Medical Details

Timeline of Events

Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: 48 minutes and 13 shocks given
Flat Line or Asystole: 37 mins and CPR done for over an hour
Total Time of Cardiac Arrest: 1 hour and 25 minutes

09:30

Left Esperance to return home to Kalgoorlie

09:30

13:25

Reached Kambalda Clinic

Kambalda Clinic

13:25

13:34

1st ECG showing Heart Attack in the inferior wall of the heart

First ECG

This ECG shows ST segment elevation in leads II, III and AVF which indicates ST elevation myocardial infarction. This means that there is clear evidence the patient is having a major heart attack involving the inferior wall of the heart. There is no blood supply reaching this area of the heart.

13:34

13:42

Patient goes into Cardiac Arrest confirmed by GP

The patient had NO pulse, NO blood pressure and NO breathing

13:42

13:44

1st Shock

Defib

This is the original defibrillator log which is an automatic print out generated, and this shows that the defibrillator advised 4 shocks which had been delivered

13:44

14:30

13th Final Shock

Defib

The automatic defibrillator assessed the cardiac rhythm and since it was a flat line (asystole), it did not recommend further shocks. From 14:30 to 14:52 patient was flatlining (asystole). This was a total of 37 minutes

14:30

14:50

Emergency Physician from Kalgoorlie Hospital arrives at Kambalda Health Centre

14:50

14:52

Last large dose of Adrenaline 5mg given and CPR was ceased after 2 cycles

14:52

15:07

Return of spontaneous circulation

Return of spontaneous circulation means that the patients pulse has returned and there are signs of life. This happened when the patient’s wife prayed

15:07

15:09

The second ECG was done

Second ECG

This ECG shows definitive electrical activity of the heart compatible with having a pulse. There are reciprocal changes in the anterolateral leads consistent with having had a heart attack. There continues to be ST elevation in the inferior leads suggestive of ongoing damage to the heart.

15:09

16:30

Arrived at Kalgoorlie Hospital via ambulance

Clot busting drug Tenecteplase was administered

16:30

21:00

Arrived at RPH via RFDS

Second ECG

21:00

23:00

Right Coronary Artery Stent and Intra-aortic Balloon pump inserted

23:00

Day 2 - 02:00

Shifted to RPH ICU

Continued on mechanical ventilation and blood pressure support medications

Day 2 - 02:00

Day 3

The patient had survived for over 24 hours and as the photo indicates was on multiple pumps to support the blood pressure, deep in coma and on a mechanical ventilator with multiple tubes and lines in place

Second ECG

Opened my eyes briefly at 20:30

Day 3

Day 4

Moving hands and legs

Kidney failure and liver impairment

Dialysis started for Kidney failure

Day 4

Day 5

Blood pressure supports and sedation weaned off

Day 5

Day 6

Removed endotracheal tube and mechanical ventilation

I was breathing on my own

Able to speak with perfect memory and no neurological deficits

Day 6

Day 8

Shifted out of ICU to Cardiac Care Unit

Day 8

Day 13

Discharged from Royal Perth Hospital

Required total of 6 dialysis before kidney function normalised

Liver impairment returned to normal

Day 13

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