Sanjay Gupta: Outlook mixed for boy attacked by shark

Dr. Sanjay Gupta

CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on an 8-year-old boy who is fighting for his life after being viciously attacked by a shark at a beach in the Florida Panhandle.

CNN: Explain the threat of substantial blood loss to the body. Are certain organs more at risk?

GUPTA: This boy lost enough blood to cause shock. In this situation, blood is preferentially delivered to the brain and the heart, and often away from the abdominal organs, such as the intestines and kidneys. That is why the kidneys have shown some early signs of failure. If uncontrolled blood loss continues, eventually the neurons in the brain will die, causing brain death.

CNN: What is the chance that the boy will sustain brain damage?

GUPTA: The boy certainly had signs of brain dysfunction when he was brought into the hospital. Specifically, his pupils were dilated and not reacting. This is often indicative of impaired brain function. It is very likely that he will have some sustained brain damage.

CNN: Why did emergency medical technicians continue with CPR if the boy did not have a pulse while he was being transported to the hospital? How was he kept alive during this time?

GUPTA: CPR is used to try to mechanically pump the heart in the situation of failure. There is no strict guideline on when the resuscitation should be stopped. In most instances, the paramedics try to get the patient to a hospital where the success or failure of the resuscitation is evaluated by a physician.

CNN: Is the boy's youth an advantage or disadvantage to his recovery?

GUPTA: His youth and being healthy are definitely advantages. He is more likely to heal his grafts and to display resilience that an older or more unhealthy person might not.

CNN: The boy's arm, which was reattached by surgeons, seems to be recovering quite well. How common is this type of surgery?

GUPTA: The first successful reattachment of an arm was performed in 1962 by Dr. Ronald Malt. That 12-year-old boy had his arm severed in a train accident. With the advent of the operating microscope, reattachments are performed in most major hospitals today.