A 73‑year‑old American man slipped into a deep coma after exercising and spending more than an hour in a sauna, and was rescued by a coordinated effort of Vietnamese intensive‑care specialists. His 17‑day treatment illustrates how rapid teamwork can turn a life‑threatening situation into a full recovery.

He was found unconscious on September 23 by an acquaintance and rushed to Vinmec Smart City Hospital. Doctors recorded a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 5 out of 15, constricted pupils, a fever of 39.5 °C and low blood pressure, indicating shock and multiple organ failure.

After initial stabilization, he was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital’s Neuro‑Intensive Care Unit, where the team led by Associate Professor Dr. Luong Quoc Chinh began invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy. The regimen also included vasopressors, antibiotics, fluid and electrolyte replacement, liver support, and blood‑product transfusions, all adjusted continuously as his condition changed.

Because the patient was a foreign national, the unit kept close contact with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and his family, sharing updates and arranging care logistics. Multidisciplinary consultations and daily monitoring ensured that each intervention was timed correctly, demonstrating effective inter‑agency coordination.

After 17 days of intensive care, he regained consciousness, could breathe on his own, and resumed eating and drinking. His kidney function, blood‑clotting parameters and infection were controlled, allowing him to leave the hospital in stable condition.