Cottage Trauma Surgeon Says All Injured Victims Admitted Expected to Recover

All seven of the male and female victims admitted into Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s trauma center on Friday night with injuries inflicted during the Isla Vista rampage are expected to recover, said Dr. Pam Lee, the attending trauma surgeon at Cottage Hospital on Friday evening. (Six separate victims, and the gunman, were killed on Friday night.)

Lee said that all seven of those who suffered nonfatal injuries — five who suffered gunshot wounds, two who suffered blunt trauma from being hit by alleged shooter Elliot Rodger’s car — arrived at the hospital all at once.

Those with the gunshot wounds were triaged first, Lee said. She added that some of the gunshot wounds were “superficial,” while others presented some concerns. One of the gunshot victims, a male, underwent surgery for abdominal exploration. “He’s doing well and is stable” now, Lee added.

The rest of the victims were admitted overnight for observation, Lee continued. “I expect that all of them will be okay,” she said, cautioning that some may have to stay in the hospital longer than others.

“Everybody was there helping out. It was a really great effort,” Lee said. She added that she was joined by another surgeon, ER nurses, surgical residents, ER staff, operating room staff, and anesthesiologists.