Abstract
A 40-year-old man involved in a high-speed motor vehicle collision was flown to a regional trauma center by medical helicopter. He had significant chest and abdominal injuries, hypotension, and an open fracture of his left proximal femur that was bleeding profusely. At the scene, the patient stated he was a Jehovah's Witness and was vehemently opposed to blood transfusion. Hemorrhage from the leg could not be controlled with direct pressure in the field or during transport. The patient arrived in the emergency department in hypovolemic shock. Good alignment of the fractured femur was obtained using a Sager splint. However, brisk bleeding from the injured femoral artery continued. The application of an extremity tourniquet was briefly discussed but dismissed in favor of expediting the patient's transfer to the trauma intensive care unit, and then to the operating room. Despite surgical intervention, the patient continued to exsanguinate, went into cardiac arrest, and died. Denise M. Langley, is Emergency Department Nurse Practice Education Coordinator, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore. Laura M. Criddle, is Doctoral Student, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Ore.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
