“I hadn’t slept peacefully for days, but I enjoyed a sound night’s sleep after surgery.” These heartfelt words come from a local Solomon Islands man pulled back from the verge of death by the 5th China Medical Team in Solomon Islands.
The calm night of July 14 was disrupted by an urgent call from the National Referral Hospital. A middle-aged local man endured crushing chest pain for five hours and was diagnosed with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction — every wasted minute brought irreversible heart muscle injury and a high risk of sudden cardiac death.
Dr. Xie Denghai, the team’s cardiologist, immediately reported the life-threatening case to team leader Chu Liangzhao. Dr. Chu issued a clear emergency directive: “Complete all preoperative preparations at top speed and transfer the patient to the catheter lab within 30 minutes to unblock the occluded artery and save his life.”
“Time is life!” Dr. Xie mobilized the whole rescue team at once. On the way to the China-built CMC catheter lab, he remotely guided local doctor Flory to finish preoperative work. Nurse Xie Guofeng hurried to activate the DSA imaging machine. Dr. Xie performed coronary angiography side by side with local doctor Braudon. Scans confirmed the patient’s right coronary artery was completely blocked. Combining their professional strengths, Dr.Xie and Dr.Braudon reopened the vessel and implanted a stent. The patient’s agonizing chest pain faded instantly as blood flow returned to his heart.
Careful medical management continued after the operation. Damaged heart tissue left the patient at risk of fatal complications, so he was moved to the High Dependency Unit for round-the-clock monitoring. Chinese and local medical staff held daily joint ward rounds, and adjusted personalized medication plans to correct his hypotension.
Upon discharge, the patient with smile on his face, shared his gratitude: “I never imagined such a serious heart condition could be treated locally. I am truly thankful for China’s medical aid.”
This midnight emergency heart rescue showcases the Chinese Medical Team’s strong emergency capabilities, skills and teamwork, embodying in-depth China-Solomon health cooperation. With rapid response, precise surgery and full postoperative care, the team safeguards locals’ health and boosts local critical cardiac treatment capacity.
Team leader Dr.Chu Liangzhao outlined the team’s long-term mission: “For acute myocardial infarction, just as with acute ischemic stroke, time is life, and time protects the brain. Relying on the China-aid interventional catheter lab as our core platform, we provide care for acute and chronic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, standing by 24 hours for Solomon Islanders. We will standardize local clinical workflows, expand minimally invasive treatment, train local medical talent and upgrade local medical capacity. We strive to reduce mortality and disability rates from heart and brain illnesses across the country.”
