His heart stopped for 3.5 hours. Krasnoyarsk doctors brought him back to life
Doctors at Krasnoyarsk Regional Hospital saved a man whose heart had stopped for 3.5 hours. The patient, who nearly died of hypothermia, was rescued using a unique method.
The man was brought to Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit No. 6 of the hospital at 7:40 a.m. He was in a state of clinical death: pupils dilated and unresponsive to light, no pulse, pale and cold skin.
His body temperature, measured in the esophagus, was just 19.8°C. Effective resuscitation measures were urgently required.
The patient was saved thanks to a unique method – ECMO combined with invasive warming – and, of course, the anesthesiologists from the cardiac resuscitation unit. From the start of resuscitation to the moment the patient’s heart began beating again, approximately 3.5 hours passed.
“The ECMO machine ensures blood circulation, replacing the heart, oxygenates the blood, removes carbon dioxide, and provides gas exchange and hemodynamics in the body.
Within three days, the patient was transitioned to independent breathing, cardiac support was discontinued, and ECMO was disconnected. Complications were successfully avoided. On the fourth day, he was transferred to the burn unit due to frostbite on his hands and feet.
When he regained consciousness, the patient told doctors his name was Alexander. He had come to Krasnoyarsk for work and had no relatives or close contacts in the area.
“We managed to resuscitate the patient after 219 minutes of documented cardiac arrest. This is a remarkable example of the capabilities of modern resuscitation technologies – not only did the patient survive such a prolonged and extensive resuscitation, but he achieved full recovery of all organs and systems without any complications,” commented Kirill Linev, head of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit No. 2.
The patient required surgery due to frostbite on his extremities. He is now able to move around the ward independently, though treatment is still ongoing. His health is stable, and he will be discharged soon.
