Heroic measure
Encyclopedia
In medicine
, heroic refers to a treatment or course of therapy which possesses a high risk of causing further damage to a patient's health, but is undertaken as a last resort
with the understanding that any lesser treatment will surely result in failure.
Heroic measures are often taken in cases of grave injury or illness, as a last-ditch attempt to save life, limb, or eyesight. Examples include emergency trauma surgery
conducted outside the operating room (such as "on-scene" surgical amputation
, cricothyroidotomy, or thoracotomy
), or administration of medication
(such as certain antibiotics and chemotherapy
drugs) at dosage levels high enough to potentially cause serious or fatal side effects
.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
is a particularly well-known heroic measure; vigorous chest compressions often result in fracturing
one or more of the patient's ribs, but since the alternative is certain death
, the technique is accepted as necessary.
Patients with advanced AIDS and concomitant pneumocystis pneumonia
(PCP) are in serious danger of acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS). A heroic rescue involved using the chemotherapeutic drug trimetrexate
but that destroys the marrow as well as the PCP. To overcome this barrier, leucovorin can protect the marrow and allow the trimetrexate to fight the PCP.
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, heroic refers to a treatment or course of therapy which possesses a high risk of causing further damage to a patient's health, but is undertaken as a last resort
Last Resort
-Music:*"Last Resort" , a song by Papa Roach from their 2000 album Infest*"Last Resort", a song by Katatonia on the album Discouraged Ones*The Last Resort , a 2006 album by the Danish electronic musician Trentemøller...
with the understanding that any lesser treatment will surely result in failure.
Heroic measures are often taken in cases of grave injury or illness, as a last-ditch attempt to save life, limb, or eyesight. Examples include emergency trauma surgery
Surgical emergency
Surgical emergency is a medical emergency which requires immediate surgical intervention .The following conditions are surgical emergencies:* Acute trauma* Accidental amputation* Acute appendicitis...
conducted outside the operating room (such as "on-scene" surgical amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
, cricothyroidotomy, or thoracotomy
Thoracotomy
Thoracotomy is an incision into the pleural space of the chest. It is performed by a surgeon, and, rarely, by emergency physicians, to gain access to the thoracic organs, most commonly the heart, the lungs, the esophagus or thoracic aorta, or for access to the anterior spine such as is necessary...
), or administration of medication
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
(such as certain antibiotics and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
drugs) at dosage levels high enough to potentially cause serious or fatal side effects
Adverse effect
In medicine, an adverse effect is a harmful and undesired effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as surgery.An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect. If it results from an unsuitable or incorrect dosage or...
.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
is a particularly well-known heroic measure; vigorous chest compressions often result in fracturing
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
one or more of the patient's ribs, but since the alternative is certain death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, the technique is accepted as necessary.
Patients with advanced AIDS and concomitant pneumocystis pneumonia
Pneumocystis pneumonia
Pneumocystis pneumonia or pneumocystosis is a form of pneumonia, caused by the yeast-like fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii...
(PCP) are in serious danger of acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome , also known as respiratory distress syndrome or adult respiratory distress syndrome is a serious reaction to various forms of injuries to the lung....
(ARDS). A heroic rescue involved using the chemotherapeutic drug trimetrexate
Trimetrexate
Trimetrexate is a quinazoline derivative. It is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor.-Uses:It has been used with leucovorin in treating pneumocystis pneumonia.It has been investigated for use in treating leiomyosarcoma....
but that destroys the marrow as well as the PCP. To overcome this barrier, leucovorin can protect the marrow and allow the trimetrexate to fight the PCP.