my heart attack, I was going over the pump and circuit that had been dedicated to the emergency heart room for the weekend. Julia was in the room with me waiting for me to finish so that we could go home. As I was going over the pump I said to her, “Wouldn’t it be funny if they used this circuit on me?” She somehow didn’t see the humor in my comment. Her response was, “You need to go see a Cardiologist.” As all good husbands do, they agree with their wives. I told her that I would go see a Cardiologist on Monday after my weekend call. Turns out that I didn’t need to wait until the following Monday.

That Friday night was a night of barely any sleep and a meal of 20+ Tums to make the ‘heartburn’ go away. The following Saturday morning, when I went to the kitchen to make the coffee, I knew something was very wrong. I had a feeling that I’d never felt, and I knew that I was in big trouble. I had no doubt that I was having a heart attack. I began to feel panic and anxiety, and I knew that the panic and anxiety were going to escalate my situation. I was going from provider to patient very quickly. I needed to calm down before I could tell Julia that I was having a heart attack. So, I went to our master bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub and prayed for inner peace and calmness so I would be able to hear myself say out loud, “Honey, I think I’m having a heart attack.” After that prayer, I felt a warmth and calmness come over me. A feeling of peace that I still feel today. I am very thankful for that! I was able to finally tell her with calmness. I was also able to not panic as I watched in the mirror my head, hands, and feet turned purple. It was a surreal experience.

After, the Paramedics arrived and assessed me with a 12 lead, and there was no question about what was happening. As we were leaving the house I asked my wife to take my phone and call the Perfusionist on second call and let him know what was happening. She told me later that when she called him, he said without hesitation, “I’ll be there.” That Perfusionist is Joerg Richmond.

For obvious reasons, Joerg is my favorite Perfusionist. I still have the pleasure of working with him. After going through the Cath lab and my heart Cath confirmed my coronary disease, I went directly to the O.R. I’ve been a Perfusionist since 1996 and I have to admit to you, after all those years being in a heart room, it’s difficult to describe to you what that experience is like laying on the table. It feels chaotic and out of control. Laying on the table under those circumstances, I needed some comfort and a place of control. I went to a place where it was familiar to me. I turned my head toward Joerg and the pump. It gave me great confidence to see Joerg and that circuit that I had looked over just the evening before. I knew that I was going to be very well taken care of.

Having the unique experience of being a healthcare provider and also experiencing the perspective of being the patient lying on the table gives me insight into the importance of the Perfusionist’s role on the heart team. I personally understand how significant it is that we give our patients the highest professional care that we can. We strive to do our best every day, and we don’t get to have bad days. It is not always easy to understand or see the importance but trust me, as a patient, it most definitely is. We do it every day and our profession is not well known. To our patients, our role on the heart team may not always be understood. It is difficult to explain to someone what we actually do. Usually, the response is questions and facial expressions of confusion. That’s okay with me; I’m in perfusion to help people and give them the best care possible. We all are. Remember also, that the pump that you are priming could be used on you. I see it that way now.

I want everyone to know something, including the amazing people of CCS who aren’t Perfusionists: The experience of being a healthcare provider and becoming a patient receiving that care has shown me a unique perspective. You all make incredible differences in people’s lives that you may never meet. You all help make miracles happen every day. As a member of the CCS team and as a CCS patient, I humbly thank all of you for what you do. You have made my life and my career better.