18 doctors exposed to HIV after an effort to gain life for a patient

These doctors had an emergency surgery for a critical female patient with vaginal bleeding without knowing she had HIV. They were not equipped with protective equipment, so they were exposed to the disease of the century.

18 doctors were exposed to HIV after a special operation

This special emergency case took place on July 4 at Hanoi Obstetrics Hospital i. The patient is on his way with his 11-year-old son from Quang Ninh to visit his hometown in My Duc district, Hanoi. When she arrived at the bus station, she showed signs of vaginal bleeding and fainting so she was taken to Hanoi Obstetrics Hospital.

Dr. Luu Quoc Khai, Dean of the Department of A2, who directly performed the surgery, said that the patient was transferred in a state of pale yellow skin, small vessels that were difficult to catch, blood pressure was not measured, the heart was discrete near like stopping and very critical. The hospital must mobilize 18 medical doctors from the departments to the emergency room to win life for patients.

Currently the patient's health has recovered.(Photo: Ha An.)

After being pressed out of the chest, resuscitation is urgent; The patient has a vital sign, the heart beats back, but the blood from the vagina still flows. Therefore, the doctors decided to dissect the patient's uterus right in the emergency room, not promptly transfer to the surgery room.The uterus of the patient was necrotic, so only this way could preserve the life of the patient. Patients must transmit 4 liters of blood.

Even if the team is conducting surgery, the testing department indicates the patient is infected with HIV.'Still, we continue to complete the surgery to save the patient. At that time, the patient's condition was very critical, and the emergency 1-2 minutes could not be saved. In addition, the emergency is very fast, the test results are available after 10 minutes, ' recalled Dr. Khai.

According to the patient, she was infected with HIV from her dead husband because of a traffic accident, when his son was only 6 months old. 'Being exposed to HIV, we do not regret or blame anyone for the patient's life. It's the joy, the biggest source of encouragement for people who save people like us , 'said Dr. Khai.

18 medical doctors participating in emergency care and surgery for patients, with 3 pregnant people, were given a health check and treated according to regimens for people at risk of HIV exposure. After 3-6 months, all tests will be done to see if they are infected with HIV. "This capability is very low," said Dr. Nguyen Duy Anh, director of Hanoi Obstetrics Hospital. All of these doctors now have stable health and go to work normally.

According to Dr. Anh, emergency treatment and treatment for HIV-infected patients is normal. Usually, health workers know the condition of the patient, so they have the same protection as wearing special protective clothing and self-defense glasses. However, in this case, the patient was taken into emergency in the most cross-natured condition, not able to do blood tests immediately, but must be rescued immediately to gain life. Family members also did not inform the patient's health status.