Trauma on the Border 2018

Synopsis: Penetrating chest trauma is an uncommon presentation to regional EDs in Australia. Managing these cases requires close communication, rapid decision making and preparation of skills for dealing with these imminently catastrophic but potentially salvageable trauma patients. Mobilisation of uninterrupted and appropriate resources from scene to Emergency Department with senior staffed Trauma Team, Blood bank and OT staff is essential to provide this care.

This case of chest stabbing to a middle-aged man in a rural town and response at regional Emergency Department demonstrated the challenges and opportunities in managing these cases.

Biography: Originally from the UK, Ed is an Emergency Medicine Consultant at The Tweed and Murwillumbah Hospitals. He is also a Flight Doctor and Regional Retrieval Consultant with the Northern NSW Retrieval Service based in Lismore. Ed worked with Careflight Queensland for five years on their fixed-wing, rotary and road vehicles on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane and Rockhampton. His interests include pre-hospital and disaster medicine.

Ed worked with Careflight Queensland for five years on their fixed-wing, rotary and road vehicles on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane and Rockhampton.