BEAR-Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval

As part of the clinical meeting today, we were honored to have Dr Dinesh Pradhan, Neonatologist, join us to share pearls on preventing hypothermia and delivering effective neonatal ventilation.

Hypothermia in neonates can have devastating consequences, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality. The majority of neonates we airlift present with respiratory distress and require timely and effective ventilatory support.

We are also deeply grateful to receive an Embrace Warmer and a Murk’s Oxyflow device, which provides both PEEP and PIP during mechanical ventilation. These vital additions to our service were made possible through generous support from UNICEF Bhutan.

Strengthening our skills and equipping our team with the right tools ensures we continue to provide safe, high-quality care to our most vulnerable patients.

UNICEF Bhutan

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The Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval Team joins the nation in celebrating the auspicious 118th National Day of Bhutan. On this joyous occasion, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to delivering timely, compassionate, and high-quality emergency medical care wherever and whenever it is needed.

May our beloved country continue to be blessed with peace and unity under the benevolent guidance of the Wangchuck Dynasty.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝟏𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧. 𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧.

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐤!

Tandin Wangchuk

A 33-year-old woman in obstructed labour at Tashichoeling Hospital was planned for transfer to JDWNRH in anticipation of NICU support for her baby. Upon the BEAR Team’s arrival, she was found to be fully dilated and crowning.

Given the urgency and with weather conditions making a longer transfer to JDWNRH less ideal, the team diverted to Samtse, where a paediatrician is available. As the helicopter touched down, our team safely delivered a healthy baby boy on board. The newborn required minimal stimulation before achieving full APGAR scores.

Both mother and baby are doing well and are currently receiving care at Samtse General Hospital. This marks the second successful in-flight delivery by the BEAR Team.

Sharing a 🫀 success story

On 2nd Seotember, a 77-year-old female presented to Samdrupcholing Hospital with sudden onset of chest pain on the left side, radiating to the left arm—symptoms that had started two days earlier. She had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid problems, but had unfortunately stopped taking their medications.

Doctors diagnosed a STEMI based on the ECG and transferred the patient to Samdrup Jongkhar Hospital for further tests. There, they consulted with the interventional cardiologist, who advised medication including blood thinners and statins. As more than 48 hours had passed since the pain began, thrombolysis (clot busting therapy) wasn’t performed.

The next day, on 3rd September around 12:15pm, the BEAR Team airlifted the patient to JDWNRH. The patient was shifted straight to the Cath Lab and by 2:27 PM, underwent an coronary angiogram which showed severe blockages in multiple heart vessels—including a full blockage in one of the main arteries, the left anterior descending artery. A life-saving stenting procedure (PCI) was done successfully by the intervention cardiologist.

Optimal patient outcome due to the excellent team work and coordination of all the teams involved—from the hospitals in Samdrup Jongkhar, the BEAR Team and the cath lab team in Thimphu.

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Indeed community spirit, camaraderie & teamwork in action! Pictured here are flight medic Tenzin Pelzang and the pilot of Drukair Helicopter Services working together to safely load the patient into the helicopter. Upon arrival at JDWNRH, she underwent neuroimaging and received the necessary treatment — a true testament to coordinated efforts for timely care.
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Yesterday, a 66-year-old women from Cheyma-Melongkhar chiwog under Yallang Gewog had a very close brush with death. She was out in the fields, doing what our farmers do best—planting paddy—when tragedy struck. Somehow, she drowned in the water. No one was around. Hours passed. Silence.

Read more: https://entrepreneurbhutan.com/a-stitch-in-time-truly-saves-nine/


Story Shared on Gewog page

We join the nation in offering our heartfelt prayers and wishes for His Majesty's long life and good health.
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✨Long live your majesty ✨

We congratulate Dr. Mahesh Gurung interventional cardiologist, on his truly well deserved National Order of Merit (Gold). We have been witness to his hard work, dedication and commitment. In fact, just today we've been involved in the medical evacuation of two patients with myocardial infarction, one thrombolysed at ERRH and one thrombolysed at the scene by the BEAR Team and airlifted from Lhamoizingkha for PCI by Dr. Mahesh. We commend your hard work and congratulate you on this recognition from the Throne.

We also congratulate Dr. Dechen Wangmo for the recognition with the National Order of Merit (Silver). You will remain an inspiration for our youth.

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We join the nation in celebrating the 117th National Day of Bhutan. We re-dedicated our services to the Tsa-Wa-Sum 🙏

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏𝟕𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 🇧🇹✨

On December 3rd, BEAR Team members from JDWNRH held a Clinical Meeting. We reviewed statistics from the past two months and conducted an in-depth discussion on a postpartum hemorrhage case in which the team was involved during patient evacuation.

As part of the Skillsburst segment, Dr. Jambay Choden, flight doctor, presented a video demonstrating the technique of condom tamponade, a valuable intervention the BEAR Team can utilize during transfers involving patients with ongoing postpartum hemorrhage.

Offering our prayers for His Majesty's good health and longevity
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✨🇧🇹𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐤 𝐆𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 🇧🇹 ✨