In the early morning of the Christmas Eve in 2021, Ms. Zeng, a patient with acute pituitary apoplexy, was carried to the Emergency Department of PUMCH because of severe headache, nausea and vomiting, accompanied with near-total vision loss of both eyes and a sudden body temperature spike to 38.5℃ that rendered her conditions critical and urgent. “We must operate on her as soon as possible, even if we have to do so in protective clothing”! The Department of Neurosurgery spared no effort and, with the support and assistance of other departments, successfully completed the operation on Ms. Zeng. Her symptoms such as headache and vomiting were significantly improved, and the naked-eye vision of both eyes recovered to 1.0. Facing the challenges of saving her life, preventing and controlling the epidemic at the same time, PUMCHers did a good job.

Thanks to the efficient operation of the emergency surgery “green passage” of PUMCH, the full cooperation of all departments and offices in the hospital, and the outstanding professional expertise of neurosurgeons, Ms. Zeng regained her vision and health as well. The “life first” ideal held dear by PUMCHers, heightened by the high-fever-induced “episode” of Ms. Zeng, is even more high-minded and heart-warming against the background of epidemic in this winter.

Associate chief physician Feng Ming was operating on the patient.

Correspondent: Jin Qi’ao and Li Yuechong

Journalist: Gan Dingzhu and Chen Mingyan

Photo: The Department of Neurosurgery

Translator: Liu Haiyan

Editor: Wang Yu and Wang Yao