A remarkable case has been reported from a hospital in China, where the life of a 40-year-old man was saved after his heart remained stopped for more than 40 hours.
Despite the prolonged cardiac arrest, modern medical treatment enabled the heart to restart, and the patient later recovered.
According to reports, the incident took place at Zixian Hospital, where a doctor shared details of the case on social media.
The patient was initially admitted with chest pain and difficulty in breathing, after which both his heart and respiration ceased.
Doctors stated that he was diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis, a severe inflammation of the heart, which was likely triggered by a viral infection.
Medical staff attempted to revive the heart around ten times using electrical shocks (defibrillation), but no success was achieved.
The patient was then placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life-support machine that performs the function of the heart and lungs artificially.
According to doctors, the man’s heart remained almost completely inactive for over 40 hours, yet he survived under ECMO support and continuous medical care.
After approximately 40 hours, cardiac activity began to return, and heart function gradually recovered. He remained on machine support for a further 10 days before being shifted to the cardiology ward.
Within around 20 days, the patient regained full consciousness and was able to walk without assistance.
Following his recovery, the patient’s family presented a traditional silk banner to the hospital administration in gratitude.
Reports stated that the daily cost of ECMO treatment can reach several thousand yuan, and is not always fully covered by insurance or social security systems.
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