Saving a patient from cardiac arrest using ECMO.

VTV.vn - A 71-year-old man who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to acute myocardial infarction was saved thanks to the emergency deployment of ECMO combined with coronary intervention.

Photo: Duc Giang General Hospital

Duc Giang General Hospital ( Hanoi ) has successfully saved the life of a 71-year-old male patient who suffered cardiac arrest outside the hospital and was in critical condition.

According to the doctors, the patient had a history of smoking for many years. About an hour before admission, the patient experienced severe left chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and cold sweats. The family called emergency services (115) to take the patient to the hospital.

However, during transport, the patient unexpectedly suffered cardiac arrest. Medical staff had to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the ambulance for about 5 minutes before transferring him to Duc Giang General Hospital.

At the Emergency Department, the patient was diagnosed with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, suspected to be due to acute myocardial infarction. A red alert system was immediately activated. Given the patient's unresponsiveness to conventional resuscitation measures, the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit team promptly established a VA-ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system to maintain circulation and ensure blood flow to vital organs.

After hemodynamic stability was achieved, the patient was immediately transferred to the interventional cardiology department. Doctors successfully performed thrombectomy, balloon angioplasty, and placed two stents at the site of the blocked coronary artery. Examination results showed optimal reperfusion of blood flow.

Following the intervention, the patient continued to receive intensive treatment in the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit. After only 5 days, the patient was successfully weaned off ECMO, the endotracheal tube was removed, and the patient recovered completely with no neurological sequelae observed.

According to the doctors, the success of this case demonstrates the effectiveness of combining advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ECMO, and emergency coronary intervention in the treatment of myocardial infarction with cardiac arrest.

Source: https://vtv.vn/cuu-song-benh-nhan-ngung-tim-nho-ecmo-100260531110554162.htm