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CNN Live Event/Special

Dr. Dumire Briefs Press on Rescued Miners' Status

Aired July 28, 2002 - 18:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: After enduring days of uncertainty, unimaginable stress, cold and hunger, the miners emerged from the Quecreek shaft covered in coal, but in remarkable condition this morning.

One of the doctors who treated the miners now with more on their health.

DR. RUSSELL DUMIRE, CONEMAUGH MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER: As the Governor has mentioned, three of our -- three of our patients have been discharged and are in the process of leaving the hospital with their families at this point.

Three other patients are in good condition, but they've developed a couple of problems which need further evaluation, one of which is in the decompression chamber right now for a possible Type One decompression sickness, or early bends, as you might put it -- mildest form, at best.

The symptoms have improved markedly in the chamber, which seem to suggest that it truly is a nitrogen gas formation in the joint problem.

QUESTION: Which patient did (ph) that (ph) happen to?

DUMIRE: We have not been able to -- the family is on their way. We have not been able to talk with them, so I can't release their name yet.

QUESTION: Twenty-four (ph) hours will they be in that chamber, do you expect?

DUMIRE: The total dive time is supposed to be between 4.5 and five hours. And he's been there -- in there about two hours now.

QUESTION: Well, what are the symptoms of the other two? Both chest pains?

DUMIRE: Their initial symptoms were chest pain. The chest pain is since resolved. One of the gentlemen is having an irregular heart beat at this point, which is actually new for him, rapid heart rate, which is requiring medication to control.

He is physiologically and hemodynamically stable and doing well. He's alert, talking, and not in any discomfort at this point. But it is requiring medication to control the heart rate.

And more importantly, we need to know the cause of the heart rate irregularity, which will require further evaluation with echocardiograms and more invasive monitoring.

QUESTION: Would post-traumatic stress do that?

DUMIRE: A little bit early for post-traumatic stress. I think the anxiety and exertion and everything associated with the stress of the entrapment and extrication, to include the hypothermia, and just the emotional stress from the situation could set off a heart rate problem like this.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the emerging injuries would (ph) go (ph), we talked about last night -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE), how are they doing ...

DUMIRE: All of the legs and extremities, the hands, fingertips and feet, with the exception of one who must have crushed it against some equipment or against the rocks, are looking good.

That required some drainage of hematoma, but they're all looking good. As a matter of fact, you would have to look very closely to see any remnants of emersion injury at all.

QUESTION: Who were the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

DUMIRE: You have to forgive me. The names are all running together.

At this point, the people that we have discharged are Mr. Pugh, Mr. Hall and Mr. Phillippi.

QUESTION: Mr. Pugh, Mr. Who and ...

DUMIRE: Hall and Phillippi.

QUESTION: The gentleman with the irregular heartbeat, ...

QUESTION: Was there any (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ...

QUESTION: ... are you -- is it a wait-and-see? Will you possibly (UNINTELLIGIBLE) try to shock his heart back into a regular heartbeat?

DUMIRE: We've actually got him on a medication, which should chemically convert him back to a normal heart rate. It's not a -- it's not a detrimental rhythm at this point. His blood pressure and actually, his heart rate is within an acceptable range, and we should be able to treat him with medications at this point and get him converted.

QUESTION: How elevated was his heartbeat? How fast was it beating?

DUMIRE: He was beating about 160 beats per minute, which is what we call -- and it was -- he was still stable, but he was in a ventricular tachycardic type of rhythm.

QUESTION: The three (ph) change (ph) (UNINTELLIGIBLE) made, I know you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) names (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ...

DUMIRE: Anyone with a cardiac or a heartbeat irregularity, it can turn into a life-threatening problem, and that's why we're watching him closely and treating with medications.

But if you ask my opinion, I think he's going to be chemically converted and do just fine from this. I mean, all of these guys are -- have demonstrated that they're tough and they've got good constitution.

And I think they'll -- he'll tolerate this and probably just be a couple of days behind his compatriots going home.

(END VIDEO)

LIN: Doctors say the miners arrived at hospitals with their senses of humor intact, and a big appetite for doughnuts.

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