An Australian man who was clinically dead for 40 minutes has been brought back to life - thanks to the country's first revolutionary resuscitation technique.
Thirty-nine-year old Colin Fiedler, from Dandenong Victoria, is one of three cardiac arrest patients brought back to life after being dead for between 40 and 60 minutes at The Alfred hospital, using the two new techniques.
The hospital is trialling two new machines - a mechanical CPR machine, which performs constant chest compressions, and a portable heart-lung machine to keep oxygen and blood flowing to the patient's brain and vital organs.
Fiedler had a heart attack and was said to be clinically dead for 40 minutes before being revived last year, the 'Herald Sun' reported.
"I'm so grateful, more than I could ever say," Fiedler said.
As many as seven cardiac arrest patients have been treated so far with the AutoPulse machine and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation technique.
The technique allows doctors to diagnose the cause of the cardiac arrest and treat it, but keep blood and oxygen flowing to the vital organs and brain, which reduces the risk of permanent disability.
Fiedler is one of the three patients who were revived and returned home without disability.
Senior intensive care physician Professor Stephen Bernard from the The Alfred, said the results from the first two years of the trial were exciting and he hoped to eventually expand the system across Melbourne, the report said.
It required three trained intensive-care physicians and all the machinery ready to go on site, which no other hospital in Victoria had, Bernard said.
Emergency ambulance services provider in Victoria 'Ambulance Victoria' has also used the AutoPulse machine to save the life of former junior world champion swimmer Clare Carney after a cardiac arrest.
