Roman Kostomarov, the Olympic champion who rose to fame alongside Tatiana Navka in Turin 2006, faces another heavy challenge as doctors weigh a possible amputation of part of his arm. The figure skater continues to battle blood poisoning, a complication that may require additional surgical intervention to prevent further deterioration.
Reports from Izvestia indicate that medical teams are hesitant to proceed with surgery because of the elevated risk of heart failure in a patient already weakened by severe illness. The athlete’s condition is fragile, making any operation a high-stakes decision that doctors must balance against the potential benefits.
In recent days Kostomarov has shed significant weight and lost much of his strength. He is nearly unable to move on his own, with occasional eye movements being the only sign of responsiveness. Medical staff arrange frequent repositioning every couple of hours to safeguard against pressure injuries and to support circulation. An anti-decubitus mattress helps to protect soft tissues that could suffer from circulatory problems as his body struggles to recover.
Telegram channel Mash reported that the singer of life is still being sustained by a tube in his throat. He no longer receives sedatives that induce sleep, yet the level of weakness remains profound. The news of March 10, cited by Sport-Express, suggested Kostomarov had not yet been removed from the ventilator because the body had not shown the desired signs of improvement.
Concerns extend to the status of his hand, where traces of sepsis have reappeared. Medical professionals acknowledge that sepsis does not yet present as a clear diagnosis but would require removal and careful management if an infection is present. The challenge lies in controlling infection while avoiding further harm to the patient’s already compromised system.
On March 13, Match TV offered a more positive perspective, reporting that Kostomarov’s health displayed encouraging dynamics despite the ongoing risk of a new surgery. A source from the network noted improvements in several indicators, suggesting that if these trends continue, clinicians might begin discussing a gradual withdrawal from mechanical ventilation. Sport24 echoed similar optimism, highlighting a general trend of improvement in Kostomarov’s condition. However, Dr. Lev Averbakh, interviewed by Sport24, cautioned that no guarantees could be offered about a complete recovery, even if the patient regains consciousness and responsiveness. In medicine, he explained, there remains a possibility of disability or the need for further treatment that could carry additional risk.
The expert underscored the sobering reality: survival itself would be a significant milestone, and full recovery could be far from assured. Kostomarov has spent more than two months in hospital since the early January hospitalization, the initial news reporting a critical state with bilateral pneumonia. He was soon placed in an artificial coma and connected to a ventilator, with ECMO support to ensure adequate oxygenation of the blood. ECMO, while life-saving, comes with its own set of risks, including vascular injury and tissue damage, which often lead to subsequent interventions such as amputations when circulation cannot be restored adequately.
As a consequence of these procedures, Kostomarov’s doctors faced severe complications, including damage to vessels and tissue death, necessitating the removal of affected extremities. Reports stated that both feet and several fingers were amputated in the course of aggressive treatment aimed at stabilizing the patient. In the ensuing period, he experienced a cerebral hemorrhage and two minor strokes, underlining the precarious nature of his condition and the sensitive balance required in critical care that spans neurology, infectious disease, and intensive care medicine.
Throughout this difficult journey, medical teams emphasize caution. They acknowledge that the path to recovery is not straightforward and that even when signs of improvement appear, there is no certainty about the duration or extent of the healing process. The focus remains on sustaining vital functions while treating infections, managing pain, and supporting neurological recovery as much as possible. The family and care teams continue to navigate the evolving clinical picture with careful optimism and prudent realism, understanding that every day may bring a different set of challenges and breakthroughs.
In the medical community, Kostomarov’s case is watched closely for insights into how best to balance aggressive life-support measures with the risks of surgery in a patient with complex organ involvement. The overarching goal is to restore organ function, limit the spread of infection, and ultimately determine whether rehabilitation is a viable path forward. Fans and observers await further updates, hoping the athlete can regain some level of independence and health after such a harrowing medical journey.