In a landmark achievement in cardiac care, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet successfully saved the life of a 62-year-old man suffering from a severe cardiac arrest, using an advanced life-saving procedure known as ECMO-CPR (Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), a highly specialized intervention rarely deployed in critical cardiac emergencies.
The patient arrived at the Emergency Department with a major anterior wall myocardial infarction, already in cardiogenic shock—a state where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood, leading to dangerously low blood pressure and impaired organ perfusion. While being rushed to the Cath Lab for an emergency angioplasty, he experienced complete cardiorespiratory arrest. Conventional CPR failed to revive spontaneous circulation, placing him in refractory cardiac arrest—a condition where survival is extremely rare without advanced circulatory support.
Recognizing the critical situation, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. R. Anantharaman and Dr. S. Srikumar promptly initiated ECMO-CPR. Blood was withdrawn through cannulation of the femoral vein, oxygenated via an external membrane (oxygenator), and returned to the body through the femoral artery. This external circuit ensured continuous oxygen delivery and organ perfusion, allowing doctors the crucial time needed to address the blocked coronary arteries. A high-risk multivessel angioplasty and stenting procedure was successfully performed even as the patient’s heart remained non-functional.
Post-procedure, the patient was moved to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) on ECMO support and subsequently transitioned to Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) support. However, complications arose when he developed a ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm—an aggressive, life-threatening arrhythmia. Initial medical management was followed by a radiofrequency ablation, performed by the electrophysiology team led by Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, which successfully stabilized his heart rhythm.
“Survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest after myocardial infarction are less than 15% with standard CPR,” noted Dr. S. Srikumar. “The timely use of ECMO-CPR significantly improves survival, potentially doubling these odds.”
Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director, emphasized that such outcomes are possible only with rapid decision-making, expert multidisciplinary coordination, advanced technology, and round-the-clock critical care support.
After 21 days of intensive treatment, the patient was discharged fully mobile and neurologically intact—an inspiring testament to the power of advanced cardiac care.