October 20, 2011
Is it possible that Natasha Richardson could have been saved if she had sought medical treatment?
Posted by: Admin : Category: Treatments
According to the autopsy results, she died from an epidural hematoma that resulted from blunt impact. After she fell during her skiing lesson, she apparently refused medical treatment when it was offered to her. If she had gone to the hospital in time, is there any way that the doctors could have treated her epidural hematoma in time to save her?
Popularity: 3% [?]
Plurk This Post 
Buzz This Post 
Delicious 
Digg This Post 
Facebook 
MySpace 
Ping This Post 
Reddit 
Stumble This Post
8 Responses to “Is it possible that Natasha Richardson could have been saved if she had sought medical treatment?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:03 am
Speaking as a retired specialist in intensive care, I am also surprised at the outcome, and assume that if she had got to the neurosurgeons earlier, she might have lived. We do not know, of course, whether there were any complicating factors, such as a bleeding tendency, which might have aggravated the situation.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:50 am
It is possible, yes, but not certain.
An epidural hematoma from blunt impact means a physical blow broke blood vessels inside her skull. Blood leaked into the area between the brain covering and the skull, increasing pressure and compressing the brain. Because it was epidural, the broken blood vessels were arteries, which are high pressure and would have filled the brain cavity quickly, shifting and compressing the brain. This compression causes damage to the brain and can eventually be fatal.
Since Ms. Richardson was conscious and lucid for at least a short time immediately after the injury, she would have had a good prognosis had she been immediately admitted to a hospital. A neurosurgeon could have attempted to either drain the blood by drilling a hold in her skull to remove pressure or even to operate on her brain itself in an attempt to close broken blood vessels.
Epidural hematomas have a higher recovery rate than most types of brain injuries, because the brain itself is not severely injured and the primary risk is from pressure build-up from blood flow, which can be relieved.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:38 am
She had no pre-existing conditions from what it says in the new yahoo article so if she went in immediately, I think she might have lived, however it’s likely that she would have had brain damage. Yet, how could she have known that something was wrong with her? If you fell and got back up and felt fine, would you rush to the hospital? I probly wouldn’t before I heard about this. But now I will be more careful. I don’t think we should dwell on the “what ifs” . It was her time to go. It’s tragic and unfair but think of the awarness she also raised about blunt force trauma. This could possibly save hundreds of lives.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:56 am
Probably, if she’d gotten a CT scan or MRI, but honestly, would you go to hospital if you felt perfectly fine?
October 20th, 2011 at 6:14 am
Excellent speculative question. I hope the autopsy results are made public. Like many others, I suspect epidural hematoma. The “lucid interval” before going into coma is classic tip-off.
But other underlying problems are also possible, especially those that involve blood clotting. One patient of mine who presented with an uncontrolled nosebleed was found to have leukemia. Another patient who exsanguinated was found at post to have Wilson’s disease. These are rare but possible causes.
October 20th, 2011 at 6:42 am
Yes, by relieving the pressure on her brain that ended up killing her.
October 20th, 2011 at 6:55 am
A simple cat scan would have indicated a problem and surgury could save her Its sad TANG and in this case yes she could have lived!!!
you know even if she refused medical treatment the medical teams still could require her to see her doctor . its just sad and regreatable . good day dino
October 20th, 2011 at 7:25 am
I actually got scared when I heard about her death and what happened to her because I am a survivor of Epidural hematoma and it’s scary to know someone died from something I had. Growing up I should have researched about it but I didnt. I was 3 years old when it happened, I looked completely fine but my mom said I complained of not feeling well and I lasted 2-3 hours before I passed out. I live about 7 to 10 minutes away from the hospital and my mom told me that the doctor said if I lived farther away, I would have died. I’m saying my mom told me because I dont remember any of it and after it all happened I had to learn how to go to the bathroom again, it took me 2 years to learn again.
So…with that I think the doctors would have been able to if she had gotten there in time because I passed out and my mom said I wouldnt wake up and then thats when she called 911 and HEY! im still walking and talking. I have a dent in my head and a 13 inch long scar that wraps from my hair line around and then to my ear but its all good. Oh and Im 16 now.
I think she didnt make it because of how far away she was from a hospital.
Im not a specialist or a doctor but I actually lived through it and I know what happen to her is like what happen to me because I read the reports and they match exactly to what happened to me.