Fisherman in critical condition rescued in the Spratly Islands.

(Baonghean.vn) - The medical team of Military Hospital 4 (Military Region 4) on An Bang Island, Truong Sa Archipelago, successfully rescued and treated a patient suffering from severe decompression sickness.

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

At approximately 0:30 AM on August 25th, Mr. Thao was diving at a depth of about 30 meters in the waters southeast of the Truong Sa Archipelago, about 10 nautical miles from Thuyen Chai Island in Vietnam. Due to the deep and prolonged dive and the relatively rapid ascent to the surface, he suffered from decompression sickness and was transported to the An Bang Island Medical Clinic at 7:30 PM the same day in the following condition: conscious, blood pressure dropped to 80-85/50 mmHg, pulse was rapid at 100 beats/minute, he had quadriplegia, urinary retention, and oliguria.

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

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

With urgency, the medical team proceeded to insert peripheral intravenous lines for fluid administration, administer oxygen, insert a bladder catheter to monitor urine output, control blood pressure, use corticosteroid therapy, and correct organ dysfunction… After about an hour of intensive resuscitation, hemodynamic status stabilized, urine output began through the catheter, general pain subsided, and limb movement began to show signs of recovery.

Doctor Pham Quang Anh, head of the An Bang Island medical clinic, examines patient Thao. Photo: Phu - Anh.

Young doctor Pham Quang Anh said: "Previously, decompression sickness was a disease specific to divers, but recently, as diving has become a popular activity for marine exploration tourism, decompression sickness can be a risk to many people. Decompression sickness is damage caused by air bubbles forming in blood vessels and body fluids when there is a sudden drop in surrounding pressure. If not treated promptly, this disease can lead to death or lifelong disability."

Patient Thao after 4 days of treatment at the An Bang Island Clinic, under the care of the Military Medical Team of Military Hospital 4 (Military Region 4). Photo: Phu - Anh.

Currently, after 4 days of treatment, the patient is fully conscious, responsive, able to eat porridge, has less general pain, has stable hemodynamics, the urinary catheter has been removed, and the patient can urinate normally. Movement in all four limbs has almost completely recovered, and the patient can walk gently around the room. The patient has been transferred to the mainland for specialized treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy to aid in better functional recovery.

Le Phu - Quang Anh