The Port Moresby General Hospital Adult Emergency Department (ED) has had to endure another year of festive season increase in Trauma Cases.
Official records from the Christmas period record nearly fifty (50) cases with 70 per cent being male. The most common injury was assault and blunt force trauma with penetrating injuries being the next most common.
The New Year period, however, saw a quiet night progressing into the New Year with most casualties arriving after 8am to the department.
As of 3:00pm yesterday afternoon , over 40 patients were seen, and 80 per cent were male.
Unfortunately 98 per cent of all injuries during both the Christmas and New Year period were alcohol related.
The department saw patients ranging between the ages of 9 and 55 years old.
The first death was recorded at 3pm yesterday afternoon as a result of a motor vehicle accident where the injured was a pedestrian who was run over by a vehicle and succumbed to his injuries.
A motor vehicle accident occurring at 10:30am on Sunday morning resulted in another casualty being brought in, the patient has been stabilized and will be observed under the surgeons.
The supporting specialties like Radiology and Pathology also had increased workload to ensure fast processing of patients.
At the mean time blood products are still required for immediate trauma management, therefore Port Moresby General Hospital is encouraging all patients’ families to come in and donate blood, as this goes a long way in operative and critical case management that is handled by Operative and Anesthetic teams.
The hospital also reveals that there are approximately 4 patients with Penetrating Chest injuries with associated sequelae who will be admitted for further management.
Port Moresby General Hospital acknowledges and appreciate the national ambulance service provider St John Ambulance crew for their dedication in transporting all patients to the ED including those with medical ailments. Their pre-hospital assessment and transport of trauma patients was critical in saving many lives.
POMGEN also acknowledges the Police force for their hard work in keeping the nation’s capital safe and also for ensuring that movements around the city was kept under control.