The bombing of nightclubs in Bali on the night of October 12, 2002 was one of the worst peacetime disasters affecting Australians. This paper examines the unique role of anaesthetists in helping manage the victims, with the main emphasis on events in Darwin. Anaesthetists were involved in the multiple stages of patient care; from the hospital in Bali, evacuation to Darwin, resuscitation and onward evacuation to burns units around Australia as well as definitive surgical management. We discuss the role of anaesthetists in disaster management.
SouthwickG.J., PethickA.J., ThalayasingamP., VijayasekaranV.S., HoggJ.J.W.Australian doctors in Bali: the initial medical response to the Bali bombing.Med J Aust2002; 177: 624–626.
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HampsonG.V., CookS.P., FrederiksenS.R.Operation Bali Assist. The Australian Defence Force response to the Bali bombing, 12 October 2002.Med J Aust2002; 177: 620–623.
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PalmerD.J., StephensDP, FisherD., NotarasL., SpainB.T., ReadD.12/10 Bali bombing: The Royal Darwin Hospital Response.Med J Aust (in press).
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StephensD.P., De KeulenaerB.L., CollinsS., HarbisonP.W., WeidmannG., PotterA.W.Operation Bali Assist—The Royal Darwin Hospital Intensive Care Unit.Anaesth Intensive Care2003; 31: 298–303.
