Dr Reza Zadeh, clinical lead for cardiology and one of the doctors who performed the procedure, said there were several challenging factors, including the fact it had to be carried out in the emergency department out of hours.
“We needed colleagues with the right expertise straight away,” he explained.
The medical staff performed an urgent ultrasound scan-guided pericardiocentesis – a procedure which removes extra fluid from a protective pouch that surrounds the heart.
University Hospital Sussex NHS Foundation Trust says the procedure is usually carried out in a cardiology cath lab, a cross between a theatre and a x-ray room, to stabilise the patient.