Recently, a 20-year-old man with a severe brain injury and life-threatening infection has survived after a seven-hour emergency surgery carried out jointly by the China Medical Team and local doctors at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
The patient was admitted one week after being hit on the head by a stone, with impaired consciousness. CT scans confirmed a comminuted depressed fracture of the right occipital bone, cerebellar compression and a developing brain abscess, placing him at high risk of fatal brain herniation.
On examination, the drowsy patient showed rapid heart rate and breathing, slow pupillary response and neck stiffness — warning signs that respiratory or cardiac arrest could occur at any time. A 3-cm infected wound on the right occiput indicated spreading intracranial infection.
China Medical Team responded immediately to an emergency call and arrived at NRH to support the operation. Local facilities lacked sufficient instruments and supplies for the complex posterior fossa craniotomy.
Dr. Chu, neurosurgeons from the China Medical Team, provided critical equipment brought from China, including bipolar forceps, scalp clips, brain cotton pads and hemostatic sponges. The combined team, including Chinese Dr. Chu, Dr. Denton and Dr. Grevis and others from NRH, prepared rapidly and adapted available devices to begin surgery.
The procedure started at 8 p.m. The team performed decompressive craniectomy, removed bone fragments compressing brain tissue, incised the abscess and completed thorough drainage of the infected area. The operation was highly delicate due to the narrow, deep posterior fossa space and fragile infected tissue.
Throughout the surgery, the Chinese neurosurgeon worked closely with local clinicians, demonstrating key steps and sharing technical knowledge. The seven-hour operation ended successfully at 3 a.m.
The patient has made a full recovery. He is conscious, responsive and stable, with normal limb movement and a well-healed wound. He has returned home to his family. The operation demonstrates close medical cooperation between China and Solomon Islands, delivering critical care to save a young life in Solomon Islands.
