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Related Concept Videos

Blood Transfusion01:15

Blood Transfusion

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Blood transfusion is a critical medical procedure that saves lives and treats various medical conditions. It involves transferring blood from a donor to a recipient. This process requires a thorough understanding of the ABO blood group system and its associated antigens and antibodies.
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
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Blood Transfusion and Agglutination02:45

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Blood transfusion is a therapeutic measure to restore the blood volume after extensive blood loss due to an accident or a medical procedure. Blood transfusion involves drawing a certain amount of blood from a suitable donor and infusing it into the recipient.
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The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
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Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

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Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
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Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
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Transfusion After Femur Fracture in a Cave.

Roger B Mortimer1, Andrew W Voss2, David R Wharton3

  • 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA.

Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
|December 5, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A recreational caver sustained a femur fracture and head injury in a deep cave. Prompt on-site stabilization and delayed evacuation, including blood transfusion, led to a full recovery.

Keywords:
Cavefemur fracturesearch and rescuetransfusion

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Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Trauma Surgery
  • Cave Exploration Safety

Background:

  • Deep cave exploration presents unique challenges for emergency medical response.
  • Traumatic injuries in remote, confined environments require specialized rescue and treatment protocols.
  • This case highlights the critical need for preparedness in recreational caving.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the management of a severe open femur fracture and head injury sustained during deep cave exploration.
  • To emphasize the importance of immediate on-site stabilization and prolonged extrication in complex trauma cases.
  • To review the logistical and medical considerations for rescuing and treating a patient from a deep cave environment.

Main Methods:

  • A 54-year-old male experienced a fall in a 324-meter-deep cave, resulting in an open femur fracture and head injury.
  • Initial management included direct pressure, improvised splinting, and assessment for hypotension and altered mental status.
  • Rescue operations involved advanced stabilization, a 179-meter vertical lift with a blood transfusion, and a 21-hour total extraction time before helicopter transport to a trauma center.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with hemodynamic instability (hypotension) and neurological compromise (altered mental status) upon medical team arrival.
  • Despite the significant delay in evacuation (21 hours), the patient received a unit of packed red blood cells during the rescue.
  • The patient ultimately achieved a complete recovery after transfer to a specialized trauma facility.

Conclusions:

  • Successful management of severe trauma in deep cave environments relies on effective pre-hospital care and coordinated rescue efforts.
  • Prompt hemorrhage control and hemodynamic support, even with delays, are crucial for patient survival and recovery.
  • This case underscores the viability of complex cave rescue operations for severe traumatic injuries, leading to favorable outcomes.