AIIMS-Bhubaneswar Doctors Save Youth’s Life After His Heart Stops Beating For 1.5 Hrs

Bhubaneswar: A team of AIIMS in Bhubaneswar saved the life of a young man, whose heart had stopped beating for nearly 1.5 hours, through the advanced Extracorporeal Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (eCPR) procedure.

The 24-year-old patient was referred to the All India Institue of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bhubaneswar in critical condition with heart failure on October 1. Shortly after arrival, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite 40 minutes of conventional CPR, there was no cardiac activity, leading to a decision point of declaring death or attempting the cutting-edge eCPR procedure.

Led by Dr Srikant Behera, Intensivist and Adult ECMO specialist, the team initiated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) after 80 minutes of cardiac arrest. Through 40 minutes of eCPR, the patient’s heart finally resumed beating, albeit with an irregular rhythm.

Over next 30 hours, the heart function improved significantly, and the patient was successfully weaned off ECMO after 96 hours. The multidisciplinary team addressed several other life-threatening complications, showcasing remarkable expertise, coordination and dedication.

Speaking about the procedure, Dr Behera said, “eCPR, while technically challenging, represents a promising advancement in the treatment of cardiac arrests traditionally deemed fatal. This success marks a milestone in Odisha’s medical history.”

The extraordinary effort involved a multidisciplinary team, including Dr Krishna Mohan Gulla, Dr Sandip Kumar Panda, Dr Siddharth Sathia, Dr Sangeeta Sahoo, Dr Manas R Panigrahi, and healthcare providers from various specialties such as MICU and nursing officers.

The survivor’s mother expressed profound gratitude to the team, saying, “I cannot thank AIIMS Bhubaneswar enough for giving my son a second chance at life. Their skill, compassion, and determination have worked a miracle for our family.”

Medical Superintendent Dr Dillip Kumar Parida along with Dr Anupam Dey, Dr Rashmiranjan Mohanty, Dr Debananda Sahoo congratulated the team for the accomplishment.

Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr Ashutosh Biswas, commended the team’s exceptional efforts and said, “AIIMS Bhubaneswar has always been at the forefront of integrating medical science with technology to deliver pioneering healthcare. This is a testament to our dedication to saving lives and advancing medical practices.”