UPDATE: Here’s a video of Dr. Sava’s press appearance…

ORIGINAL POST: Below is a transcript of the prepared briefing remarks of Dr. Jack Sava, Director of Trauma at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, who leads the team of surgeons managing the condition of Rep. Steve Scalise after he was brought to that hospital Wednesday morning. Sava’s statement is worth reading without us to filter it, because it tells a harrowing, and yet possibly heroic, story of the fight for Scalise’s life.

We are very lucky not to have lost Rep. Scalise, and our thanks go out to Dr. Sava and his team for saving him. Our prayers go out for a full recovery.

Opening remarks of Dr. Jack Sava, as prepared for delivery:

“We are aware that many in the nation are concerned about the patients brought to us for care, after the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday, June 14.  I want to provide some background and an update.

“Special Agent Crystal Griner with the United States Capitol Police sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle, and remains hospitalized in good condition.

“Congressman Steve Scalise sustained a single wound from a rifle, entering in the area of his left hip.  The bullet traveled straight across toward the other hip, in what we call a transpelvic gunshot wound.  The round fragmented, and caused significant damage to bones, internal organs and blood vessels.  I understand he was awake initially, but due to severe bleeding, by the time he arrived at MedSTAR by helicopter, he was in shock.

“My partners, Dr. Tony Shiflett and Dr. Christine Trankiem, as well as other doctors and nurses, saw him in the trauma center, and immediately transported him to the operating room for surgery.   In the OR, he was in critical condition and received many units of blood transfusion for ongoing hemorrhage from multiple locations.  He received truly amazing anesthesia care from Dr. Scott Frank and Dr. Eric Skolnick.  Largely due to their work, we were able to get him through the operation and take him to Interventional Radiology, where Dr. Arshad Khan performed another procedure to further control bleeding.

“From there he was taken to intensive care under the care of Dr. Chadi Abouassaly.  Over the course of Wednesday night, we were encouraged to see evidence that we had controlled the bleeding.  Yesterday, (June 15, 2017) Dr. Trankiem and I performed a second operation, and Dr. Rob Golden, our director of orthopaedic trauma, repaired a bone in the leg.

“The Congressman remains in critical condition.  Over the last 36 hours, we have been encouraged to see some improvement in his condition.  We have controlled the internal bleeding, and his vital signs have stabilized.

“The Congressman will require additional operations to manage abdominal injuries and other broken bones.  He will be in the hospital for some time.  Predicting the length of that hospital stay will be much easier after a few more days have passed.   After discharge he will need a period of healing and rehabilitation.

“On behalf of the MedSTAR Trauma team, I’d like to thank the special agents on the scene for their outstanding life-saving response, and I’d like to thank the first responders for the excellent care given to all the people injured.  We are aware here at the Hospital Center of their critical role, and we salute their commitment and dedication.”