Initial Assessment and Communication
The Crisis24 medical team promptly contacted the treating physician to inquire about the patient’s condition. The medical assessment revealed a high probability of a life-threatening dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which would likely require evacuation to a larger medical facility with more specialized treatment capabilities.
In this case, continuous coordination between multiple parties was required from the beginning, including the energy services company, the health insurer, an air ambulance provider, and several medical facilities in multiple countries. Other complicating factors included financial and logistical hurdles related to patient placement and hospital admission approvals, as well as a tight timeline given the patient’s critical health status.
Evaluation of Medical Evacuation Options
The patient’s treating physician in Equatorial Guinea advised that he should be evacuated to a larger medical facility in his home country of Belgium as quickly and safely as possible. The Crisis24 medical team made the decision that an urgent transfer to the nearest appropriate medical facility was necessary, and that Belgium did not meet this criterion. Therefore, in conjunction with the Global Operations Center, Crisis24 conducted urgent outreach to medical centers in Nairobi (Kenya), Spain’s Grand Canary Island, and Johannesburg (South Africa), as well as the appropriate air ambulance providers, to facilitate the earliest available transfer and admission.
Air Ambulance Transfer to Advanced Healthcare Facility
As soon as the Crisis24 medical team confirmed fitness for travel, the Crisis24 operations team engaged the air ambulance provider to facilitate repatriation to the hospital in Johannesburg, which is widely considered to be the most advanced healthcare facility in Africa. Within 36 hours of receiving the initial emergency call from the employer’s HR department, the air ambulance transfer was successfully completed, and the patient was safely handed over to the cardiothoracic surgeon in Johannesburg without any complications.
Ongoing Monitoring and Support
The Crisis24 medical team maintained close communication with the hospital in Johannesburg to ensure all stakeholders received timely and appropriate updates. Ultimately, the patient did not require emergency surgery but would require elective surgery in the near future to correct the aneurysm. After a few days of close monitoring, the patient’s medical team assessed that it was safe for the patient to fly back to his home country for follow-up care from a cardiothoracic surgeon.
