The hospital in Kommunarka provided an update on Olympic champion Roman Kostomarov’s condition. He was hospitalized with pneumonia on 10 January and moved shortly after to Kommunarka for intensive treatment. His status remained highly unstable as complications led to multiple surgeries, including procedures to remove affected limbs.
Medical officials stated that Kostomarov’s lungs were compromised by a bacterial and viral infection, and he required artificial lung ventilation (ALV). It soon became clear that tissue necrosis was likely, signaling serious tissue death ahead.
Doctors noted that bacteria encountered at the onset indicated a very challenging course with necrosis spreading to subcutaneous tissues and muscles. Within an hour, it was apparent that more aggressive treatment would be needed. The question then became whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) could offer a lifeline by supporting lung function through oxygenation of the blood.
The damage to lung tissue was extensive, and mechanical ventilation alone could not sustain adequate oxygen levels.
Protsenko spoke in a media interview about these developments.
The physician highlighted that one of the ECMO centers is located in Kommunarka, where clinicians and nurses work with high qualifications. He noted that the two-year coronavirus pandemic had given these teams substantial experience with similar critical cases.
Regarding Kostomarov’s condition after admission, Protsenko indicated that survival chances were minimal according to clinical and laboratory assessments. He also warned that treatment could provoke complications requiring surgical intervention. Yet he stressed that ECMO represented the sole option that might preserve the athlete’s life.
The current state is not suitable for long-term forecasts. Kostomarov is breathing on his own and shows gradual signs of recovery in the body.
Over the last 48 hours, some organ functions have begun to improve, including kidney function. Despite severe multi-organ failure and the absence of urinary output, there were signs of improvement in lung and heart function. The doctor emphasized that with a serious infection, many organs can be affected, and improvement remains possible but not guaranteed.
All medical decisions were described as being made in coordination with Kostomarov and his family.
The athlete’s wife, Oksana Domnina, who is also a noted figure skater, said she remained at the hospital and urged journalists to avoid spreading false information. She pledged to communicate openly when there is significant news to share, and she expressed a wish for the doctors to be allowed to continue their work without interference, hoping for a swift recovery for Roman.
Domnina addressed rumors about family members’ access to the hospital, explaining that relatives chose to limit visits to protect the patient’s condition. She stressed that no one can prohibit family involvement, and she noted that she had decided to speak out given the amount of misinformation circulating in the press.
She recalled that initial symptoms were mild — a simple cough — which skaters sometimes experience before training sessions, making the early signs easy to overlook. Kostomarov had told medical staff he was experiencing a fever before a scheduled training day, which was not unusual for athletes in the sport.
As the situation evolved, doctors convened to assess potential outcomes and prepared the family for possible developments. Domnina described the moment of critical concern when indicators suggested a very dire trajectory. She later said that, against the odds, Kostomarov has shown remarkable improvement and that the medical team deserves credit for the recovery progress, which is the most important thing for the family.