Cardiac arrest at altitude — Geneva to the cath lab in 58 minutes
- 34 min
- Mobilisation
- 58 min
- Door-to-cath
- 100%
- SpO₂ throughout
- 14 days
- Hospital stay
Situation
A GCC national suffered a ventricular fibrillation event at a ski resort near Verbier. Avalanche conditions had closed the mountain road, ruling out ground transport to Sion Hospital. The nearest percutaneous coronary intervention suite capable of handling VFIB with haemodynamic collapse was at the Inselspital, Bern — 110 km away.
Challenge
The clock was running. Every minute of untreated ischaemia carries measurable myocardial cell loss. Commercial helicopter services in the valley were grounded by wind. The family's corporate travel insurer had no medevac capability on standby within the required response envelope.
Response
Triforce Geneva activated on the family physician's call. A Pilatus PC-24 medevac configuration was airborne from Geneva International in 34 minutes, carrying an ICU physician and a critical-care paramedic with a portable ECMO-ready cooling protocol. ATC was pre-co-ordinated for a direct routing through Class C airspace. The patient was assessed, stabilised, and on approach to Bern Airport within the golden hour.
Outcome
Patient transferred to the STEMI team at Inselspital. Door-to-balloon time 58 minutes from initial Triforce contact. Patient made a complete recovery and was discharged to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation 14 days later.
Family physician, GCC — disclosed with family consent. Patient identity withheld.