Woman Survives Three Cardiac Arrests with Timely Intervention at KIMS Hospital
According to ICU Chief Dr. I. Ramakrishna and Physician Dr. B.V.N. Rao, the patient, a diabetic from Visakhapatnam, was admitted on January 21 with complaints of breathlessness, black stools, and inability to consume food. On arrival, she was in a state of shock and required noradrenaline support.
Visakhapatnam: In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at KIMS Hospital, Seethammadhara, successfully saved the life of a 62-year-old woman who suffered three episodes of cardiac arrest during her treatment. The rare success was made possible through timely emergency care, constant vigilance by ICU specialists, and coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary medical team.
According to ICU Chief Dr. I. Ramakrishna and Physician Dr. B.V.N. Rao, the patient, a diabetic from Visakhapatnam, was admitted on January 21 with complaints of breathlessness, black stools, and inability to consume food. On arrival, she was in a state of shock and required noradrenaline support.
Initial investigations revealed haemoglobin levels at 6.4 g/dL and creatinine at 3.2 mg/dL. Troponin levels were recorded at 0.4 and remained unchanged even after six hours. NT-proBNP levels exceeded 30,000. A 2D echocardiogram showed regional wall motion abnormalities and mild left ventricular dysfunction, with an ejection fraction of around 47%.
After 48 hours of stabilisation, her blood pressure improved and urine output increased. To identify the underlying cause, doctors proceeded with an endoscopy. However, during the procedure, the patient developed ventricular tachycardia (VT), leading to sudden cardiac arrest. She was revived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation.
The complications did not end there. After being shifted to the ICU, she suffered a second cardiac arrest and was again successfully revived. Two days later, she experienced a third cardiac arrest, requiring another round of emergency shock treatment, following which she was stabilised.
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Despite these life-threatening episodes, the patient remained conscious and responsive to medical instructions, which doctors described as highly unusual. Her ICU course remained challenging, requiring prolonged ventilator support. Kidney function deteriorated, necessitating dialysis, while collapse of the left lung added to the complexity.
Doctors then performed a tracheostomy to facilitate breathing. Following the procedure, her respiratory condition improved significantly, enabling gradual weaning from ventilator support. Through consistent respiratory muscle training, infection control, and daily efforts to reduce ventilator dependence, she eventually regained the ability to breathe independently.
After careful monitoring and further improvement, decannulation was performed, and the patient was later discharged in stable condition.
“This case reflects the importance of persistence, teamwork, and timely intervention. Every specialist contributed to ensuring a positive outcome despite multiple critical setbacks,” the doctors said.
The team involved in the treatment 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.
