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A passenger who suffered cardiac arrest mid-flight was saved thanks to the efforts of eight South Korean doctors who happened to be on the same plane
According to The Chosun Daily, the incident was shared on Facebook by one of the doctors, Professor Dr Kim Jeong-hwan of Gangnam Eulji Hospital.
Recalling the incident on the 24 March flight from Incheon to Manila, Dr Kim said the cabin crew made an urgent call for medical assistance shortly after take-off.
He responded immediately and went to the front of the aircraft, where a middle-aged woman had collapsed near the restroom.
Dr Kim said two flight attendants were already assisting the patient, but appeared uncertain about the next steps.
Coincidentally, seven other physicians from the Korean Academy of Family Medicine were also on board, as they were travelling to attend the World Family Medicine Congress' Asia-Pacific Regional Academic Conference in the Philippines
The doctors quickly took over, with one attempting to intubate the patient to secure her airway, while Dr Kim monitored the patient's breathing with a stethoscope from the plane's medical kit.
Dr Kim said they initially struggled with intubation due to the patient's large build and tongue that had rolled back. Fortunately, a laryngeal mask airway, which was easier to insert, was available on the aircraft, allowing them to assist her breathing more effectively.
"I feared the patient might stop breathing. As her spontaneous breathing weakened, I began manual ventilation using a bag valve mask. Her systolic blood pressure dropped below 80 mmHg, and I was worried cardiac arrest was imminent," he wrote.
He added that while they suspected a stroke, it was impossible to make a definitive diagnosis mid-flight.
One of the most difficult moments, he said, was advising the captain on whether the plane should be diverted.
Fortunately, as more doctors stepped in to help, the patient's condition began to improve
Dr Kim said her breathing stabilised with assisted ventilation, her complexion improved, and her blood pressure gradually returned to safer levels. She also eventually regained consciousness and was able to respond by blinking and moving her head.
The doctors then took turns monitoring and caring for her for more than three hours until the plane landed in Manila as scheduled. Upon arrival, she was then handed over to local medical personnel for further treatment.
"We were on edge throughout the flight. Thankfully, her condition continued to improve until landing, and there were no further emergencies," Dr Kim said.
He also expressed hope for the patient's full recovery, noting that while critical cases on flights are uncommon, it is even rarer to have so many doctors on board at the same time to respond.
