Rescue of critically ill fishermen in Truong Sa

(Baonghean.vn) - The Military Medical Team of Military Hospital 4 (Military Region 4) on An Bang Island, Truong Sa Archipelago successfully treated a patient with severe decompression syndrome.

The patient is Mr. Nguyen Van Thao (born in 1974, from Ninh Thuy, Ninh Hoa, Khanh Hoa), a fisherman on fishing boat number KH - 91818TS.

At around 0:30 a.m. on August 25, Mr. Thao dived at a depth of about 30m in the waters southeast of Truong Sa archipelago, about 10 nautical miles from Thuyen Chai island of Vietnam. Due to the deep, long dive and relatively quick resurfacing, he suffered from decompression sickness and was transported to An Bang island infirmary at 7:30 p.m. the same day in the following conditions: conscious, low blood pressure 80 - 85/50mmHg, rapid pulse 100 beats/minute, quadriplegia, urinary retention and oliguria.

Transporting patients to An Bang Island Infirmary. Photo: Phu - Anh.

Here, the An Bang Island Military Medical Team of Military Hospital 4 (Military Region 4) led by Senior Lieutenant, Doctor Pham Quang Anh as infirmary chief quickly received, examined and diagnosed: Circulatory collapse, quadriplegia due to severe decompression sickness at the 20th hour.

With a sense of urgency, the Military Medical Team proceeded to place a peripheral IV line for fluid infusion, administer oxygen, place a Bladder catheter to monitor urine output, control blood pressure, use Corticoid therapy, and correct organ dysfunction. After about 1 hour of active resuscitation, the hemodynamics stabilized, urine began to flow through the catheter, pain throughout the body was relieved, and movement of the limbs began to show signs of recovery.

Doctor Pham Quang Anh, Chief of An Bang Island's Infirmary, examines patient Thao. Photo: Phu - Anh.

Young doctor Pham Quang Anh said: In the past, decompression sickness was a disease specific to divers, but recently, when diving became a favorite activity for sea tourism, decompression sickness can be a risk for many people. Decompression sickness is a damage caused by air bubbles forming in blood vessels and body fluids when there is a sudden decrease in surrounding pressure. If this disease is not treated promptly, it will lead to death or lifelong disability.

Patient Thao after 4 days of treatment at An Bang Island Infirmary under the charge of the Military Medical Team of Military Hospital 4 (QK4). Photo: Phu - Anh.

Currently, after 4 days of treatment, the patient is completely awake, has good contact, can eat porridge, has less pain all over the body, stable blood pressure, has had the catheter removed and can urinate normally, limb movement has almost completely recovered, and can walk lightly in the room. The patient has been transferred to the mainland for specific treatment with hyperbaric oxygen to help the rehabilitation process better.

Le Phu - Quang Anh