Garden Hose Dissection

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docB

docB

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Weirdest thing. I was hosing down my driveway and my garden hose dissected. The water pressure dropped and the the hose swelled up to about three times its size. I turned off the pressure and looked at it. It didn't decompress. I could feel that the interior rubber sheath that is supposed to be the primary lumen was all squished over to one side and all the water was trapped in between the rubber liner and the external vinyl sheath. I've never seen such a good model for a dissection before. I was really excited. My wife thinks I'm crazy and is mad because now we have to buy a new hose.
 
that's pretty sweet, actually. You should take a pic.

But I didnt' know you guys even had water out there in teh desert.

Q
 
DrQuinn said:
that's pretty sweet, actually. You should take a pic.

But I didnt' know you guys even had water out there in teh desert.

Q
Click to expand...

Total side note but Las vegas and Tucson have taken 2 different models in charging citizens for water. Tucson charges an arm and a leg whereas Vegas keeps it reasonably cheap (Correct me if I am wrong). Basic Economics tells you which one works better.
 
So not only is our water expensive but it tastes the same as licking metal. GROSS. I dont remember how the water in Vegas tastes.. usually my water there also contains Hops, and grains 😀
 
docB said:
Weirdest thing. I was hosing down my driveway and my garden hose dissected. The water pressure dropped and the the hose swelled up to about three times it's size. I turned off the pressure and looked at it. It didn't decompress. I could feel that the interior rubber sheath that is supposed to be the primary lumen was all squished over to one side and all the water was trapped in between the rubber liner and the external vinyl sheath. I've never seen such a good model for a dissection before. I was really excited. My wife thinks I'm crazy and is mad because now we have to buy a new hose.
Click to expand...

Connective tissue disorder?
 
Would you have classified it more as a Type A or B gardenhose dissection?
 
Who cares type a or b? Most important is cardvasc standing by, and how much blood is available. Either of those failing, who's best at getting DNRs?
 
Apollyon said:
Either you just COMPLETELY don't get it, didn't read the thread, or have what may be the most esoteric sense of humor on SDN.
Click to expand...

...what, you thought I was kidding or something? Look, Garden Hose dissection often masquerades as typical ischemic pain in hoses that arent getting enough water from the spigot, until the owner cranks it up and suddenly it is all over....
 
docB said:
Weirdest thing. I was hosing down my driveway and my garden hose dissected. The water pressure dropped and the the hose swelled up to about three times it's size. I turned off the pressure and looked at it. It didn't decompress. I could feel that the interior rubber sheath that is supposed to be the primary lumen was all squished over to one side and all the water was trapped in between the rubber liner and the external vinyl sheath. I've never seen such a good model for a dissection before. I was really excited. My wife thinks I'm crazy and is mad because now we have to buy a new hose.
Click to expand...

Did you consult a gardener specializing in hose sugery? He might be able to repair it.
 
Faebinder said:
Did you consult a gardener specializing in hose sugery? He might be able to repair it.
Click to expand...

Usually, I just slap in a donor graft using a couple of hose clamps. Some may call it "meatball surgery," but this is war. 😉

If you live near a tertiary care center (a.k.a., Lowes or Home Depot), you may be able to get a hose repair kit cheaper than a new hose.
 
Only in EM. :laugh: God I needed a good laugh this morning.... Thanks guys. :laugh:
 
So that everyone can get the most out of this fascinating case I'll try to address everyone's questions:

We do have water in Vegas. It comes from Colorado and tastes terrible. Economics be damned I like my water cheap.

Since the entirety of the hose dissected I'd call it Type A and B. It would be better described as a DeBakey Type I.

The hose had no known pre-existing congenital abnormalities. It had been lying in the Vegas sun for three years which may have contributed but it never smoked to my knowledge. It was very long and thin and could have been Marfanoid.

I tried to consult a subspecialist to get the hose appropriate definitive care but my consultant just stared at me and said "¿Como?"

I then tried to transfer my hose to a terteriary center but it was uninsured so it was denied. Sadly my hose expired. There will be a trip to the terteriary center (Lowe's) in my future however as I still have to buy a new hose.
 
Only here could a thread about a garden hose be so entertaining. 🙂
 
I tried to consult a subspecialist to get the hose appropriate definitive care but my consultant just stared at me and said "¿Como?"
Click to expand...

Was his name Jesus? :meanie:
 
docB said:
I tried to consult a subspecialist to get the hose appropriate definitive care but my consultant just stared at me and said "¿Como?"
Click to expand...

first time I have ever laughed out loud on SDN🙂
 
augmel said:
first time I have ever laughed out loud on SDN🙂
Click to expand...

Really? I often cry.

Do you not visit the EM forum much? What about laughing loudly at "Things I learned from my patients"?

Thanks all, esp. docB. "Como?" was a great addition.
ncc
 
Yesterday I had an early 40's lady with back pain that felt "like a muscle spasm or menstrual cramps" sent by her PCP because "something didn't seem right" No other medical history. No risks. No known connective tissue disorders. No report of ripping tearing pain etc... Only reason she got a scan was with a lot of prompting she would admit to some pleuritic symptoms and a bit of radiation to the anterior chest. Normal CXR, BP 130/90, normal EKG. Dissected from the L subclavian to the iliacs.

I was trying to explain a dissection to her and her family and getting nowhere. Suddenly I said, " You know how your garden hose can sometimes get a tear in the lining and then a bubble of water starts spreading between the lining and the outer wall of the hose...?" They're eyes suddenly lit up and they nodded. "Well, if spreads toward the faucet thats extra bad and you have to get surgery. If it spread the other way thats not quite as bad and we put you on a ton of BP meds and watch you real close in the ICU for awhile"
 
ERMudPhud said:
Yesterday I had an early 40's lady with back pain that felt "like a muscle spasm or menstrual cramps" sent by her PCP because "something didn't seem right" No other medical history. No risks. No known connective tissue disorders. No report of ripping tearing pain etc... Only reason she got a scan was with a lot of prompting she would admit to some pleuritic symptoms and a bit of radiation to the anterior chest. Normal CXR, BP 130/90, normal EKG. Dissected from the L subclavian to the iliacs.

I was trying to explain a dissection to her and her family and getting nowhere. Suddenly I said, " You know how your garden hose can sometimes get a tear in the lining and then a bubble of water starts spreading between the lining and the outer wall of the hose...?" They're eyes suddenly lit up and they nodded. "Well, if spreads toward the faucet thats extra bad and you have to get surgery. If it spread the other way thats not quite as bad and we put you on a ton of BP meds and watch you real close in the ICU for awhile"
Click to expand...
Awsome! We should get little picture cards made up for that discussion.
 
EctopicFetus said:
So not only is our water expensive but it tastes the same as licking metal. GROSS. I dont remember how the water in Vegas tastes.. usually my water there also contains Hops, and grains 😀
Click to expand...

It's a sanitation issue! The beer is much safer than the water.
 
I was editing my photo albums and I found this picture. I always planned to upload it but then I forgot. Well, here it is.
 

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first time reading this.

:claps: good sir. Good laugh here
 
Has the hose's family sued you yet? It's clear you shouldn't have even turned on the water, knowing the risk factors of an older hose combined with excessive amounts of water pressure in your home. If it weren't for your negligence, this hose would have had a long life of use ahead...
 
I picked a good day to read this, because I just finished running a code on my house. I started treating the patient for a chief complaint of total lack of circulation to the downstairs bathtub and toilet, but it immediately became clear that this was only a symptom of more serious problems. An arterial tap at the water filter drain valve revealed a total lack of pressure, indicating a stopped heart (water pump)! Electrical activity in the heart was normal and there was still liquid under pressure in the superior vena cava (wellhead), but there was a total lack of pulse. This problem was diagnosed as ice congestion in an artery leading to the pressure switch, and promptly treated with cardiac massage and a 25 watt heat lamp. Heart activity resumed, but it was obvious that the distal bathroom arteries were also blocked. This was treated with removal of the dermal layer of trim and a large fire in the woodstove. I dosed the sink and bathroom p-traps with 250mL ethylene glycol per trap as a prophylactic measure against damage tonight. Luckily there was no bleeding this time.

I can't believe I'm already describing frozen pipes this way as a premed. Things are only going to get worse when I'm a doctor and I actually know what I'm talking about.
 
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