Visakhapatnam doctors perform CPR with ECMO

– Man accidentally inhaled isobutyl nitrate

– Rare, life-saving procedure brings him back from the brink

The thought of the heart suddenly stopping is terrifying. But in Visakhapatnam, a man’s heart stopped multiple times. Luckily, being at the right hospital at the right time made all the difference doctors performed ECMO-assisted CPR and saved his life. A dedicated team of specialists at KIMS Icon Hospital worked together to bring him back from the edge of death. Here’s how it happened.

Lakshman Kumar Panda, 31, from Aganampudi in Visakhapatnam, works at a pharma company. In a workplace accident, he inhaled isobutyl nitrate, a highly toxic gas. This stopped oxygen supply to his body, turning his skin bluish. He was rushed to KIMS Icon Hospital, but shortly after arrival, he suffered cardiac arrest. Even with CPR, his heart kept stopping repeatedly due to continuous arrhythmias.

Seeing the critical situation, ECMO specialist and Critical Care Lead Consultant Dr. M. Ravikrishna, Consultant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon Dr. Sai Manikandan, and Internal Medicine Consultant Dr. Ravi Kanna took a crucial decision  to place him on ECMO and perform CPR simultaneously. This advanced procedure is called ECPR, and had never been attempted before in Andhra Pradesh. Given the rapid deterioration, the team decided this was the only option — and it worked.

With ECMO taking over the function of the heart and lungs, blood circulation to all organs was restored. This was a turning point. After three days on ECMO, Lakshman slowly recovered.

Why did this happen?

Isobutyl nitrate is extremely poisonous. Inhalation can cause two major problems — blood loses its ability to carry oxygen, and heart rhythm becomes unstable. In Lakshman’s case, repeated rhythm disturbances caused his heart to stop multiple times. Since electrical conduction in the heart was unstable, normal CPR was not enough. ECMO- supported ECPR gave his heart and lungs the rest they needed to recover from the toxic effects.

The advantage of a multi-specialty team

According to doctors, having ECMO experts, cardiologists, and internal medicine specialists all under one roof was critical. “When a heart stops repeatedly, advanced equipment and skilled doctors can make the difference between life and death. At KIMS Icon Hospital, that combination saved Lakshman’s life,” they said.

“I never thought I’d walk again”

“I don’t even remember what happened that day. My family rushed me to KIMS Icon Hospital’s emergency ward. Later, I was told my heart kept stopping again and again. I never thought I would wake up and walk among people again. Dr. Ravikrishna, Dr. Sai Manikandan, Dr. Ravi Kanna, and the entire hospital staff gave me my life back. I am deeply grateful to them and the hospital management,” said Lakshman Kumar Panda.