In a press briefing on Tuesday morning, Massachusetts general medical staff discussed the condition of patients being treated after two bombs exploded near the finish line of Monday’s Boston Marathon.
So far, physicians have performed four amputations and two more limbs are at risk of having to be removed. Stating that the amputations that have been performed were almost complete traumatic amputations and that surgeons just finished “what the bomb had already done.”
Almost all of the injuries were to the lower extremities which resulted in massive blood loss.
Doctor relayed that they had removed numerous “metallic fragments” from the victims. The fragments were said to be sharp metal and ball bearings, but the medical staff were unable to say how many came from the bomb or were items in the environment. The lead surgeon said that his opinion was that “most of them came from the bomb.”
The majority of patients in the intensive care unit are still breathing with the help of intubation and respiratory apparatus which precludes interview of the most seriously injured.
While expressing a sense of pride over the reaction by medical staff and their ability to limit the loss of life and limb, one of the physicians in the presser stated that “It’s an extremely sad day for all of us.”
