The King Is Dead! Long Live The King!

Last night, news of Michael Jackson's death broke out. It was reported that he had a "cardiac arrest" & that doctors had spent over an hour resuscitating him.

I have been team leader for countless resucitation attempts over the years & have a unique insight into what goes on behind the scenes. It is nothing like what is portrayed on TV programmes like ER, House or Holby City.

My heart sank once I heard that Michael Jackson had suffered a "cardiac arrest". It means that MJ's heart had stopped beating & if it not restarted within a few minutes, then permanent brain damage sets in. CPR or "cardiac massage" will buy you a little more time but the longer the resuscitation attempt goes on, the less likely it will succeed.

Statistically, only about 5% of patients that have a cardiac arrest out of hospital are ever successfull revived. Resuscitation in such cases are a desperate, last ditch attempt & every member of the resucitation team knows that.

For many doctors, the hardest part is about resuscitation is deciding when to stop & "throw in the towel". Instinctively, doctors & nurses find it difficult to stop treatment. But sometimes, it is the best decisison. Resuscitation over an hour as in Michael Jackson's case is considered to be a prolonged attempt & it suggests that the doctors had tried everything. Usually, resuscitation lasts no longer than 30 minutes & resuscitation longer than that is very unlikely to succeed.

From personal experience, over half of patients that have been successfully resuscitated have experienced some brain damage. This could manifest as personality change, permanent memory loss, paralysis & even a vegetative state. Even if resuscitation on MJ was successful, it is unlikely he would have been able to perform as he once did.

Michael Jackson was part of my childhood & rebellious teenage years. The controversy over his plastic surgery & child molestation charges have become irrelevant with his demise. Like a falling star, Michael Jackson's life was short. But his star shone brightly & it changed the world of music forever. His music has touched the heart of millions throughout the world. His life is over but his music live will live on forever.