A team of medical staff in east China successfully kept a dying boy alive by performing CPR on him for five consecutive hours.
Eight-year-old Xiao Yu was admitted to hospital in Changzhou, Jiangsu province after he suffered from acute heart failure. His condition deteriorated and doctors decided to transport him to Shanghai, where hospitals are better equipped.
However, as Xiao Yu awaited for the transfer, his blood pressure suddenly dropped and his heart stopped beating, prompting a dramatic resuscitation effort performed by 30 doctors and nurses at the children’s hospital.
A team of 30 medical staff in Changzhou city, east China’s Jiangsu province successfully kept a dying eight-year-old boy alive by performing CPR on him for five consecutive hours
Eight-year-old Xiao Yu was admitted to Changzhou Municipal Children’s Hospital after he suffered from acute heart failure. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly
Xiao Yu suffered a seizure due to fulminant myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart on Thursday, according to a news release published by Changzhou Municipal Children’s Hospital.
His heart’s left ventricle nearly lost all ability to pump blood and after a series of intensive emergency rescue efforts, Xiao Yu was in stable condition.
However, on the next morning, he developed an irregular heart rate as his condition deteriorated once again.
Staff at Changzhou Municipal Children’s Hospital then contacted doctors in Shanghai to arrange an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment to save Xiao Yu. The life-support system puts oxygen into the blood of a patient and helps take over the work of the heart.
Pictures and video footage of the intense resuscitation effort shows staff members lining up next to Xiao Yu’s bed and taking it in turns to give his little heart a much-needed boost
While the team waited in Changzhou for the ambulance from Shanghai – about 180 kilometres (110 miles) away – Xiao Yu’s condition deteriorated rapidly at about 3pm on Friday
At one point, Xiao Yu’s heart and breathing had stopped and his blood pressure dropped to a level where doctors could no longer get a reading
While the team waited in Changzhou for the ambulance from Shanghai – about 180 kilometres (110 miles) away – Xiao Yu’s condition deteriorated rapidly at about 3pm.
His heart and breathing had stopped and his blood pressure dropped to a level where doctors could no longer get a reading.
Nearly 30 doctors and nurses were immediately called to the hospital room, where they started pumping the child’s heart.
Pictures and video footage of the intense resuscitation effort shows staff members lining up next to Xiao Yu’s bed and taking it in turns to give his little heart a boost.
Their teamwork kept blood flowing to Xiao Yu’s brain, keeping the eight-year-old alive. In the end, the doctors and nurses performed more than 30,000 chest compressions before he was finally placed under ECMO treatment.
Staff at Changzhou Municipal Children’s Hospital then contacted doctors in Shanghai to arrange an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment to save Xiao Yu
Their teamwork kept blood flowing to Xiao Yu’s brain, keeping the eight-year-old boy alive
Dr Li Yamin, who participated in the rescue efforts, said he believe the team did their very best.
‘We did everything we could to save the boy as it would be a pity if we gave up on him,’ Dr Li told video news site Pear Video. ‘We wish him a speedy recovery.’
Xiao Yu is currently receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, a spokesperson at the Changzhou hospital confirmed.
News of the heart-warming incident spread online, where many Chinese nets users hailed the medical staff as heroes.
‘I am so touched,’ one user commented. ‘Thank you, kind doctors and nurses. Wishing you good karma.’
‘We need more medical professionals like this!’ another said. ‘Spreading positive energy!’