Concealed resuscitation-related injuries as reversible cause of recurrent arrest following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Kap Su Han, Sung Woo Lee, Kwang Hoon Park, Jong Su Park, Jae Seung Jung, Cheol Woong Yu, Su Jin Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A life-threatening cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)-related injury can cause recurrent arrest after return of circulation. Such injuries are difficult to identify during resuscitation, and their contribution to failed resuscitation can be missed given the limitations of conventional CPR. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), increasingly being considered for selected patients with potentially reversible etiology of arrest, may identify previously occult CPR-related injuries by restoring arterial pressure and flow. Herein, we describe two cases of severe CPR-related injuries contributing to recurrent arrest. Each case had ECPR implemented within 60 minutes of the start of CPR. After the presumed cardiac etiology had been addressed with percutaneous coronary intervention, life-threatening cardiovascular injuries with recurrent arrest were noted, and resuscitative thoracotomy was performed under ECPR. One patient survived to hospital discharge. ECPR may provide an opportunity to identify and correct severe resuscitation-related injuries causing recurrent arrest. Chest compression depth >6 cm, especially in older women, may contribute to these injuries.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)404-409
    Number of pages6
    JournalCanadian Journal of Emergency Medicine
    Volume19
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017 Sept 1

    Keywords

    • cardiac injury
    • cardiopulmonary resuscitation
    • chest compression
    • chest injury
    • extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Emergency Medicine

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Concealed resuscitation-related injuries as reversible cause of recurrent arrest following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this