A former nurse performed emergency treatment on an American passenger on a flight to Thailand

Adi Dekal, a former nurse at Klalit Hospital Fund, who owns a clinic in the field of permanent makeup, found herself last week in a situation she never thought she would encounter again – emergency treatment during a flight to Thailand, of a passenger who suffered from severe pain and was unable to urinate.

Dekel (36) toldmako Health because she boarded an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok with her husband and four children, when at one point a call was heard on the plane that made everyone jump: “Suddenly someone asks if there is a doctor or a nurse on the plane. Just like in the movie.” According to her, although she has not worked as a nurse for years, she got up and went over to help. “At first I hesitated, I thought there might be people more skilled than me”, she describes, “but when I realized what was happening – there was no question”.

According to her, a German doctor volunteered to help an American passenger around the age of 50. “He was in crazy pain,” she describes. “We realized very quickly that he was unable to urinate, and this is a situation that can be very acute.” According to her, the patient suffered from an enlarged prostate and was taking medication, but during the flight his condition worsened. “It was about an hour and a half after we took off,” she says. “Not giving a liter and a half of urine – that’s a lot.”

The solution that was required was the insertion of a catheter, but it quickly became clear that the big problem was actually the equipment. According to her, although there was an emergency kit on the plane, it was far from complete. “We only had gloves,” she says. “There was no lubricant, syringe, or dedicated water. There was nothing.”

Dekel says that due to the lack of equipment, the initial attempt was simply not successful. “It didn’t slip,” she says. “You try, and you realize that it doesn’t go in, and the passenger only suffers more.” At the same time, according to her, the plane’s crew has already gone on alert. “The flight attendants were under pressure”, she describes. “They stood behind the curtain with pale faces. They told us it was an emergency, and we were over India – we almost landed there.”

In the end, the solution came from another passenger who was on the flight. “She had other material and she gave it to us,” says Dekel. “And suddenly it worked. It was a crazy relief.” According to her, as soon as the catheter went in, the change was immediate. “Suddenly a stream of urine started coming out,” she describes. “Me and the doctor were so happy to see that, because you understand that the operation worked. The patient breathed a sigh of relief after excruciating pain.”

Dekel and the doctor remained with the passenger behind the curtain even after the situation had stabilized. “We stayed with him until the urine came out, we evacuated and instructed him what to do,” she says. “We fixed his catheter with plasters and told him that as soon as he gets off the plane – he must seek proper treatment.”

Just before landing there was also a moment of gratitude that you will never forget. “I broke up with him at the end and he didn’t stop confessing,” she says. “He said we were his angels. His wife told me she would never forget me in her life.”