FALLING FROM A 4-METER HEIGHT – WOMAN RESCUED FROM LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY FAILURE

A woman was successfully treated after suffering multiple rib fractures, hemothorax-pneumothorax, and critical respiratory failure following a 4-meter fall.

The accident occurred when Ms. T. (44 years old) climbed a rambutan tree in her garden to harvest fruit and unfortunately slipped, falling from a height of four meters. She landed heavily on her chest against the hard ground. Shortly after, she experienced severe chest pain and difficulty breathing. Her family rushed her to the Emergency Department at Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital that night.

At the Emergency Department, physicians promptly performed a clinical assessment and bedside X-ray, revealing fractures in seven left ribs (ribs 4 through 10), hemothorax with blood clots in the left pleural cavity, and left-sided pneumothorax.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huu Vinh, PhD, Head of the Thoracic Surgery Department, this was a case of severe chest trauma. Multiple consecutive rib fractures had led to blood and air accumulation compressing the left lung. Upon admission, the patient’s blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) had dropped to 90% — a sign of acute respiratory failure. Without urgent surgical intervention, the patient could have died at any moment.

Urgently, Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital initiated life-saving measures. While the surgical team prepared the operating room, the emergency team simultaneously inserted a chest tube to drain air and blood from the pleural cavity, thereby improving the patient’s respiratory condition.

In the operating room, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huu Vinh, PhD and Dr. Pham Phu Khang (Specialist Level I), in coordination with the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, assessed the trauma site and discovered that ribs 7, 8, and 9 were severely fractured and had penetrated the pleural cavity, causing bleeding and chest wall deformity.

The surgical team reconstructed the chest wall using titanium plates to stabilize the three fractured ribs. Thoracoscopic surgery was then performed to remove 100 ml of clotted blood from the left pleural cavity. Additionally, a portion of lung tissue adhered to the chest wall was carefully separated from the fractured ribs. Hemostasis was achieved, and the pleural cavity was thoroughly irrigated.

“Upon recognizing the patient’s critical condition, we drew upon our experience to intervene swiftly and save her life. Fortunately, during surgery, we discovered lung tissue adhered to the chest wall at the fracture site and actively bleeding. We managed this carefully; had it gone unnoticed, the patient would have faced serious complications such as lung laceration, air leakage, or severe pulmonary infection”, shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huu Vinh, PhD.

Following surgery, Ms. T.’s breathing quickly stabilized. She regained mobility, resumed eating normally, and was discharged after five days. At her one-week follow-up, her health had significantly improved —  her appetite returned, wounds healed well, and she no longer experienced shortness of breath or chest pain.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Huu Vinh, PhD emphasized: “Chest injuries resulting from falls from a height, especially when the chest directly impacts the ground, can cause serious damage to the lungs and thoracic structures. Without timely intervention, the patient may rapidly deteriorate due to respiratory failure or face long-term complications such as lung infections”.

He also cautioned the public to take great care when climbing, particularly middle-aged and elderly individuals, who are more prone to falls due to impaired balance and slower reflexes. In cases of chest trauma with symptoms like intense chest pain or difficulty breathing, patients should be brought immediately to a hospital with a thoracic surgery department to ensure proper and timely treatment.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital

No. 88, Street No. 8, Trung Son Residential Area, Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotline: 18006767

info@nih.com.vn

BRC: No. 0312088602, issued on December 14th, 2012 by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City. Medical Examination and Treatment License No. 230/BYT-GPHĐ, issued by the Ministry of Health.