Patient V.V.N, 58 years old in Hai Phong, was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in critical condition, with typical symptoms of severe tetanus: muscle stiffness throughout the body, stiff jaw, severe convulsions, accompanied by continuous high fever and multiple organ failure. Previously, the patient had a work accident, causing severe damage to the right hand but did not get vaccinated against tetanus - a factor that causes bacteria to invade and grow rapidly.
The patient's right hand was quickly swollen, red, and had bad breath. When admitted to the hospital, he had chest tightness with cyanosis and had to open the air int most urgently and place an evacuation ventilator. Doctors in the Emergency Department determined that the patient had severe general tetanus, combined with necrotizing cellulose inflammation, causing multiple organ failure, and a very high mortality rate.
That same day, the patient underwent emergency surgery to clean the lesion, remove pus, combine bones, and place drainage. At the same time, he was actively resuscitated, treated with antibiotics, stretched and controlled for seizures.
After 3 weeks of treatment, the patient gradually recovered. The patient had no fever, moved his limbs, returned to eating, had acted a ventilator and was discharged in a state of alertness and stability.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Kim Anh, who directly treats the patient, shared: Not only serious accidents, small wounds, dirty soil, and rusty objects can also cause tetanus. People need to be vaccinated early - preferably within 24 hours - after being injured to prevent this dangerous disease.
