Flatline to Lifeline With Dr. Long
Consider a world where increasing survival rates in patients typically deemed dead on arrival could be the norm. Is dead actually dead? Is it an assumption or a fact? In Flatline to Lifeline we explore the very real potential for survival within the medical field of trauma and near-death experiences.
During his 50-year career, Dr. Long and his team radically altered the approach to trauma care by applying simple principles in profound ways. We hope to educate the general public and inspire medical practices worldwide to acknowledge and adopt these life-saving approaches to trauma care, because when the need is greatest for the patient, saving time saves lives.
Flatline to Lifeline With Dr. Long
Down but Not Completely Out: A High School Boxing Champion's Brush with Traumatic Brain Death
Every second counts when a young boxing champion collapses unconscious in the ring. With his brain hemorrhaging and pressure building inside his skull, his life hangs by a thread. This is the story of a race against time, innovative medical thinking, and the power of teamwork in trauma care.
Dr. Long takes us deep inside the intricate architecture of the human brain and its protective systems. We learn how the scalp, skull, dura, and meninges form layers of protection, but also create confined spaces where even small amounts of bleeding—as little as a shot glass worth—can trigger catastrophic pressure increases. When this happens, the brain has nowhere to go except through the small opening at its base, a life-threatening condition called brain stem herniation.
The young boxer's journey from ringside collapse to complete recovery showcases revolutionary approaches to trauma care. Rather than following conventional protocols, the trauma team performed resuscitation measures directly in the CAT scanner—saving precious minutes. Most dramatically, surgeons kept the patient's skull open for five days, allowing his swollen brain room to expand while they monitored intracranial pressure with exquisite precision.
Beyond the medical details, this episode reveals the challenging human dynamics of trauma care. Dr. Long shares how he learned to bring together specialists with different training backgrounds to function as a cohesive team. He explains why doctors respond differently under extreme pressure and the most adaptive approach to navigating trauma care.
The boxer's story ends with a complete recovery—college graduation, marriage, children—though wisely, he never returned to the ring. This remarkable outcome demonstrates why Dr. Long's guiding principle remains: when the need is greatest for the patient, saving time saves lives.
Listen now to hear the full story of this remarkable recovery. If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to our show and leave us a review.
To learn more about these life saving strategies and techniques, look for Dr. Long’s upcoming book, Flatline to Lifeline.
Follow us on X @DrLongPodcast
Producer: Esther McDonald
Technical Director: Lindsey Kealey, of PAWsitive Choices
Editing and Post Production: Adam Scott of Atamu Media Productions
© Flatline to Lifeline 2025
