Surviving 'Sudden Cardiac Death'

Описание: David Navarro remembers being out with friends for a casual Sunday afternoon dinner in Coral Gables. He has no recollection of what happened next. Mr. Navarro suffered what is known as sudden cardiac death or sudden cardiac arrest.
Watch as the Baptist Health South Florida News Team chronicles Mr. Navarro’s story.

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[Transcript]

[People being served food]
David Navarro:
I was at a restaurant having dinner with some friends and all of a sudden I just collapsed and suffered a major heart attack. I passed away. It was considered sudden death.
Romeo Majano, M.D.:
20% of heart attacks present with sudden death, meaning acute cardiac arrest, loss of circulation, the heart stops immediately.
[Ambulance driving through parking lot]
David Navarro:
I was told there was a couple of doctors there that assisted me with CPR, and that helped me to get by until the rescue got there.
Romeo Majano, M.D.:
He was taken straight to the cath lab. We put a catheter in and opened his artery up, I would say probably within 19 minutes. The most important thing about sudden cardiac death, it's not just your heart and restarting your heart, but you also want to prevent neurological damage. We have capabilities of neuro protection where we essentially cool the patient and cool the brain. It gives time to the brain to receive the circulation and limit the damage. After three days, we were able to bring the sedation down, and guess what? David was there. He was back.
[Doctor discussing sudden cardiac deaths and X-rays]
David Navarro:
I we woke up, I was pretty groggy, but within three hours or so I started recognizing some of the faces around me and I saw my brothers and my son. And that's when I was told what had happened to me. Well, I'm taking life a lot easier now. I can handle stress now much better than I used to, and obviously I'm not smoking anymore. I have no lasting effects at all. I was very fortunate and blessed that I survived all this and without any problems at all.
Romeo Majano, M.D.:
On occasion, we have these circumstances when someone arrives dead in the hospital and walks out, and I don't think there's words to describe the satisfaction of all the staff involved.
[Doctor and patient in photo]
David Navarro:
The whole staff was great. Starting from the doctor to all the nurses in intensive care, it was just an outstanding experience once I realized what happened. I'm very grateful to everyone.
[Baptist Health South Florida]

[End Transcript]