London medics get on with saving lives in Haiti

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Doctors from the charity Merlin are working from a field hospital on a former tennis court to help some of the worst-hit victims of the disaster.

Plastic surgeon Waseen Riaz Saeed and five colleagues – working under canvas and using a headlamp to provide light – worked to save the leg of 21-year-old Emmanuel Etan.

The victim was forced to remain conscious with only a local anaesthetic to his lower body to nullify the pain as the lack of oxygen makes general anaesthetic too dangerous.

Victoria Jeal, a 27-year-old operating department practitioner, said: "I've been wishing I could do more but now I'm exhausted. But this is what we came for and it's good to start."

Mr Saeed said: "This was an urgent case because his muscle was dying. We will know in three days whether we got to it in time to restore the blood supply and allow it to regenerate but if we have done I will expect him to be walking in five days and be back to normal within a month."

His colleague Agit Sivasankaran said the supply of oxygen remains an essential factor over the coming days.

"If things go well, having no oxygen is not a problem but if a patient has complications, it is a must. So at the moment it is not ideal but what we have here is the best we can provide."

Haiti emergency appeal

Merlin is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. You can donate to the DEC Haiti appeal online at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 900.

For more information about Merlin's Haiti response please go to: www.merlin.org.uk or call 020 7014 1714.