Quake doctor in experts call

2008-6-6

AT least 12 percent of the 20,000 people severely injured in the Sichuan earthquake have suffered paralysis, amputations and other injuries requiring long-term rehabilitation, said a local member of the Ministry of Health team treating critical patients.

Doctor Dai Kerong from Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital said the authorities should encourage more people to become rehabilitation professionals, as China lacked occupational therapists who help disabled people to maximize their skills, abilities and quality of life.

Dai spent nine days with two Beijing experts in the frontline to set up criteria for critical patients, work out standards for patient transportation, issue guidelines for medical treatment and screen patients needing intensive care.

"Disaster medicine is not a course in domestic medical schools," Dai said.

"Apart from medical capability, a good system and well-organized team are much more important.

"Staff training and a preplan are essential to deal with disasters such as the Sichuan earthquake."

The three-member team performed high-risk surgery on Zhang Jianhua, a 17-year-old middle school student with severe injuries and multi-organ failure.

Amputation was thought to be the best solution to save his life before the experts found him at Mianyang No. 3 People's Hospital on May 29 and transferred him to Chengdu.

"We finally saved the boy's life and his four limbs," Dai said. "He was given 16 liters of blood, three times of a person's blood volume, during the six-hour surgery. He is still critical. But information from Sichuan says he is getting better every day."

Yesterday, a local rescue team organized by Shanghai Food and Drug Administration and the 43 members of a team of engineering professionals sent by the Shanghai Water Authority were back in Shanghai after completing their tasks in Sichuan.