"Some people have come to the edge of the cliff, and as soon as you pull him over, you come over." ECMO is such a life-saving device that it can provide doctors with a chance to treat them at critical times. On February 16, Yan Jiong, director of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, told the Health Times reporter that on the day when the clinical application of China's first self-developed ECMO device exceeded 100 days, the two patients who were treated returned to the hospital for review and also sent a pennant. The pennant reads, "Domestic ECMO shows miraculous powers, superb medical skills to remove diseases and pain" and "cast a big country heavy weapon, create a miracle of life".
The two patients presented the pennant and took a group photo with Professor Yan Jiao. Courtesy of respondents
Ren Yang, a hypertensive patient, suddenly felt a tearing pain in his chest during a meal more than three months ago, and was sent by his family to the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University for treatment, and was finally diagnosed with acute A-type aortic dissection.
"The surgical treatment of aortic dissection is complex, and there are often many complications after surgery, and once the dissection rupture occurs, it can lead to heavy bleeding and death." Yan Jiong told the Health Times reporter that after urgently discussing the treatment plan, he successfully performed surgery for Ren Yang. However, after the operation, Ren Yang had severe hypoxemia due to the violent inflammatory reaction of the whole body, and the mechanical ventilation treatment oxygenation could not meet the needs, and only ECMO was his only hope.
Excluding follow-up monitoring, medication and other costs, only a set of imported ECMO supporting consumables will cost 50,000-60,000 yuan, which is difficult for the Renyang family, who are not rich, to bear. However, at this time, the domestic ECMO equipment has completed the national testing and entered the clinical stage through the ethical review.
The domestic ECMO, which is still in the clinical stage, dares not use it to treat Ren Yang, which makes Yan Jiao feel embarrassed. After much thought, Yan Jiong made a report to yuan zuyi, the president of the cardiovascular hospital, the person in charge of the project. Only to see Yuan Zuyi firmly said: "The purpose of our research and development of ECMO is to use it on critically ill patients, and now if it is not used, it will lose the significance of research." Yuan Zuyi's words were like a reassuring pill, giving Yan Jiong confidence, after communicating with the patient's family, Yan Jiong successfully applied the first self-developed ECMO in China to implement VV-ECMO (vein to vein) treatment for Ren Yang and successfully withdrew.
In the afternoon of the same day, 64-year-old Li Qiang (pseudonym) was sent to the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University due to a large amount of regurgitation of the aortic valve, ascending aortic aneurysm-like dilation, acute left heart failure, due to Li Qiang's age, and many years of hypertension, diabetes and other diseases, the preoperative cardiac function is extremely poor, postoperative cessation of external circulation is difficult, and after full communication with the patient's family, the application of domestic ECMO for VA-ECMO (vein to arterial) treatment, and finally successfully discharged from the hospital in early December.
Domestic ECMO equipment. Courtesy of respondents
"ECMO is the most complex and top technology to save dying lives, the successful application of domestic ECMO in the clinic, not only broke the monopoly of foreign products in this field, cracked the "card neck" problem of cardiovascular critically ill patient treatment, and the domestic ECMO scientific research funds can just reduce the economic burden of patients. Yan Jiong said.
On February 14, two treated patients came to the hospital for review as scheduled, "Thank you, you helped me get back a life!" Having such a nice doctor, such a good equipment, I really appreciate it! Ren Yang pulled the hand of Yan Jiao, director of the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, and said excitedly.
"Both patients are recovering well so far, and we are proud and touched." Yan Jiong said that domestic ECMO equipment is lighter and easier to operate than imported equipment, and the next step is for us to achieve consumables freedom and popularize domestic ECMO equipment as soon as possible, which can break the foreign monopoly and benefit more patients.