Case Study 16: Williamstown to Hamilton (NZ)

Williamstown Hospital to Waikato District Hospital Hamilton New Zealand

A 58 year old male was admitted to Western Hospital in January 2013 after an out of hospital Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) arrest while driving a truck. Bystanders commenced cardio pulmonary resuscitation at the scene before his rhythm was reverted by ambulance officers.

Intubated and cooled he was transferred to the Western Hospital intensive care unit, the initial Computer Tomography (CT) brain scan was normal, however, a repeat CT brain scan showed an extensive left Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) and Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) watershed territory infarct with haemorrhage transformation secondary to VF arrest and long downtime. This was further complicated by abnormal liver function test secondary to ischemic hepatic, and ventilator acquired pneumonia requiring tracheostomy.

He continued to make improvements however, complicated by his co-mordibities his progress was slow and he was transferred to Williamstown Hospital transitional care unit with a right hemiparesis with severe global receptive and expressive dysphasia, severe oral and verbal dyspraxia.

After a further five weeks of rehabilitation the patient had demonstrated some improvement. Medical Connect conducted a risk assessment and 9 weeks after his first hospital admission he was clinically stable to fly and he was repatriated home to Hamilton New Zealand for ongoing rehabilitation and family support.