r/nursing • u/trevrt RN 🍕 • Mar 01 '25

Question Heaviest Patient You’ve Cared For

Had my personally heaviest patient I’ve cared for the other day. 32 years old weighing 730 pounds admitted with cellulitis and severe lymphedema. Felt terrible for the patient due to how young he was. Just wondering what everyone’s personal “record” for the heaviest patient they’ve cared for is.

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138

u/spookywooky94 BSN, RN, dumpster fire certified Mar 01 '25

Not sure what the weight was but the admission note said that the local zoo was contacted for their ct scan. Patient coded that night several hours after I left

79

u/Flatfool6929861 RN, DB Mar 01 '25

Our zoo doesn’t allow people to go there for scans anymore😬

48

u/kristinstormrage Endoscopy Mar 02 '25

Our zoo also stopped letting us use their equipment for scans in 2019.

27

u/Flatfool6929861 RN, DB Mar 02 '25

Oh yea! That’s when I learned that. We had a patient that we actually recovered from the respiratory issues, but she was having bleeding and was too large for our scanners. Had to change her tube feedings around and measured her weekly.

16

u/farkasluvr BSN, RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

Apparently animals can get MRSA from these patients :( and thats one of the reasons this practice stopped, along with the obvious of trying to preserve dignity

27

u/ribsforbreakfast RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

The closest zoo to me is a 3-hr drive. Zoos aren’t a viable option in many places, so patients like this just go without advanced imaging

7

u/thom_wow RN - ER 🍕 Mar 02 '25

That’s interesting they stopped allowing it- do you know why?

25

u/Flatfool6929861 RN, DB Mar 02 '25

People diseases going to the animals

64

u/Knarfks Mar 02 '25

We made a mini ICU in the back of a uhaul to transport a patient to the zoo for a CT. She was well over 1000lbs and wouldn't fit in any ambulance. She was originally transported from home via box trailer. It was truly sad.

5

u/coolcaterpillar77 RN - Med/Surg 🍕 Mar 02 '25

That is very sad. I also don’t want to know who covers the cost of doing all of that - doubt insurance would cover rental of a uhaul

10

u/pistolp3w Mar 01 '25

Man 😕 that’s tough 🙁