2025 Trauma University: Case Study - Bear Attack Response-Handout: Bear Attack Response

Handout: Bear Attack Response

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The document outlines a coordinated response framework for dealing with severe polytrauma incidents resulting from bear attacks, as managed by University of Utah Health in 2017. This multi-agency effort includes search and rescue teams, air medical services, trauma hospitals, and highly specialized surgical teams. Katherine Keefe, MD, a fellow at the University of California Davis, emphasizes the critical importance of synchronized care among involved parties to manage complex facial and airway trauma, particularly in remote settings where time-sensitive interventions and multidisciplinary collaboration are essential.<br /><br />Various agencies participated in a mock training scenario, namely Montana Search & Rescue, Life Flight Network, and Bozeman Health Deaconess, to name a few. These efforts are coordinated under the Trauma Center Association of America, following strict security and confidentiality policies.<br /><br />In a specific case study discussed, Life Flight interventions included advanced airway management, mechanical ventilation, and resuscitation efforts. The case revealed challenges such as airway complications from facial trauma, including edema, hemorrhage, and fractures.<br /><br />At Bozeman Deaconess, secondary surveys involved handling severe injuries like mandibular disruption and multiple lacerations. Interventions included tracheostomy placement and wound repairs in various body regions.<br /><br />The University of Utah Health Trauma Program received the patient via fixed-wing transfer, performing primary airway and breathing assessments and a comprehensive secondary survey to identify further injuries.<br /><br />Reconstruction efforts involved the application of advanced surgical and prosthetic techniques, focusing on mandible and lip reconstruction, with the post-operative course involving further wound care and nutrition management. The document underscores the unique challenges of facial trauma and the necessity of rigorous coordination in remote trauma cases, highlighting various advanced medical interventions and thanking the teams and individuals involved.

Keywords

polytrauma

bear attacks

University of Utah Health

trauma management

airway trauma

multidisciplinary collaboration

Life Flight Network

facial reconstruction

surgical techniques

remote trauma care