How often do in-flight medical emergencies occur?

In-flight medical emergencies occur approximately once every 604 flights, according to a US study.

What improvised tools were used during the mid-air surgery?

Doctors utilized a urinary catheter, a water bottle to create a one-way valve, and a coathanger sterilized in brandy for chest insertion.

What challenges do doctors face during in-flight medical emergencies?

Doctors face challenges such as limited medical supplies, an unfamiliar environment, and medico-legal concerns.

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Mid-Air Surgery: Doctors Improvise to Save Life at 10,000 Metres

8 Feb

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Summary

Doctors performed emergency surgery mid-flight using improvised tools.
An improvised valve from a water bottle saved a passenger's life.
In-flight medical emergencies occur about once every 604 flights.

Mid-Air Surgery: Doctors Improvise to Save Life at 10,000 Metres

On a British Airways flight bound for London, a medical emergency unfolded when a passenger developed a life-threatening tension pneumothorax. Doctors Angus Wallace and Tom Wong, with limited medical supplies at 10,000 metres, resorted to improvisation.

They utilized items such as a urinary catheter, a water bottle for a one-way valve, and a coathanger sterilized in brandy to insert tubing into the patient's chest. This innovative intervention successfully released trapped air, leading to the patient's rapid recovery.

In-flight medical emergencies happen roughly once every 604 flights, with deaths being even rarer. Doctors responding to such calls face unique challenges, including limited equipment and the pressure of a captive audience, as exemplified by another incident involving an intern assessing a collapsed passenger.