Doctors examining the patient, 21/9. _Thanh Phong_

On 21/9, Can Tho Central General Hospital announced that a patient was admitted to the emergency room with two iron rods piercing his body, causing complex, life-threatening injuries. The hospital immediately activated its internal "code red" protocol, mobilizing a multidisciplinary team to save the patient.

Previously, people at the scene used a saw to shorten the two iron rods piercing the victim's body before taking him to Nga Bay Regional General Hospital. After receiving first aid, the patient was transferred to Can Tho Central General Hospital for specialized treatment.

Emergency doctors noted the patient's severe injuries: one iron rod had penetrated from the right thigh, through the abdomen, and up to the left hip; the other pierced the outer aspect of the left thigh, extending down to the right thigh. The medical team provided resuscitation, administered blood transfusions, gave pain relief, and swiftly prepared him for surgery.

The General Surgery team, led by Doctor Huynh Duong Huu Hanh and Doctor Do Minh Nhut, carefully performed the operation to remove the iron rods. They observed that the foreign objects had perforated the small intestine and torn the greater omentum. After assessing the complex nature of the injuries, the doctors proceeded with open surgery to resect the damaged segment of the small intestine, restore gastrointestinal continuity, thoroughly cleanse the abdominal cavity, and place drains.

Following this, the Orthopedic Trauma team, headed by Doctor Nguyen Huu Thuyet, Chief of the Spine and Trauma Surgery Department, along with his colleagues, addressed the thigh injuries and removed the iron rods lodged in those areas. The patient's right thigh presented a penetrating wound on the outer aspect of the middle third of the thigh, measuring approximately 4x4 cm, with irregular edges. The doctors managed these injuries by debriding the crushed and necrotic muscle tissue, cleaning the wound, and placing drains.

After approximately 80 minutes, the emergency surgery was successfully completed. The patient was then transferred to surgical intensive care for continued monitoring and treatment.

The two iron rods removed from the patient. _Thanh Phong_

Doctors described this as a unique situation, as the patient sustained simultaneous injuries to the abdomen, small intestine, and multiple soft tissue structures in the thigh. This case underscored the critical role of initial care provided by referring facilities, the internal "code red" protocol, and the importance of multidisciplinary coordination in managing complex penetrating trauma cases.

Medical professionals advise the public that in accidents involving foreign objects penetrating the body, individuals should not attempt to remove the object themselves. This action can cause further damage to blood vessels, internal organs, or lead to massive bleeding. Instead, victims should be safely removed from the scene, the foreign object stabilized, and promptly transferred to a medical facility equipped with multidisciplinary surgical and intensive resuscitation capabilities for safe and effective management.

An Binh