On December 26, 2025, while transporting goods at his workplace, Mr. N.H. (28 years old), a resident of Tay Ninh province, suddenly encountered a serious incident when an elevator malfunctioned, pinning his neck area. The accident caused him to collapse with multiple severe injuries. Immediately afterward, colleagues quickly rescued him and took the victim to Xuyen A Tay Ninh General Hospital for emergency treatment.
By the morning of January 8, 2026, the latest information on the above emergency case showed that the young man had made clear improvements in his health, was conscious, breathing well on his own, and had stable vital signs.
The patient is gradually recovering and being closely monitored after surgery.
Previously, upon admission to the Emergency Department, Mr. H. was determined to be in critical condition with respiratory failure, severe circulatory failure, complex crushing-open injuries to the head and neck area; his left auricle was nearly severed, directly threatening his life.
Immediately, the emergency team activated an in-hospital red alert, mobilizing medical staff from the Interdisciplinary Department, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Trauma, Anesthesiology & Resuscitation, and Intensive Care to be present for an on-site consultation.
The patient was quickly intubated to secure the airway, stabilize circulation, and undergo necessary diagnostic tests. Observations in the emergency room noted that Mr. H. had complex open injuries to the head-neck area and severe hemodynamic instability.
Diagnostic imaging revealed the severity of the accident, showing the patient had serious tracheal injuries, fractures of ribs 1-2 on both sides, accompanied by widespread subcutaneous emphysema. This is a critical type of trauma, with a risk of progressing to respiratory arrest and cardiovascular collapse if not handled promptly.
Mr. H. was hospitalized in critical condition.
The patient was quickly transferred to the operating room. Under the coordinated efforts of the Interdisciplinary team, the complex injuries in the neck, ear, and airway were sequentially addressed. After surgery, the patient continued to be monitored and received active treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with close supervision of respiratory and circulatory parameters.
After 2 days of intensive care treatment, the patient's condition improved markedly; he was conscious, breathing well on his own, and hemodynamically stable. Mr. H. was extubated and transferred back to the Interdisciplinary Department for continued monitoring and treatment.
Sharing about the case, Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat, MD, MSc – Head of the Intensive Care Department, stated that neck trauma from elevator accidents is an exceptionally dangerous type of injury, capable of simultaneously damaging the airway, major blood vessels, and the respiratory system.
Previously, in June 2025, Bai Chay Hospital (Quang Ninh province) also activated a red alert to save the life of a 16-year-old male patient who was pinned by an elevator on his neck for about 2.5 minutes, resulting in deep coma, circulatory failure, and respiratory failure.
Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat also warned that occupational accidents involving elevators and mechanical machinery can occur suddenly and leave particularly severe consequences. Workers must strictly comply with safety regulations and absolutely must not be complacent during work processes.
People who suffer accidents causing injuries to the neck, chest, or airway should quickly go to medical facilities capable of resuscitation and specialized surgery for timely intervention.
