Back from the Dead

Episode image for Back from the Dead

Duration: 59 minutes

Dr Kevin Fong investigates a pioneering technique of extreme cooling that is being used to bring people back from the dead.

In the operating theatre, a patient's heart is stopped and their brain shows no activity. They are indistinguishable from someone who is dead. Yet patients can then be warmed up and brought back to life.

Kevin Fong meets the doctors who have developed this procedure, finds out how it could revolutionise intensive care and trauma medicine, and meets some of the remarkable people who have been brought back from the dead.

More episodes

View more episodes

  • Dr Kevin Fong in Tromso, Norway

    Dr Kevin Fong in Tromso, Norway

    Kevin in the arctic mountains of northern Norway where Anna Bagenholm fell into a ravine.

  • Dr Kevin Fong - at Yale School of Medicine

    Dr Kevin Fong - at Yale School of Medicine

    Kevin stepping out of the operating theatre during a deep hypothermic circulatory arrest heart operation.

  • Dr John Elefteriades operating - Yale University School of Medicine

    Dr John Elefteriades operating - Yale University School of Medicine

    Dr Elefteriades half way through operation on 59 year old Esmail Dezhbod’s heart aneurysm.

Credits

Presenter
Dr Kevin Fong
Director
Sophie Robinson
Producer
Sophie Robinson

Broadcasts

  • BBC HDMon 27 Sep 2010 21:00 BBC HD

  • BBC TwoMon 27 Sep 2010 21:00 BBC Two except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue)

  • BBC TwoWed 29 Sep 2010 23:50 BBC Two except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue)

See all broadcasts of Back from the Dead (4)

bbc.co.uk navigation

BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.