One of the two patients is Mr. T.C. L (born in 1982, Kon Tum province), a fisherman on fishing vessel QNG96678TS. During labor at sea, he fell to a hard ground and was taken to Song Tu Tay island clinic on May 15 in a state of stiffness in his left arm and left shoulder.
By the evening of May 17, the patient had localized seizures, then progressed to whole-body convulsions. Through telemedicine consultation with Military Hospital 175, the patient was diagnosed with total surgical tetanus, monitored for epilepsy, risk of severe respiratory failure, exceeding the treatment capacity at the island, so he was ordered to be urgently transported to the mainland.
The remaining patient is V.V.V (born in 2007, from Thanh Hoa), a worker who suffered a workplace accident causing injuries to the forehead, jaw, face, nose, throat and left wrist fracture. After receiving first aid at Nam Yet island clinic, the patient was also consulted remotely and transferred to Military Hospital 175 for further intensive treatment.
According to Military Hospital 175, at 5:50 PM on May 18, a helicopter of Brigade 18 took off from Tan Son Nhat airport with an air ambulance team led by Captain Le Viet Thang as team leader. At 0:30 AM on May 19, the team approached patients on the island and carried out transportation to the mainland.
Captain Le Viet Thang said that this was a particularly difficult emergency flight due to the long flight time, having to receive patients at two distant island points and unfavorable weather.
“Throughout the journey, the emergency team closely coordinated with the flight crew, maintaining a low flight ceiling to ensure safety for patients with head, jaw and face injuries, avoiding the risk of cerebral edema. For patients with total tetanus, the team continuously monitored, controlled seizures and was ready to open the trachea if things worsened,” Captain Thang shared.
After returning to Military Hospital 175, both patients continued to undergo injury screening and specialist consultation to come up with further treatment directions.
