--A passenger on a bullet train en route to Beijing suffered a severe hypertension; luckily, PKU Third Hospital Professor Tang Yida was also on board.

Peking University, August 22, 2022: Professor Tang Yida, chief physician of the cardiovascular department of Peking University Third Hospital, came to the aid of a passenger who had suffered severe hypertension on a bullet train from Shenyang to Beijing on August 13. 

Professor Tang had paid close attention to the passenger, a senior citizen who was accompanied by his family members, since their encounter at the waiting room in Shenyang railway station.

On noticing that the man appeared pale, feeble and painful, streaming with sweat, Professor Tang sensed a potential emergency and approached to offer help. After inquiry, Professor Tang heard that the passenger, who was about to take the same train with him, had a history of hypertension and was prepared to take medicines. 

Before boarding the train, Professor Tang told the families to carefully monitor the passenger’s conditions and gave them his numbers, “I’m a cardiovascular doctor. You can call me if the passenger still feels unwell,” he comforted them. 

As the train was running at full speed, Tang’s cellphone suddenly started ringing. On the other end of the line was a worried voice. “Doctor Tang, my father’s condition still hasn’t improved. Could you please come and check on him?”

Upon answering the phone call, Professor Tang rushed to the coach of the passenger and measured his blood pressure, only to find that the numbers reached an alarming level of 210/120mmHg. 

The professor also observed the patient’s legs become swollen, which indicated that the drug taken earlier didn’t work. At the critical moment, Professor Tang managed to lower the blood pressure with the help of other passengers, and successfully calmed the patient down. 

Professor Tang Yida

Drawing from his medical experience, Professor Tang concluded that the patient might have other medical conditions as well and urged him to receive a screening in PKU Third Hospital as soon as he got off the train. 

Later, the Emergency Department of PKU Third Hospital examined the patient and suspected nephrotic syndrome, a type of kidney disorder, which, apart from the secondary hypertension, could also cause complications including arrhythmia. With the diagnosis, the patient was soon transferred to cardiac care unit where he was under the treatment of Wang Yue, chief physician of the nephrology department. 

Thanks to the timely treatment, the patient came to stable vital signs and was transferred to the general ward on August 15. Professor Tang’s professionalism, compassion and benevolence received a hail of compliments on the internet when the videos recording his good deeds went viral online. 

When asked about that mid-trip life-saving experience, Professor Tang preferred to keep a low profile though. “I didn’t think that much. I saw a patient in need and I just come to his aid,” the doctor said. 
 

Professor Tang at work

Written by: Feng Liyuan
Edited by: Meng Bin 
Source: PKU News (Chinese)