Australian Doctor Bores Skull With Power Drill to Save 12-year-old Boy

A country doctor in Australia has saved a 12-year-old boy’s life by boring into his skull with a power drill.

Nicholas Rossi suffered bleeding to the brain and began drifting in and out of consciousness after falling from his bike near a friend's home in Maryborough, Victoria.

After realising the local hospital did not have the necessary surgical equipment, Dr Rob Carson used a drill from the maintenance room to bore into the boy's skull and relieve the pressure on his brain.

He was given advice on the phone by leading Melbourne neurosurgeon David Wallace.

Nicholas was airlifted to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital an hour later and released yesterday.

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Michael Rossi says his son would have died if Dr Carson had not acted quickly.

"He came out and he saw us and he said he's only got one shot at it, and one shot only," he said. "[He said] 'I'm going to drill into Nick's head and try and relieve the pressure'."

"And he said if we can relieve the pressure he's going to reach Melbourne via air ambulance in a lot better shape than if we don't try something.

"Dr Carson told me all he can remember saying is, 'Get the Black and Decker'."

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Anaesthetist David Tynan assisted with the procedure and says Dr Carson saved the boy's life.

"He seems to have made a marvellous recovery," he said.

"It was obvious the next morning [when] they were able to take him off the ventilator and in fact by Sunday he was up and walking around."

Indeed Nicholas Rossi has made a full recovery after the procedure and celebrated his 13th birthday yesterday.

The Rural Doctors Association says the life-saving treatment highlights the need for more investment in rural health.

Nola Maxfield says the Victorian Government should ensure all rural hospitals are equipped to handle such an emergency.

"You need well trained doctors with a wide range of skills in rural communities," she said.

"You can't simply rely on patients being able to be transferred out."

Source-Medindia
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