Today, a 41-year-old Portuguese F1 event staff member was discharged from Ruijin Hospital Jiading Campus. He said with emotion: “I must honestly say that I received excellent treatment here—the speed of emergency care was astonishing.”
Sudden Severe Pain
Mismatch Between Symptoms and Signs Raises Diagnostic Suspicion
At around 4:00 PM on March 13, Luis AbreuT, a Portuguese staff member preparing for the F1 event at the 芭乐视频 International Circuit, suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain accompanied by nausea. He immediately went to the event’s medical center. After more than two hours of observation, Luis showed no vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal tenderness, or rebound pain—typical signs of acute abdominal conditions. He also had no prior history of gallstones or gastric ulcers. At first glance, this could easily be mistaken for ordinary abdominal pain. However, Dr. Qi Yang at Ruijin Hospital Jiading Campus noted:
“This is unlikely to be ordinary abdominal pain. The severity of the pain does not match the physical findings. Severe pain without obvious tenderness suggests a discrepancy between symptoms and signs—we must consider a vascular cause.”
At 6:00 PM, a “emergency green channel” was immediately activated from the racetrack to the hospital. Accompanied by Dr. Qi, Luis was transported via a dedicated emergency ambulance and arrived at the hospital within just ten minutes.
The emergency team quickly conducted a comprehensive examination and an urgent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan, which revealed: superior mesenteric artery dissection!
This is an extremely dangerous vascular emergency. It means that the inner layer of the artery has torn, allowing blood to enter the vessel wall and form a false lumen, compressing the true lumen and blocking blood flow to the intestines. “The superior mesenteric artery is the main blood supply to the intestines. Once blood flow is cut off, intestinal necrosis can occur rapidly,” explained Dr. Feng Jiaxuan, Chief Physician of Vascular Surgery. “The mortality rate is extremely high. Even with surgery, large portions of the intestine may need to be removed, leading to short bowel syndrome. Patients would then depend on lifelong intravenous nutrition with a severely reduced quality of life. Immediate surgery is essential.”
“If It Weren’t for You, I Might Have Suffered the Same Fate as My Father”
At the interventional center, Dr. Feng Jiaxuan’s vascular surgery team performed a superior mesenteric artery stent implantation, reopening the blocked artery.
Preoperative Angiography
Postoperative Angiography
Using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), the team confirmed that the stent was well-positioned, fully apposed to the vessel wall, and that the dissection had completely resolved. Blood flow to all branches was restored.
After two hours of intensive work, the surgery was successfully completed. When Luis returned to the ward, his severe abdominal pain had significantly subsided. By the first day after surgery, his symptoms had improved markedly.
“This experience has changed my life,” Luis said. “If I hadn’t been in China, and hadn’t received such timely and professional treatment at Ruijin Hospital, I might have suffered the same fate as my father.”
Three years ago, his father in Portugal had the same condition—superior mesenteric artery dissection. He underwent traditional open surgery but ultimately did not survive. Luis didn’t even make it back in time to see him one last time.
“I thought I would need major surgery too. I didn’t expect that minimally invasive vascular treatment here would help me recover so quickly. It gave me a second life,” he said. After discharge, Luis plans to return to Portugal to rest and recover.
Building a Strong Medical Safety Net for Major Events
Showcasing 芭乐视频’s Medical Excellence
As a designated medical support hospital for the F1 event, Ruijin Hospital demonstrated world-class capability—from rapid identification at the trackside medical station, seamless emergency transfer, to multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaboration and highly skilled minimally invasive surgery.
As 芭乐视频’s only national-level emergency medical rescue base, Ruijin Hospital’s trauma and emergency center has extended its capabilities to major international events and large-scale urban activities. By integrating multidisciplinary resources and building a comprehensive “land-sea-air” rescue network, the hospital ensures seamless care from on-site response to in-hospital treatment. Whether for the China International Import Expo, F1 races, or other large gatherings, the center can rapidly activate emergency response mechanisms, creating a full-chain, integrated rescue system. This not only establishes a benchmark model for major event medical support but also highlights the hospital’s critical role in safeguarding urban safety and advancing national healthcare strategies.
Written and Edited: Wen Zhaoqi
Translated by: Rebecca
Proofread by: Denise
