Trauma patient saved through rapid response at Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City

SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, announced that SEHA’s Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC) successfully managed a life-threatening trauma case involving a patient who arrived at the Emergency Department with multiple injuries following a motorcycle accident and later developed critical complications requiring urgent intervention.

The patient was admitted with severe chest trauma and a pelvic fracture, and shortly after arrival suffered cardiac arrest caused by tension pneumothorax. The Emergency Department (ED) team immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while a thoracic consultant promptly inserted a chest tube, resulting in the return of spontaneous circulation.

Recognising the severity of the condition, the team transferred the patient urgently to the operating theatre, where a massive haemothorax was controlled while the patient remained in shock. Following initial stabilisation, the patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Within hours, however, the condition deteriorated again, with profound shock requiring multiple inotropes and vasopressors.

A rapid reassessment in the Cardiac ICU identified obstructive shock secondary to cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention. With the patient at risk of losing cardiac output, contingency measures were prepared, including bedside needle aspiration as a temporary measure and arrangements for mechanical chest compression support if cardiac arrest recurred.

At the same time, cardiac surgery and cardiac anaesthesia teams were urgently engaged, and the operating room team was activated without delay. In a highly coordinated response, the ICU room was converted into an emergency procedural space within minutes, allowing a small but critical chest incision to be performed to evacuate the compressive blood clot surrounding the heart.

The procedure was rapid and lifesaving. Almost immediately after relief of the obstruction, the patient’s haemodynamic status improved significantly. Recovery thereafter was equally notable, with extubation the following day, continued clinical improvement, mobilisation to a chair, and subsequent discharge from the ICU. The patient was later transferred to the rehabilitation unit to continue physiotherapy for the pelvic fracture.

Dr. Ali Al Alshamsi, Head of Cardiovascular Department at SEHA’s Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City, said: “This case reflects the decisive role of rapid clinical assessment, early escalation, and seamless coordination in managing life-threatening trauma. From the moment the patient arrived at the Emergency Department, teams across emergency medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, anaesthesia, intensive care, and cardiac care worked together with speed and precision. Their readiness, professionalism, and unified focus were critical to controlling the cardiac injury and saving the patient’s life.”

Dr. Tamer Montaser, Cardiac Intensive Care and ECMO Consultant Lead at SEHA’s Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City, said: “This case reflects the importance of early recognition, timely escalation and seamless teamwork in the management of critical trauma. Most importantly, it demonstrates our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality care, even in the most complex and life-threatening situations. Stories like this reaffirm our mission and highlight the expertise, dedication and coordination that define our teams.”

This case highlights several of STMC’s core strengths, including multidisciplinary teamwork, early recognition of clinical deterioration, rapid escalation, structured emergency response, and readiness to perform lifesaving interventions without delay. It also reflects SEHA’s continued dedication to strengthening advanced trauma and critical care pathways across Abu Dhabi and the UAE.