Nghe An: Saving a patient who stopped breathing and had his heart stopped 4 times

(Baonghean.vn) - On February 3, information from Nghe An General Hospital said that during the recent Lunar New Year holidays, doctors and nurses successfully treated and saved the life of a difficult patient, Nguyen Thi H. (23 years old), who had cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest 4 times.

On January 14, patient H. gave birth to her first child at the commune health station. After a normal delivery with her first daughter weighing 3.1 kg, H. was able to return home early. However, 5 days after giving birth, H. suddenly fainted in the bathroom. The family took the patient to the district hospital and had to transfer her to the emergency room at Nghe An General Hospital due to circulatory arrest, which was life-threatening.

Patient H. has passed the most dangerous stage and continues to receive treatment for cardiovascular disease. Photo: Hoang Yen.

Patient H. was admitted to the hospital in a state of severe respiratory failure, pale skin and mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, purple lips and extremities; rapid heart rate, palpitations; heavy postpartum vaginal bleeding; accompanied by kidney failure, liver failure, and multiple organ failure. Immediately upon admission, patient H. suffered from continuous cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest; it seemed that he would not survive. However, the doctors of the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department were determined to save the patient by all means. Continuous chest compressions, electric shocks, and CPR helped patient H. regain life.

After successfully stopping the circulation 4 times, the problem of maintaining the life of patient H. is still a huge challenge for doctors. The oxygen level in the blood (SpO2 index) is very low, even though he is breathing oxygen through a mask at 100%, the patient's SpO2 is still only 55%, threatening death at any time.

“Blood tests showed that patient H. had severe metabolic acidosis due to infection and poisoning. Through consultation with obstetrics and cardiology specialists, patient H. was diagnosed with residual fluid after birth, retained placenta, and very severe sepsis through the vaginal opening after birth. Evaluation of the patient's heart function showed signs of congenital heart disease, tricuspid valve abnormalities, and Ebstein's syndrome causing very severe hypoxemia.

The combination of the above two diseases makes the treatment process very complicated and difficult. We always closely monitor the patient, maintain maximum oxygen, use 2 types of vasopressors and cardiac support drugs to ensure blood pressure. At the same time, we treat infections, poisoning and compensate for postpartum blood loss for the patient" - Master, Doctor Nguyen Van Thuy - Deputy Head of the Intensive Care and Anti-poison Department commented.

After 4 days of intensive care, the patient regained consciousness, was removed from the ventilator, and was able to eat.

Up to today, patient H. has passed the most critical stage and continues to be treated for cardiovascular disease.

It is known that the doctors of the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department - Nghe An General Hospital have saved many cases of cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest, but this is the case with the highest number of cardiac arrests and respiratory arrests ever saved./.

Hoang Yen