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Who's Blogging About the Crisis in Haiti
HCPLive has scoured the blogosphere to find the best postings about Haiti. We've included some here.
HCPLive has scoured the blogosphere to find the best postings about Haiti. We've included some here.
British Red Cross Blogger Sarah Oughton
This morning, there was the amazing story of the man pulled alive from the rubble, just as the search and rescue phase has been declared over. However, it’s clear that Haiti is not going to dominate the headlines for much longer, although it will continue to be a huge part of our Red Cross work for the following weeks, months and years.
St. Joseph Medical Center Team in Haiti
On the runway, as we were about to board the 5 passenger plane, a missionary asked us if we knew any orthopedic surgeons. He was escorting a 9 year old girl (with her mother ) who had been found under the rubble after 3 days. Her father and two siblings were killed by the quake. Also, she had open fractures in both feet and both were partially amputated.
So we took her along with us to Pinion. The first day we derided her feet in attempts to save her feet but we knew we would need to eventually amputate possibly BKA.
Haiti Experience - Medical Mission
At 2pm one of the doctors shakes me awake. I'm so sorry, she says, I know this is the first time you have slept but a baby just arrived pulled from the rubble and you are the only 2 pediatricians. We got right up and went to the child. She was found by reporters (now 5 days post earthquake) alone in the rubble. She was limp, with a low heart rate, would occasionally moan, and had a flail chest (multiple broken ribs which causes a deformity to the chest, buts pressure on the lungs and is life threatening) She looked about 2-3 months old. She was so dehydrated IV's could not be placed so an IO (intraosseous needle) was placed in her lower leg and we pushed fluids. She slowly began to show more life. Her lungs did not sound good and we were debating whether we should place a needle in her chest to see if we could get either air or fluid out (remember there are no x-rays or other ways to tell what is going on, just the clinical picture). Miraculously someone was able to find a private plane going back to Miami and the hospital accepted her.
Things have completely changed - from where there was a lack of things and now to a overabundance of volunteers and supplies. Now much time will be needed to try to direct the flow of abundance to where there is lack. Sounds philosophical, doesn't it?
When the Jhpiego team arrives at Haiti’s largest hospital, five women have already given birth—and it’s only 10:30 a.m.
In a noteworthy blog entry, Gary Switzer brings to attention the conflict in interest that arises when the medical work of physician reporters becomes the story. Food for thought as we watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta treat a child’s head trauma on cable news.
Lots of infections being seen. The needs are overwhelming. Needs for amputations, re-amputations, closed and open fractures, skin grafts, wash outs, flaps. They have no ICU-- but the seriously ill patients are either dead soon or get taken elsewhere. The plan for tomorrow is to take as many open fx back to the OR-- and then re-evaluate the most urgent needs.
These four were able to access amazing care in the U.S., but there are literally thousands of other earthquake survivors that need surgical procedures that cannot be performed in their own country.
