this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 94 points 5 days ago (18 children)

Can someone translate this into English for the ones who aren't doctors or biologists?

This sounds like someone was having a heart attack and they started playing with his butthole. I'd appreciate if someone could tell me that's not the case.

[–] TomMasz@piefed.social 60 points 5 days ago (11 children)

You're pretty much correct. AF is a heart rhythm abnormality, and if it persists, like it seems to here, it renders the heart unable to pump blood. It appears he might have been undergoing a prostate exam when this happened, since that's the usual reason for a digital rectal exam. You'd have to assume the doctor knew they had this condition to begin with.

[–] Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

~~Nope. If I recall correctly all other interventions failed, so this was a hail Mary that happened to work~~

See other commenter below

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 23 points 5 days ago

You recall incorrectly. It was a check for GI bleed prior to anticoagulant administration prior to cardioversion. They were literally running through pre-procedure tests in order to do the standard treatment for AF.

Source: The paper itself

[–] TomMasz@piefed.social 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Interesting. That area of the body is pretty sensitive, I can see how it might generate enough sensation to affect other areas of the body.

[–] TommySalami@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago

Specifically it's very possible to stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps regulate heart rhythm, with an exam like this. This is a known effect, but typically in the context of a possible adverse effect of some procedures (e.g. enema).

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