A police officer is shot point-blank in the face during a routine traffic stop, the .38 caliber bullet severing his internal carotid artery at the base of his skull. Most wouldn't survive this catastrophic injury, but at Emanuel Hospital—a place Dr. Bryce Potter describes as "a hard place to die"—something remarkable happens.

Dr. Bill Long is joined by Dr. Bryce Potter, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, as they take us through the harrowing case, revealing how innovative thinking saved this officer's life. When trauma surgeon Dr. John Zelko found himself literally holding back torrential bleeding with his finger, he made the crucial decision to call for help—an act that Dr. Long emphasizes is vital but sometimes prevented by ego in medical settings.

The solution? Dr. Potter improvised with bone wax and a muscle flap to permanently seal an un-repairable artery. Meanwhile, the team implemented their groundbreaking massive transfusion protocol, replacing the officer's entire blood volume multiple times during surgery using four specialized trauma nurses simultaneously administering blood components.

What truly sets this team apart is their philosophy of immediate intervention. "The patient is never more healthy than when they first present," Dr. Potter explains, challenging the standard practice of delaying facial fracture repairs. Their approach of immediate tracheostomy and fracture reduction not only stopped bleeding but dramatically shortened hospital stays and improved outcomes.

The police officer not only survived but eventually returned to active duty, despite the inevitable stroke. He had a permanent left hemiplegia resulting from the right carotid artery transection, and he underwent months of intensive rehabilitation. He is now confined to a wheelchair but is able to communicate orally with his devoted wife and family. His wife has worked out the logistics of transporting him in a vehicle to wherever they need and want to go. This case exemplifies how medical innovation comes not just from technology but from the willingness to challenge established protocols based on observed outcomes.

Join us to discover how these pioneering trauma techniques continue to influence trauma care of critically injured patients and why, sometimes, the most important medical tool is simply refusing to give up on a patient others might consider beyond saving.

To learn more about these life saving strategies and techniques, look for Dr. Long’s upcoming book, Flatline to Lifeline.

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Producer: Esther McDonald

Technical Director: Lindsey Kealey, of PAWsitive Choices

Editing and Post Production: Adam Scott of Atamu Media Productions

© Flatline to Lifeline 2025