Beijing airport hospital rescues two international travellers with pulmonary embolism

Two international travellers who suffered cardiac arrest near the end of May 2026 were treated for life-threatening pulmonary embolism by Peking University Third Hospital. The emergencies occurred within 48 hours at its airport campus, followed by transfer to intensive care at the main hospital.

A Russian traveller without available medical history

On May 30, Anna, a Russian woman identified by a pseudonym, collapsed in an airport terminal and was taken to the airport campus emergency department. She arrived without relatives, previous records or anyone able to explain her medical history.

Doctor Zhang Shuzhi considered the combination of a long flight and sudden arrest. Bedside ultrasound showed impaired right-heart function and a clot in a leg vein, supporting the suspected pulmonary embolism. With relatives not yet contacted, the doctor sought authorization from departmental and hospital duty leaders before emergency intravenous thrombolysis. The team maintained chest compressions for approximately two hours as treatment took effect, and spontaneous heartbeat returned.

CT clarified the second emergency

The following day, John, a British traveller also given a pseudonym, arrived after cardiac arrest. Resuscitation restored his heartbeat after one hour, but he remained in shock. Unlike Anna's scan, his bedside ultrasound did not show typical pulmonary embolism findings.

Doctor Wang Jianping reviewed the history and changing clinical indicators and arranged urgent CT pulmonary angiography. It revealed multiple clots in both pulmonary arteries, including a large, unstable clot in the right main pulmonary artery. The team immediately administered intravenous thrombolysis and monitored his vital signs.

Intensive care and different recovery stages

Both patients were transferred to the main hospital's emergency intensive care unit after circulation was restored. Their care included ventilator weaning and extubation, targeted temperature management, bleeding surveillance, inferior vena cava filter placement and staged anticoagulation.

The hospital reported good neurological and cardiopulmonary recovery in both patients. John was discharged on June 19. Anna moved to the rehabilitation department for continued specialist rehabilitation, where she remained at the time of the June 26 report.