Abstract
Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) was started in 2009 at Maebashi Red Cross Hospital. Some reports have shown that HEMS is useful for multiple trauma patients.
Multiple facial fractures sometimes cause massive facial hemorrhage, and some reports indicate that emergency endovascular treatment for facial hemorrhage is effective.
We report a case of multiple facial fractures with selective endovascular treatment for facial hemorrhage after transport by HEMS. A 32-year-old man was involved in a traffic accident and was transported to the Critical Care Center of our hospital by HEMS. He was diagnosed as having multiple facial fractures, a fracture of the base of the skull, a brain contusion, a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, a fracture of the left clavicle, a fracture of the left scapula, and a fracture of the left first rib. Since the hemorrhage from his face was poorly controlled, open reduction and fixation were performed after emergency endovascular treatment of the maxillary artery.
We considered HEMS effective for a lifesaving outcome in this case.
The advantages of HEMS are early primary survey, prehospital orders, and shortening of the transport time. Multiple facial fractures with massive facial hemorrhage can be fatal. We conclude that HEMS is effective in severe trauma patients.
