Off-Duty Doctor Couple Saves Passenger from Anaphylactic Shock on SIA Flight

A Malaysian doctor couple intervened to treat a passenger suffering from life-threatening anaphylactic shock during a Singapore Airlines flight traveling from New Zealand to Singapore.

The medical emergency occurred mid-flight, involving a man in his fifties who had reportedly been unconscious for approximately two minutes before medical assistance was able to reach him. Upon assessment, the doctors identified severe swelling of the patient’s tongue and lips, which significantly impaired his ability to breathe, and speak.

Clinical complications and medical risks

During the emergency assessment, the medical team recorded a blood oxygen level of 88 percent and a pulse rate of 38 beats per minute. Dr. Tan Pei Jun noted that the pulse rate was one of the slowest the doctors had ever observed. The clinical situation was further complicated by the patient’s known medical history, which included a hole in his heart, a recent stroke, and the use of heart-related medication.

These pre-existing conditions presented a significant risk regarding the administration of epinephrine, the standard emergency treatment for anaphylaxis. Dr. Boo Chin Fong explained that if the patient’s symptoms were the result of a cardiac event rather than an allergic reaction, the administration of the medication could potentially worsen his condition.

Emergency intervention and monitoring

To manage the crisis, the medical team first attempted oxygen therapy and intravenous fluids while consulting with a ground-based telemedicine team. The doctors, Boo Chin Fong and Tan Pei Jun, both 34, remained “on duty” for the remainder of the 10-hour flight.

Following the initial medical intervention, the couple monitored the passenger’s status every 15 minutes, eventually transitioning to hourly checks until the aircraft landed.