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A Chest Injury in an Isolated Geo-politically Sensitive Area: Questions in Management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Richard A. Rahdon ,
Franklin H.G. Bridgewater  and
Mark A. Harris
Richard A. Rahdon*
Affiliation:
Flight Lieutenant, Royal Australian Air Force, Senior Medical Officer, RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria
Franklin H.G. Bridgewater
Affiliation:
Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Senior Visiting Surgeon, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, SA
Mark A. Harris
Affiliation:
Major, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Registrar, Emergency Department,Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
*
Senior Medical Officer, RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 3852, E-Mail: richard.rahdon@defence.gov.au
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Abstract

The reported case of a stab wound to the chest occurred in an isolated area with no specialized surgical care available. The need for transport and specifically by air, introduced particular questions in management. On a humanitarian basis and in line with its mandate, the Peace Monitoring Group, a United Nations endorsed entity in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, provided transport to a facility with an appropriate standard of care. The questions of need for patient evacuation and chest drainage, with the timing of this maneuver are considered.

Resumen

El caso reportado de herida con arma blanca en el tórax ocurrió en un área aislada sin disponibilidad de atención quirúrgica especializada. La necesidad de transporte, y específicamente por aire, generó preguntas particulares en su manejo. Sobre una base humanitaria y en concordancia con su mandato, el Grupo de Vigilancia de la Paz (Peace Monitoring Group), una entidad sancionada por las Naciones Unidas en Bougainville, Papua Nueva Guinea, proveyó transporte hasta una instalación con un estándar de atención apropiado. Se consideran las preguntas acerca de la necesidad de evacuatión y drenaje del tórax, con la oportunidad de este procedimiento.

Keywords

air ambulancechest tubehemopneumothoraxinternational cooperationmilitaryPapua New Guineathoracic injuries
Type
Case Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 59 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2001

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References

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