Citation

Schneider TM, Bregani R, Stopar R, Krammer J, Göksu M, Müller N, Petermeyer M, Schiffer J, Strapazzon G. Injury 2015; 47(1): 280-283.

Affiliation

CNSAS Italian Mountain and Cave Rescue Service, Milano, Italy; EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bolzano, Italy. Electronic address: giacomo.strapazzon@eurac.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2015.09.005

PMID

26396044

Abstract

AIM: To describe the case of a patient with a severe head injury at a depth of about 1000m from the cave entrance in Bavaria, Germany, who received pre-hospital trauma care for 12 days until evacuation.

RESULTS: Search and rescue (SAR) operation involved 728 rescuers, 202 working directly in the cave (for a total of 9239h) and 7 physicians from five countries. At 6-month follow-up, the patient had recovered completely and resumed his job.

CONCLUSION: This case highlights several pitfalls of trauma care in complex SAR operations, which often rely on expert knowledge and are not yet evidence-based practice.

Language: en