A miraculous incident has happened in AIIMS Bhubaneswar . A 24 year old Army jawan got a new life after doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar in Odisha revived him through advanced Extracorporeal Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (eCPR) procedure.

The patient's heartbeat had stopped for almost 1.5 hours. The patient, in critical condition due to heart failure, was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar on October 1. Shortly after his arrival, he suffered a cardiac arrest . Despite 40 minutes of conventional CPR, no cardiac activity was detected, presenting a critical decision: to declare death or attempt the cutting-edge eCPR procedure .

"MIRACLE OF MEDICINE! In a groundbreaking first for Odisha, the team @AIIMSBhubaneswr has achieved the miraculous. A 24-year-old man was brought back to life through the cutting-edge #eCPR procedure after his heart stopped for 120 minutes," AIIMS Bhubaneswar has posted on X.



What is eCPR?
eCPR (Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an advanced medical procedure that combines traditional CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology. It is used as a life-saving intervention for patients experiencing cardiac arrest or severe cardiac and pulmonary failure when conventional methods are insufficient. The goal is to provide immediate support to the heart and lungs, ensuring oxygen delivery to vital organs while addressing the underlying cause of the condition.

The process involves catheter insertion into large blood vessels to divert the blood of the patient to the outside machine that oxygenates and pumps blood in return into the body. Thus, this bypasses the heart and lungs, and allows the heart and lungs some time to rest and recover. eCPR is usually performed in specialized centers with trained personnel and technology, as it requires immediate initiation and precise management.

"This success marks a milestone in Odisha's medical history"
Speaking about the procedure, Dr Srikant Behera, Intensivist and Adult ECMO specialist, emphasized, "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."

Led by Dr Srikant Behera the 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 initiated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) 80 minutes after the cardiac arrest. Following 40 minutes of eCPR, the patient's heart finally resumed beating, albeit irregularly. Over the next 30 hours, his heart function improved significantly, and he was successfully weaned off ECMO after 96 hours. The multidisciplinary team also managed several other life-threatening complications, demonstrating remarkable expertise, coordination, and dedication.

(With inputs from IANS)