An 11-year-old child, involved in a motorcycle accident with their mother and sister, arrived at Vung Tau General Hospital in critical condition on the afternoon of 14/6. The child suffered severe multi-trauma, including respiratory failure and altered consciousness, risking multi-trauma shock. Doctors identified major chest and abdominal injuries, performing emergency surgery to remove the spleen and drain the pleural and abdominal cavities. Post-surgery, the child's condition worsened, experiencing respiratory failure, prolonged low blood pressure, and severe shock requiring high-dose vasopressors. The child even suffered cardiac arrest and was resuscitated for approximately 15 minutes.

Facing this critical situation, Vung Tau General Hospital initiated a remote consultation with Children's Hospital 1. Doctors from both institutions continuously monitored the patient, guiding resuscitation efforts, adjusting vasopressor medications, intravenous fluids, ventilator settings, and managing complications.

The consultation channel remained active for over 10 hours, helping the child gradually stabilize and overcome the critical phase. Once stable enough, the child was transferred to Children's Hospital 1 in the early morning of 15/6.

Upon arrival at Children's Hospital 1, the child was in a deep coma, suffering severe respiratory failure, multi-trauma shock, pericardial effusion, and right pneumothorax. The hospital activated an internal "red alert," providing intensive treatment including mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, blood transfusions, and specialized resuscitation.

Resuscitation treatment for the patient. *Photo: Quynh Tran*

After several days of treatment, the child's condition improved significantly. The child was successfully weaned off the ventilator, became conscious, communicated well, and had stable vital signs. Respiratory and circulatory functions recovered, surgical wounds were clean, and no infections were reported. The child remains under observation at the hospital.

On 20/6, Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, commented that this case highlights the effectiveness of the remote consultation model between central and local hospitals. This approach ensures timely treatment during the "golden hour," guarantees safety during inter-hospital transfers, and enhances the effectiveness of multi-trauma emergency care.

Le Phuong