Abstract
A 45-year-old male driver was assessed by the road rescue team after a car crash.
He was in shock and had a deep second-degree burn, multiple bone fractures, and chest
wounds. After stabilization, he was delivered to the nearest local clinic by an ambulance.
The doctor decided to refer him via air transportation due to the lack of sufficient
facilities and the urgent need for an intensive care unit after coordination with
the nearest hospital and air medical team. A Bell 214C medical helicopter was called,
and transfer was initiated after patient preparation by the air medical team. A few
minutes later, his clinical condition deteriorated, and because of the suspicion of
a tension pneumothorax, needle thoracostomy was performed. Crosswind and frequent
helicopter movements interfered with tube thoracostomy, leading the air medical crew's
decision to land. After completion of tube thoracostomy and during endotracheal intubation,
his heart rhythm converted to bradycardia and then asystole. Unfortunately, despite
30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient died. The forensic report
stated that a glassy foreign body led to penetrating chest wall injury and left lung
perforation, possibly causing the tension pneumothorax, cardiopulmonary arrest, and
death.
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 15, 2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Air Medical Journal Associates. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
