Young Zhejiang Businessman's Life Saved in a Transcontinental Relay Against Time!

On October 22, Mr. Yu (pseudonym), a young entrepreneur from Zhejiang, was about to be discharged from Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), after surviving a life-threatening journey.

About two months earlier, he developed a sudden high-risk aortic dissection in Ghana, Africa. With local doctors unable to perform surgery, he made the resolute decision to return to China based on the trust of hometown healthcare, among the other choices of transferring to European hospitals or having surgery in South Africa. Considering the potential risks during the long-haul flight, Dr. Zhou Jiancang, chief physician of the Intensive Care Unit at SRRSH, formulated contingency plans and meticulously guided local medical staff in preparing Mr. Yu for the transfer, uninterrupted by the 8-hour time difference between Hangzhou and West Africa.

"Over 12,000 km—this is the longest distance I've ever remotely managed a patient from," Dr. Zhou Jiancang admitted. He explained that Mr. Yu's condition is extremely dangerous, and given the long distance, emergencies could arise at any point during the transfer. "My biggest concern was the patient’s condition deteriorating during the flight. All we could do was prepare as thoroughly as possible with contingency plans."

After a grueling journey spanning more than 12,000 km, Mr. Yu finally arrived for treatment. Despite the National Day holiday, our emergency response mechanism was immediately activated. Medical staff from the ICU, Cardiac Surgery, Anesthesiology, Radiology, and other departments voluntarily returned to their posts.

Led by chief physician Dr. Qian Ximing, the cardiac surgery team skillfully performed 8-hour complex procedures. The surgery was a success, and Mr. Yu’s life was saved. Looking back on the relay for life, he couldn’t help but sigh: "I was given a second chance at life!"

"Saving critically ill patients is what we are here for," said the team. With professionalism and compassion, they reaffirmed the principle that "life always comes first," bringing a heartwarming close to this transcontinental race against time.