Makkah: Thanks to the swift response under the urgent care system, part of the Saudi healthcare model, a Cameroonian pilgrim was saved after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a catheterization procedure at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, a member of the Makkah Health Cluster. The incident occurred while she was undergoing emergency intervention for an acute heart attack. According to Saudi Press Agency, the patient had been referred from Mina Al-Wadi Hospital and was promptly assessed, where doctors diagnosed a blockage in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). While preparing to open the artery, her heart suddenly stopped, and manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) failed to restore her pulse. In a decisive move, the medical team utilized the 'Impella' artificial heart pump, one of the most precise and rare cardiac assist devices. The device was immediately inserted into the aorta, where it began drawing blood from the heart and pumping it back into the body at a rate of 3.5 liters per m inute, providing critical support to maintain blood flow to the brain and vital organs and avoiding delays in reopening the artery. The procedure was led by interventional cardiology consultants Dr. Saad bin Dakhilallah Al-Hassani and Dr. Abdullah Ghabashi, with significant support from the anesthesia team, which maintained stable vital signs throughout the procedure, and the nursing team, which demonstrated a high level of readiness and professionalism in preparing and operating the device. The health cluster noted that the pump was used for three days until the heart regained its normal function. The device was successfully removed yesterday, and the patient continues to recover without any reported complications.
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