Chongqing - Recently, an Indonesian tourist visiting Chongqing survived a life-threatening acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction after receiving urgent and intensive care from a multidisciplinary medical team at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The patient has now recovered and was discharged, preparing to return to Indonesia. This successful cross-border rescue demonstrated the hospital’s advanced expertise and rapid emergency response in managing high-risk cardiovascular emergencies, while also highlighting its growing capacity to deliver international medical services with compassion and care.

On November 6, the patient was rushed to the hospital by ambulance following a sudden medical crisis. Diagnosed with acute extensive anterior myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock—a critical and highly lethal condition—the patient was immediately admitted through a green channel. A multidisciplinary team led by the Department of Cardiology, together with the Emergency Department, Anesthesiology, and Critical Care Medicine, quickly mobilized to perform emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), reopening the blocked coronary artery within the optimal treatment window.

Due to the severity of the condition, the patient later developed heart failure and respiratory failure, requiring advanced life-support interventions, including intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation and tracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation. After several weeks of intensive treatment, the patient’s condition gradually stabilized, marking a transition from critical to stable status.

The patient underwent surgery performed by a medical team led by Dr. Huang Bi. (Photo/The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University)

Beyond medical excellence, effective cross-cultural communication and compassionate support played vital roles throughout the treatment process. The patient’s daughter, Ms. Venysia, expressed deep gratitude for the comprehensive support her father received during their most difficult time in a foreign country. Professor Huang Bi, Deputy Director of the Department of Cardiology, not only led the clinical decision-making but also helped the family with practical needs, including arranging temporary local accommodation—a gesture that made them “feel at home.” 

Family members and the medical team celebrated the recovery and discharge of the Indonesian patient. (Photo/Qihai Deng)

Crucially, two Indonesian medical students studying at the hospital—Indonesian postdoctoral researcher Bryan Richard Sasmita and graduate student Felycia Fernanda Hosyanto from the First Affiliated Hospital of CQMU—volunteered as cultural and linguistic bridges between the medical team and the family. They assisted with real-time translation of complex medical information, helped explain treatment plans, and coordinated meals in line with the patient’s dietary customs. Their involvement greatly eased the family’s anxiety and facilitated smoother clinical communication. Ms. Venysia emphasized that her father’s recovery was made possible not only by the medical staff’s expertise and dedication, but also by the selfless support of these volunteers. She added that the family looks forward to returning to Chongqing as tourists once her father has fully recuperated.

Indonesian postdoctoral researcher Bryan Sasmita with the patient. (Photo/The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University)

This case is representative of Chongqing’s ongoing efforts to enhance its international medical service capacity. In recent years, the city has strengthened its medical institutions' capacity to manage acute and critical cases involving foreign patients by optimizing processes, training internationally minded medical personnel, and building multilingual support systems. Through such successful examples, institutions like the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University are gradually building a reputation as a reliable international medical destination, showcasing the technical excellence and compassionate care available in Chongqing’s healthcare sector.