B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 135; Flight Crew Total 1612; Flight Crew Type 1612
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Over ZZZ; the purser notified the cockpit that a passenger suspected an allergic reaction and was having difficulty breathing due to their tongue and throat swelling. We immediately used the CALL ME prompt in ACARS to get in touch with Dispatch. Once we had further information from the Purser; we sent a Medlink ACARS form with the pertinent information. Dispatch asked us to contact them on VHF through AIRINC. We made initial contact but lost communication. Several attempts at HF (High Frequency) communication were also unsuccessful. Medical assistance was paged. Since the purser stated the doctor was very concerned about the passenger's airway closing and we still could not communicate with Medlink; we made the decision to release the medical kit to the doctor. The doctor administered medicine from the EEMK (Emergency Medical Kit); and the passenger recovered quickly. We requested medics to meet us at the gate through Dispatch; but none were there. The passenger deplaned and stated she was fine. Appropriate maintenance entities were made in the ELB concerning the potentially inoperative HF radios and the used medical equipment.It was very frustrating not to be able to reach Medlink. Had the doctor not been aboard; this situation could have ended much worse.
B737 Captain reported that they were unable to contact Medlink during a passenger medical emergency.