In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at KIMS Hospital, Seethammadhara, saved the life of a 62-year-old woman who suffered three episodes of cardiac arrest during her treatment. The team ensured her recovery through timely emergency care, constant ICU monitoring, and coordinated multidisciplinary efforts.
Critical Condition on Admission
The patient, a diabetic from Visakhapatnam, was admitted on January 21 with severe breathlessness, black stools, and an inability to eat. Upon arrival, doctors found her in a state of shock and immediately placed her on noradrenaline support.
Initial investigations showed haemoglobin levels at 6.4 g/dL and creatinine at 3.2 mg/dL. Meanwhile, her troponin levels remained at 0.4 even after six hours, and NT-proBNP levels exceeded 30,000. A 2D echocardiogram further revealed regional wall motion abnormalities and mild left ventricular dysfunction, with an ejection fraction of around 47%.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest During Procedure
After 48 hours of stabilisation, her blood pressure improved and urine output increased. Doctors then proceeded with an endoscopy to identify the underlying cause. However, during the procedure, she developed ventricular tachycardia, which led to a sudden cardiac arrest.
The medical team acted swiftly, performing CPR and defibrillation to revive her. As per press release, this marked the first of three critical cardiac events she would endure.
Repeated Life-Threatening Episodes
Soon after being shifted to the ICU, the patient suffered a second cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, doctors successfully revived her again. Two days later, she experienced a third cardiac arrest, requiring another round of emergency shock treatment before her condition stabilised.
Complex ICU Course and Recovery
Despite these repeated life-threatening episodes, the patient remained conscious and responsive—an outcome doctors described as highly unusual. However, her ICU stay remained challenging. She required prolonged ventilator support, while her kidney function deteriorated, making dialysis necessary. Additionally, the collapse of her left lung further complicated her condition.
To address her breathing difficulties, doctors performed a tracheostomy. Consequently, her respiratory condition improved significantly, allowing gradual weaning from the ventilator. Through continuous respiratory muscle training, strict infection control, and sustained efforts to reduce ventilator dependence, she eventually regained the ability to breathe independently.
Successful Discharge After Intensive Care
Following steady improvement and careful monitoring, doctors performed decannulation. Eventually, they discharged the patient in stable condition, marking a successful recovery after a prolonged and complex ICU journey.
Teamwork Behind the Success
Doctors highlighted that persistence, teamwork, and timely intervention played a crucial role in saving the patient’s life. “Every specialist contributed to ensuring a positive outcome despite multiple critical setbacks,” they stated.
The multidisciplinary team included Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Mahesh; Medical Gastroenterologists Dr. Chalapathi Rao and Dr. Srinivas; Nephrologists Dr. R.K. Mahesh and Dr. Charan; Pulmonologist Dr. Bharat; ENT Surgeon Dr. Dileep; Neurologist Dr. Rohit; ICU doctors Dr. Gangadhar, Dr. Kousalya, Dr. Ramya, and Dr. Mohan Sai; along with the anaesthesia team.