SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - It was a last ditch effort by doctors to save the life of man suffering from a severe allergic reaction to peanuts.
Doctors used a procedure, usually done in an operating room, but never tried, in an emergency situation.
A patient at Sharp Memorial Hospital had his lungs so inflamed from a severe peanut allergy he could no longer breathe.
Conrad Soriano, 28, is alive today because of the quick action taken by doctors Kevin Shaw and Andrew Eads. The doctors placed a large catheter in his neck to try and save his life.
Dr. Shaw used an ECMO machine to filter Soriano's blood and bypass it around his lungs. Its a procedure mostly done on cardiac surgery patients in an operating room.
"It is the coolest thing in the world and to be honest, it was the greatest feeling that I can remember in a very long time. Knowing we had all worked together to get this young man's life saved, get him out of the hospital and back with his family," said Dr. Shaw.
"Thank you very much. I would not be here without you," Soriano told his life saving doctors.
Next month, doctors at Sharp will teach other doctors flying in from around the world how to do the same procedure in the ER - in order to save more lives.