A system of delivering medical staff members by helicopter to manage severely wounded patients in an area where medical resources are limited.

AIM

We review the case of a severely injured patient to evaluate the system of delivering medical staff by helicopter in areas with limited medical resources.

METHODS

The patient's chart was reviewed, summarized, and presented.

RESULTS

A 22-year-old woman attempted a suicidal fall after using a knife to stab herself. She was transported to a local hospital. A radiological study revealed fractures to the patient's face and the base of her skull, pneumocephalus, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, stab wounds to the neck and chest, pneumothorax, unstable pelvic fracture, and right femoral shaft fracture. Her circulation status became unstable. We sent medical staff members to the local hospital by doctor helicopter. The patient underwent tracheal intubation and the insertion of a chest drain, and was evacuated by doctor helicopter. After aggressive intensive treatments in our hospital, the patient finally obtained social rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

In an area where medical resources are limited, sending trained physicians to a referring hospital to appropriately prepare a severely wounded patient for transportation might be the key for the patient to maximize his or her chance of survival.