Emergency Situation on New York-Korea Flight, Doctor Who Saved a Life Turns Out to Be...

Patient Who Collapsed In-Flight 3 Hours Before Landing Saved
Professor Cheon Eun-mi, Department of Pulmonology, Ewha Mokdong Hospital

A patient who collapsed on board was saved by emergency treatment from a professor of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital who was on the same flight. The protagonist who quickly took emergency action is Professor Eunmi Cheon of the Department of Pulmonology at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital.

In the early morning of Friday the 19th, a passenger collapsed on a flight heading from New York to Korea. Three hours before landing at Incheon Airport, an emergency patient suddenly complained of chest pain, difficulty breathing, and severe dizziness. The flight attendants immediately made an announcement to find a doctor and nurse on board.

Professor Eunmi Cheon, Department of Pulmonology, Ewha Mokdong Hospital
Photo by Ewha Mokdong Hospital

Professor Cheon identified herself as a doctor and checked Mr. A’s condition through medical history, auscultation, and blood pressure measurement. Then, together with a volunteer American doctor passenger who also responded to the doctor call, they administered oxygen, aspirin, and nitroglycerin to Mr. A.

The symptoms were somewhat alleviated by the medication, but Mr. A continued to complain of persistent chest pressure and breathing difficulties.

Professor Cheon explained the patient’s condition and requested the hospital to prepare for immediate transfer to the emergency room of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital upon arrival in Incheon.

As it became difficult to dispatch an ambulance from Incheon Airport to Seoul in the early morning hours, Professor Cheon reportedly accompanied the patient in a guardian’s vehicle and continuously monitored his condition on the way to the hospital.

Mr. A was admitted under Professor Cheon’s handover and underwent cardiac examination at the hospital. He was diagnosed with myocardial infarction and received emergency coronary angiography from Professor Ikmo Jeong of the Department of Cardiology. The patient was treated for about a week and was safely discharged.

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) [Photo source=Pixabay]

Myocardial infarction is a disease in which the arteries supplying blood to the heart are completely blocked, and pulmonary embolism is a disease caused by a blood clot blocking the pulmonary artery. Myocardial infarction is a dangerous disease that can cause death within 1 to 2 hours if symptoms are severe.

After the procedure, Mr. A expressed his gratitude on the hospital’s website, saying, “Even though I was traveling with my family, thanks to Professor Eunmi Cheon who willingly accompanied me to the hospital, I received good treatment and was discharged.”

Professor Eunmi Cheon said, “I felt rewarded as a medical professional to be able to help the patient as a doctor, and above all, I am grateful that treatment could be provided without delay,” adding, “I also thank the flight attendants who actively assisted with the emergency treatment and the American doctor who calmly treated the patient together at that time.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.