From Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration by the Sichuan News Network reporter (Liu Peipei). On March 29 the radio on Air China Flight CA946 flying from Pakistan to Beijing suddenly sounded at the local time about 6 a.m. A 30-year-old Pakistani passenger suffered from a sudden left lower abdominal cramps and collapsed in the airplane cabin lane. He needed medical aid.  It happened that Professor Yang Sijin, the President of the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Southwest Medical University, was on the plane. He said, "It is incumbent upon every medical worker to save people. As long as the patient is safe, we can be at ease." 

The radio on the plane suddenly sounded and repeated requests for doctors at one third of the flight when the whole flight was lasting about six hours, according to Professor Yang Sijin (Dean of the College of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine and Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southwest Medical University). Professor Yang sat a few rows behind the patient. After listening to the radio, he got up resolutely and walked quickly to the sick passenger with his fellow orthopaedic doctor Shi Houyin, a Pakistani worker and air crew. Immediately they took care of the patient.

(Emergency medical services)

"After a quick examination (Look, listen, question and feel the pulse -- four ways of diagnosis in TCM), we found that the patient wanted to vomit and his abdomen was very uncomfortable." In view of this situation, Professor Yang immediately helped the patient to the seat, let the patient lie flat to give him first aid, and paid attention to the patient's pulse and blood pressure and other vital signs continuously. Professor Yang treated the patient with traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and moxibustion because there was no special emergency medicine to alleviate acute gastrointestinal abdomen on the plane. After treatment, the symptoms of abdominal pain were alleviated and the vital signs were gradually stable.

Seeing the patient was getting better, all the people attended the treatment were relieved. Professor Yang still stayed with the patient to observe and comfort him all the time. Suddenly, the patient began to vomit and the food residue in his stomach splashed all over him. With no time dealing with it, Professor Yang carried out acupuncture treatment for the patient again, pressing Zusanli, Hegu and other acupoints. Thirty minutes later, the patient's condition eased again and all the passengers on board took a long sigh of relief.

During the flight, Professor Yang stayed close to the patient and focused on his condition in the course of emergency treatment about more than three hours. When the patient cried out in pain, Professor Yang squatted down in the narrow corridor to massage Hegu, Neiguan, Zusanli and other acupoints to relieve pain, meanwhile wiping sweat, comforting and encouraging the patient.

The aircrew notified Beijing Emergency Center before getting off the plane. At 10:32 local time, after the plane landed, Professor Yang and his team helped the patient to the stretcher car waiting at the exit, then sent him to the ambulance and entrusted Dr. Wang Qiong, who worked in Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of SMU, and the airport medical staff to escort the patient. At present, the patient has been sent to the airport branch of the Third Hospital of North Medical University for further observation and treatment. By the time of this report, the patient could walk on his own, and would fly to Korea after further examination and treatment.

It is reported that Professor Yang went to Pakistan to discuss the cooperation of a Chinese medicine hospital with Pakistan, carrying non-medication TCM appliances such as acupuncture and moxibustion. He also showed Pakistani Chinese medicine special diagnosis and treatment technology in the process of saving people.

(Pictures provided by Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration)