Five-Second Rule? Medics Drop Heart but Transplant Proceeds
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Keith Brofsky/Thinkstock(MEXICO CITY) — During a moment caught on tape that is sure to make a few cringe, medics in Mexico are seen bumbling, then dropping, a heart on the ground intended for a 20-year-old female heart recipient.
Medics arrived at the Mexico City hospital by helicopter dragging a blue rolling cooler. They are seen running toward a hospital entrance, as reporters stand outside, documenting the transfer. Amid the rush, one medic trips, catching the cooler with his foot. The cooler then flips, spilling its contents, including the organ (wrapped in yellow plastic) onto the ground. The medics hastily put the heart back into the cooler before running inside.
The head of Mexico’s Institute of Social Services said the drop did not affect the organ and the procedure continued on despite the stumble. Doctors who conducted the transplantation reportedly want to wait 72 hours before confirming that the surgery was a success.
“Because it would have been under multiple other sterile layers and seemed to be nearly at the point of the planned transplant it is very unlikely to have had any significant adverse impact beyond embarrassment,” said Dr. Stephen Bartlett, chairman in the department of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “They were appropriately hurrying. Bungee cords around the cooler can help keep the cooler closed during times when things are bouncing around in turbulence in the helicopter and when they are running. No harm done but this will stay on Youtube for a while.”
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio