Peking University, Mar. 6, 2014: The terrorist attack which happened on the night of March 1st at Kunming Train Station has left 29 dead and 143 wounded. On the very same night, the National Health and Family Planning Commission built a team of medical experts for the immediate tasks of treating the victims of the attack and supervising the local medical aid.

Dr. Yao Gaiqi from the Critical Care Medicine Dept. of Peking University Third Hospital (PUTH) and Dr. Guo Yan from the Orthopedic Dept. were among the first group of specialists who set off for Kunming at 6:40 am on March 2nd. In the next 48 hours, Dr. Jiang Yong from the General Surgery Dept. of Peking University First Hospital (PUFH), Dr. He Zhisong from the Genito-Urinary Surgery Dept. and Dr. Zhao Hui from the Breast Surgery Dept. of Peking University People's Hospital (PUPH) also hastened to Kunming to join the team.

At 9:00 pm on March 3rd, Dr. Guo Yan, the orthopedist from PUTH, finished a two-hour surgical operation, which was the first operation performed by a member from the specialist team. The patient was Mr. Qin, a 51-year-old ex-serviceman who got injured when he assisted the police in capturing the attackers.

The serious casualties weighed heavily on Dr. Zhao Hui, a surgeon from PUPH. Dr. Zhao said, "Judging from the attackers' way of assault, the victims may have suffered thoraco-abdominal injuries, thorough-and-thorough wounds, hemothorax, hemopneumothorax, tracheal transections, lung ruptures or even cardiac tamponade. We will strive to save as many lives as possible and alleviate the patients' pain with our professional knowledge, skills and experience."

During the 72 hours after the attack, the 29 medical experts who were selected by the National Health and Family Planning Commission from Beijing, Shanghai and Sichuan Province arrived in Kunming. Dr. Yao Gaiqi from PUTH was appointed as the leader of the specialist team, which was divided into five groups. Each group was in charge of different tasks such as screening the patients, consultation and treatment of the severely injured.

Medical experts treating victims of the attack

Written by: Chen Jiayu
Edited by: Zhu Wenjia
Source: PKU News (Chinese)