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January 26, 2010

PENN MEDICINE In Haiti -- Dispatch 3

January 26, 2010 13:32

Subject: Surgery ward

 

There is a church located by the hospital. It has been changed into a surgical ward and today has 55 patients. The patients are tended to by a PIH physician who is a med - peds resident. He was here at the time of the earthquake and had to quickly learn how to care for patients with orthopedic injuries.

 

About half the patients are children, about half of which have family with them. Injuries range from open fractures to spinal cord injuries.

 

Post-operative deaths have mainly been due to PEA cardiac arrest, presumably due to pulmonary embolus. They are using SQ heparin, which is very hard when 2 nurses are caring for 50 patients.

 

So far every single Hatian we have met - patient or staff - has lost at least 1 family member in the earthquake.

 

We probably will have around 10- 15 cases to do tomorrow, plus a number of wound dressing changes we will do with anesthesia.  Ten cases will be ortho, about 5 general.

 

Regards

 

Michael

 

 

Posted at 08:28 PM in PENN MEDICINE in Haiti |

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