Last Patient From Asiana Crash Released From SF General Hospital
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The last patient who was still hospitalized following the Asiana Airlines plane crash at San Francisco International Airport in July has been released, San Francisco General Hospital officials announced Wednesday.
The female patient, whose name hasn't been released, was transferred to a rehabilitation facility in good condition on Tuesday after suffering life-threatening injuries in the July 6 crash, according to the hospital.
She was treated for a paralyzing spinal cord injury, road burns over 30 percent of her body and intestinal wounds that prevented her from ingesting solid food for two months, hospital officials said.
The patient underwent about 30 surgical procedures during her 15-week stay at the hospital.
"This hospital saved her life," said Dr. Margaret Knudson, the hospital's chief of surgery, who performed 21 of the procedures.
"She's one of the sickest patients I've ever cared for in my career. Our whole team breathed a big sigh of relief when she left. Not that we're glad that she's gone of course, but we're glad that she made it," Knudson said.
San Francisco General Hospital treated a total of 67 patients from the Boeing 777 plane, which struck a seawall while trying to land at the airport, causing the tail section to separate from the rest of the aircraft.
Three girls died in the crash and its aftermath, and more than 180 passengers were injured.
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed on final approach to San Francisco International Airport on July 6. Two passengers died at the crash scene and a third died several days later.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
