Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC), a facility under the PureHealth subsidiary SEHA, has successfully treated a patient who arrived with severe injuries following a motorcycle accident. The patient initially presented to the Emergency Department with a pelvic fracture and significant chest trauma. Shortly after admission, the individual suffered cardiac arrest due to tension pneumothorax. Emergency staff immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and a thoracic consultant performed a chest tube insertion to restore spontaneous circulation.
Following stabilization, the patient was moved to the operating theatre to manage a massive haemothorax while remaining in a state of shock. Although the patient was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, their condition worsened within hours, manifesting as profound shock that required the administration of multiple vasopressors and inotropes. A rapid reassessment in the Cardiac ICU revealed obstructive shock caused by cardiac tamponade, a critical condition that posed an immediate threat to the patient’s life.
To address this emergency, the medical team prepared for potential cardiac arrest by setting up contingency measures, including bedside needle aspiration and mechanical chest compression support. Simultaneously, cardiac surgery and anaesthesia teams were mobilized. In a highly coordinated effort, the ICU room was converted into an emergency procedural space within minutes. This allowed surgeons to perform a critical chest incision to evacuate the blood clot compressing the heart. The intervention was successful, leading to a significant improvement in the patient’s haemodynamic status.
The patient’s recovery progressed steadily, with extubation occurring the following day. After further clinical improvement and mobilization, the patient was transferred to a rehabilitation unit to continue physiotherapy for their pelvic fracture. Dr. Ali Al Alshamsi, Head of the Cardiovascular Department at STMC, noted that the case highlights the decisive impact of rapid clinical assessment, early escalation, and seamless coordination between emergency, surgical, and intensive care teams.
Dr. Tamer Montaser, Cardiac Intensive Care and ECMO Consultant Lead, emphasized that the outcome demonstrates the importance of early recognition and teamwork in managing complex trauma. He stated that the case reflects the facility’s commitment to delivering high-quality care during life-threatening situations. This event underscores STMC’s core strengths, including its multidisciplinary approach, structured emergency response, and the ability to perform urgent, life-saving interventions without delay, further strengthening trauma care pathways across Abu Dhabi and the UAE.