The Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons takes the viewer into “The Management of Gunshot Wounds of the Abdomen.” Made under the supervision of Dr. Robert J. Freeark, a surgeon who established the nation’s first trauma unit, the film includes graphic scenes of a gunshot victim’s wounds and of abdominal surgery. It opens at mark 00:54 with the arrival of the victim at an emergency room. Such an event, we are told, sets into motion a standardized management plan, which is shown on the screen: resuscitation, tracking the missile, preparation for surgery, and operative repair. The film then details each step, beginning with resuscitation at mark 01:25, as ER personnel take vital signs, draw blood, and conduct a physical exam — including a rectal exam — which is shown at mark 03:21. At mark 03:48, the film delves into the tracking of a missile, including inspection of the wound on a victim and x-rays. Mark 04:51 shows a doctor inserting a tube into a patient’s side at blood and pus drain out to prevent a potential pneumothorax. The patient is ready to be prepared for surgery by mark 07:23, including an examination of the peritoneal cavity, as a physician probes a victim’s buttock, hips, and groin after he was shot in the side. Once the gunshot victim is ready for surgery, a surgeon quickly cuts an incision starting at mark 09:17 as blood and fluids are shown rushing out of the resulting abdominal cavity. Loops of bloody small intestine and the rectum are examined by the surgeon as he locates entrance and exit wounds in the body, and at mark 11:00 is shown examining a perforated portion of the end of the small intestine where it intersects with the large intestine. Another lengthy operative scene begins at mark 14:30, with surgeons again shown using a scalpel to create a large incision in the patient’s abdomen and doctors and nurses then pull out his intestines as blood floods the field. Once bleeding is controlled, the operating team are shown conducting a meticulous and graphic abdominal exam and noting all areas of penetration before detailed surgical repairs are shown being conducted on his ureter and small bowel. As the operation, and the film, nears an end, the surgical staff scoops the patient’s intestines back into to the abdominal cavity and begin to close the incision by mark 27:55.
Raised in Chicago, Dr. Robert Freeark is credited with establishing the first trauma unit in the country in 1965 as chairman of surgery at Cook County Hospital. While at Loyola, he pioneered many efforts, including the development of the Aero Medical Program, which brought the Lifestar helicopter to Loyola.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
